Daveed Diggs Set to Depart HAMILTON on Friday- Page 6

[SingMeToSleep]

Posted: 7/13/16 at 2:21pm

Ultimately, as with Mormon, or Wicked, or other modern hits, the departure of the original cast will only really matter to the diehard fans.
 

Yes, it only really mattering to the diehard fans is likely true, especially as it impacts ticket sales and the probable many-years-long successful run of the show. 

However these departures are getting a lot of attention beyond the "fanbase," as might be expected for a show that has become a pop culture phenomenon that extends far beyond the norm for Broadway shows in an age where social media hypes all hype up beyond previous levels of hype. A week or so ago my librarian in the middle-of-nowhere-America commented to me, on seeing I was checking out the Hamiltome, that the leads were leaving and it was a shame more people wouldn't get to see them but that supposedly good people were being hired to replace them.

Maybe she's a diehard fan, though. :) 

 

[Auggie27]

Posted: 7/13/16 at 2:27pm

I have a friend from St. Louis attending this Saturday matinee.  She's so devastated by this news, she's speechless. To most sensible people -- consumers are theatergoers and vice versa -- it's the timing, the sense of not being told until late.  And she paid $258 10 months ago.  But it's all inevitable with this cast breaking up and doing the CHORUS LINE and RENT thing.  The show will stay fresh this way, which people forget is one terrific benefit of changes.  

[sarahb22]

Posted: 7/13/16 at 2:27pm

Kad said: "Ultimately, as with Mormon, or Wicked, or other modern hits, the departure of the original cast will only really matter to the diehard fans."

What do you attribute the steep fall of resale ticket prices to, then? If it's the show, not the cast, why aren't the resale prices still high? You can get tickets to tonight's show for $400.

[Broadway Forever2]

Posted: 7/13/16 at 2:38pm

sarahb22 said: "Kad said: "Ultimately, as with Mormon, or Wicked, or other modern hits, the departure of the original cast will only really matter to the diehard fans."

What do you attribute the steep fall of resale ticket prices to, then? If it's the show, not the cast, why aren't the resale prices still high? You can get tickets to tonight's show for $400.

 

"

yeah it def is affecting resale ticket prices. But that was probably expected. Despite what people think the cast departures got A LOT of mainstream media attention. And the show was hyped up so much before. And the ticket prices sky rocketed before Lin left. 

[MyFavoriteBrunette]

Posted: 7/13/16 at 2:38pm

On my lunch break and first thread I see!

Whuuuuuu?  

Oh man.  I guess I'll have a load of fresh faces in March.  

Updated On: 7/14/16 at 02:38 PM

[rcbell64]

Posted: 7/13/16 at 2:42pm

Tickets for the three weeks prior to Lin etc. leaving were nothing like they were prior. In May there were multiple SH ticket listing (albeit just prior to showtime) for under $350 apiece so while the prices are falling, they're still not so much lower than they were in May or early June. I think they'll rebound as soon as the reviews on the new cast members come out.

[Tandrews]

Posted: 7/13/16 at 2:47pm

sarahb22 said: "Kad said: "Ultimately, as with Mormon, or Wicked, or other modern hits, the departure of the original cast will only really matter to the diehard fans."

What do you attribute the steep fall of resale ticket prices to, then? If it's the show, not the cast, why aren't the resale prices still high? You can get tickets to tonight's show for $400.

 

"

I attribute it all to the following:

1. Pull forward of demand due to OBC's recent departures. People had to "hurry-up" and see it. 

2. Scalpers...yes...these bot driven vermin had huge blocks of tickets and at the first sign of a drop in demand dumped tickets. 

3. New supply...let's not forget nearly 6 months of shows recently sold out in minutes.

[sorano916]

Posted: 7/13/16 at 2:49pm

sarahb22 said: "Kad said: "Ultimately, as with Mormon, or Wicked, or other modern hits, the departure of the original cast will only really matter to the diehard fans."

What do you attribute the steep fall of resale ticket prices to, then? If it's the show, not the cast, why aren't the resale prices still high? You can get tickets to tonight's show for $400."

 

With Javi out of the matinee, I saw there were Row B Orchestra side seats for $202 each. 

 

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 7/13/16 at 2:53pm

Stop all the speculation 'cuz no one else was there in

the room where it happened...

the room where it happened...

the room where it happened...

Click - - - BOOM!

 

 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 7/13/16 at 3:00pm

@trpguyy you are in over your head here. I don't know when or how Jones stepped on you, but you are way off base here. And Baseline has Manny Azenberg (Seller's mentor) looking over Jones's shoulder, and they don't get much more experienced than him. Finally, if you actually knew the dynamics, you would know that these sorts of issues have the producer's direct and full attention. 

@Bettyboy Seller and Stone both have exceptional reputations. 

re resale pricing: that spike represents event pricing-something only of those who feel compelled to tell their grandchildren they were there. The Super Bowl is not always the best football game of the year but it is the most expensive. 

[Kad]

Posted: 7/13/16 at 3:25pm

...those resale prices are still very high for Broadway tickets. And the show is still sold out. Did you think those prices would keep going up forever? Or plateau at such high levels?

The astronomical prices were a bubble that resulted from post-Tony awards excitement and the recently awarded cast members departing, creating an "urgency" that hadn't existed there before to see the show. Demand for tickets in a certain timeframe skyrocketed. Then the timeframe ended. And the bubble burst.

This isn't indicative of a larger downward trend.

[trpguyy]

Posted: 7/13/16 at 3:44pm

HogansHero said: "@trpguyy you are in over your head here. I don't know when or how Jones stepped on you, but you are way off base here. And Baseline has Manny Azenberg (Seller's mentor) looking over Jones's shoulder, and they don't get much more experienced than him. Finally, if you actually knew the dynamics, you would know that these sorts of issues have the producer's direct and full attention. "

Never met the guy. I've said that the GM company is new and inexperienced, which is a fact. I've said that the company morale is low, which is also true, and that those kinds of things tend to trickle down from the office.
Of course a lead producer is going to be involved in the negotiations with his show's Tony-winner, but I was speaking more to the general "what's going on backstage?" vibe that was already in this thread.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 7/13/16 at 3:55pm

trpguyy said: "Never met the guy. I've said that the GM company is new and inexperienced, which is a fact. I've said that the company morale is low, which is also true, and that those kinds of things tend to trickle down from the office.
Of course a lead producer is going to be involved in the negotiations with his show's Tony-winner, but I was speaking more to the general "what's going on backstage?" vibe that was already in this thread."

The company is relatively new but the people associated with it are not and include one of the most seasoned producer/GM/teachers in the business. What you are saying is that if some people in the business who have been around for years connect up to form a new enterprise they are somehow inexperienced even though they bring with them years of experience at the highest levels. In other words, you don't know what you are talking about. Ditto re what's going on backstage. I will say you have an active imagination though. 

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 7/13/16 at 3:56pm

Of course a lead producer is going to be involved in the negotiations with his show's Tony-winner, but I was speaking more to the general "what's going on backstage?" vibe that was already in this thread.

 

Then you should have stated that. Your responses to me contradict what you're now saying. Based on our earlier exchange, you were suggesting they were the ones leading the contract negotiations and labor disputes, which I took umbrage with. Clarity is key. 

Updated On: 7/13/16 at 03:56 PM

[trpguyy]

Posted: 7/13/16 at 3:58pm

Sorry, I come here to post facts -- and believe me, the sh*t I know about what's going on there would be really fun to spill -- but I guess not many people are interested in facts around here. 

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Posted: 7/13/16 at 4:04pm

Whether this was a sudden decision or planned long ago, I think people are making this bigger then it is. People leave shows eventually. Something better for his life--personal or professional, I don't care--has come along and after 12 months on Broadway with the show, he's leaving. I can respect that.

I don't envy the person who succeeds him. Those are some big shoes to fill. 

Updated On: 7/13/16 at 04:04 PM

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 7/13/16 at 4:08pm

It's pretty clear to me that this wasn't planned. It states right in the article that "while the role is being recast" the understudies listed will be performing it.  Clearly this wasn't planned as the replacement is not even cast. 

[trpguyy]

Posted: 7/13/16 at 4:08pm

Liza's Headband said: "Of course a lead producer is going to be involved in the negotiations with his show's Tony-winner, but I was speaking more to the general "what's going on backstage?" vibe that was already in this thread.

 

Then you should have stated that. Your responses to me contradict what you're now saying. Based on our earlier exchange, you were suggesting they were the ones leading the contract negotiations and labor disputes, which I took umbrage with. Clarity is key. "

You're right, I should have been more clear. The GM is often solely responsible for budgeting, hiring/negotiations, union/labor disputes, etc. In extreme cases, the Producer will get involved. Negotiations with stars is definitely one of those situations.

I have not contradicted myself in this thread but I definitely see where the confusion lies, and I could have avoided that by being less snarky and more detailed. My apologies.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 7/13/16 at 4:18pm

No need to apologize. Just glad we cleared it all up. My apologies for the snarkiness, as well! 

[Kad]

Posted: 7/13/16 at 4:25pm

GreasedLightning said: "It's pretty clear to me that this wasn't planned. It states right in the article that "while the role is being recast" the understudies listed will be performing it.  Clearly this wasn't planned as the replacement is not even cast. "

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the replacements for Odom and Soo weren't announced until after the announcement of their departure, either.

 

 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 7/13/16 at 4:29pm

You're correct, Kad.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 7/13/16 at 4:43pm

trpguyy said: "Sorry, I come here to post facts -- and believe me, the sh*t I know about what's going on there would be really fun to spill -- but I guess not many people are interested in facts around here. "

Sorry but I don't play that way. If you have facts spill em or be quiet. What you are offering is conjecture (much of which is known to be false and, when confronted, you waffle on) and not facts. If you care to tether some statement to some fact (e.g., "I heard x is upset about y" then we can see if that holds up. But you have to understand that in negotiation everyone stakes out a value, and by definition those values do not usually equate. And when they are too far apart, common ground is not found. But these things are rarely personal, and even the most vocal proponent of his own value (by which I mean LOJ) has enthusiastically stated that he looks forward to coming back to Hamilton "at any time and any place." That doesn't sound like the utterances of some backstage brawler.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 7/13/16 at 4:46pm

"If you have facts spill em or be quiet"

 

Hear hear. You're hiding behind a username. Why not spill? Otherwise, go to Datalounge.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 7/13/16 at 4:50pm

neonlightsxo said: "go to Datalounge."

just so I know, on the heaven-hell continuum, is that to the left or the right of hell?

[trpguyy]

Posted: 7/13/16 at 4:56pm

HogansHero said: "Sorry but I don't play that way. If you have facts spill em or be quiet. What you are offering is conjecture (much of which is known to be false and, when confronted, you waffle on) and not facts. If you care to tether some statement to some fact (e.g., "I heard x is upset about y" then we can see if that holds up. But you have to understand that in negotiation everyone stakes out a value, and by definition those values do not usually equate. And when they are too far apart, common ground is not found. But these things are rarely personal, and even the most vocal proponent of his own value (by which I mean LOJ) has enthusiastically stated that he looks forward to coming back to Hamilton "at any time and any place." That doesn't sound like the utterances of some backstage brawler."

I don't give a damn how you play. I'm sure friends who have left the show don't want me writing the reasons why, and those still with it don't want gossip on a public forum. And I'm intimately familiar with how negotiations work, thank you, I never once suggested that either party takes things personally. What "conjecture" have I A) been confronted with or B) waffled on or C) is known to be false?

 

If you'll recall, I started with:

"I'm sure Diggs had every intention of staying much longer and continued to do the show in good faith before striking a deal, but negotiations must have just broken down and so now he leaves. 

It's business. His star is rising, he can do TV, film, music, for a lot more than what they'd pay him to stay in Hamilton."

 

Do you take issue with any of that?

Updated On: 7/13/16 at 04:56 PM