Posted: 6/27/17 at 12:25pm
Isn't Colton using Dear Evan Hansen as college credit?
Posted: 6/27/17 at 12:27pm
Call_me_jorge said: "Isn't Colton using Dear Evan Hansen as college credit?"
Where did you hear that DEH is an unpaid internship?
Posted: 6/27/17 at 12:34pm
I do wonder if the producers are considering an alternate for Platt, especially if he's thinking about not extending his contract.
Posted: 6/27/17 at 12:39pm
LizzieCurry said: "Call_me_jorge said: "Isn't Colton using Dear Evan Hansen as college credit?"
Where did you hear that DEH is an unpaid internship?
"
Well it may not be unpaid, but it is an internship. http://coltonryan.com/about/
Posted: 6/27/17 at 12:41pm
That's wild! Although I think Denée Benton did something similar when she was on the Mormon tour.
Posted: 6/27/17 at 1:10pm
Just means he is getting college credit for doing it, not that he was hired as or doing any responsibilities as an intern.
When I went to college, my scholarship included a paid internship at the local newspaper. The only problem was, I already worked there. So, they just gave me the credit for working at my regular job, since it was giving me the "real-world experience" the internship was meant to do.
Posted: 6/27/17 at 1:19pm
"seeing Hello Dolly recently makes me realize what an awful decision it was for me to not have seen Taylor Trensch in one of the days he did Curious Incident.
"
Taylor was amazing. If he had been the lead on opening night, he would have a Tony award right now.
Posted: 6/27/17 at 1:22pm
I think this reminds me more of Hedwig. After Neil Patrick Harris left in Aug 2014, we started to see the show on tkts. It managed to survive roughly a little over a year since NPH left.
The producers of Hamilton promoted the show as a whole and I think that's why the show is still selling very well. For Dear Evan Hansen, they've mainly marketed Ben Platt In most of its promos and even at the Tony awards and it'll be hard to sell tickets at premium prices after he leaves.
Posted: 6/27/17 at 1:25pm
Per a friend of mine, who is in Colton's class at Baldwin Wallace, yes. He is getting college credit for DEH.
Posted: 6/27/17 at 1:26pm
It is clearly the lead role, and not an ensemble, so it makes sense he would be front and center.
But not sure how this lines up with NPH, since most people I know who went to see DEH went to see the show. Whereas a LOT of people went to see NPH and not necessarily Hedwig.
Also, DEH is sold out beyond when most people expect Platt to leave, as opposed to a Great Comet situation where the ticket availability after July 2 opens up significantly.
Posted: 6/27/17 at 1:33pm
Sold out? Last time I checked there was plenty of availability from next year on.
Posted: 6/27/17 at 1:34pm
I think this is a great experience for Colton Ryan. Understudy or not Evan Hansen is a wonderful role that really tests a performer's dramatic range and endurance. He got to be part of a musical that's obviously touched many people and these are experiences that will serve him well if he wishes to further pursue a career in musical theater.
Posted: 6/27/17 at 1:42pm
froote said: "Sold out? Last time I checked there was plenty of availability from next year on."
I said it is sold out after when Platt is expected to leave, which is anytime after November 19, and there are no regular seats available in December, and only single seats in January.
Posted: 6/27/17 at 1:45pm
haterobics said: "froote said: "Sold out? Last time I checked there was plenty of availability from next year on."
I said it is sold out after when Platt is expected to leave, which is anytime after November 19, and there are no regular seats available in December, and only single seats in January.
"
Yes, but I bet a lot of those people are gambling on an extension through the end of the year. (or bought them without realizing that he's supposed to leave in November-- last I checked, telecharge wasn't providing any notice of that)
Posted: 6/27/17 at 1:48pm
Website shows availability from October and when that much of the house (and it's a small house) is counted as premiums then that's gonna be all that's left for any relatively popular show. Still plenty left so I don't really think we can call it sold out.
Posted: 6/27/17 at 1:52pm
froote said: "Website shows availability from October and when that much of the house (and it's a small house) is counted as premiums then that's gonna be all that's left for any relatively popular show. Still plenty left so I don't really think we can call it sold out."
You're just going to keep redefining sold out and availability until you're right, I guess?
On this site, regular priced seating is typically the last resort.
Posted: 6/27/17 at 1:56pm
Okay but this site is not the be all and end all of people that buy Dear Evan Hansen tickets. Plenty of people do buy premiums otherwise they wouldn't exist. I just can't buy that sold out now means that nearly half the house is still available but if that's what you believe okay.
And the website literally states 'limited ticket availability October-December' and 'availability across all price points begins January 2018' so if I'm trying to redefine the word availability then so are they.
Updated On: 6/27/17 at 01:56 PM
Posted: 6/27/17 at 2:16pm
froote said: "I just can't buy that sold out now means that nearly half the house is still available but if that's what you believe okay."
You're not going to find a day before mid-November that has half of the house still unsold and available at premium prices. I never see a day that isn't 95% unavailable through their runs. And the premium stuff I've seen is pretty far back in the house at this point, and it usually keeps rolling further back as they add them, not up.
Posted: 6/27/17 at 2:18pm
As I say, I was talking about January onwards.
They'll probably sell them after all it won Best Musical and that's usually enough to sell out a show easily for at least a year. But there is definitely a noticeable difference between the amount of premiums available whilst Ben is in the show (almost none) and the amount after he's left (copious). So I think it's fair to say that him leaving will at some point have a negative effect on the box office.
Posted: 6/27/17 at 2:28pm
froote said: "But there is definitely a noticeable difference between the amount of premiums available whilst Ben is in the show (almost none) and the amount after he's left (copious). So I think it's fair to say that him leaving will at some point have a negative effect on the box office."
The whole point of premium seating, aside from exceptions like Hamilton, is not having to plan in advance and just buying a seat last-minute, for more money, and still getting a good seat.
Posted: 6/27/17 at 2:34pm
But there were people in this thread saying it will be the same as what happened to Hamilton when that very clearly wont be the case. Hamilton's premiums increased by hundreds of dollars after the original cast left and they still sell them out in advance. All I'm trying to say is that there will be a much clearer view on how big of a hit the show is when Ben leaves, as he has helped towards selling those premiums out months in advance.
Posted: 6/27/17 at 3:04pm
I am not an expert on these subjects, but I don't think the show will have a Hamilton-esque life (or Mormon, or Wicked, or some of the other shows mentioned) without Ben. To think that it will grossly underestimates the power of the fangirls and fanboys that are returning to this show over and over primarily because of Ben (or Mike Faist, etc.) While Hamilton certainly played to a younger crowd, it also had enough going on show-wise to entice adults to both see it once and possibly multiple times - and teenagers weren't coming because they were falling in love with Daveed or Lin and wanted to date them - they were into the show itself and the music. Same with Mormon if you found it funny (I did), and Wicked had huge production value. Those types of shows will also play on and on to the tourist crowds - I don't think DEH will have that pull for more than a year post-Tonys - if you ask non-theater goers/people outside NY if they've ever heard of it, many still haven't. And tourists who just want to see a big Broadway show have enough to choose from that they don't tend to run to see something dark regardless of awards.
I saw the show twice only because my teenage daughter insisted on seeing it again on our recent trip to NY and we bought the tickets at regular prices months in advance, but once would have been enough for me - and I'm a fan of both the musical, the performances, and the score. But I don't feel the need to see it multiple times or with other actors, and I'm guessing many adults will feel the same. With some of the other musicals mentioned, the tendency to do repeat business (not just with teenagers who will eventually run out of money) as well as tourist business is much higher.
Not to mention Ben's performance is brilliant and will be tough to rival. Much like Cynthia Erivo's in Color Purple, and frankly, I think, better in terms of the whole package.
Just my two cents - FWIW.
Updated On: 6/27/17 at 03:04 PM
Posted: 6/27/17 at 3:27pm
I've felt the same way about DEH's post-Platt life. Plenty of shows have survived well after their much-lauded lead actors leaving.
Posted: 6/27/17 at 4:37pm
Don't feel bad for Colton. I'm pretty sure he's having the time of his life making is Broadway debut in Tony Award winning Best Musical of the year covering one of the (if not the) biggest role on Broadway or not. "Thankless" or not, I'm sure he wins the crowd over at the end, earns a standing ovation, and is thrilled and appreciative to be where he is.
Posted: 6/27/17 at 4:39pm
Not to mention making connections and setting himself up nicely for a career in theatre, film, and/or TV.
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