Dreamgirls film tickets-$25/opening run

[once a month]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 9:03am

The Today show this morning mentioned that when Dreamgirls opens in Manhattan at a specific theatre, it will charge $25 per reserved ticket. That includes a color program and the option of seeing the Dreamgirls costumes that will be exhibited.

I'm not positive, but I think that's what I paid when I saw Jennifer Holliday do Dreamgirls LIVE on Broadway.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 9:15am

So Premium/VIP tickets are entering the Cineplex as well. Soon the 25 dollar folks will be allocated to the best seats in the screening room and the 9 dollar ticket buyers will be in the back and on the sides. I know the film makers want to make up their money, but c'mon.

[Trish2]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 9:20am

It's disgusting and true. see the link.....
Dreamgirls film charges $25.00

[Patronus]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 9:35am

These tickets are for an advanced run of the film, come with a collectible program and will feature exhibits from the making of the film in the lobbies of the theatres.

I don't see the problem here at all. If you don't want to pay the $25, then wait the two weeks and see it during the general release. It isn't as if they are asking $25 a ticket for the entire theatrical run.

Special events comes with special pricing.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 9:51am

Exactly. The film will have a 10-Day only Limited Roadshow Engagement (from 12/15 to 12/24) in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York City. The $25.00 ticket gives you a 50-page Exclusive Photo Souvenir Book and access to the exhibit in the lobby which will contain costumes, set design displays, etc. from the film. Also, the film will be presented with no commercials or previews before the film.

On 12/25, the Limited Roadshow Engagement is over and the film opens nationwide in regular release (at regular movie prices).

It would be nice if 'reporters' would always add the section B to the story, thus clearing-up and validating the $25.00 ticket price which ISN'T for the regular release.

[avab802]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 10:21am

While this isn't the case here, the Loews on 34th St. in Manhattan does sell more expensive (~$15) "reserved" seats for most showings. It's about 2 or 3 rows in the center of the theater, and they also have little tray tables attached to those seats. I once bought regular priced tickets for a movie that happened to be showing in one of the theaters with these "reserved" seats. The only regular seats left when I got there were in the front few rows and even though most of the "reserved" seats were empty the theater employee policing those rows would not let us sit there. So we went to the customer service desk, got a refund on our tickets, and went up to 42nd St. to see the movie.

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 10:50am

I thought those reserve seats were the same price. I usually just sit there anyway.

--------------

This is absurd. It's bad enough people in this country do not want to see movie musicals as it is!

No commercials??? We have to pay extra for that? I would actually be happier seeing a trailer for Hairspray.

How can anyone validate a $25.00 movie ticket price? Is Beyonce going to be there?

It is obvious this project is a test to see new (old is the new new) or present films. As people choose to stay home and watch their plasmas box office dwindles.

Movie are for everyone, not just the rich. What a real kick in the face of the black community that should be seeing this. Is it opening in Detroit, Philly or Atlanta? I don’t think so.

Updated On: 11/16/06 at 10:50 AM

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 10:53am

The Lowes used to sell those, but I thought they stopped.
I HOPE they still do though. I will not see a movie (that is likely to be crowded) without reserved seating, I really don't care how much more it costs.

[kidmanboy]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 10:56am

Big deal! You're paying more money to see an exclusive engagement before the movie opens wide on Christmas. If you don't wanna pay that much, wait and see it at your local multiplex. Some people pay 10 times this to see some broadway shows and I have to say, seeing the film Chicago at the Zeigfeld ranks among the most exciting musical experiences I've had. The audience was so energetic and competely engrossed in the film. I'll be there for the first showing, Friday December 15th.

[Kringas]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 10:58am

It is obvious this project is a test to see new (old is the new new) or present films. As people choose to stay home and watch their plasmas box office dwindles.

Movie are for everyone, not just the rich. What a real kick in the face of the black community that should be seeing this. Is it opening in Detroit, Philly or Atlanta? I don’t think so.

Good lord.

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 11:01am

I love crowded movies, I just go early and if I can't sit in my favorite area, I go to another showing.

Broadway shows are different, they have actual people on an actual stage with live music. Who said Broadway shows were cheap anyway? It's just a huge buzz kill.

Chicago was regular price, and yes it was fun. But not worth $25.00.

[avab802]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 11:21am

I'm with mejust. No movie, regardless of any special exhibit or souvenir program, is worth $25 to me. I'm sure to some people it is, but I could get a rush ticket to a Broadway show for $25. Hell, most movies aren't worth $10.75 to me so I just wait for them to come out on DVD.

[Kringas]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 11:23am

I'm with mejust. No movie, regardless of any special exhibit or souvenir program, is worth $25 to me.

Which is precisely why this is a limited engagement before its actual release.

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 11:27am

Well if there is a place to bitch it is here. Was anyone on this board asked what they would pay for something like this? We are the geeks that will wait in-line after all. It's always upsetting when big business turns on it's base.

If these performance are not sold-out, I think they will lower the prices. It's two weeks of the same thing, that can't be good for business.

That lame exhibit will probably be on display after the open anyway.

[kidmanboy]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 12:03pm

oh please...they're turning on their base consumer? Obviously, the people seeing this movie in special previews are not their base consumer. Their base consumer, hopefully, if the film takes off, are those people in Altanta and Detroit that will see the film when it opens just like the rest of this country. Really, this engagement is meant just to build buzz, particularly for the Oscars and Golden Globes. It's not a vendetta against those who will go see it anyway. What should they charge we dorks LESS to see it? That doesn't seem to make economic sense. It's just another industry. If you don't want to pay 25 dollars to see a movie, don't go. If enough people don't go, they won't keep charging 25 dollars in the future. I definitely wouldn't pay that much to see any old movie, but to see this one, in this location, well worth it.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 12:18pm

First of all, this is OLD news.

Secondly, this is a special Roadshow Engagment. We're not just paying $25 to see the film, but also we receive a souvenior booklet program and an exhibit on the making of the film. PLUS we get to see the film before it opens to the public.

It's $25 because it's NOT a typical moviegoing experience. There hasn't been a roadshow done since MAN OF LA MANCHA came to theatres decades ago.

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 12:29pm

kidmanboy- I'm not talking about the "base consumer." The masses are different. I"m talking about the musical theatre base here in NYC where it is stopping on the "road show." These select cities can push word-of-mouth and make or break films. It just seems way to high a price to me to bring in musical theatre fans as well as curious people. They can forget attracting people outside of that. You are right we can wait 2 weeks. I understand that, what I don't understand is the choice in pricing. $15.00 maybe, but $25? If they had a CD maybe.

Maybe I'm wrong, and this will be a huge hit and people will wait in line for tickets for this special engagement. I just don't see it. Last year Rent couldn't even score with wide open. Musicals are a tough sell.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 12:41pm

The Ziegfeld is sold out for December 15 - the first roadshow.

Other dates are selling out fast. There won't be any "waiting in line."

[ICEcreamAssassin]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 1:02pm

I bought my tickets knowing it would be a special night. $25 dollars for reserved seats (which I selected) to one of the largest films of the holiday season 10days before nationwide release plus a collectible souvenir program. I am more than happy to pay. Its a special night and well worth it.. you dont have to pay that much wait until the 25th. Quit complaining if you don't have the money or don't want to pay.. no one is forcing you to.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 2:38pm

Considering tickets in Manhattan are reaching S10.75, you are paying $14.25 for what sounds like a nice program and some behind the scenes memorabilia.

Good grief a mountain out of a nothing.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 3:35pm

I can't speak for anyone else, but I didn't have a problem with the price, since it guaranteed me reserved seats and programs for me and a friend. It's an event and I don't mind paying extra for it -- if you do, then you can see it for $11 after Xmas. Heck, I've seen that several organizations are using the film as a fundraising event, charging hundreds per ticket -- and they're going fast (I got emails from two different groups asking if I'd like to see the film and have dinner and champagne afterwards for $250 - 500).

Oh, and, by the way, orchestra seats for the original DREAMGIRLS on stage at the Imperial in 1981 went for $35, not $25.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 3:54pm

Not to mention that this is the current frontrunner for Best Picture and the Ziegfeld has a kickass soundsystem. I can not wait!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 4:12pm

I remember going to the Ziegfeld a couple of years ago with a bunch of friends to see "Funny Girl." It was a sort of "road show" presentation, that included the full overure and an intermission (and the print they used was absolutely pristine). It was SO much fun being in a huge room full of crazy show queens who applauded everything including the opening titles and after every major number -- "Don't Rain on My Parade" got a full standing ovation. Yes, maybe it's a little silly to go so crazy over a piece of celluloid, but the celebratory atmosphere and communal nature of the experience really made that showing into a memorable event -- the kind you can't get from simply popping the movie into your DVD player and watching it at home (which I'm sure most of the people in that audience had done many times in the past).

I'm guessing that many of the people who'll be attending these showings of "Dreamgirls" are already fans of the show (who the hell else is going to pay $25 for this movie?), rather than just regular old movie fans, and because of that I'll bet that the energy and excitement in the theater will be something special to be a part of.

[Liverpool]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 4:33pm

I don't know what all the fuss is about, I'm thinking about going to see this, and then going when I get back home for the winter break

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 1:27am

"and the 9 dollar ticket buyers will be in the back and on the sides"

Is that really that bad? Unless you are up right in front, there really isn't a "bad" seat in a movie theater, sides and back included.