HAIR is hurting... A LOT!- Page 2

[ABoyLikeThat]

Posted: 5/13/10 at 11:29pm

I really don't see what's wrong with "the Idols". They're good in this show, in my opinion. And in any case, Hair is a full cast effort. Now knowing what has happened with attendance, I think casting complete unknowns would have been a mistake. Most theater-going people have already seen the show and there hasn't been enough steady promotion in the tourist areas compared to other shows.

[rentheadca]

Posted: 5/13/10 at 11:41pm

I've seen the new cast four times, and the past three times I've seen it looking into the mezzanine was depressing. These were all weekend shows, so I expected a little more. When I was in the mezzanine I bought my last row ticket on the way there, got in 5 minutes late, and didn't even sit near my seat. The cast's energy was so high, but going into a more than half empty mezzanine definitely brought them down.
I think the new cast is very very good with the exceptions of Diana's acting [don't even get me started] and some of what Kyle does.
I, unfortunately, got into this show way too late in its run. I'm definitely going to miss it when it's gone.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 5/13/10 at 11:45pm

It doesn't matter how good they are. The very idea of someone from that dog-and-pony show on Broadway is a turn of to a lot of people. Did they even invite the critics back?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/14/10 at 12:14am

Yeah, critics have been back.

I don't like the American Idol-to-Broadway thing on principle, but when they're well-cast, I'm willing to admit it.

[theatreguy]

Posted: 5/14/10 at 12:14am

They invited the critics back last week.

Do most people even know Ace Young and Diana DeGarmo are in the show? I haven't seem them featured in any ads.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/14/10 at 12:27am

There's a t.v. spot now that advertises them. It's the old commercial with the original cast singing on the rooftop, but then at the end it says now starring Ace Young and Diana DeGarmo from American Idol.

[ABoyLikeThat]

Posted: 5/14/10 at 12:35am

They didn't use their names in promotional material for the longest time until just recently. They should've done that from the get go.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 5/14/10 at 1:02am

That's too bad, I loved the show when I saw it.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/14/10 at 4:32am

I don't think the AI connection does much. For as many folk that would stay away because of them there are folks that would WANT to go because of them.

And honestly, unless you've SEEN them in a B'way-type show before, how does anyone really know if they will be any good? To stay away just because they were AI "rejects" is ridiculous.

There still is a recession going on, and I think the "people" are feeling it more now than ever. Let's face it, it's not like Gavin and the original cast were pulling them in like crazy even before they left. You could still get tickets for their last show the day OF the performance.

It had a great run. It won a Tony. It re-couped. Many of us loved it. Just because it's run it's course isn't that big of a deal. For 'us'. (To them, an entirely different matter.)

Updated On: 5/14/10 at 04:32 AM

[singtopher]

Posted: 5/14/10 at 8:45am

To agree with an earlier poster, I think the downward spiral of this shows is due in a large part to the lack of promotion in tourist areas. Besides their large poster, there aren't anyone handing out fliers in Times Square, or at TKTS. They would see a large bump in ticket sales if they just hire some sort of street team.

[BroadwayBound115]

Posted: 5/14/10 at 8:57am

I always thought the location of the Hirschfeld was a little odd. It just seemed separated from the other theaters.

[TreyKenyon]

Posted: 5/14/10 at 9:20am

^
Yes, the Hirschfeld is a little off the beaten path(I believe it's the only Broadway house past 8th Ave). However, I agree with what dramamama is saying. I saw the show last summer and I LOVED it. That said, we can't expect every show to run forever. I personally wish it could have a strong multi-year run, but even if it closes after the summer (which I think it will), it still will be considered a "hit" revival that had a strong year and a half run. I'll be sad when it closes, but is is FAR from some great Broadway tragedy.

[newintown]

Posted: 5/14/10 at 9:43am

It's had a decent run. What's the problem if it closes and makes room for a new show? I know there'll be a lot of screaming, but I get tired of seeing the same marquees up for 10 years.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 5/14/10 at 9:53am

I totally agree that it isn't the new cast where the money isn't coming in. I went in February, and I was able to have an entire row to myself, with a good portion of the mezzanine empty.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/14/10 at 10:11am

A revival of a 40 year old show that was not good in its original incarnation not doing well? I'm shocked.

[defygravity24]

Posted: 5/14/10 at 11:08am

When I went to see this, ther theater was pretty full, but that could have been because it was the first week of the new cast. And Ifeel stupid asking this, but what does it mean for a ticket to be "comped"?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/14/10 at 11:17am

Freebie, derived from "complimentary." And remember, there are no stupid questions, only stupid people.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/14/10 at 11:20am

"And Ifeel stupid asking this, but what does it mean for a ticket to be "comped"?"

When a theater has seats that they feel they won't be able to sell, they offer them free or for minimal charge. Basically, it's a seat that they can't make a profit off of. Tickets are often comped to get more people in the audience. There are several comp companies in NYC that offer their members cheap seats to shows.

[dontevenstart]

Posted: 5/14/10 at 2:48pm

And the reality is, they are planning a tour. The tour will sell really well. And they are smart to do 1-2 week engagements. Get in, sell out and leave.

[Kev]

Posted: 5/14/10 at 3:10pm

I haven't seem them featured in any ads.

Young and Degarmo's names are also featured on the current flyer for the show, with the Idol tag. It is what it is.

I re-visited the new tribe once again and, while the chemistry remains solid, the electricity and overall distinction of the tribe is MIA.

Young appears to be having a fun time as Berger but, his portrayal rings false. DeGarmo's line readings are downright laughable and even her big-voiced "Easy to Be Hard" is one-note in the acting department. Bayardelle's vocals are shrill and vibrato-heavy. Ashford is pulling the same delivery as she has in many of her previous projects.

Riabko, Wooten, and Ray made the most positive impressions.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 5/14/10 at 4:10pm

If American Idiot closes first, Hair won't close yet. Those fans have to go somewhere and will crawl back to Hair making excuses all the way as long as the new cast members accept their friend request on Facebook.

[Marquise]

Posted: 5/14/10 at 4:21pm

A revival of a 40 year old show that was not good in its original incarnation not doing well? I'm shocked.

Gothampc that statement is just plain ignorant. HAIR may not be your "cup of tea" but the Original Off-Broadway and Broadway productions were very successful and garnered much attention both negative and positive. Do the research. The facts are there. The original Broadway production ran for 4 years and 1759 performances.

This revival is an extremely successful one and even if it closes tomorrow it will remain one.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/14/10 at 6:08pm

This is where Goth comes in and says the first incarnation was the best and the creatives totally lost it when they tried to give it a plot.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 5/14/10 at 7:56pm

Yes running for four years was considered a very long run!