Posted: 8/22/18 at 1:41pm
Is it weird giving one of the cast members a closing night gift? How likely are they to do stage door for this final show? I just want to show my appreciation (to Gavin Creel specifically) and was thinking of just dropping a package or handing it to security to be delivered. Sorry, not really sure about gifting etiquette.
Posted: 8/24/18 at 12:19am
Hello Dolly! recouped with 5% returns:
http://broadwayjournal.com/lavish-dolly-earns-modest-returns/
Wow, an 850k nut per week? I can't believe the show was that expensive to run.
Posted: 8/24/18 at 9:11am
Thanks Ivy, learned a lot from that!
So, it's the final countdown. I could barely sleep last night. Once again, I had my dreaded pre-Dolly nightmare. We arrive at the Shubert 30 seconds late and aren't allowed in and miss the show. I know what egged that on - Telecharge sent an email yesterday warning ticketholders not to be late. Message received TeleRudin.
I will be dancing to the theater tomorrow on a cloud of euphoria, tissues in my purse. This revival of my childhood favorite has been the Broadway experience of my lifetime. So glad to be sharing it with all of you. 
Posted: 8/24/18 at 9:47am
Ditto. My one-hour flight leaves at 7:45 tomorrow morning. If they cancel it like they did the day I missed Bernadette's last show, I am getting in my car and driving the 7 hours. I will not miss this. I remember the day I booked my tickets for the closing show. August 25th seemed so far away. Now.. it's less than 24 hours away. Bittersweet, absolutely. But I truly can't wait to share in a magical night with so many people on this board who love this show, and Bette, as much as I do.
Posted: 8/24/18 at 11:02am
Hi everyone.
I've been perusing these boards for a little while, but just made an account in order to express how excited I am to see the closing night performance tomorrow.
This production was.....my first Broadway show. Tomorrow will be my third viewing and I'm already devastated that it will be the last.
I can definitely say that seeing this show changed my life, and I'm probably going to cry through the entire show tomorrow. I'm a New Yorker and seeing that people are flying in for this show just makes me feel like I've found "my people" because my friends and family certainly don't understand how I could spend money on going three times. For me, I just know it will be such a special, once-in-a-lifetime experience that I feel so honored to be a part of.
Posted: 8/24/18 at 11:09am
poisonivy2 said: "Hello Dolly! recouped with 5% returns:
http://broadwayjournal.com/lavish-dolly-earns-modest-returns/
Wow, an 850k nut per week? I can't believe the show was that expensive to run."
Are the producers on this also the producers on the tour? Won't they make more money from that? Also, do the original creators keep getting their profits from the tour or get another lump payment?
Posted: 8/24/18 at 11:35am
I'm going to be at the matinee tomorrow and will probably weep through the whole show. Although I'm very excited for the energy in the theater. Even without it being the last day of the show, it sounds like the energy lately has been through the roof, and add onto that it being closing day, it will be electric. When I saw Bernadette, the energy was kind of meh, which was the only disappointing part about the show.
Posted: 8/24/18 at 8:41pm
Once the final show has been performed Saturday night, and the curtain drops for the very last time, what’s the sequence of events that happens next with the props and backdrops for “Hello, Dolly!”? I remembered reading in another thread that the Harmonia Gardens set was to be used in the National Tour, so will this be part of a Shubert Theater load-out that takes place, if there is one? Since we’re also a month away from the Schenectady Previews, will this all transit ASAP to that theater for practices?
Posted: 8/24/18 at 10:23pm
i saw it 4 times with Bette. Worth every penny to be a part of that greatness. I’m sitting here in tears tonight that I didn’t book a ticket for the finale. The show truly is on e in lifetime greatness. I’ll see the tour. But I’m worried I’ll be disappointed. Don’t cry because it’s over. Cry because it happened!
Posted: 8/25/18 at 12:03am
I would love to have something signed by Bette. How much was the donation? Maybe I can drop off an SASE at the stage door tomorrow? Hmm....
Posted: 8/25/18 at 12:15am
Posted: 8/25/18 at 2:26am
BroadwayBeebe said: "I can’t believe tonight has finally arrived. I can’t wait for the pure electricity in the room this evening and also for the immense sadness that comes with knowing I won’t be able to head over to the Shubert and witness the magic anymore. Looking forward to meeting several of you and enjoying the show tonight.
As an aside, Last June I sent a SASE with $50 and received a full original cast signed playbill including Midler. It’s one of my most prized possessions!"
The price went way up towards the end of Bette's run. I seem to recall both $150 and $200 being floated when Bernadette was in the show ($150 was what it cost during Easter Bonnet, I remember, with window cards being $200). I can't imagine it went down when Bette came back--so you got very lucky! 
Posted: 8/25/18 at 10:56am
poisonivy2 said: "Hello Dolly! recouped with 5% returns:
http://broadwayjournal.com/lavish-dolly-earns-modest-returns/
Wow, an 850k nut per week? I can't believe the show was that expensive to run."
Well, now we know why it's closing. 850k?
There are a tier of stars who could pull in Bernadette-like numbers, say 700-900k. But if they needed over a million to be returning investment, then there's no way.
And Midler must have had a nice backend on that profit, too. Not doing all the math now, but averaging 2.5 mil seems it should've returned it quicker than 17 months later.
Posted: 8/25/18 at 10:57am
Hi Friends!
Couple of friends backed out for tonight's closing performance of Dolly so I'm putting them up for grabs.
Front row mezzanine A-14 and A-16. Face value with fees was $250 each. (Looks like premium seats next to them are on Telecharge for $599.) PayPal and I'll put them in your name at the box office.
Thanks!
