HELLO, DOLLY! Sets August 25 Closing Date; Bette Midler to Return July 17 — Page 6

HogansHero said: " 1. The numbers on Peters do not suggest a market for other (lesser) Dollys.

2. Rudin has NEVER given a hint of interest in doing a Weissler/Chicago-style revolving door. In fact, it is quite clear he has sold the show as a star vehicle to an almost unprecedented extent.

3. Rudin has never evinced an interest in putting stage plays before an audience other than when they show up at the theatre.

Had this nonsense been posted by newbies, I'd understand, but it is coming from people who ought to know better."

I agree with your point on the star vehicle marketing, but then why didn't it just close when Bette left the first time if Rudin had no interest in furthering the run with other women? Maybe I'm misunderstanding you.

In regards to filming the show, was it filmed for Lincoln Center already and we're talking about a different thing? If not, do you believe Rudin doesn't even have interest in filming for archival footage?

Updated On: 4/20/18 at 09:10 PM

I mean, it's not called "Hello, Horace!"

As mentioned above, it was designed as a star vehicle for Dolly. It's all about her.

But not a dumb suggestion at all! Other shows have a history of star-casting alternating roles, so I see where you're coming from.

dmwnc1959 said: "But to call any of us idiots is unfair."

Of course. But it is a part of the delusion. Most people know nothing about the theatre, musicals, or the people who perform in such. Just as most people here know nothing about a lot of other things. Because people choose what to be interested in. To suggest that someone is an idiot for not keeping up with musical theatre is crazy talk. If everyone were as interested in the theatre as the active participants in this thread, tickets to Broadway shows would be unaffordable even for the 1%.

Eliza2 said:

I feel confident that at least 90% of the subscribers at my theatre have no idea who Betty Buckley is. And they don't care who is in the cast of any of the shows they buy tickets to. And they certainly don't know what Equity vs non-Equity means."

I completely agree with you. The same would be said about my city. If Hello Dolly would come to my city, which it isn't, the subscribers would buy tickets to it because of the show. They don't know squat about equity or non equity or who even the star is. We just had Beautiful in my city last week. We had the understudy for Carole King at my performance. (who was excellent). The couple sitting next to me, who paid over $100 for each ticket were disappointed because they actually thought Carole King performed in the show.

ArtMan said: "Eliza2 said:

I feel confident that at least 90% of the subscribers at my theatre have no idea who Betty Buckley is. And they don't care who is in the cast of any of the shows they buy tickets to. And they certainly don't know what Equity vs non-Equity means."

I completely agree with you. The same would be said about my city. If Hello Dolly would come to my city, which it isn't, the subscribers would buy tickets to it because of the show. They don't know squat about equity or non equity or who even the star is. We just had Beautiful in my city last week. We had the understudy for Carole King at my performance. (who was excellent). The couple sitting next to me, who paid over $100 for each ticket were disappointed because they actually thought Carole King performed in the show."

Please don’t get me wrong. But what does that say about that couple ? The bitchy poster might have a point.

dmwnc1959 said: "Eliza2 said: “I feel confident that at least 90% of the subscribers at my theatre have no idea who Betty Buckley is. And they don't care who is in the cast of any of the shows they buy tickets to. And they certainly don't know what Equity vs non-Equity means."

SmokeyLady said: “They are idiots.”



I’ve got people who work in my office who have never heard of Bernadette Peters. I asked one of my co-workers today if they’d ever heard of the show “Hello, Dolly!” and they seriously answered/asked if it was about Dolly Parton.

And I personally had never heard of Betty Buckley before the tour was announced.

A good chunk of America truly enjoy the quality, official Broadway National Tours that come through their towns. And yes, the ones that aren’t official or are non-Equity, well, maybe they don’t know the difference or what that means. I do, but only since I became a regular here.

Americans who do subscribe to see these Broadway National Tours, as if it were almost an afterthought, trust absolutely the producers of the shows to put in experienced actors and actresses to give standout performances. It’s not that they don’t care who’s in the cast. Maybe the ticket holders don’t know who the performers are by name. It’s that they, we, are paying to see a high quality show, a Broadway National Tour, and expect, hope, and dream to be entertained by something amazing. It’s one night to escape.We want to walk away knowing we’ve accomplished that.

However, none of this makes us, them, or me, idiots. We just haven’t spent our lives, or a significant part of our life, devoted to Broadway entertainment. I’ve only been watching shows for 27 months. I’m a beginner compared to many of you seasoned veterans. When I saw “The King and I” I had never heard of Laura Michelle Kelly. I know who she is now. Same for many of the other 18 shows I’ve seen, however I’ve tried to educate myself beforehand now with asking questions here.

But to call any of us idiots is unfair.



"

Please get a grip. I know that 99.9% of the world has no idea who these people are or what equity or non equity is.

SmokeyLady said: "Please get a grip. I know that 99.9% of the world has no idea who these people are or what equity or non equity is."

Honey, I’m not the one who just admitted to basically calling 99.9% of the world “idiots”.

dmwnc1959 said: "SmokeyLady said: "Please get a grip. I know that 99.9% of the world has no idea who these people are or what equity or non equity is."

Honey, I’m not the one who just admitted to basically calling 99.9% of the world “idiots”.

"

Well they are Blanche. THEY ARE! Have you seen who our president is? Have you seen what has happened in Europe? Have you seen what is going on in Syria? Have you seen the cuts in Carousel? The world is full of idiots.

I think that Dame was referring that many of her past concerts had been filmed, especially for HBO.

HogansHero said: "DAME said: "Except Bette is involved and she has successfully had her stuff filmed for broadcast before. I don’t know anything. But I wouldn’t be surprised if this was all planned from the get go. She is a very smart business woman. He is also a very savyproducer outside of the theater."

This is not her call. And what stage show of hers has been filmed for broadcast?

"

No one said it was her call. I clearly said I don’t know anything. Drop the attitude. Just a fan here enjoying the chit chat . She had 3 of her arena shows broadcast on HBO. Her Vegas show was also released. She has also had one movie released of a tour.

HogansHero said: "@DAME, no attitude. I was just responding to what you said. They are both smart and savvy but I feel confident he is not going to filmit for release. Her return may well have been planned, at least since before she left. I'm sure it was at least discussed and that the offer was on the table."

Cool.

Updated On: 4/20/18 at 11:51 PM

Perhaps it's because I have no emotional attachment to the musical, or this revival, but the closing announcement doesn't seem surprising at all.

HogansHero has summed things up well. The revival was sold as Hello, Bette and it was boffo box office. The musical without Midler has performed very respectably, but it's not a must-see show. And it would only have gotten worse over time. Revivals just seem to have a limited shelf life, no matter how much people like them.

I admit to being very curious about the revival's profitability at this point but apparently there has been no announcement or reliable information.

Closing the show in late August saves money for the upcoming tour, where people won't be insisting on Bette Midler, Bernadette Peters, or even Betty Buckley. A four-week run or two-week run of Hello, Dolly in cities across the country will do very well.

I won't wager money on this, but I suspect there won't be a filmed, commercial release of this revival. There's not enough money in it to be worth the trouble, I suspect. And if Rudin wanted a filmed production, he had months to arrange that. He didn't, and made sure Midler was kept off the Tonys. For those who love the production, I hope I'm wrong.

They are wise to shut her down now. let's face it, this show has been done to death, enough.