Wicked did fine after the original cast left and has yet in 12 years casted a huge known celebrity. I hope it run for a very long time though.
Wicked CAST Joey Mcintyre and Rue Mcclanahan early in the run. While not huge names, they did seem to dabble with some name recognition in the roles for a brief period.
^Exactly. Outside of the Broadway community, he's not a draw.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
Everyone in New York knows who Lin Manuel Miranda is. But, if you didn't catch his hilarious character in How I Met Your Mother or his Modern Family episode, most people probably don't know him very well in middle America. Theater people and New Yorkers definitely do, and he is a big name to them. His name is part of why the advance sales are so huge. He IS a draw.
"New Yorkers" is such an incredibly broad generalization and includes millions of people. So, no, he is not a "big name" to "New Yorkers." He is a big name, however, to "Theater people." You're correct on that point.
Everyone in New York knows who Lin Manuel Miranda is.
Ok. I will say the majority of people in New York City knows who he is or at least have heard his name before. But, everyone I know has heard of him because they all saw In The Heights, including people from all over the country. He is a draw to Hamilton. One of them at least.
Margo, even accepting that as true, the purpose of casting "stars" is not to get theatre people and New Yorkers attracted to the show-they are, in case you haven't noticed, already there.
I agree, Kad, that the king is really the only good stunt casting opportunity. I just don't know how much impact it would have. And for the foreseeable future it is irrelevant; the show itself is selling out and is reselling up in the stratosphere. I think the apt analogy is BOM-no one bought tickets to that because of its two aborning leads. And no one has bought a ticket since because of anyone in the show (not counting the grandmothers of all those kids making their broadway debuts...
Also, I’d argue that many of the people who know who Lin-Manuel (or at least his name) now know him because of “Hamilton,” which still makes the show itself the bigger known entity. He may certainly be a draw for some people, but I definitely don’t think the success of the show is hinging on him being in it. An added bonus, certainly, but I’m certain the show will live on long after he exits the cast.
I guess this is a surprise to exactly no one, but the Hamilton lottery line looks crazy long, according to what people are posting on Twitter and Instagram.
As far as I can see, they've been pushing the show in all the right places. There's a definite following on social media, they had a great article in Vogue, they have a piece in this weeks Cosmo which actually profiles the performers, they're on the front of the NY Times today. I assume once things get going they'll be on tv shows. Jimmy Fallon loved the show so I wouldn't be surprised if they did something on his show. It does feel a little more than just the opening of another show, there's a shift happening.
@decast re Fallon, I think now that it has been announced that Questlove is producing the cast recording it is a foregone conclusion that the show will have a warm perch at the Tonight show.
So, personally, I'm not a huge hip-hop and rap fan, and upon hearing about the show and watching the promo spot ("My Shot"), I didn't really understand all of the hype.
However, hearing more and more about how it has different types of music, and understanding the plot a little bit more, I am more and more intrigued by the concept and more and more excited, I guess. I definitely understand the hype, especially after reading that this could merge the gap between the theatre and the mainstream.
Are the songs currently available somewhere? After all, I've only heard a snippet of "My Shot", and I would like to hear more before judging it. :)
My question is (and this maybe a better question after tonight's performance): Were any of you who enjoyed it a little bit skeptical at first?
It's hard to imagine if anyone hasn't gone into this show with skepticism. I sure did. On paper, a hip-hop, mostly rapped musical about Alexander Hamilton seems like, at best, a Fringe Festival novelty. I don't particularly like rap or hip-hop, either. But damn if it wasn't one of the best things I have seen, easily.
And no, as of now there are no recordings of the songs released.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
Kad, did you happen to see Lin-Manuel as you passed the theater? Apparently he came out to either say hello to the crowd or actually conduct the lotto!