Papering just means free tickets. They want word of mouth to spread, so they offer free tickets in hopes you'll spread the (positive) word on the show.
Broadway Star Joined: 3/20/08
"Any word if this is one act or two acts?"
That's a pretty big ask for a show that has yet to even tell anyone what the story is aside from it being non-biogrphically based on the music and lyrics of Tupac.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/24/14
I am guessing one act. The Web site says there is no late seating and the show starts promptly at the stated time.
Why would that mean one act? Those sound like good rules for every show.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/24/14
I agree, but usually it would say late comers are sat at the discretion of the theater. This does not.
Too bad I'm in a reduced show mode, or I might've gone to see the mystery unfold myself tomorrow night. Heh.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/24/14
As a 60 something who knows nothing of Tupac, I am kind of excited for it. Rushing Les Mis today, holler tomorrow and Caber et on Tuesday. Hedwig and the Tony party at 54 Below Sunday.
"I can't recall the last time a show was opening and I had zero idea what it was about or anything."
"Holler If Ya Hear Me is a riveting, non-biographical story about friendship, love, change, family and hope—an original work that is at once a love story and an unretouched picture of life in the streets." YOU'RE WELCOME
The HuffPo lists a trace of more info about the show,
"... it's set in a Midwestern industrial city during present day and tells the story of two childhood friends "as they struggle to reconcile the challenges and realities of their daily lives with their hopes, dreams and ambitions." "
I'm very curious to hear reports back about what this really means.
Huffpo article
also from the LA times:
"The new work, opening June 19 at Broadway's Palace Theatre, tells of a hardscrabble young black man released from prison and the obstacles that lie in his path. The show is meant to indirectly evoke Shakur's own life but also tell ?a broader tale of racial and social injustice--and for people, those creators believe, far outside the hip-hop tent."
"..star Saul Williams rapped about the things he’d seen in prison based on Shakur’s own lyrics about the subject. Some of the assembled were non-pro actors brought in on an open casting call because of their dancing or rapping skills, lending the proceedings an extra dose of authenticity."
source
There's every reason to doubt this thing, but I've had a weird ping of feeling for months that it's going to be one of those shows that this board dismisses because it isn't aimed at us, and turns out to be something. I wish it well because it sounds SO much more interesting than most of the "jukebox" shows.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/29/12
Will Snoop Lion come in previews or opening night?
I agree Warhol, people just want to dismiss it because it's not your typical Broadway show with your typical Broadway songs. It's annoying. I hope it's really great.
""Holler If Ya Hear Me is a riveting, non-biographical story about friendship, love, change, family and hope—an original work that is at once a love story and an unretouched picture of life in the streets." YOU'RE WELCOME "
Yes, I had found that already. But that doesn't really convey all that much. It's about a bunch of nouns that most shows are about... OK, let me get my credit card.
I'm not dismissing it because it's based on Tupac. I'm just saying the marketing team seems to be leaning solely on the Tupac angle to sell the tickets, and it isn't working. I also don't think I've gotten one e-mail about this show, which is also rare. I get way too many e-mails about every show. If this show isn't targeted at me, that's fine, but whoever they are targeting it at (assuming that exists) also isn't buying tickets.
I've gotten several from Audience Rewards and Ticketmaster about it. I hope it's great, it just may be wrong for a Broadway theater.
fallingawake: Interesting, good to finally hear some new info about this show!
Sutton: Those aren't from the producers/marketing team. You know the perils of a marketing team not working fast enough to generate a demand from Bridges. ;-/
Understudy Joined: 9/8/13
The bottom line is a scan of the TM sell map shows Holler on pace to do $100,000 per week for its 1st four weeks. That's a monumental stiff rarely seen. Strong reviews have never been more important to a show.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/9/04
I am very, very curious and eager to see this on Tuesday. Should be quite interesting.
I have many friends whom were there tonight for the Final Dress, and initial word of mouth is not good....AT ALL. Like, the ensemble is great and has a tremendous amount of heart, with a few cool numbers but overall the Production, Design and Direction all fell flat. OUCH. And this is not just from one person, its from a variety of different people who have no vested interest in the show one way or another....so there you go. How long is preview period?
Updated On: 6/1/14 at 11:56 PM
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/24/14
It has to be better than the indie movie premier I just sat through.
Interestingly this was mentioned on a mainstream Australian radio show this morning, although in a negative way (a discussion of 'unlikely' musicals where they made jokes of what ridiculous things get turned into musicals).
Who knows -- this could spark an awakening of non-traditional, diverse, 'real' shows. However, not every first is great, but hopefully it makes a statement, and opens the door to possibly more successful musicals of the type.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/24/14
I am not countin chickens, but If/Then thought it was going to be the next (N2N), best thing, and Oopppppps
Videos