Howcome there's NO Sunday matinees anymore for NEW musicals during previews?

[jaystarr]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 7:56am

I see most of my shows during previews and I would love to see it on Sunday matinees, but I have noticed lately that there's NO Sunday matinees on NEW MUSICAL during previews... (CRY-BABY and A CATERED AFFAIR has no Sunday matinees) then now, which I just bought my tickets~ BILLY ELLIOT has no Sunday matinees neither..Well EQUUS neither, but its not a musical!

Does anyone knows as to why there is NO SUNDAY matinees during previews? (then after the show opens..there is a 3pm sunday) Is this a new trend?

Thanks

J*

[jordangirl]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 7:57am

Isn't it because they usually play Monday nights? Seems like a lot of them have had Monday night shows during previews that went to Sunday mats once the show opened.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 8:00am

Yeah, same for A TALE of TWO CITIES! NO Sunday mats neither!


but why Monday nights during previews, is it EASY for them to fix something during Monday nights? lol! I am sure there's a LOGICAL explanation as to why there's no SUNDAY mats for NEW MUSICAL?

J*

[Patash]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 8:04am

Because with the lack of success of most of them, the full casts and production crews of new musicals are now required to go to church on Sunday and pray, pray, pray.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 8:04am

The only thing I can come up with is perhaps they want industry people -- actors, etc. -- to come check out the show during previews so they can spread the word of mouth, and Mondays are the nights they typically have off from their shows.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 10:03am

Very simply--time and a half.

Since you will be fixing and fine tuning during previews, why use a Sunday when you've got to pay everybody more money? Once you open and presumably the run happens, the matinee starts to pay for itself.

I've always found a Monday night to be a good performance because everybody has gotten some rest. I won't say a Sunday show is a throwaway, but you can get worn down.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 10:16am

Yes, the reason is so casts and crews in currently running shows can go see the new show in previews. They will switch back to a Sunday matinee schedule after opening.

It is not a good schedule for people who live in Boston, but for us natives who want something to see on a Monday night, it's great!

[jaystarr]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 10:18am

WOSQ and WBaF- Thanks for the insightful answers.

and yes WOSQ- which explains as to Why TITLE OF THE SHOW & XANADU did have Sunday matinees during previews bec. the cast and the band is small and not too much to pay, it makes sense! Thanks.

J*

Updated On: 7/15/08 at 10:18 AM

[jaystarr]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 10:25am

and yes WaT- its NOT GOOD for me to see a Saturday matinees bec. the cast will LIKELY NOT go out during matinees bec. they have another shows at 8 pm, unlike Sundays... they will SURELY go out bec. they only have 1 shows!

and another reason is I end-up being tired on Sunday and cannot work-out (if I go on Saturday) unlike Sunday (which does not makes sense? ) bec. MONDAY always affects me as start of a new week and I am energize! My gym suffers on Sunday ( if I see a show on Saturday) but not if I see it on a SUNDAY..simply I am back to work on Monday..and I tend to follow the same schedule! I guess a SUNDAY matinees benefit me twice- I see the stars on Matinee with only 1 performance that day and I can workout the next day!

J*

Updated On: 7/15/08 at 10:25 AM

[temms]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 12:14pm

It's done that way to give more rehearsal time. With a third matinee in the week, you'd lose a rehearsal day. In previews, when Sunday is your day off, you can rehearse Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. If you had two shows Sunday and Monday were the day off, you'd lose that Monday rehearsal and only have three rehearsal days.

Once you're open and the only rehearsals are for understudies and put-ins, they add back the third matinee of the week.