IfThen Sept 3 performance- Page 2

[Cupid Boy2]

Posted: 8/6/14 at 10:04pm

The refunds are an excellent point, but given that it's known that she'll be out this well in advance, I would think that all points of purchase would be able to make that fact explicitly clear to ticket buyers before they proceeded with their purchases. Ticketmaster's site certainly has the capability to do that.

While I'll concede that there will certainly be individuals who fail to read the fine print or who refuse to heed advice given by ticketing agents, MOST would take note of her absence before they even bought the tickets if they were told up front.

Not to mention that in the past shows with "bigger" stars have done the exact thing I've described above. The most recent example that comes to mind is Catherine Zeta-Jone's vacation from A Little Night Music. They let her understudy go on in her absence and advertised that well in advance. If I recall correctly, their grosses weren't too terrible that week either. (And before anyone mentions it, I know Angela Lansbury was above the title as well. She was certainly not the biggest selling point of that revival, though. It was CZJ all the way.)

[brdway411]

Posted: 8/6/14 at 10:09pm

IF/ Then has been on TKTS/ TDF a lot, so it is not selling that well. I am thinking that they will most likely pull the plug in Jan after the holidaze.

[elpielovesblackfish2]

Posted: 8/6/14 at 10:28pm

I think Eden Espinosa would be an INCREDIBLE Elizabeth!!!

[haterobics]

Posted: 8/6/14 at 11:45pm

"So who could take Idina's place and draw? Thoughts?"

I tend not to play guessing games, unless I have a clear answer.

"I think they are making a bit of a mistake with all of these posters praising Menzel. She is wonderful in the show but I think they are setting themselves up to close when she leaves."

I think they are just trying to stay open while she's there.

"The refunds are an excellent point, but given that it's known that she'll be out this well in advance, I would think that all points of purchase would be able to make that fact explicitly clear to ticket buyers before they proceeded with their purchases. Ticketmaster's site certainly has the capability to do that."

I think it is a point of pride with Idina to be above the title AND show up and do the work as often as possible. When she was sick, she had Jackie go on, but when she has opportunities to draw attention to herself and the show, like singing at the MLB All-Star Game, she did it, and they rescheduled the show. They clearly have the numbers that it is more profitable for them to reschedule a show than deal with the refunds.

Otherwise, there would be an alternate thread on here questioning how she doesn't mind missing shows and upsetting audiences as long as she increases her own celebrity. So, she can't win...

"While I'll concede that there will certainly be individuals who fail to read the fine print or who refuse to heed advice given by ticketing agents, MOST would take note of her absence before they even bought the tickets if they were told up front."

This would have to be after December 21, currently the last day tickets are on sale, since even on that date, people have already purchased tickets. Not many, but a few dozen at least....

"She was certainly not the biggest selling point of that revival, though. It was CZJ all the way"

I went to that show because it was Sondheim. Who is performing Sondheim is secondary. I saw Peters and Stritch, though.

Updated On: 8/6/14 at 11:45 PM

[ken8631]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 8:12am

Of course Stephanie J Block is a good Idina replacement (opposite happened in Wicked), but SJB is now pregnant so likely not available......

[Auggie27]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 8:27am

All of this outrage about what's "fair to Jackie" is fairly ludicrous. Burns is a standby. She's hired -- and paid handsomely -- to be ready should the star be unable to perform. She went on 4.5 times when that was the case. She is not owed anything but a nice salary. This bizarre notion that the high stakes commercial theater is a middle school gym class, and everyone should get to be a star athlete for a day is giggle-inducing. It's a business. Menzel is a star in a star vehicle. For precedent see Kazan, Lanie.

[binau]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 8:31am

Idina is irreplaceable in this role. There is literally no equal or bigger broadway star and no film or tv star with a big enough name who would have her voice (assuming they'd want to replace in the first place, which is doubtful). Very very tricky casting here. The show can't stand on its own.

Updated On: 8/9/14 at 08:31 AM

[playlover2010]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 8:55am

I think Sherie Rene Scott would be a kind of amazing replacement.

[steven22]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 9:00am

Maybe once the show announces a closing date (at the end of Menzel's contract), Jackie could get the opportunity to go on again? And Sherie Rene Scott would be great!

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 9:13am

Sure, people like Eden and SJB could sing the show, but they won't sell the show. I can't think of a single other person (than Idina) who could sell the show as well.

[haterobics]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 9:58am

"Maybe once the show announces a closing date (at the end of Menzel's contract), Jackie could get the opportunity to go on again?"

I agree with this if you replaced the first half of the sentence with "If Idina got sick again,"

Auggie kind of summed up the reality of the situation pretty well.

[LindaSmyth]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 10:45am

I really don't understand the point of having a standby. They could just have a normal understudy who also covers other tracks instead of wasting money in paying another salary. For example, JB could be just a member of the ensemble AND Idina's uderstudy. Maybe I'm missing something.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 10:53am

It's useful to have a standby when Idina realizes at intermission that she can't finish the show.

[LindaSmyth]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 11:07am

right, but why couldn't a understudy just go on and have one of the 4 swings cover the understudy's track?

[sharona39]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 1:12pm

Just saw that performances on September 10 and 17 are also cancelled.

[dreaming]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 1:15pm

Oh for heaven's sake. Offer steep discounts and let the non Idina fans have an escape from the shrieking she calls singing and her oh too adoring fans.

[theatreguy]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 1:17pm

These performances have been canceled:
Weds, 9/3 at 2pm
Weds, 9/10 at 2pm
Weds, 9/17 at 7pm

And these performances have been added in their place:
Sun, 9/7 at 7:30pm
Sun, 9/14 at 7:30pm
Sun, 9/21 at 7:30pm

[dreaming]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 1:19pm

Oh goody.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 1:23pm

dreaming if you hate Idina why even are you reading this thread?

[sharona39]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 1:43pm

Thank you theatreguy - very much appreciated.

[haterobics]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 2:14pm

dreaming only seems to post in threads for shows she doesn't want to see. I can't explain why, though.

[sparepart973]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 2:28pm

The reason why they probably didn't higher an understudy instead of a standby is because they'd want someone on the league of a Jackie Burns, who if this wasn't such a star vehicle, would be a full time lead.
Someone like Ms. Burns might not take an understudy gig per se, but could settle for a standby. I would imagine that for the caliber of "understudy" they want, they'd probably have to give the actor on offer a higher pay grade/title for them to accept the gig.

[MegInManhattan]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 2:53pm

All Wednesdays cancelled and added on Sunday nights. Maybe without the summer tourists constantly coming through they think they can make more $ with the 8th show on a weekend?

[TFMH18]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 5:31pm

Also something to think about as far as Jackie being standby... When the casting was being done, I bet producers/the creative were assuming that the show would fair better in terms of both reviews and Tony noms. Of course the show was always meant to be a star vehicle for Idina, but had they known that she would literally be their ONLY hope, perhaps they would have done differently in terms of standby vs. understudy. Who knows though, just a thought.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 8/7/14 at 8:28pm

I always bring up "Song and Dance," which never had the same success without Peters. The producers made a mistake, going with Buckley. But the show was a unique synergy of performance and material. Even people who didn't like it much adored the Peters performance. This is close in terms of commercial realities, though B'way is different than it as in the 80s. "Song and Dance" toured with Melissa Manchester. "If/Then" needs something comparable: a pop singer making a move. I don't think a mere singing actor, no matter how respected, can sell tickets. (O'Hara AND Pasquale couldn't keep "Bridges" afloat, and they are both beloved.) Sometimes, a show needs a star. It's not unique.