Broadway Legend Joined: 3/27/19
Kudos to Call_me_jorge for being correct, despite the skeptics.
I don’t really like Platt, and I don’t listen to his music, but acting like he can’t sell out the Palace for a 3-week residency (totaling 18 shows) is being willfully ignorant of his mass appeal. He’s a rare musical theatre/pop culture crossover artist. This will sell out easily.
Updated On: 3/18/24 at 10:11 AM
So i guess we now have a real timeline as to when the first new musical could open there.
I don’t know, I just seem to recall he wasn’t able to sell out his arena tour in 2022.
Arenas and Broadway theaters are not the same. And he sold tickets to Dear Evan Hansen and Parade just fine.
Featured Actor Joined: 4/13/13
BroadwayWorld and Theatermania's write ups also note that this is not offically being called the re-opening event.
"This is the first announced event to occupy the newly remodeled Palace Theatre, but there could be other events that might take place before the residency."
"This residency is the first announced event for the newly renovated Palace, which closed in 2018 for a restoration that included raising the landmarked venue 30 feet in the air. However, the production is specifically not calling itself the reopening act, noting that there might be others prior to Platt taking the stage"
The BWW article includes this:
This is the first announced event to occupy the newly remodeled Palace Theatre, but there could be other events that might take place before the residency.
Broadway Star Joined: 4/30/16
This is laughable. Don’t let the few Ben Platt fansens on this board fool you.
No no no !
Take it for what it's worth but I have on mildly good word that Platt was not the first pic, Gaga was. It was going to be a 30 day residency sold as "Gaga and Friends" much like she had with Tony but logistics and scheduling could never work out.
Instead we get...Ben Platt...opening the most iconic house. Yowza.
"he sold tickets to Dear Evan Hansen and Parade just fine."
It's certainly possible that this will be a smash... but he's singing his pop music, not starring in a show. Do people like his pop music that much? I really liked his first album but not his second. Are there 32,000 people willing to pay 80$+ dollars to see him sing his original songs? Interested to watch it play out.
The Palace has had just as many flops and questionable choices as any other theatre, despite hosting the likes of Judy, Liza, Diana Ross, and others. It was only a decade ago it housed Holler If Ya Hear Me. Let’s not get too precious here.
I don't see him selling out the Palace. I wouldn't rush to buy tickets as there should be discounts available. Or at least it'll be up at TKTS.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/23/17
ucjrdude902 said: "Take it for what it's worth but I have on mildly good word that Platt was not the first pic, Gaga was. It was going to be a 30 day residency sold as "Gaga and Friends" much like she had with Tony but logistics and scheduling could never work out.
Instead we get...Ben Platt...opening the most iconic house. Yowza."
As others have already pointed out, this is the first announced event to occupy the newly remodeled Palace Theatre, but there could be other events that might take place before the residency.
I think people here are letting their personal feelings about Platt as a person/performer cloud their judgment on the prospects of this. It’s only 3 weeks and it’s at the start of summer, a busy time for Broadway. And it’s also- and probably not coincidentally- happening during college graduation time, when thousands of families come to the city and will want to do something for their kids who happen to be Platt’s core demographic.
I can say with confidence that I have never heard one of his songs intentionally or even it just coming up on my Spotify in rotation. I just do not see him selling out 3 weeks of shows based on him and his music. His Pop Career is astroturfed and just a sand box to play in. It was evident from him getting pushed right to an arena tour 2022 that he couldn't sell.
Updated On: 3/18/24 at 11:28 AM
I know in Las Vegas when an artist does a residency there they allow audience members to take videos.
When I went to Ben Platt's concert at the Beacon theater and Radio City Music Hall they allowed audience members to videotape.
I've never been to a residency on Broadway but I know videorecording is not allowed when there's a play/musical. What's the rule for concert residencies?
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/15/07
His Radio City show was *heavily* papered and not full. I don't see how he's going to sell 3 weeks.
There's also a difference in "See X performer in a show" and "See X performer sing his pop songs with a few broadway songs thrown in."
HogansHero said: "Who knows but I don't see it."
Boy was I right about that and wrong about a lot else, although I still think it is a lousy choice in multiple ways.
Not really interested in getting tickets to see this but I am, however, really interested in hearing how the renovation is and if once inside The Palace you even realize that it's been completely lifted.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/23/17
nasty_khakis said: "His Radio City show was *heavily* papered and not full. I don't see how he's going to sell 3 weeks.
There's also a difference in "See X performer in a show" and "See X performer sing his pop songs with a few broadway songs thrown in.""
His MSG shows were even worse -- less than 1/3 of the seats were sold. Comps were plentiful and available for the asking, and all of the people in the cheap seats were moved down.
Stand-by Joined: 5/4/08
Well.. you need someone who can remove all the kinks before the big names come in ;)
Coulda been kinda cool to do the "Judy at The Palace" set list performed by Bdwy greats. Like those PBS concerts from years ago.
Let’s hope GaGa will come in and save all of us
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