Is the Newsies tour worth $85 to $95?

[gleek4114]

Posted: 10/31/14 at 12:27am

It is coming to Louisville, and I really want to catch it. The cheapest tickets are in the very back of the balcony for $28 but I don't want to sit that far back in the barn that is Whitney Hall. All the seats in the Orchestra are between $85 and $95. Is this to much for this show? I think it's outrageous. The Kentucky Center NEVER offers student pricing for it's broadway seasons. Its sad that touring shows are more expensive than a show on broadway. On my last NYC trip the highest I paid for a ticket was $79. Granted I always rushed or used a discount code, but why would you pay more for a tour. I feel like I am ranting now and straying from the subject at hand. Is Newsies worth up to $95?

[haterobics]

Posted: 10/31/14 at 12:35am

That is the normal price for a Broadway show with a discount code.

[gleek4114]

Posted: 10/31/14 at 12:40am

But that's the thing. Its a touring production. Less than 2 years ago the top ticket price for Kentucky's shows was $69. It has jumped a lot lately. I know $25 more doesn't seem like that big of a deal but I am very frugal and I always try to find the best possible seat for the best possible price.

[haterobics]

Posted: 10/31/14 at 12:46am

You're still conflating their top NON-discounted rate with a Broadway discounted rate. If everyone on Broadway only bought discounted tickets, no show could stay open or make their money back. And a local production doesn't have the same amount of time to cover their costs, even if their costs are lower.

And, if they can't sell all the tickets, then it may turn up on Goldstar or something...

Not to mention: "Whenever possible, Kentucky Center Presents will make tickets available at a reduced rate of $15 per person for college and university students and faculty, for select shows, based on availability. These rush tickets are available “day of show” only at the box office counter (not available by phone or online.) Students and faculty must present valid college identification during purchase.

Click here to view the Kentucky Center Presents show calendar. We recommend calling the box office to check on availability of this discount per performance (502.584.7777)." Updated On: 10/31/14 at 12:46 AM

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 10/31/14 at 1:11am

If you think about all the money you are saving by not flying to NYC, not spending on hotels, and most importantly, the TIME you are saving by not commuting to another city to see the show, I think it's 100% worth the money asked. A fantastic show by the way.

[JBradshaw]

Posted: 10/31/14 at 1:57am

Top price for the newsies tour in Philly is $115, so $85 ain't bad.

[ShakinBaconGirl]

Posted: 10/31/14 at 7:31am

Is the tour union or non union?

[gleek4114]

Posted: 10/31/14 at 8:02am

I'm 90% positive it's union.

[Adair Haywind]

Posted: 10/31/14 at 9:07am

The tour is union. As to whether or not it's worth $85-$95, not sure. I paid $67 to see the OBC in 2012.

[GoSmileLaughCryClap]

Posted: 10/31/14 at 9:24am

I was at the opening last night in Philadelphia. Production-wise, it was one of the best road shows I've seen. They're using the Broadway sets.

There was a party after the show for the 20th anniversary of Disney Theatrical. All the Disney people were there, as well as Alan Menken and a bunch of other creative types who've been involved with their shows.

It was a lot of fun, and I'm sure that the performance had some extra spark with all the VIPs in the house.

[CathyFromLex]

Posted: 10/31/14 at 2:09pm

I have $68 tickets for Louisville in Row C of the Grand Tier. The price drop from $95 was too good to resist and I think being a bit farther back for Newsies might be a good thing for perspective.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 10/31/14 at 3:00pm

That's a great price for a show, and as long as the talent is there (as it was the first few years on Broadway), it's totally worth it. Have a great time!

[trpguyy]

Posted: 10/31/14 at 7:19pm

"They're using the Broadway sets."

No they're not. They're using new sets built specifically for the tour, that look and function the same as the Broadway set. There's a big difference between this and "using the Broadway sets."

[haterobics]

Posted: 10/31/14 at 7:22pm

^^ That can't be true, since I read on this very site that they shut down the Broadway run specifically so they didn't have to build new sets for the tour. So, either you're wrong, or people on here are just making **** up...

[trpguyy]

Posted: 10/31/14 at 7:35pm

Wait, I thought everything that people post here is true?!

The Newsies tour set is 1000% new and built for the tour. Now I bet that *some* wardrobe and props from the Broadway production are being reused, but not the set.

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 10/31/14 at 7:58pm

trpguy your facts are wrong. The set is indeed the exact set from the Broadway production. It has been noted many times by the creative team and all else involved. While most tours do newly reproduce the physical production of their Broadway counterparts, Newsies is using the exact same structure that was used 8 nights a week at the Nederlander.

[trpguyy]

Posted: 10/31/14 at 8:06pm

I'm not sure how else to say this: IT IS A NEW SET. I'm very close with many people working on the show, some of whom were building the set in the shop this summer.

EDIT: Could you provide any information that backs up your assertion the set is recycled? Updated On: 10/31/14 at 08:06 PM

[TheatreKid3]

Posted: 10/31/14 at 8:14pm

Thomas Schumacher also said it was the same set in an interview...

Not that I'm disagreeing with you. I'm just stating what was put out to the press.

Financially speaking, it would be stupid to build a new set when the Broadway could be used. They may have built a few new elements, like the back scrim, light boxes, etc. to make them more proportionate to larger road houses, as well as the flats that make the proscenium for the show, but other than that I don't see why Disney would spend the money to build a new set.

[trpguyy]

Posted: 10/31/14 at 8:19pm

Just to reiterate, it's a new set.

And financially, it makes all the sense in the world. A set that was designed and built to actually tour (not a moving installation, like the Papermill -> Broadway set) and can get loaded in in under 14 hours and out in under 5 will save them hundreds of thousands of dollars over the course of the tour, if not millions. IATSE overtime is EXPENSIVE.


oh and damn, what does this say 5th paragraph from the end?
http://articles.philly.com/2014-10-29/news/55402110_1_newsies-jack-feldman-bob-tzudiker
Updated On: 10/31/14 at 08:19 PM

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 10/31/14 at 9:33pm

That review means nothing. Anyone who sees a show would think that a set is fresh.

[trpguyy]

Posted: 10/31/14 at 10:49pm

Just curious - how dumb are you? That's an article, not a review.
Still waiting for any evidence you have that the set is recycled. I'll be waiting for a while though, since the set was actually built at Hudson Scenic in July.

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 10/31/14 at 11:12pm

I don't know how your touring house is, but the Academy of Music has rush for the entire run of Newsies through Sunday. As someone who has seen the show both on Broadway and at Paper Mill, I can attest that the tour captures the show perfectly. The new song for Crutchie called "Letter from the Refuge" is wonderful, and I always felt like we needed to be brought back to Crutchie in some form.

Updated On: 11/1/14 at 11:12 PM

[gleek4114]

Posted: 10/31/14 at 11:43pm

As far as I know we never have rush. It opens here in about 2 and a half weeks. Maybe one will be announced by then?

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 10/31/14 at 11:51pm

I believe someone above in the thread posted something that said your venue sells fifteen dollar tickets or something.

[gleek4114]

Posted: 10/31/14 at 11:58pm

I have never heard them selling that price to students. It might be for a different series. Newsies is part of Broadway Across America.

Haterobics, can you link me to where you read that?