Jefferson Mays in A Christmas Carol

[whatsnext81]

Posted: 11/24/20 at 11:58am

Is anyone planning on purchasing the recorded version of this on Saturday? I've heard good things about the version at Geffen a few years ago, but $50+ isn't cheap.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 11/24/20 at 1:11pm

Where can one purchase this?

[Wick3]

Posted: 11/24/20 at 1:44pm

Sutton Ross said: "Where can one purchase this?"

There's a link on their website: https://www.achristmascarollive.com/

I'm still thinking of purchasing though most likely will do so sometime between Dec 10-24. Total I believe is $57.50 and it's only good for 24 hours unlimited viewings. That 24-hour limit is what's making me wait.  I'll probably wait to hear from others on what they say before jumping the gun simply because I'm already familiar with the story and prefer to watch the play 1-2 weeks before Christmas (not a month before.)

Updated On: 11/24/20 at 01:44 PM

[Wick3]

Posted: 11/24/20 at 1:49pm

Preview of the show from youtube:

 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 11/24/20 at 2:17pm

Thanks, guys.

[itsjustmejonhotmailcom]

Posted: 11/24/20 at 4:30pm

Wick3 said: "Sutton Ross said: "Where can one purchase this?"

There's a link on their website: https://www.achristmascarollive.com/

I'm still thinking of purchasing though most likely will do so sometime between Dec 10-24. Total I believe is $57.50 and it's only good for 24 hours unlimited viewings. That 24-hour limit is what's making me wait. I'll probably wait to hear from others on what they say before jumping the gun simply because I'm already familiar with the story and prefer to watch the play 1-2 weeks before Christmas (not a month before.)"

Curious as to why the 24-hour limit is holding you back. Were you planning on watching it more than once? Or watching it in installments over a couple of days? Not being snarky, genuinely curious. 

[Wick3]

Posted: 11/24/20 at 8:15pm

It depends. If I love the production, then I'd watch it a few times. If I don't like it, then I'll just watch it once. 

If I'm swimming in money then of course I wouldn't hesitate to buy a ticket.... but reality is similar to several people I'm cautious on spending at the moment given the current recession and pandemic. 

I have no incentive to buy the $57.50 ticket now since it'll be the same price on Dec 10th or Dec 25th. As what whatsnext81 stated, $57.50 is pricey for a filmed production that I'll only have access for 24 hours. Then again, I might not be the target market of the producers and that's ok too. 

[itsjustmejonhotmailcom]

Posted: 11/25/20 at 1:05am

Yeah $57.50 seems very high for this. I know they are probably trying to recoup their costs, but their competitive set is priced much lower. I'm sure the production values will be great, but I feel like $20 is closer to the sweet spot for these.

[Wick3]

Posted: 11/25/20 at 7:14am

I agree. I think $57.50 is fine if they have a limited number of tickets to sell (similar to a theatre). However this is for the masses available to any household internationally.

I bought a $12 ticket to see the filmed version of the off-bway play “In & of Itself” when it was being screened at the docnyc film festival last week. From what I saw on Instagram, they only had a few thousand tickets available and were sold out before the festival ended!

On that note I am rooting for this production of Xmas carol to recoup its expenses. Given how there’s only one actor in it I’m guessing expenses are lower compared to other productions of Christmas Carol.

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 11/25/20 at 8:24am

I teach "A Christmas Carol" and wanted to watch it with my class. I only have them for 40 minutes, so it would have to be spread over multiple days (realistically 3 days at 30 minutes each by the time they all get settled). It's frustrating that it is only good for a 24 hours viewing period.

[AllysonBrodski]

Posted: 11/28/20 at 12:41pm

I get that a portion of the proceeds are benefiting various theatres around the country... but the same was true of Patti LuPone and Laura Benanti's recent live concerts, and those were $25. I know that the production costs for this were much higher than a simple concert, but I'm having a VERY hard time justifying spending almost 60 bucks on this. They really should have made it more affordable, especially this year when so many people are out of work. Isn't that the point of Christmas? Guess big business wins again... *sigh*

[AllysonBrodski]

Posted: 11/28/20 at 12:50pm

...it also looks like they have deleted any Facebook comments on their posts regarding the price being high. There were a bunch of comments about it last night, and today they seem to have mysteriously vanished! 

[Wick3]

Posted: 11/29/20 at 8:38am

Did anyone watch the premiere last night? 

I read these two reviews this morning and they seem to be very positive!!!

https://dcmetrotheaterarts.com/2020/11/28/jefferson-mays-in-a-christmas-carol-live-is-the-perfect-christmas-present/

https://nystagereview.com/2020/11/28/charles-dickens-a-christmas-carol-jefferson-mays-spellbinding-as-a-one-man-cast-of-fifty/

 

[itsjustmejonhotmailcom]

Posted: 11/29/20 at 2:25pm

According to the Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/29/theater/christmas-carol-dickens-pandemic.html) it cost $3.7M to film. So they need to sell about 75k tickets over the next month to recoup. Yikes.

[Wick3]

Posted: 11/29/20 at 4:45pm

Thanks for the NYT article! Wow $3.7 million to film and that's only 1 actor! 

I also saw this:

"A filmed performance by Mr. Mays will be streamed this year to benefit regional theaters, and a second version, with more special effects, will be marketed next year to streaming services."

Looks like there will be 2 versions of this film? The one this year is a live capture of the play performed by Jefferson Mays and I guess next year they'll add more special affects in the hopes Netflix/Hulu/Amazon/AppleTV+/Disney+, etc. will buy it?

Will admit I might just wait until next year after they add more special effects and 'perfect' it for film.

[itsjustmejonhotmailcom]

Posted: 11/29/20 at 5:11pm

Wick3 said: "Thanks for the NYT article! Wow $3.7 million to film and that's only 1 actor!

I also saw this:

"A filmed performance by Mr. Mays will be streamed this year to benefit regional theaters, and a second version, with more special effects, will be marketed next year to streaming services."

Looks like there will be 2 versions of this film? The one this year is a live capture of the play performed by Jefferson Mays and I guess next year they'll add more special affects in the hopes Netflix/Hulu/Amazon/AppleTV+/Disney+, etc. will buy it?

Will admit I might just wait until next year after they add more special effects and 'perfect' it for film."

It's certainly an interesting strategy and I wish them luck. I don't think it will work, but the only way we can find out how to make streaming theatre work is by trying a lot of different things, most of which will fail (financially, at least.) 

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/29/20 at 10:07pm

I hope next years SFX-laden version is called, "I Am My Own Mrs. Cratchit."

 

[Wick3]

Posted: 12/1/20 at 3:49pm

FindingNamo said: "I hope next years SFX-laden version is called, "I Am My Own Mrs. Cratchit."

"

LMAO! By the way, NY Times Critic's Pick by Jesse Green

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/30/theater/a-christmas-carol-review.html

There's a 2 min video excerpt in the article and Jefferson Mays's performance looks amazing! 

[Wick3]

Posted: 12/8/20 at 3:57pm

FYI there is now a digital lottery for $15!!!!! I plan to enter starting next week (hopefully luck is on our side!) Would love to see this at least once before Jan 3rd!

https://www.achristmascarollive.com/lottery/

If any of you enter the lottery today or next few days pls let us know if you're successful in getting the $15 tix and also pls tell us what you think of the film adaptation of the play!

Updated On: 12/8/20 at 03:57 PM

[itsjustmejonhotmailcom]

Posted: 12/8/20 at 5:43pm

Wick3 said: "FYI there is now a digital lottery for $15!!!!! I plan to enter starting next week (hopefully luck is on our side!) Would love to see this at least once before Jan 3rd!

https://www.achristmascarollive.com/lottery/

If any of you enter the lottery today or next few days pls let us know if you're successful in getting the $15 tix and also pls tell us what you think of the film adaptation of the play!"

This seems like a much more realistic ticket price. And I bet, just like digital lotteries on Broadway, many people will "win" these discount tickets after signing up. 

[ggersten]

Posted: 12/9/20 at 11:41am

I did not win the lottery for today (entered yesterday). But was offered "a specially-discounted ticket for just $29 (+ standard fees)" with a single use code. 

I am just trying the lottery again. 
 

[jpbran]

Posted: 12/9/20 at 12:08pm

TheaterMania has 40% off using code SCROOGE. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 12/9/20 at 12:37pm

I lost the lottery too but am happy to pay the 29 dollars, it goes to a great cause. 

[ggersten]

Posted: 12/9/20 at 12:53pm

jpbran said: "TheaterMania has 40% off using code SCROOGE."

So, $29 to the theatre is a better deal for all concerned. 

 

[Wick3]

Posted: 12/9/20 at 2:29pm

Sutton Ross said: "I lost the lottery too but am happy to pay the 29 dollars, it goes to a great cause."

Is that $29 total including all fees? 

 

With the SCROOGE promo it is $30 + fees = $37.50 total.