Ladies and Gentleman....Taye Diggs is your next Hedwig- Page 21

[Phan2]

Posted: 8/1/15 at 10:38pm

I love that there is such diversity when people share their rankings.   I don't remember who it was who said this, but I think a lot of it does depend on one's life experiences, and what connects with you when you watch the performers.   

Updated On: 8/1/15 at 10:38 PM

[AppleSunday]

Posted: 8/1/15 at 10:55pm

Exactly! Darren was my first live Hedwig but he also gave me everything I wanted in a Hedwig. I had especially been craving a rock/non-Broadway voice. I have no idea how my ranking would change had he not been my first live, but as it stands going off bootlegs

1) Darren

2) Andrew

2.5) MCH

(He and Andrew were so different but both so great. It's hard to compare but I like AR's voice more)

3) NPH

4) Taye from audio

John doesn't belong on the list. His Hedwig comes from such a different place. It doesn't seem right to slot him in with these guys who stepped into this already fleshed out character who he brought to life from the ground up.   

Updated On: 8/1/15 at 10:55 PM

[haterobics]

Posted: 8/2/15 at 2:54pm

"JCM, M. Cerveris,Matt McGrath, Kevin Cahoon, Asa Somers, Donovan Leitch, NPH, Ally Sheedy"

 Well, at least NPH wasn't last

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/2/15 at 4:16pm

It was close. I debated for a while because neither one of them was in the character! Lol

[ethan231h]

Posted: 8/2/15 at 7:33pm

Saw the show today, quite honestly Taye is my fav Hedwig after JCM. Everything about his performance was unique in his own special way. He was really sassy which was hilarious. The audience was really diverse, which is nice to see. He made some very funny but a little racist jokes here and there which were amazing. I loved the way he sang most of the songs with the exception of the reprise of Wicked Little Town and Hedwig's Lamnet. Overall, he was amazing as was Rebecca (as usual). The audience basically ate up the whole show!

[Alex M]

Posted: 8/2/15 at 11:51pm

Mine would be 

JCM 

NPH

Darren

MCH

Andrew

Cant wait to see Taye

[ChildofEarth]

Posted: 8/3/15 at 12:07pm

With Michael Mayer going to London, does anyone know what it means for the show?

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 8/3/15 at 12:09pm

Why would it mean anything?

[ILuv2shop531]

Posted: 8/3/15 at 12:23pm

I'm sure Johanna McKeon the associate director would step up and work in Michael's absence when he can't be in New York. I also know that Paul McGill, the movement associate has assisted a great deal for every replacement Hedwig.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/3/15 at 12:35pm

I hear McGill can step in for Rebecca and Taye or any member of the band or an usher, should the need arise.

[Glittergrrl]

Posted: 8/3/15 at 1:35pm

Anthony Rapp (Connecticut) —Such a disappointment. I am a former Renthead so I was so excited about this. I went on a little road trip with some friends who had never seen Hedwig. Just terrible. The direction, the staging, the costumes, the wigs, the acting, was just all wrong.

--

Recently, I was searching for a Hedwig poster on ebay, and a poster of Anthony Rapp as Hedwig popped up. I never even knew about this production... and I live in CT! The styling was all wrong. Hedwig was wearing this faux-hawk wig. It was so ugly. Out of curiosity I went to youtube and found a video of his Hedwig performance. I only watched for a few minutes. He was appallingly bad.

[Glittergrrl]

Posted: 8/3/15 at 1:39pm

"Glitter girl, the only broadway Hedwig I saw until JCM was NPH. I was so disgusted after his performance that I decided I was done with the show . But I did return for JCM.

but here are my rankings:

JCM, M. Cerveris,Matt McGrath, Kevin Cahoon, Asa Somers, Donovan Leitch, NPH, Ally Sheedy

"

I'm feeling like a big shot cause our rankings are so similar. I always thought I was the queen of all things Hedwig, but alas, you wear that crown.

I wonder who was the worst Hedwig: Ally Sheedy or Anthony Rapp.

[haterobics]

Posted: 8/3/15 at 2:24pm

"I wonder who was the worst Hedwig: Ally Sheedy or Anthony Rapp. "

Probably impossible to say, given the unlikelihood of anyone having been to both...

I do think it is unfair to judge the Anthony one negatively because they didn't do the normal Hedwig hair, etc., though. I know two people who saw his version and said they really liked it... I think people should be able to do their own thing with the show.

Obviously, on Broadway, each actors gets to personalize it, but it will still look the same since it is the same production...

[AppleSunday]

Posted: 8/3/15 at 3:13pm

"I hear McGill can step in for Rebecca and Taye or any member of the band or an usher, should the need arise."

 I hear he trained himself to be a transformer so he can now play the car as well. You know, just to be safe. 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 8/3/15 at 3:15pm

The show's grosses were NOT pretty this week. Thoughts/predictions?

[HedwigInch]

Posted: 8/3/15 at 3:22pm

"The show's grosses were NOT pretty this week. Thoughts/predictions?"

I wonder why they are not lowering the discounts since Taye's problem is not the capacity. That went down too this week but it was still 75%. 

Right now I am more worried what the numbers could look like in September when it's tougher for Broadway in general. At least I read somewhere September can be hard for Broadway.

[ChildofEarth]

Posted: 8/3/15 at 3:25pm

The problem is that people aren't buying regular priced tickets. If you look at the seating charts, he barely sells 40% until the day of, and then I'm guessing most people do TKTS. If they move the discount to 40 or even 30, who knows if people will buy them?

[HedwigInch]

Posted: 8/3/15 at 3:33pm

"The problem is that people aren't buying regular priced tickets. If you look at the seating charts, he barely sells 40% until the day of, and then I'm guessing most people do TKTS. If they move the discount to 40 or even 30, who knows if people will buy them?"

Of course it's a risk but why not test it out for a day or two? Or a week to see if the same day sales stay relatively stable or if they go down drastically?

Right now the capacity is not the problem but what if that becomes a problem too when the tourists leave and students go back to school in September?

[ChildofEarth]

Posted: 8/3/15 at 4:30pm

it's a risk but why not test it out for a day or two? Or a week to see if the same day sales stay relatively stable or if they go down drastically?
Right now the capacity is not the problem but what if that becomes a problem too when the tourists leave and students go back to school in September?"

 

I'm not an expert at all on box office strategies, but I think they have to set the #s a week ahead of time. I agree they should try to raise prices. If Darren fans, a majority of whom were in college, paid higher prices, why can't Taye fans, who skew older?

I am genuinely terrified of what's going to happen come September. 

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/3/15 at 4:33pm

I am genuinely terrified of what's going to happen come September.

Honey.  Come ON.  The word "genuinely" implies you mean that literally, by that I mean in the way the world "literally" used to mean literally.

[HedwigInch]

Posted: 8/3/15 at 5:02pm

"If Darren fans, a majority of whom were in college, paid higher prices, why can't Taye fans, who skew older? "

I don't understand it either. I never expected Darren's fans to heavily rely on tkts tickets although some friends of mine have, they bought like 3 or so regular priced orchestra seats throughout Darren's run but they also used lotto a lot or went to the tkts booth.

The only explanation I have for myself right now is that Darren's fans bought more regular priced tickets in advance but therefore his same day sales were weaker. In turn Taye's fans don't seem to be as willing or able to pay for advance sales as Darren's but then more people seem to decide on the day of to go see Taye and then go to the tkts booths instead.

If that is the "problem" here then lowering the tkts discount could help a little at least. 

Taye's gross potential is lower than for all the other Hedwigs but that can't be the only reason for that low average ticket price.

 

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/3/15 at 9:24pm

Having seen Ally Sheedys run (not by choice) I am 100 per cent sure that Rapp was better, assuming he at least was trying to do the show we call Hedwig.

Don't ask!

[haterobics]

Posted: 8/3/15 at 9:42pm

"If they move the discount to 40 or even 30, who knows if people will buy them?"

Err, but the BroadwayBox discount has been at 40% since his run began... I got my front row for next week for $89. So, that is the discount and people are not buying them.

[haterobics]

Posted: 8/3/15 at 9:58pm

"The only explanation I have for myself right now is that Darren's fans bought more regular priced tickets in advance but therefore his same day sales were weaker."

Based on the day I attended, you're missing a word here that explains more. It should read:

"Darren's fans' parents bought more regular priced tickets in advance"

 

[mufish]

Posted: 8/3/15 at 10:00pm

So I've never seen Hedwig.  Had planned on seeing MCH in January but that trip fell through.  Looking for a matinee I can do at a discount on Sunday, and am thinking either Hedwig or Significant Other.  Appreciate any feedback folks would like to provide to help steer me either direction.  Thanks!