TO be fair to Darren, when JCM was in it, it posted some numbers in the low 400k, this show is doing fine, it cost very little to run and its only 7 shows a week which makes the running cost even lower.
This tattoo he was getting in the photo was just for his son and completely unrelated to subtly showing his Hedwig involvement, right?
AM New York just wrote their weekly column and I couldn't help but giggle and scratch my head at where Matt possibly could have came to this assumption...
"In a implicit confirmation of the rumors, Diggs posted a photo onto Twitter with the phrase "I love daddy" (a reference to the song "Sugar Daddy" from the musical") written across his arm and the "Hedwig" script nearby."
"I doubt he would, but maybe Taye is touring the show? "
The show won't start touring until 2016. So I doubt he needs that much time to prepare.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
"TO be fair to Darren, when JCM was in it, it posted some numbers in the low 400k, this show is doing fine, it cost very little to run and its only 7 shows a week which makes the running cost even lower."
The problem is that JCM had higher numbers when he first opened his run, (as did NPH, Andrew Rannels and Michael Hall); and Darren is already at the low 400 K in his first 2 weeks. Hopefully with the summer start the box office picks up, becuase I doubt even Hedwig would break even in the mid-300K if it gets to that.
"when I’m on stage I see the abyss and have to overcome it by telling myself it’s only a play." - Helen Mirren
The producers tactics are becoming pointedly clear right now-targeting certain demographics once John left. It's clear the tweens aren't keen in seeing Darren in make-up and heels, so now they are looking for the black dollars. It's a cash grab at this point. When I think of a "slip of a girly man" I don't think of Taye Diggs-those huge guns. Joseph Gordon Levitt would be far more appropriate.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
"TO be fair to Darren, when JCM was in it, it posted some numbers in the low 400k, this show is doing fine, it cost very little to run and its only 7 shows a week which makes the running cost even lower."
LightsOut90, you are almost certainly mistaken. The show likely saves virtually nothing by doing 7 shows, except perhaps the well-being of the actor playing Hedwig. By union rules, mMost everyone still must be paid based on eight shows, and the other miscellaneous expenses aren't reduced either.
"No matter how much you want the part, never let 'em see you sweat." -- Old Dry Idea commercial
Don't be coy you all know what I'm talking about. Of course there will be still be all kinds of theatre goers, but casting an African American leading man raises the visibility of the show to that market/demographic.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
"The problem is that JCM had higher numbers when he first opened his run, (as did NPH, Andrew Rannels and Michael Hall); and Darren is already at the low 400 K in his first 2 weeks. Hopefully with the summer start the box office picks up, becuase I doubt even Hedwig would break even in the mid-300K if it gets to that."
Yeah, I'm definitely not a box office expert at all, but it seems logical to me that, especially with a lot of Darren's fans skewing more toward college and high school age, it might start picking up a bit once schools start letting out?
It seems like as of right now the numbers aren't actually terrible- they'd just start heading that way if they keep dropping rather than picking up- but I guess we'll have to wait and see how it goes!
Anyway, re Taye:
I'm certainly intrigued, if this is true! It WOULD be pretty cool to see a black Hedwig... though I'm not sure I could imagine Taye's voice with those songs, but hey, he can sing and as long as he could pull off the character work then that's the most important thing! I'd definitely check out his Hedwig out of curiosity, if nothing else :)
I don't necessarily know that Taye would be all that much more of a draw than Darren, though? Just thinking in terms of sustainability, it seems like if the numbers might be dropping a bit with Darren, it might be safer for them financially to find another NPH-level person who's really a household name and could also do the part justice. I know that's probably way easier said than done, but it IS a freaking amazing role so I have to think it could happen! Joseph Gordon Levitt would be a great choice I think.
I'm all for them picking people who will have interesting, well done takes on the role rather than purely looking at who will bring in the most money, but if they can keep finding a balance between the two and stay open a nice like time like they deserve to, that would have to be ideal!
I don't need a life that's normal. That's way too far away. But something next to normal would be okay. Something next to normal is what I'd like to try. Close enough to normal to get by.
When they announced Darren, I thought "Eh, could be cool." But when I just heard about Taye, my reaction was "OH! Oh." I am feeling 100% "meh" about this casting, but hopefully he'll surprise me.