"Lennon" Closing Notice Soon?- Page 2

[Corine2]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 9:18am

If they marketed it as a LENNON concert, it could have a longer life.
Will Chase and Chad Kimball impress.
. Updated On: 8/24/05 at 09:18 AM

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 9:22am

But it NOT a Lennon concert. Lennon has been dead for years. It's a jukebox musical that's not doing well. It's not getting the patrons, it got bad reviews . . . I hate it when shows don't succeed, but it seems like this one just needs to go. Unless Yoko and the producers just want to throw money away, then they need to do the wise thing and close.

[mabel]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 9:24am

Here's my bold prediction (unless things really turn around)...I have a feeling the show will close on October 9, what would have been Lennon's 65th birthday. It is a Sunday, afterall.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 9:26am

A TRIBUTE concert.

[Corine2]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 9:27am

It is really a tribute to the music of Lennon.
I love the music of Lennon. The story needs work, but the music is strong and moving.
Give Lennon a chance.
I might see it again.
Updated On: 8/24/05 at 09:27 AM

[MissNY]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 11:11am

It's definately more of a concert revue than a jukebox musicals. I happen to love the show, and what bothers me is that so many people who are criticizing it haven't even seen it. The cast is incredible, the music is great, and it doesn't have the weak plot problems that most jukebox musicals have. If you haven't seen it, you really should give it a try, you might be very pleasantly surprised.

[showbiz]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 12:08pm

This cast can really sing. Seeing them all stand up there, throw their heads back and harmonize is like being at Heaven's gates, what a rush. Exceptionally talented cast, everyone of them. I'm sad to hear this closing rumor. I have to get back and see it again soon. Is there any more news on a cast cd being recorded?

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 12:15pm

I agree with the sentiment that it is more of a tribute concert, it certainly is not much of a jukebox musical. I would love to see it retooled as a "special theatrical event" using the same music. Julia, Will, and Chuck were spectacular. As were several others, lack of info on me at the moment.

[showbiz]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 12:24pm

I have a couple of personal favorites in the cast but really hate singling out anyone in particular, they were just all that good.
Marcy Harriell was most outstanding, love Will he had the mannerisms, speech pattern and accent down pat, Chad in Mother was exceptional, Mandy was incredible, see I can't do it, they are all just so talented.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 12:28pm

It will run at least 12 weeks and Yoko Ono has more than enough money to keep it afloat until then.

[BoxFive]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 12:42pm

Popculture boy is right, Ono won't let it's demise come any timke soon, yeah for Terry Mann's sake..luv him!

[leefowler]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 1:21pm

Sometimes producers will fight for a show they believe in, but when the reality of bleeding away $150,000 or so every week finally hits, (not to mention the impossibility of ever recouping), then "saving face" usually seems a lot less important.

[theatreboi11]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 1:46pm

what is papering?

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 1:54pm

All of these thoughts of retooling should have happened before it got here. I think that's one of the BIGGEST problems with the show -- it seems like they tried to make MAJOR changes to the structure in previews that should have been made on the road. The only way they MIGHT be able to do what they want is similar to what Frank Wildhorn did with Scarlett Pimpernel -- perform the current show, major rewrite and rehearsals of the "new" show, close for a couple of weeks, reopen the new show and have it re-reviewed. I still think it's too late for Lennon. If it had enough of a following (say 75-80% attendance), then the reviews might not have mattered as much. However, it can't even break 60%, it got SLAUGHTERED by the reviewers, the marketing campaign doesn't seem to be doing it's job . . . the list is endless. Even a show with great performers, wonderful arrangements, etc. can't really fight against those odds. I'm afraid that even a MAJOR overhaul on the marketing campaign is going to be falling at the WRONG time -- all shows are taking a dip because it's the nature of the business at this time of the year. A change in the marketing campaign in say, May, could have impact on the tourist market and schools being out, etc. I'm not trying to be negative against Lennon, because I haven't seen it. I'm just saying in general ANY production under the same situation as Lennon would find it impossible to bounce back.

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 2:01pm

Even "Brooklyn," which many felt shouldn't have lasted very long, started out in the 60's and 70's and went as high as 97%. Ultimately, the small following it has wasn't enough to keep it going -- and it seemed to have more of a following than Lennon does.

[Corine2]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 3:40pm

The music blows BKLYN away.
Please don't compare it to BKLYN!!!!
OY!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 3:41pm

I think given time, Lennon can gain a following that's as strong as Brooklyn's was. Hopefully more sane and grounded, but size-wise? Sure.

[Corine2]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 3:45pm

I HATED BKLYN. The music was painful. Lennon is nothing like BKLYN. It is great music with a silly story.
How can you people compare John Lennon's music (the man was a legend) to BKLYN.


Updated On: 8/24/05 at 03:45 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 3:47pm

It's a TRUE story. Yeah, it's theatricalized (it's still not a word, and I still don't care) but it isn't "silly." Mamma Mia! is a silly story.

[Corine2]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 3:55pm

Did you see Beatlemania?
That was entertainment!!!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 3:57pm

I did not; I'm not even twenty.

[MissNY]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 3:58pm

I think Lennon stands a chance of building up it's following based on word of mouth. I can not tell you how many people I have spoken to who went to the show expecting not to like it and left vowing to tell all their friends. I also think a cast recording will help get people into the show. If Good Vibrations was about to hold on over 3 months, hopefully Lennon will be able to hang on a while as well. I can hope...

[rock00]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 4:02pm

"Fans of John Lennon, the singer, tend not to be the people who loved this show. Quite the contrary. People who loved this show, as far as I can tell, seem to be fans of various actors on the stage."

Wow. Couldn't have said it better.

[ClareBear]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 4:05pm

NO NO NO!! It's only the stuff with the OLD Logo on it (the John in the shape of a guitar string) that are out of print!! They had those here in S.F. but then changed to the actualy picture of John's face for New York!

AACkk that would be awful, I love this show sooo much and became one of the first of the "Lennonites" while it was in S.F.!!!

[midtowngym]

Posted: 8/24/05 at 4:51pm

I just returned from the matinee. All i could think was 'Why were these great songs turned into Broadway showtunes?' And where's Mai Pang? What about John ignoring Julian, which f*cked the kid up forever? Where's the drug problems?
I loathe sanitized versions of someones life.
But that Chad Kimball sure is cute!

Updated On: 8/24/05 at 04:51 PM