Mary Poppins Recoups, Launches Tour in Chicago in 2009 — Page 2

"Will it be feasible to have Mary Poppins fly out over the audience at the end in a touring production?"

I don't see why not. Cathy Rigby's Peter Pan tour always included audience flight.

"Now I am CONVINCED that Macintosh is the reason the tour will launch in Chicago. Schumacher, for some inexplicable reason, doesn't see Chicago as a big theatre town. He mocked the producers of Wicked for wanting a sit-down, and that was AFTER it celebrated its first anniversary! "

I never knew that...that is interesting. That's where they premiered the revised pre-Broadway version of Aida. I could see why he would hate Atlanta (because of the Legends of Aida debacle), but I thought Aida did well enough in Chicago. Interesting.

the Poppins audience flight shouldn't be hat tricky. It's a great effect yes, but Phantom has been doing the same thing for 20 years. At it's most simple explanation, the Poppins audience flight rig is essentially the same rig used to fly the chandelier in Phantom.

The Tribune reports today that Disney has now realized that Chicago is a very important market and will plan accordingly. They originally were seen as "Anti-Chicago" when they refused to let Lion King play here while the Toronto production was running. Then, when Lion King was allowed in, it shattered house records. The success of Wicked and now Jersey boys has shown them the way. And they report that Mary will fly to the very back row of the theater!
Tribune

Wicked was originally thought to be able to sell tickets for only a year, so they are anticipating that by 2009 it will have pretty much played to everyone who wants to see it. It could, of course, continue, but they don't think it will. I don't think they will allow it to fall below 70% before deciding to move it. They will want it to go out on top.

HOORAY! I'm so excited! Wicked leaving? I'm even more excited! Not that I want all those people to lose their jobs, I just want to see more shows in Chicago...

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If running cost is $600,000 (whcih is a plausible guestimation) a week, and ticket sales are nearly $1,100,000 each week (give or take depending on the time of year)....then they gain a $500,000 profit weekly. Thus, they would have made roughly $26,000,000 (hypothetically, of course) in 52 weeks.

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Updated On: 12/6/07 at 09:28 PM

YES!!!!

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