Michael Reidel: RAGTIME to Close January 3rd?

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 8:27am

"What's Christmas without Scrooge?

So, in the spirit of 'Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?,' let's put up some closing notices.

The wheels are coming off the dream at 'Ragtime.'

The producers of the $8.5 million revival were huddled in meetings yesterday analyzing their ticket sales. They emerged with faces as grim as Jacob Marley's.

Officially, the producers say, 'there are no plans to close at this time.' Unofficially, it's likely to close Jan. 3 at a total loss, several production sources say.

Despite some good reviews, the show 'just hasn't caught on,' one source says..."

http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/theater/it_white_flag_time_JLtdoEu9EzN5vGQsAw8dUJ

Updated On: 12/2/09 at 08:27 AM

[D2]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 8:35am

oh, crap.

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 8:36am

Please no.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 8:37am

Terrible news, but not unexpected.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 8:47am

I really hope it's not true. Why they eliminated the weekend discount code is beyond me!

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 8:47am

The Times piece on Thanksgiving paints a fairly grim picture of the winter future of any show lacking stars. RAGTIME doesn't (yet?) work as a "brand" show, or a classic (WEST SIDE STORY) there's no urgency to see it, since high schools and summer theaters have performed it often since it first closed. One might say it's back too soon, but the problem is more complicated. RAGTIME doesn't come with alarge, ready-made audience of folks dying to see it re-tought, and with prices as steep as they are, it's probably always going to be a hardsell. People who miss star performers forget by the way that neither Audra (despite CAROUSEL following) nor Brian were stars when the show first opened. It was always an ensemble show.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 8:53am

No, this can't be true. I really hope it's not.

[Marquise]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 8:58am

I guess THEIR TIME is up.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 9:21am

And, of course, he had to make a bitchy comment about the show itself.

[James885]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 9:28am

Considering their recent grosses it's not that surprising, but it is a shame. It's such a wonderful production of a great show.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 9:32am

I have an idea.

Let the NY Post close on January 3 and then give all the tax incentives they were granted to Ragtime.

It strikes me as a better bang for the buck.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 9:34am

I think the more interesting part of this article is his comments towards the bottom about Roundabout now being the fourth Broadway landlord now that it has a third theater.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 9:41am

Shocking.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 9:42am

HOW DISAPPOINTING!! This was at the top of my list of shows to see when I go to NYC in March!! GRRRRRRRRR

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 10:28am

"a well intentioned slog"
"kind of boring"
"a cast of largely unknown regional theatre actors"

Ouch!
This is the show that BWW ers called the best revival ever?

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 10:33am

CPD, while the cast is largely unknown regional theater actors, I didn't find it it "boring" or a "slog." I genuinely enjoyed it. However, it's all a matter of perspective.

With that, I really hope it doesn't close this quickly. It deserves a longer life than that.

[jeffmiele]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 10:34am

the article says Janurary 24th not the 3rd

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 10:36am

^ Birdie is closing 1/24
if it's true this really sucks Updated On: 12/2/09 at 10:36 AM

[singtopher]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 10:37am

This is sad, sad news.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 10:50am

From the article:

"Unofficially, it's likely to close Jan. 3 at a total loss, several production sources say."

[Eris0303]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 11:00am

I was torn between this and Finian's as to what to get my mom for Christmas. Guess my decision has been made for me.

[artscallion]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 11:03am

NOOOoooOOOOOH!! Da-da-dum da-da-dum dadada-da-da-dum


Hope this turns out to be wrong. I have ticks for early March.

Updated On: 12/2/09 at 11:03 AM

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 11:11am

Nooo! I was really worried because when I saw it, the house was practically empty. So it's sad, but not surprising.

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 11:20am

All great things come to end - some sooner than later. Oy!

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 11:27am

Bugger