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Michael Reidel: RAGTIME to Close January 3rd?

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#1

Michael Reidel: RAGTIME to Close January 3rd?

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
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.

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

#2

re: Michael Reidel: RAGTIME to Close January 3rd?

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

oh, crap.
Cheyenne Jackson tickled me. AFTER ordering SoMMS a drink but NOT tickling him, and hanging out with Girly in his dressing room (where he DIDN'T tickle her) but BEFORE we got married. To others. And then he tweeted Boobs. He also tweeted he's good friends with some chick on "The Voice" who just happens to be good friends with Tink's ex. And I'm still married. Oh, and this just in: "Pettiness, spite, malice ....Such ugly emotions... So sad." - After Eight, talking about MEEEEEEEE!!! I'm so honored! :-)
#5

re: Michael Reidel: RAGTIME to Close January 3rd?

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

I really hope it's not true. Why they eliminated the weekend discount code is beyond me!
Hey Dottie! Did your colleagues enjoy the cake even though your cat decided to sit on it? ~GuyfromGermany
#6

re: Michael Reidel: RAGTIME to Close January 3rd?

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.
"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling
#9

re: Michael Reidel: RAGTIME to Close January 3rd?

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

And, of course, he had to make a bitchy comment about the show itself.
Butters, go buy World of Warcraft, install it on your computer, and join the online sensation before we all murder you. --Cartman: South Park ATTENTION FANS: I will be played by James Barbour in the upcoming musical, "BroadwayWorld: The Musical."
#10

re: Michael Reidel: RAGTIME to Close January 3rd?

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.
"You drank a charm to kill John Proctor's wife! You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor!" - Betty Parris to Abigail Williams in Arthur Miller's The Crucible
#11

re: Michael Reidel: RAGTIME to Close January 3rd?

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.
"If my life weren't funny, it would just be true. And that would be unacceptable." --Carrie Fisher
#12

re: Michael Reidel: RAGTIME to Close January 3rd?

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.
#14

re: Michael Reidel: RAGTIME to Close January 3rd?

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
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
#15

re: Michael Reidel: RAGTIME to Close January 3rd?

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?
#16

re: Michael Reidel: RAGTIME to Close January 3rd?

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.
Some people paint, some people sew, I meddle.
#19

re: Michael Reidel: RAGTIME to Close January 3rd?

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

This is sad, sad news.
"If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it." -Stephen Colbert
#20

re: Michael Reidel: RAGTIME to Close January 3rd?

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."
Hey Dottie! Did your colleagues enjoy the cake even though your cat decided to sit on it? ~GuyfromGermany
#21

re: Michael Reidel: RAGTIME to Close January 3rd?

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.
"All our dreams can come true -- if we have the courage to pursue them." -- Walt Disney We must have different Gods. My God said "do to others what you would have them do to you". Your God seems to have said "My Way or the Highway".
#22

re: Michael Reidel: RAGTIME to Close January 3rd?

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.
Art has a double face, of expression and illusion.

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

#23

re: Michael Reidel: RAGTIME to Close January 3rd?

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.
Jimmy, what are you doing here in the middle of the night? It's almost 9 PM!
#25

re: Michael Reidel: RAGTIME to Close January 3rd?

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

Bugger
Well I didn't want to get into it, but he's a Satanist. Every full moon he sacrifices 4 puppies to the Dark Lord and smears their blood on his paino. This should help you understand the score for Wicked a little bit more. Tazber's: Reply to Is Stephen Schwartz a Practicing Christian

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