Michael Riedel: How Tony-Chasing Producers Screwed Their Own Shows
Michael Riedel: How Tony-Chasing Producers Screwed Their Own Shows
#1Michael Riedel: How Tony-Chasing Producers Screwed Their Own Shows
Posted: 6/19/15 at 6:46am
Wow. I can't blame them for trying, but it wasn't the best approach. (from the NY Post.com)http://nypost.com/2015/06/18/how-tony-chasing-producers-screwed-their-own-shows/
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
henrikegerman
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/29/05
#2Michael Riedel: How Tony-Chasing Producers Screwed Their Own Shows
Posted: 6/19/15 at 9:09am
"As one voter says, “When I opened it, I thought it was from the guy who kidnapped the Lindbergh baby.”"
Tom5
Broadway Star Joined: 9/23/11
#2Michael Riedel: How Tony-Chasing Producers Screwed Their Own Shows
Posted: 6/19/15 at 9:24am
I'm guessing crass marketing might be recognized by the average Tony Voter. No one likes to be under estimated.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#3Michael Riedel: How Tony-Chasing Producers Screwed Their Own Shows
Posted: 6/19/15 at 9:28am
I doubt either of them "screwed" anything. HIGHLY unlikely that either of those shows were going to win even without the letters discussed. They weren't going to win before without them....and they still didn't win.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#4Michael Riedel: How Tony-Chasing Producers Screwed Their Own Shows
Posted: 6/19/15 at 9:29am
double post
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
Updated On: 6/19/15 at 09:29 AM
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#5Michael Riedel: How Tony-Chasing Producers Screwed Their Own Shows
Posted: 6/19/15 at 9:29am
triple post!
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
Updated On: 6/19/15 at 09:29 AM
#6Michael Riedel: How Tony-Chasing Producers Screwed Their Own Shows
Posted: 6/19/15 at 9:30am
This just reestablishes why I can't stand Michael Riedel. Talk about rubbing salt in the wounds. THE VISIT is gone and ON THE TOWN is not far behind, but Riedel can't let them go without his bitchy, "witty" comments.
The producers knew they had no shot, so they took a chance and threw a Hail Mary. In hindsight, yeah it wasn't the best approach, but nothing was truly lost in taking the risk.
"I shall stay until the wind changes."
#7Michael Riedel: How Tony-Chasing Producers Screwed Their Own Shows
Posted: 6/19/15 at 9:32am
This just reestablishes why I can't stand Michael Riedel. Talk about rubbing salt in the wounds. THE VISIT is gone and ON THE TOWN is not far behind, but Riedel can't let them go without his bitchy, "witty" comments.
The producers knew they had no shot, so they took a chance and threw a Hail Mary. In hindsight, yeah it wasn't the best approach, but nothing was truly lost in taking the risk.
"I shall stay until the wind changes."
#8Michael Riedel: How Tony-Chasing Producers Screwed Their Own Shows
Posted: 6/19/15 at 9:36am
Oh, I think there's something valid in the advice "never let 'em see you sweat." And these letters were both dripping with sweat.
#9Michael Riedel: How Tony-Chasing Producers Screwed Their Own Shows
Posted: 6/19/15 at 9:38am
As dramamama points out, these shows were the long shots in their respective categories. So the letters caused a few people- out of nearly 900 voters- to change their minds. Drops in a bucket, at the most.
Riedel's becoming less and less relevant. I loved him acting as though information about Waitress was a major scoop last week- despite the fact information about the production's development has been publicly available since its inception, thanks in no small part to Sara Bareilles' social media presence.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#10Michael Riedel: How Tony-Chasing Producers Screwed Their Own Shows
Posted: 6/19/15 at 9:45am
The producer from the Visit sounds like an idiot. Be on the right side of history? Are you serious with that? Jesus.
Countdown til Jordan comes on raging about how much loves me! 3..2..1...
#11Michael Riedel: How Tony-Chasing Producers Screwed Their Own Shows
Posted: 6/19/15 at 10:57am
A producer's over the top enthusiasm, no matter how and where expressed, is creepy. It is the bane of every press agent's existence.
That said, this column really had about one sentence of information in it. It might be excused as a function of a slow summer news cycle, except that there was actually better stuff out there for someone not as lazy as Riedel. And yes it is also true that social media has largely eclipsed the value of print media gossip.
carolinaguy
Broadway Star Joined: 10/13/06
#12Michael Riedel: How Tony-Chasing Producers Screwed Their Own Shows
Posted: 6/19/15 at 11:25am
At least this article wasn't about how some musical in tryouts that may or may not ever make it to New York is going to "take down HAMILTON!"
Just remembering you've had an "and"
When you're back to "or"
Makes the "or" mean more than it did before
#13Michael Riedel: How Tony-Chasing Producers Screwed Their Own Shows
Posted: 6/19/15 at 12:39pm
I think the worst people referred to in the article are the voters who "were going to vote for The Visit" but because of the letter changed their votes to Fun Home. If such things are how they base their votes for Best Musical, they shouldn't be allowed to vote in the first place.
jacobsnchz14
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/13/06
#14Michael Riedel: How Tony-Chasing Producers Screwed Their Own Shows
Posted: 6/19/15 at 1:15pm
They were voting for "sentimental" reasons, though, so wasn't their basis "not regular" already?
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#15Michael Riedel: How Tony-Chasing Producers Screwed Their Own Shows
Posted: 6/19/15 at 1:38pm
"A producer's over the top enthusiasm, no matter how and where expressed, is creepy. It is the bane of every press agent's existence. "
I have to disagree, Hogan. If a producer cannot act excited about their product (no matter what the product) then how can s/he expect anyone else to be excited about it?
What do I think of these letters? I don't really know, as there is no "real" way to determine if they actually (ever) make a difference. (I know many here have spoken to a campaign making a difference in the Wicked/Ave Q race.)
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#16Michael Riedel: How Tony-Chasing Producers Screwed Their Own Shows
Posted: 6/19/15 at 1:42pm
The Avenue Q Tony campaign was witty, funny, clever - not desperate and ridiculously hyperbolic like these letters.
To quote that show, there's a fine, fine line between true excitement and hysterical desperation.
Well, maybe it's not that fine a line.
Tom5
Broadway Star Joined: 9/23/11
#17Michael Riedel: How Tony-Chasing Producers Screwed Their Own Shows
Posted: 6/19/15 at 2:00pm
If you're in a creative business you should be creative in your marketing. Humility might be one radically creative approach. No one likes to be condescended to. The real problem is that those receiving these missives may remember them long into the future.
#18Michael Riedel: How Tony-Chasing Producers Screwed Their Own Shows
Posted: 6/19/15 at 2:09pm
What a snide little sh*t Riedel is. At least he wasn't digging up some musical that had a reading recently as possible competition for HAMILTON like he did Wednesday. (His attacks on The Public are purely political. There are other major non profits with their eyes on Broadway and other artistic directors to go after.) This column is kicking people when they're down, pure and simple.
To quote the late Mary Rodgers in regard to another vicious queen, "Call me back when he's dead." He doesn't like the theater. He shouldn't be writing about it. Plain and simple.
Tom5
Broadway Star Joined: 9/23/11
#19Michael Riedel: How Tony-Chasing Producers Screwed Their Own Shows
Posted: 6/19/15 at 2:12pm
His flippant description of The Visit was gratuitous and undeserved. It's a riveting story with deep emotional undertones. And well beyond his understanding.
#20Michael Riedel: How Tony-Chasing Producers Screwed Their Own Shows
Posted: 6/19/15 at 2:16pm
He'll smarmily praise Kander, Chita, etc. on Theater Talk, though.
Theater Talk used to be a pretty decent show, and I used to find Riedel an astute interviewer. Now, I watch it because there's nothing else on at 1:30 am on Friday that I find interesting. And sometimes the guests are good.
His treatment of the FUN HOME women was disgusting, disgusting, disgusting.
#21Michael Riedel: How Tony-Chasing Producers Screwed Their Own Shows
Posted: 6/19/15 at 2:24pm
What did he do to the Fun Home women? Do you mean in the Theatre Talk episode with them?
#22Michael Riedel: How Tony-Chasing Producers Screwed Their Own Shows
Posted: 6/19/15 at 2:32pm
He is only trying to keep his job by writing crap that will give people something to talk about.
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one".
-Felicia Finley-
#23Michael Riedel: How Tony-Chasing Producers Screwed Their Own Shows
Posted: 6/19/15 at 3:33pm
@dramamama,
I wasn't suggesting a producer should not be enthusiastic about their show, but there is a way to express that enthusiasm that is not creepy or personal. These producers engaged publicists and ad agencies to craft a campaign, and paid them dearly for their expertise. But some producers take matters in their own hands, and it's a mistake, especially where as here it replaces a positive spin with a forlorn, pushy or desperate one. It's like how people feel when they walk down the street looking for a place to eat and are assaulted by a desperate hawker begging you to try their establishment. Do you ever go in? I don't, I do my best to avoid the contact and also assume their desperation is a sign of inferiority.
Fantod
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/3/14
#24Michael Riedel: How Tony-Chasing Producers Screwed Their Own Shows
Posted: 6/19/15 at 3:41pm
It's always funny how Riedl says that he wants new and exciting work on Broadway, but takes down every show that tries to break the mold. Fun Home, Hamilton, and even The Visit are great examples of shows that try to be exciting on Broadway. He can't criticize the lack of exciting stuff and shut down anything exciting. It's a two way street.
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