Mike Pence at The King and I tonight

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 8/19/17 at 1:18am

At the Kennedy Center. I didn't see him, but I didn't try to. There are pics on Twitter if you care.

Kennedy Center is getting an angry email tomorrow, though. There was no notification about extra security, but they made everyone in the 2000 person audience go through 4 metal detectors and have all their bags and pockets all checked. And the bag checks were no cursory glances- Secret Service literally emptied my purse contents out on the table. One guy had to throw away his vape because they said he couldn't take it in. Again, no advance warning to leave this stuff at home.

I would have been only mildly inconvenienced and annoyed had it not been for the fact that they DIDN'T HOLD THE SHOW. I arrived at 7:10 for a 7:30 show and didn't get to my seat until Hello Young Lovers. There were hundreds of people in line behind me. They were still seating dozens of people in the first tier at A Puzzlement, which is 45 minutes into the show! I spoke to a woman at intermission who was actually on time and she said at 7:30, they made an announcement that the show would begin in 5 minutes, and the theatre was half empty at the time.

I hope Pence enjoyed the show we all had to miss because of him. Maybe he learned something.

Updated On: 8/19/17 at 01:18 AM

[JBroadway]

Posted: 8/19/17 at 1:21am

They didn't hold the curtain and no advance notice?? If it were me I'd demand a refund. Good luck! Be curious to know how they respond. 

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 8/19/17 at 1:32am

A refund would be nice, but I don't have high hopes for that.

I understand the security situation was probably beyond the Kennedy Center's authority, but they could have held the curtain, even 10 minutes due to the circumstances. I don't think I've ever been to any show that started only 5 minutes late, let alone one where half the audience was still stuck waiting to get in.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/19/17 at 2:00am

That's a terrible move by the Kennedy Center, not holding the curtain. I understand that they can't announce these things ahead of time, for security reasons. However, it's terribly unfair to start the performance when your audience, who was unaware of the situation until their arrival, is still at bag check. Just terrible. They'd better be prepared to issue some refunds tomorrow. If I was there I'd be demanding a refund or tickets to see the show again in its entirety (not sure how much longer it's there for). 

As much as I'd like to, I don't think I can blame Pence for this.

[BakerWilliams]

Posted: 8/19/17 at 2:11am

Mike Pence can go **** himself, but there are equity rules against holding a curtain for too long (actually not against holding the curtain, but about making actors work longer than their allotted time).

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/19/17 at 2:13am

It's because of the orchestra and crew. Overtime is really expensive.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 8/19/17 at 2:16am

The Distinctive Baritone said: "It's because of the orchestra and crew. Overtime is really expensive."

So are refunds, but maybe not as much. And we'll see how that turns out. 

 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 8/19/17 at 2:18am

You know, as much as I absolutely detest Pence, I respect the fact that he is willing to attend live theatre given the circumstances. Especially shows like Hamilton and The King and I. Doesn't change that he's a dirtbag, but I respect this one small gesture of his. Credit where credit is due.

Updated On: 8/19/17 at 02:18 AM

[ABB2357]

Posted: 8/19/17 at 2:24am

Sorry to hear about your experience - that sounds like a nightmare.

As for Pence, too bad it wasn't SOUTH PACIFIC.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 8/19/17 at 5:42am

ABB2357 said: "Sorry to hear about your experience - that sounds like a nightmare.

As for Pence, too bad it wasn't SOUTH PACIFIC.

 

"

The king and I certainly deals with similar themes so it wasn't a bad choice either. 

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 8/19/17 at 6:45am

I hate Mike Pence but he does have good taste in musical theater shows. TKAI and Hamilton are great shows.

[Huss417]

Posted: 8/19/17 at 7:55am

No Pence doesn't mind going to the theatre and having Gay people performing for him its just giving them the benefits they are entitled to.

I personally don't think I could perform for "Mr Gay Conversion Therapy".

Updated On: 8/19/17 at 07:55 AM

[herewegoabc]

Posted: 8/19/17 at 8:15am

Even if they couldn't state the exact reason, they could have sent an email warning of extra security and advising to arrive early. I would be highly upset and ask for a refund. Arriving twenty minutes early should have given you plenty of time to get in and get seated on any normal day.

[ethan231h]

Posted: 8/19/17 at 8:55am

i was at hamilton the night Netanyahu was there...we were given advanced warning about the TSA like security.....curtain was held till around 8:20 for a 8pm show 

[JBC3]

Posted: 8/19/17 at 9:04am

JBroadway said: "You know, as much as I absolutely detest Pence, I respect the fact that he is willing to attend live theatre given the circumstances. Especially shows like Hamilton and The King and I. Doesn't change that he's a dirtbag, but I respect this one small gesture of his. Credit where credit is due."

Agree. I want politicians of all stripes to attend more of the arts. They can only be better from the exposure and the arts may be better supported when funding decisions are being made.

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 8/19/17 at 10:50am

JBC3 said: Agree. I want politicians of all stripes to attend more of the arts. They can only be better from the exposure and the arts may be better supported when funding decisions are being made.

"

Agree with you 100%. And who could blame him/his wife for wanting to see it while it's in their hometown? It's probably the best production of KING AND I of their lifetime. Maybe Betsy DeVos can see MEAN GIRLS when it's in DC...

Updated On: 8/19/17 at 10:50 AM

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 8/19/17 at 10:52am

Has anyone been in the house when the Obamas attended a Bway show or another president/VP went to the theatre? I don't seem to remember there being such extreme delays, though maybe it's a difference in the size of the theatre (the KC Opera House is massive) or just general KenCen policy. Sorry for those who missed The Boat!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/19/17 at 11:16am

A friend of mine who was there posted on Facebook about all of the booing Pence got while he was there. 

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 8/19/17 at 12:03pm

Has anyone been in the house when the Obamas attended a Bway show or another president/VP went to the theatre?

 

Not the Obamas, but I have been to shows where Hillary and Chelsea Clinton attended (pre-nomination, but post Secretary of State). Other than them getting quickly ushered in and out by their security team, I don't recall much extra security, certainly not enough to hold the curtain or cause the audience to miss half the show. 

 

Randomly, I was also at a performance once with the president of Nauru. A slightly more thorough bag check than normal and a few extra guys in dark suits standing in the orchestra, but that's it. More of a fun anecdote than anything else. 

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 8/19/17 at 12:08pm

What I don't understand is if no one knows he's going to the show, who's going to know to sneak something dangerous into the theatre? Or is it like, "Okay, any other night that stick of dynamite would fine to bring in, but tonight..."

[Sunny11]

Posted: 8/19/17 at 1:25pm

Wouldn't it be more cost effective for Pence to just buy out the whole theather for just his family and some friends who have the same  security detail as him for the show ? 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 8/19/17 at 2:01pm

AND Trump & Melania won't be attending the Kennedy Center Honors this year...

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 8/19/17 at 2:15pm

ethan231h said: "i was at hamilton the night Netanyahu was there...we were given advanced warning about the TSA like security.....curtain was held till around 8:20 for a 8pm show 

 

I worked that performance. Everyone knew full well going in that there was going to be overtime given for sure. Yes, overtime is costly, but it isn't like it's going on night after night. The powers that be on the side of the production as well as the staff at The Kennedy Center should have realized that and not have put their own pockets ahead of the paying audience. Doing it for one performance wouldn't have broken the bank.

 

"

 

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 8/19/17 at 2:47pm

Among major politicians, you can't more anti-gay than Vice President Mike Pence. As Indiana governor, he signed the anti-gay ''religious freedom'' bill; he supports ''conversion therapy,'' and claims marriage equality will lead to our ''societal collapse.''

I wonder if Pence knows that Jose Llana, who has played the King to rave reviews on the national tour, is openly gay and anti-Trump, and has happily had a partner, Erik, for more than a decade. 

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/BWW-Exclusive-Jose-Llana-on-His-KING-AND-I-Tour-and-Why-He-Believes-Hope-Trumps-Hate-20161115

Updated On: 8/19/17 at 02:47 PM

[Public User]

Posted: 8/19/17 at 2:55pm

Well, you certainly have a low threshold for respect.  Believe me, he was not there to enrich his cultural enjoyment.  Everything these monsters do is to undermine and destroy the "elite".  What a total hypocrite he is!