Misleading advertising

[nsguy45]

Posted: 7/26/13 at 7:47am

Television promos for Wicked's seemingly thirty-seventh return to Boston are clearly featuring footage of Stephanie J. Block as Elphaba . . . how/why is that allowed?

[flyinghighwithwicked]

Posted: 7/26/13 at 7:58am

Probably because the vast majority of people do not keep up with cast changes, and it's needlessly expensive to shoot another promo when the one they have works fine, and serves the purpose it is meant to.

Notice, every time a local TV station shows an actress "getting green" they usually have a clip of that actress singing "The Wizard and I." So locally, the actual performers are showcased when they do press (usually).

[DEClarke]

Posted: 7/26/13 at 8:51am

The B-Roll footage for the original First National Tour was shot with Block, Kassenbaum, Williams, Kane, etc. It is gorgeous footage. I'm sure it cost quite a chunk of change to film and edit, so why not.

Every time WICKED has come into Houston our advertisement footage has always used the original First National Tour cast.

[DEClarke]

Posted: 7/26/13 at 8:53am

P.S. AIDA's First national Tour used B-Roll footage from Broadway. My family bought me tickets to see AIDA because it looked like Adam Pascal was touring in the show. We got to the theatre, found out he wasn't touring, and still loved the show. For those of us who recognize the people in the commercials, I'd hazard to guess that we understand enough about theatre to appreciate why different people may be cast in the roles despite what the commercial footage showed/shows.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 7/26/13 at 9:12am

Yeah, that's definitely NOT "misleading advertising." They were just using B-Roll footage filmed several years ago. It might be misleading to you, on a personal level, but there is nothing wrong here..

In fact, this thread is kind of misleading. Updated On: 7/26/13 at 09:12 AM

[TheaterBoy7777]

Posted: 7/26/13 at 9:28am

The same footage is used inside the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway on all the TV monitors in the lobby

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/26/13 at 10:23am

Oh hell, they're using footage of the Broadway cast of Jersey Boys in the in-casino monitors at the Paris Hotel in Vegas to advertise their resident company. 99% of the audience doesn't care.

The Les Miz tour for years used footage of the 1997 Broadway cast AND the tenth anniversary concert.

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 7/26/13 at 10:34am

Current commercials for Phantom of the Opera on Broadway use footage from the London production.

[MusicalTheatreGeek2]

Posted: 7/26/13 at 10:47am

Wicked London shows production footage from the Netherlands in adverts... It is just the production they are advertising, not the cast! Otherwise, surely it is misleading if there is an alternate, to not show some footage of them, as you might see them as well!!!

[Huss417]

Posted: 7/26/13 at 11:29am

I know in the past and not sure if still done but most times when the TV ads are on it usually says " Scenes from original broadway cast." in small writing on the screen.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 7/26/13 at 11:32am

MusicalTheatreGeek, you did not describe "misleading advertising." I don't understand what the issue is here. It's similar to when a company uses stock photos or video footage to promote a product, service, etc. It's a basic part of business.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/26/13 at 11:47am

it would only be misleading if is said (in either spoken or written form) "starring Stephanie Block".

They "own" the image of Elphaba, Glinda and the set....THATs what they are advertising.

It's been a LOOONG time since this show was about WHO was in it. The whole thing is a brand.

[rorschach37]

Posted: 7/26/13 at 11:48am

Unless it specifically stated "STARRING STEPHANIE J. BLOCK", I wouldn't consider it misleading.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 7/26/13 at 11:49am

What dramamama said, plus, let's be honest, most people don't know who she is.

[Jungle Red]

Posted: 7/26/13 at 11:52am

I remember the footage used when the RENT tour went to Vegas a few years ago had a disclaimer saying that the footage was from the original cast, and do not represent the actual cast. Not those exact words, but something along those lines.

[MusicalTheatreGeek2]

Posted: 7/26/13 at 12:00pm

Sorry Headband, I realised as I was typing that the point I was trying to make wasn't very clear, but it's been a long day so I isn't have the energy to improve it, but basically the point I was making is that they don't have to show exactly who you will see, as even when there is one person starring there is no guarantee that they are the one you will see!

[gchris11]

Posted: 7/26/13 at 1:16pm

The new Once commercials show the original cast, they put a little caption that says original cast in the corner of the screen.

[Princeton Returns]

Posted: 7/26/13 at 2:36pm

Id say the current UK tour of 9-5 is more misleading using a massive photo of Dolly Parton on all its advertising



Updated On: 7/26/13 at 02:36 PM

[Jungle Red]

Posted: 7/26/13 at 2:48pm

I don't know how that's misleading, since she wrote the show.

[Princeton Returns]

Posted: 7/26/13 at 2:51pm

Well many theatres had to put disclaimers on their websites as it made it look like she was starring n the show, composers generally dont have massive images of themselves on the art work

[Plannietink08]

Posted: 7/26/13 at 3:17pm

They use footage of the German production of wicked to advertise the West End and UK Tour productions.
We just deal with it.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 7/26/13 at 4:03pm

I'd hardly argue that's "misleading advertising," though. To mislead someone is to intentionally trick or deceive them. If it said STARRING DOLLY PARTON, that would be much different...

[Princeton Returns]

Posted: 7/26/13 at 4:28pm

Misleading is to give a wrong idea or false impression. To actually say 'starring dolly parton' is outright lieing

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 7/26/13 at 4:32pm

And, without speculating or speaking for others, can you tell me what wrong idea are they giving by showing a picture of the composer with the logo? I'm just not biting. If you have to go out on a limb and argue "well, producers don't usually do that! So there!," then I'd say it is not irrefutable proof of misleading advertising.

[Princeton Returns]

Posted: 7/26/13 at 4:42pm

Misleading doesnt have to be intentional. People were enquiring (and in some cases thinking) that Dolly was in the show (which I guess in the end she kinda was). This is why theatres had to put up disclaimers 'Dolly Parton is not performing in the show.'. Lol im not arguing the merits, I'm stating this is a fact, it happened and the notices went up.

And its understandable, when you look at theatre advertising from Joe Publics point of view it usually has artwork with a logo or image, or its selling the major star of the show. So people were seeing a massive Dolly on Billboards and putting 2 and 2 together to come up with 5.