Only One Play running come September!

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 12:18am

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/81386.html
The article is up on playbill.com. Wanna see a Broadway play? Come Septemeber, Take Me out is your only choice. I never saw a play in my life, and I wouldn't spend my money on one when I could see a musical, unless it's something really great, but I can't believe there will only be 1 play running.

[magruder]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 1:20am

But in October and November, in comes Retreat from Moscow, Golda's Balcony, The Violet Hour, The Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All, I Am My Own Wife, Bobbi Boland, revivals of The Caretaker and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof ...

Plays are just around the corner, and that Playbill story is alarmist for no good reason.

[cabarethed]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 1:22am

Wow BillyLawlor...why don't you like plays?

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 1:39am

I'm not gonna answer the question for BillyLawlor, but I know I wouldn't see a Broadway play when I could see a musical basically because I'm young and I'm on an EXTREMELY limited budget here. The thing that got me into theatre in the first place was music, and the thing that always blows me away is the singing. So, until I've seen every musical out there, I wouldn't spend money on a play, I don't know if BillyLawlor has the same explanation or not....but I just thought I'd throw that out there...

[magruder]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 1:54am

This is all VERY sad to hear. In my teens and 20s, many of the plays I spent my money on were infinitely more satisfying and memorable than many of the musicals of the same period. A few highlights, and I'm sure I'll remember others...

'night Mother with Kathy Bates and Anne Pitoniak
Glengarry Glen Ross
Noises Off
Grown Ups
House of Blue Leaves
Crimes of the Heart
Amadeus

[divarobbie2]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 2:22am

These are the opening nights for plays scheduled through December. Harvey will have to preview prior to October 31. (Yes, I know it's a revival... but still)...

Oct 1 - Harvey (Lyceum)

Oct 15 - Golda's Balcony (Hayes)

Oct 23 - Retreat From Moscow (Booth)

Oct 29 - Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks (Belasco)

Nov 2 - Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Music Box)

Nov 6 - The Violet Hour (Biltmore)

Nov 9 - The Caretaker

Nov 20 - Henry IV (Beaumont)

Nov 24 - Bobbi Boland

Nov 2003 - Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All (Longacre)

Dec 3 - I Am My Own Wife (Lyceum)


Laura Benanti Online

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 2:35am

I love going to musicals, but I have to agree that good plays are much more memorable; and the smaller the cast the more memorable the play, usually. A good actor will leave the character and story in your mind...while a good singer will merely allow you to remember a song from yet another musical.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 8:30am

"I never saw a play in my life, and I wouldn't spend my money on one when I could see a musical..."

"...but I know I wouldn't see a Broadway play when I could see a musical basically because I'm young and I'm on an EXTREMELY limited budget here."

Oh. My. God.

People. You have to get out there and see some plays! Don't think they have to be on Broadway to be great. See a play Off-Broadway, or Off-off, or regional. You won't believe what you are missing! You'll be bitten by the bug and want to see more and more and you'll get a foundation in theater and you will be able to talk about the theatrical arts with opinions that are well-rounded with the exposure you will get.

When I was your age I saw a production of Edward Albee's "The Zoo Story" at the Hartford Stage Company. It's a show with two guys and a park bench. No helicopters or chandeliers, no orchestras. But boy does the language sing, the language and action, stunning. That show changed my life.

Only seeing musicals is sort of like only eating dessert. It might taste good but it isn't nutritous or well balanced.

[QueenS]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 9:29am

You can remove Harvey from the above list. It is no longer coming in.

I recently got to see "Long Day's Journey" and was blown away by Vanessa Redgrave's performance. It's a pity that there are people who may have missed such an experience simply because she didn't sing.

I do understand to some extent the feeling. For people who don't live near the city, often times their only connection to what is playing here is through the cast recordings. Coming here for the first time, they may have but a few days to see the dozen or so shows that up til now they have only been able to hear.

Stock companies are eliminating non-musicals left and right because they don't sell well and touring companies are probably 75% musicals (or more...). Community theatres do not always have the actors to pull off a non-musical as brilliantly as the play may deserve to be seen (I realize that is not always the case, I know of many great community theatres across the country!).

However, seeing only musicals is similar to going to the movies and only seeing comedies. Even if you love comedies, don't you sometimes like suspense films or action flicks?

[QueenS]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 10:09am

Scratch my whole last post. After trying to come up with a valid reason that people may tend to favor musicals if they only have 1-2 shows to see, I was horrified to then read the "how many times" thread.

I honestly don't understand why anyone would go to see Millie for the 7th time when there are so many other choices out there, on Broadway, Off and Off-Off. Not to say that Millie isn't a good show, that's not my point at all. But if you say you love theatre, then why wouldn't you want to see all that you could? Not just the same 5-7 shows over and over? And if you absolutely won't go see a non-musical (unless it's "great") while there are musicals still out there to be seen, start exploring the Off-Broadway options. Take the risk to see something that you don't know anything about.

I've seen plenty of shows repeatedly, but I also do my best to see all that is out there. I love theatre and I love new experiences. The two often go hand in hand.

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 11:39am

Broadwaygirl hit it on the nose for me. I would NEVER go see something I don't know anything about right now, because theater is too expensive to take that risk. For someone who works, and has the money to do so, I say go ahead. But kids and teenagers can't do that. I agree with Broadwaygirl- music is the thing that has drawn me to theater. And a teenage friend of mine who saw "Long Day's Journey Into Night" a while back said she hated it, but she saw Thoroughly Modern Millie and 42nd Street, and fell in love with both shows. Younger people aren't drawn to that type of theater, but singing and dancing is exciting. Now I'm not saying all plays are "Long Day's Journey Into Night" or all plays are bad. And what I meant by "unless the play is great" is- I would see it if I have heard about it, know what it's about, and has something that draws me to it. For example- I was planning on seeing "The Miracle Worker" because I am a fan of Hilary Swank, I have read the play before, and loved it, finding it very interesting. I also read a lot of plays- I, believe it or not, go to the library and check plays out and read them. This broadens my love and interest of theater. But to sum it all up- musicals hit the spot for me, besides the fact that I don't have the money to go see other Broadway, Off Broadway, Off Off Broadway or regional plays.

[CourtneyM]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 11:49am

i can't believe i'm reading this! you don't want to see plays? because your too young? because you don't have the money? yet you have the money to see a musical that might be the worse thing ever? don't you realize plays are real theatre?? god go out and get some culture, see a play. it most certainly will not be a waste of money and you will probably enjoy it.
oh and don't use "i'm too young to see a play" as an excuse. because i don't have much money at all and somehow i found a way to see plays several times in my life.

Updated On: 8/29/03 at 11:49 AM

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 11:59am

If you have the money to see Millie three times...then you should have the money to try something new! Wouldn't have been more excited to see something fresh then going to see TMM for the third time? I love musicals...but I can honestly say the few times I've actually been "amazed" in a theater was during and extraordianry performance in a play. And many times plays are cheaper than musicals. So my advice is read up on some plays...pick one that interests you and give it a shot. Why not try Take Me Out next time you're thinking of going to see Millie?

[theatrediva10086]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 12:00pm

I saw my first play when I was younger and I loved it...It was The Sisters Rosensweig...
I will continue to see plays if they interest me, and I look forward to seeing the shows that will be previewing in the fall...
But hey, to each his own...

[Slash]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 12:37pm

I am mortified. MORTIFIED. And yet somehow not at all surprised.

[QueenS]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 12:40pm

Money is no excuse. As a teenager, there are many deals out there to take advantage of. In addition to the Student Rush (for Bway and Off Bway shows alike), many Off Broadway shows offer discount subsriptions to teens and people under 30 (for the price of a TKTS Millie ticket, you could have seen 4 shows at the Vineyard last season- including the pre Bway Ave Q!). For ages 13-18, the High Five program (go to www.highfivetix.org) offers $5 tickets to many events (theatre, music, dance). You are the people theatres want in their seats!

Not to mention that most Off Off Broadway tickets are $15 and under (not too much more than a movie ticket). And during the summer, there is tons of free theatre. Time Out and Backstage both have weekly listings of these.

Yes, you may see things that you don't like. Yes, you may see things that you don't get. But there is so much good stuff out there, don't miss the opportunity to see excellent work. You may be surprised how your tastes cultivate and grow. (But you're right, it would take an extraordinary teen to like sitting through 4 hours of O'Neill. It actually takes an extraordinary adult, too.)

I commend you for reading plays. I really do. I wish that more people did. But, in truth, they were meant to be seen and heard. That's why they weren't written as novels. Updated On: 8/29/03 at 12:40 PM

[CourtneyM]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 12:51pm

well put queenss

[Hello Gorgeous]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 1:02pm

I'm 16 years old, and really don't have money to see anything. When I am fortunate to see a show, my parents usually pay for it because it's either a gift, or I will try to pay them back.

I haven't seen many plays either, but that doesn't mean that I'm not going to. Right now, I'm just more interested in seeing musicals because...well...I don't really know why. If I had to opportunity (I know I spelt that wrong)to see a play, then I would definatly take it!

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 1:04pm

And let's not forget that during the summer there is always Shakespeare in the Park. All we are saying is please don't be so afraid to take a risk. OK, so you've never heard of a certain play. Maybe you'll end up liking it and tell someone else how great it is. It's really a shame that plays have to survive by word of mouth.

[Hello Gorgeous]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 1:07pm

Christine, you joined broadwayworld.com on my birthday! hahaha sorry

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 1:19pm

Auntie Sueleen is truly disturbed. I won’t lecture, but everyone should take the advice above and go see a play, NOW. There is always a little singing in Shakespeare.

My plea is to Bernadette and Sutton: If these young people adore you as they say they do get thee to a non-musical role STAT!

Bernie, how about a revival of WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOLF? (You would at least get to sing the title song!) Nathan would be a great George.

Sutton, could you and Gavin please do something like FRANKIE AND JOHNNIE?

I am afraid you are the only hope for getting certain people to sit through a straight play.

Now I need to take a couple of aspirin. I feel a sinking spell coming.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 2:20pm

I knew I'd be attacked for this. All I have to say is I have 11 bucks and that's it. WHo wants to pay for my ticket to see a play?

[JO125]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 3:36pm

I find this no-play trend disturbing as well. How about going to see a play for the writing, the story, the performances? Why does a character have to break into song every five minutes to make a show worthwhile? Now I love musicals. My favorite shows are musicals. But, sorry, I just find it sad for people to eliminate plays from their theatre going repertoire, both for the sake of their own experiences and for the future of playwriting.

Do you only see movies that are musicals? I can't believe the only recent movies you have seen are Chicago and Moulin Rouge? And at 10 bucks a pop, movies aren't so cheap either these days.

When I was a teen/young adult, some of my favorite trips to TKTS resulted in plays such as Gemini, Deathtrap, Noises Off, Brighton Beach Memoirs, and later A Few Good Men, Love Letters, Rumors, etc. Some of my children's (age 9 and 13) recent favorites have included Noises Off, Play What I Wrote, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (off-broadway), and they have seen plenty of musicals.

[QueenS]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 4:02pm

All that I am suggesting, BG107, is that instead of the 8th and 9th visit to Millie that you said you are already planning on (from your post on the "how many times" thread), you perhaps take one of my other options.

I am certainly not telling you to go to the theatre instead of some other no cash activity (though I will reiterate my summer free theatre mention).

And perhaps your entry way into your previous 7 times at Millie did not come out of your own pocket. But in that case, the next time your parents, grandparents, aunt, uncle whomever wants to take you to a show, how about piping up and saying, "Hey, let's go see a new show!"

Finally (well, for now), if, (in your own words) you're going to stick to your guns that you wouldn't spend money on a play until you've seen every musical out there, then so be it. But at least see every musical out there.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 8/29/03 at 4:04pm

No I don't see movies that are only musicals, movies are about 90 bucks cheaper than shows. Plus, usually I see a movie when it is aired on TV or I rent it for 5 bucks (usually paid for by someone else in my house). I would love to see a play, I woud just RATHER see a musical, that's all.