PARADE On Broadway - Reviews & News Thread- Page 8

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 1/16/23 at 10:10pm

Here’s the thing about nepo babies - the name will only get you so far. Look at Ben’s brother, the arguably more handsome, marketable Platt. He has a good voice, but hasn’t had the same success as his brother. It’s a combination of connections, talent, work ethic, AND luck. For him, the right role came along as the right time. He worked hard and had the talent needed. Yeah, his dad’s connections are helpful and lovely, but we can’t just minimize how important those other aspects are. Wishing him and the whole Parade cast much luck.

[broadwayindie]

Posted: 1/16/23 at 10:30pm

DramaTeach said: "Here’s the thing about nepo babies - the name will only get you so far. Look at Ben’s brother, the arguably more handsome, marketable Platt. He has a good voice, but hasn’t had the same success as his brother..."

Honestly Jonah who is the arguably more attractive brother with the not as good (but still good) voice has had less success. Henry who has the better voice and is less attractive is not as successful (I don't even know if he wants to be in the arts). Ben has IT. What he was able to do on stage during Dear Evan Hansen was lightning in a bottle... just excellent. He was also excellent in Book of Mormon. I am not his biggest stan by any standard but he is a great actor with a great voice.

And from a purely money perspective, a DEPRESSING show like Parade is selling like crazy. Not Hugh Jackman levels, nor crash the site levels, but the advanced sales are very very good for a show that is not "classic" musical theatre.

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 1/16/23 at 11:02pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: 

That people continue spreading blatantly false information about these men's careers is mind-numbing and infuriating. There are dozens of more egregious examples of nepotism in the theatre and film industries. Platt was cast in Parade on merit and the name-value he developed from playing Evan Hansen on stage (which, again, is a production that his dad had nothing to do with)."

And yet, people continue to insist, again and again, that Marc Platt is behind the scenes, pulling the strings, to secure (one of his sons, but not the others, weird!) roles. As DramaTeach put perfectly, I have no doubt that being a Platt has helped Ben plenty. But do we think Papa Platt was in the audience at the Music Box every night for a year, forcing the audience to scream and yell in adoration?

And AGAIN, I have to note, that its the Platts and the Feldsteins who "reek of entitlement" but not, as the best example given the current Broadway season, John David Washington, son of arguably the most talented and one of the most successful actors of his generation. Did being son of Denzel help him? Of course! Did he then prove himself on his own merits? OF COURSE.

And yet his success (which has eclipsed Platt's) doesnt seem to generate the same rage and jealousy as the Platts and the Feldsteins do. Can't put my finger on it.

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 1/16/23 at 11:08pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "r
That people continue spreading blatantly false information about these men's careers is mind-numbing and infuriating. There are dozens of more egregious examples of nepotism in the theatre and film industries. Platt was cast in Parade on merit and the name-value he developed from playing Evan Hansen on stage (which, again, is a production that his dad had nothing to do with)."

Also worth remembering that when Ben Platt was doing his concert gigs last year, there was whining that, having been handed a theater career by his ever-powerful father, he was now abandoning Broadway, the ingrate, because daddy was going to give him a career as a rock star. Now he's coming BACK to Broadway--to do a difficult role, that he says means alot to him-- and its still daddy, just handing him whatever he wants, the hack.

its all so ugly and petty--and i  say this, again, as someone whose sole exposure to him live was in Book of Mormon many years ago, where he was simply the funniest guy in the show (or, at least thats what the contracts the Platt Family made us all sign when we walked in said). 

[Chase Miller]

Posted: 1/16/23 at 11:43pm

I think we can all agree Ben Platt would not have half the success he has had if his father wasn't a big name and got him in the door. That's just fact. Would Ben's brother have gotten the Fiyero role if their father wasn't a producer of the show? I doubt it. No one is saying they aren't talented though. 

Updated On: 1/16/23 at 11:43 PM

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 1/17/23 at 12:38am

Chase Miller said: "I think we can all agree Ben Platt would not have half the success he has had if his father wasn't a big name and got him in the door. That's just fact. Would Ben's brother have gotten the Fiyero role if their father wasn't a producer of the show? I doubt it. No one is saying they aren't talented though."

Clearly, you aren't paying attention, because we are NOT all agreeing with this ignorant statement--ignorant because you undermine your own point almost immediately. Assuming Marc Platt "got" his sons in the door, isn't it telling that Ben stepped in the door and has since won a Tony award and lots of fans? While his brother has since... not? 

This isn't hard to follow.

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 1/17/23 at 8:04am

Two things can be true. The dad can be smart and identify a more marketable and shareable talent in Ben than his other kids, and focus on getting him in the door.

Doesn’t mean that Ben isn’t talented, but everyone is being intentionally obtuse if they think it all came from just 100% hard work. Most “names” have connections and people helping them along the way in the first place. 

[Chase Miller]

Posted: 1/17/23 at 10:17am

PipingHotPiccolo said: "Chase Miller said: "I think we can all agree Ben Platt would not have half the success he has had if his father wasn't a big name and got him in the door. That's just fact. Would Ben's brother have gotten the Fiyero role if their father wasn't a producer of the show? I doubt it. No one is saying they aren't talented though."

Clearly, you aren't paying attention, because we are NOT all agreeing with this ignorant statement--ignorant because you undermine your own point almost immediately. Assuming Marc Platt "got" his sons in the door, isn't it telling that Ben stepped in the door and has since won a Tony award and lots of fans? While his brother has since... not?

This isn't hard to follow."

You seem to not be comprehending my point. My point is the brothers had connections and a big leg up to get where they are now. That's it. That's the point. I'm not talking about tony awards or which brother is more famous. You seem too invested in this though, judging by your response. Go get some sun.

[Pashacar]

Posted: 1/17/23 at 10:53am

I'll say it again: LOOK. AT. THE. RECEIPTS. Nobody else could sell DEH. He was widely loved in BoM and Pitch Perfect. Hugely praised in Parade (which, as someone pointed out, is certainly not crashing the site but selling very well for what it is).

Of course his connections helped. But to say that without them, he wouldn't have hustled, and a casting agent never would have seen anything in him? He's held to a different standard than other people with the same connections. Why?

Then again, this is all emotions, so (as the past few pages show) I don't think anybody is going to change their mind....

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 1/17/23 at 11:12am

I just don't understand the freak out over nepotism, especially in industry as trivial as entertainment in the grand scheme of life. Why does it even matter? I thought we all learned that life isn't fair as children and then learned all about privilege and the latter of privilege back in 2020. It's just not something that's worth my time to get upset over, especially when nepotism in business and politics have had a MUCH bigger impact on our lives than nepotism in entertainment.

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 1/17/23 at 1:09pm

There's a note on Telecharge that Ben won't be performing on Friday, May 19, or Saturday, May 20.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/17/23 at 1:15pm

jkcohen626 said: "I just don't understand the freak out over nepotism, especially in industry as trivial as entertainment in the grand scheme of life. Why does it even matter? I thought we all learned that life isn't fair as children and then learned all about privilege and the latter of privilege back in 2020. It's just not something that's worth my time to get upset over, especially when nepotism in business and politics have had a MUCH bigger impact on our lives than nepotism in entertainment."
 

I don't know why but there has been a greater concern over nepotism in the past year, both on these boards and at large. It generally just comes across as tasteless and whiny. See also: Vulture/NYMag's giant package from about a month ago about "Nepo Babies."

A lot of ugly things have been said on here about Beanie Feldstein in FUNNY GIRL, in particular –– some of which reek of antisemetism and fatphobia, some of which just accuse her father and Marc Platt of bankrolling the production...which is hilarious since there are 44 co-producers billed above the title who all invested or raised money for the ~$15M production. If her parents were involved with financing the show in any significant way, that would have been leaked publicly months ago; people in these offices talk.

Updated On: 1/17/23 at 01:15 PM

[binau]

Posted: 1/17/23 at 1:19pm

I mean, I guess people are free to talk about what they want to talk about but I would personally vote to move on from this discussion and talk about the show haha. Isn't it getting a bit tiresome and boring now? It's going around in circles. Without Ben Platt, we may never have even ever seen a revival of Parade unless you would have preferred to see someone like Neil Patrick Harris so the whole thing seems like a moot point. Let's just appreciate and enjoy the art, please!!

[Det95]

Posted: 1/17/23 at 4:39pm

Just got an email from Telecharge that Ben Platt won’t be doing the 5/20 matinee. Not that I care, the show is the draw for me not him. Still, for such a limited run it would have been nice to have these dates when tickets went on sale. 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 1/17/23 at 5:35pm

TaffyDavenport said: "There's a note on Telecharge that Ben won't be performing on Friday, May 19, or Saturday, May 20."

Is Ben and Noah getting married that weekend?

[JSquared2]

Posted: 1/17/23 at 5:43pm

Det95 said: "Just got an email from Telecharge that Ben Platt won’t be doing the 5/20 matinee. Not that I care, the show is the draw for me not him. Still, for such a limited run it would have been nice to have these dates when tickets went on sale."

 

Did they not offer you the option to exchange to another date?  

[Det95]

Posted: 1/17/23 at 7:54pm

JSquared2 said: "Det95 said: "Just got an email from Telecharge that Ben Platt won’t be doing the 5/20 matinee. Not that I care, the show is the draw for me not him. Still, for such a limited run it would have been nice to have these dates when tickets went on sale.". 

Did they not offer you the option to exchange to another date?"

Yes, but I’m coming from out of town, and all my slots are filled. Contrary to the trend right now I’m still purchasing my tickets well in advance so I can sit where I want. Like I said, I don’t really care, it’s just weird that these dates weren’t announced when tickets went on sale last week. 

[Melissa25]

Posted: 1/20/23 at 5:12am

The Real People Who Inspired the Musical 'Parade'

[binau]

Posted: 1/20/23 at 7:37pm

I don't think this is the first time I've seen this (and it might be common practice now) but has anyone noticed telecharge seem to hide most of the premium orchestra seats - as if to make them look 'sold' to make the remaining premium seats more valuable? You can see by looking in the future and seeing that all of the dates have almost identical symmetrical patterns of seats sold...highly unlikely. So it's kind of masking how well the show might be sold (or not). 

[binau]

Posted: 1/22/23 at 9:34am

Is it me or is ‘hammer of justice’ awful? It sounds like a Saturday night live parody of a ‘serious’ musical. Did it really need to be added?

[Ricey2]

Posted: 1/22/23 at 9:46am

binau said: "Is it me or is ‘hammer of justice’ awful? It sounds like a Saturday night live parody of a ‘serious’ musical. Did it really need to be added?"

I wouldn’t call it “awful,” per se. I do think it’s a step down compared to ‘People of Atlanta.’ I also wish they would add back in ‘Big News!’ because it is one of the best songs.

[sppunk]

Posted: 1/22/23 at 9:56am

binau said: "Is it me or is ‘hammer of justice’ awful? It sounds like a Saturday night live parody of a ‘serious’ musical. Did it really need to be added?"

I haven’t looked for tickets for this show but I swear they’re doing the same for Summer 1976. The entire orch is gone except a smattering of premium tickets (and then the last few rows on the sides) for random Sunday matinees.  

[BETTY22]

Posted: 1/22/23 at 10:53am

I'm surprised this isn't selling better.

The show never exploded with commercial success -  but I thought Ben's fan base would sell this out. 

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 1/22/23 at 11:09am

BETTY22 said: "I'm surprised this isn't selling better.

The show never exploded with commercial success - but I thought Ben's fan base would sell this out."

Well, it did crash Telecharge, but I am surprised that it wasn't completely sold out when the website was back online. 

[binau]

Posted: 1/22/23 at 11:39am

It didn’t crash telecharge it was a coincidence for the 2 for 1 week I think. I agree the show isn’t really selling much, but I have noticed that Broadway shows seem to sell tickets much more closely now to curtain than previously AND Kimberly Akimbo has shown that positive word of mouth can still be a thing for a show with a bad advance. So I’m not giving up hope yet. 
 

I’ve been binging the OBC recording and the score is just so so wonderful. To hear it live on a Broadway stage is a dream come true.