Posted: 8/28/15 at 2:26am
"if he would lower his star salary, chances are producers could lower ticket prices, thereby attracting younger audiences. "
I'm afraid I'd have to call that wishful thinking. It would just put more money in the hands of scalpers.
Posted: 8/28/15 at 4:02am
"The number of young people at straight plays is appalling."
The chance I'll enjoy a musical is just so much higher than the chance I'll enjoy a play.
"Just from what I noticed is that young people don't see a show randomly unless there is a something worth bragging about."
I'm not really seeing the issue with being discerning when free time and expense are concerns.
Posted: 8/28/15 at 6:57am
Why do you assume you w/o t enjoy a straight play? How many professional plays have you seen?
To the rest? Shaking my head.
Posted: 8/28/15 at 8:38am
HogansHero said: ""if he would lower his star salary, chances are producers could lower ticket prices, thereby attracting younger audiences. "
I'm afraid I'd have to call that wishful thinking. It would just put more money in the hands of scalpers."
Wishful thinking indeed. And even if Daniel Craig insisted on being paid only the minimum, why would producers lower the ticket price? There would still be an incredible demand to see the production (as demonstrated by Craig's two prior Broadway appearances). Why would they see the need to lower the price because they're saving $40k weekly? If the ticket is hot, the price will remain high so more profit can be made.
Posted: 8/28/15 at 9:16am
I actually see this more in my NYC theatre-going than in my DC theatre-going.
If I had a dollar for how many times I've had an older person tell me that it's "great to see such a young person attending theatre", I'd probably be able to see theatre a lot more often, haha.
It's definitely the ticket prices though. I have a ton of friends who would love to see a show but because of money conflict or work/school conflict they can never feel comfortable enough to spend that money or that time when they know they have other things going on.
It's easier for me because I am lucky enough to go to school and have a job that allows me the weekends off.
Posted: 8/28/15 at 10:33am
Posted: 8/28/15 at 11:06am
Funny, when you see an Adam Rapp play or something being put on by the Amoralists, the majority of the audience is young.
Posted: 8/28/15 at 11:18am
Off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway skews much younger, because the work is being created, generally, by and for younger people. Tickets are cheaper and the work is targetted differently. People going to see something by the Amoralists are more likely to be real theatre aficionados, creative types, people in the industry.
Updated On: 8/28/15 at 11:18 AM
Posted: 8/28/15 at 11:29am
When big stars go to off-Broadway the prices can be (nearly) just as high as Broadway prices. When Sarah Jessica Parker and Blythe Danner did The Commons of Pensacola at MTC a few years ago those tickets were going for $100. Likewise when Anne Hathaway did Grounded at The Public last season those tickets were $95.
I assume Craig wouldn't be performing at The Mint, and even if he did who's to say that they wouldn't price the show accordingly.
Posted: 8/28/15 at 11:37am
I was so hyped when I heard Betrayal was coming, but alas, I couldn't afford a seat. There were no student discounts or any offereings. Kind of htpocritical of him to say.
Daniel Craig didn't set the prices. The producers did.
Posted: 8/28/15 at 11:39am
LarryD2 said: "Daniel Craig didn't set the prices. The producers did."
They set the price they needed to pay his salary, so... sort of chicken/egg.
Posted: 8/28/15 at 11:49am
It's not that black and white. Many factors go into setting ticket prices -- salaries being one of them, but certainly not the sole factor. Also, while the premium ticket prices may have been high, I don't recall the regular price tickets being completely outrageous by current Broadway standards.
Updated On: 8/28/15 at 11:49 AM
Posted: 8/28/15 at 11:58am
To be honest, I don't think the last row of the mezz was that expensive for Betrayal considering Craig's involvement. Maybe it was $62 or something like that? That's $30-40 less than the off-Broadway shows I mentioned above.
If anything it's much easier to get a cheap seat to a star vehicle on Broadway vs. off-Broadway. I know I saw Denzel in Fences from the balcony at a very reasonable price and got fairly priced rear mezz seats for Raisin in the Sun too. There were cheap seats in the balcony for Of Mice and Men with James Franco and plenty of younger people were up there. (Of course, Of Mice and Men is probably more appealing to a younger crowd than Betrayal; A Steady Rain could only have appealed to insomniacs desperate for a nice nap.)
Updated On: 8/28/15 at 11:58 AM
Posted: 8/28/15 at 11:58am
It is demonstrable that ticket prices are a function of demand, not expenses. It is beyond ridiculous to suggest that high actor pay bears any relation to the price charged.
Posted: 8/28/15 at 12:03pm
Producers hire high salaried actors in order to recoup for investors. I feel like all Craig was saying was that he has been on that assembly line and he doesn't want to get back on it.
Posted: 8/28/15 at 12:47pm
To have a stage production appeal to a younger crowd and have lower ticket prices Craig would have to take a paycut most likely . Other actors have done that so good for him if that's the direction he wants to go. Otherwise I just don't see how else it would work out for him.
I did see him and Rachel in Betrayal at the Barrymore and its not like a Pinter play has all that much productions costs, to be honest, a handful of speaking parts and basically living rooms, bed rooms and maybe a restaurant scene.
That production could be mounted in any smaller theatre. Again its Pinter, not AIDA.
Posted: 8/28/15 at 1:05pm
Posted: 8/28/15 at 2:03pm
I agree with Kad. Another way of looking at this is that shows on Broadway are, mostly, producer driven. It is hard for me to imagine that Craig had a compelling interest in either play he has been in. It is not unlike film and TV where actors who could do better find themselves in projects that some producer thought was marketable.
I also don think Craig could necessarily drive any play of his choosing to Broadway.
Off-Broadway, I think he could, and I think that is what he is contemplating.
Posted: 8/28/15 at 3:48pm
I hope he pops up in the new Third Rail immersive show.
Posted: 8/28/15 at 4:00pm
We all want Daniel Craig to immerse himself in us.
Updated On: 8/28/15 at 04:00 PM
