RAGTIME to Close on Sunday January 3, 2010- Page 4

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 10:38pm

Really sad news...Good luck to the whole company

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 10:39pm

Tweet from Bobby Steggert

"Thanks to all who have shown such support and love for our show. I am deeply sad but very grateful for such a profound experience."

[Huss417]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 10:44pm

I'm glad I stopped by to read the board tonight. I just ordered my tickets for the final. I was going to wait but wasn't sure how many seats they would be holding back for family and friends.

[artscallion]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 10:46pm

So what happens to all the folks who had tickets to a later date? Does ticketmaster automatically credit everyone's credit card? With them previously selling into April, I think, there must be a HUGE amount of money they need to return.

[raulmark]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 10:53pm

they better refund! I had tickets for the 26th! Actually, they will refund everyone, but don't expect it to happen tomorrow

[jamoca5]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 10:55pm

Damn, damn, damn.

I just don't understand. How bad were the ticket sales? From what I heard, the theatre was packed every night. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to see it at the Neil Simon, but the production at the Kennedy Center was fantastic.

Well, I hope that this production doesn't completely go to waste, and it served as a catalyst for many successful careers for the actors.

~Ash was here

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 11:02pm

DRS - I loved "Ragtime"

That doesn't change reality you must come to grips with, however. It's the truth... Time to face it!

I'm shocked it went on for this long. It had zero potential to succeed (and held little commerical appeal). This honestly saddens me as I was a big fan of this revival but the time comes for all productions.

The same will be said for "Phantom", "Lion King", and "Wicked" one day.

God rest ye merry gentlemen.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 11:04pm

When I saw it, the house was practically empty. And that was on a Friday night, too.

[mormonophobic]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 11:06pm

This is just so wrong! Despite what some may say (and everyone is entitled to their opinion), this was a glorious production of a really good musical. The company put together one of the best shows I have seen and put so much focus on what really mattered - the actors, the music. The thought that this is closing while a show like Chicago (now starring Ashley "Crazy Eyes" Simpson), where it seems like NO ONE is trying at all, just bothers me. Not to mention the numerous shows that don't hold a candle to this beautiful piece of theater that are still playing to sold out houses.

Ugh. This just bums me out. I know the writing was on the wall, but damn if I didn't want to close my eyes anyway.

I'm just so very glad that I got to see this while I was in New York. This show will live on forever in our minds. I just really hope this doesn't hurt their chances come Tony time. I'm also hoping I see Noll and Steggert (who I think made so much out of such a small role) in other projects some time soon.

I wonder if this is will stop others from producing revivals of shows from recent times. It just baffles me how a great production of a well-known musical that got decent reviews couldn't find an audience.

[carts2010]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 11:08pm

Oh no!!! This my favorite show right now. I was hoping that it would last much longer. Thankfully, I have been able to see it three times... and I should be able to see it at least two more times before it closes. Such sad news!

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 11:10pm

It's very sad news, and I wish I had seen this show more, but...

the arrogance of their producers astounds me.
Updated On: 12/28/09 at 11:10 PM

[wicked1492]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 11:12pm

I was literally crying when I read this. My heart stopped. This makes me so mad. I wanted to see this but here in Bumbutt, Ohio it hard to get to the New York-Land to see the broadways.
I think this calls for another Crazy Spring Awakening Girl video. "That's like 12 shows..." So sad to see this go. I absolutely hate all of you with the "OMG. I DIDN'T GET TO SEE IT FOR THE 27TH TIME!!!!" Haha. There's no business like show business...

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 11:20pm

TimesSquareRegular - Do you actually think that stars aren't the reason people go to the theatre? Especially the tourists?

Shows like Mamma Mia and Jersey Boys sell well because of the music. Mamma Mia features music by ABBA, a world famous music group. And Jersey Boys features music by The Four Seasons...another world famous music group. Of COURSE those are going to sell well and have for years.

Shows like Wicked and The Lion King sell well because of their titles. Enough said.

And Billy Elliot ran in London first and received great word of mouth before it ever came to New York and when it did it won several Tonys...including one that made history. And of course, Elton John. He might not be everyone's cup of tea, but he is a household name.

And your argument for In The Heights doesn't really work because, well...their numbers haven't been that great lately. Why do you think they're brining in a "name" this Spring? To help their ticket sales.

Look at A Steady Rain. Do you really think a play where two guys spit out long, drawn out monologues would have sold as well if it starred Raul Esparza and Norbert Leo Butz? No. It sold as well as it did because of the names Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig.

I think I've proven my point :)

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 11:20pm

Their discount code is not valid that weekend, and the ticket price is set at $145.

Which code? I just tried the BroadwayBox code and it let me select seats for the final performance.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 11:35pm

It was the bogo buy 1/get 1 code. I found the other code and edited my post.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 11:37pm

Heartbreaking. A stunningly talented cast and such a powerful show. So sad that quality does not equal longevity or success. I hope Noll stills get her Tony nod as well as Steggert.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 11:39pm

really such a shame it's closing. What's even worse is how quickly it's closing and the fact that I likely won't be able to see it again. At least another week would have been nice.

[purtynpynk]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 12:00am

kind of sad about this one. Going to NYC for my first time at the end of January and was hoping to see it. I saw the show when it was in Chicago at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts when I was maybe 11 years old, but I can't remember any of it at all. I was hoping to see it again. Darn!

[Candleshoe2]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 12:05am

I saw the show this evening for the first time. The entire company seemed very emotional, especially during the curtain call. It's a shame that it's not lasting longer - one of the best shows that I have seen.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 12:23am

I'm extremely disappointed. It's my favorite show on Broadway right now, too.

I wish I could get up there this weekend to see it again. Very, very sad.

A beautiful, thrilling production.

[TimesSquareRegular]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 12:24am

mywonderwa11 wrote: "TimesSquareRegular - Do you actually think that stars aren't the reason people go to the theatre? Especially the tourists?

Shows like Mamma Mia and Jersey Boys sell well because of the music. Mamma Mia features music by ABBA, a world famous music group. And Jersey Boys features music by The Four Seasons...another world famous music group. Of COURSE those are going to sell well and have for years.

Shows like Wicked and The Lion King sell well because of their titles. Enough said.

And Billy Elliot ran in London first and received great word of mouth before it ever came to New York and when it did it won several Tonys...including one that made history. And of course, Elton John. He might not be everyone's cup of tea, but he is a household name. ...."


So it's because the music, or the title, or was a hit in London or won several Tonys or..... and maybe this is the big answer ... great word of mouth.

There are counterpoints to everything you suggested - and yes, in some cases what you said is absolutely true. But if it was simply familiarity with the music, ALL SHOOK UP would still be playing, Elton John's name didn't keep LESTAT around very long, and Jane Fonda's return to Broadway didn't even make it to 100 performances.

It's much too glib to say that you must have a star to have a hit, or even suggest that having a star guarantees a hit.

The title as star? You really think Wicked was on everyone's tongues across the country before it opened? How come AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY (a three hour and twenty minute play) with NO NAME STARS ran long enough to make a profit before adding in some known performers?

If there was a sure-fire formula for churning out hits, don't you think that every house would be filled with profitable runs?

The right star in the right vehicle (Nathan Lane in Producers wins, Nathan Lane in November loses)but stars can flop like anyone else, and saying you must have a star (and then redefining "star" to mean music, title, composer, and head usher) is an oversimplification.

[TheBoyDownstairs]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 12:29am

I just got around to seeing this for the first time tonight, and I really enjoyed the production. Its a shame its closing so soon, but I think it was just a bad time for this production to come along.

I really hope Bobby Steggert is remembered come Tony time.

[musicalbluemirror]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 12:40am

mormon - i totally agree!

its really rediculous that great pieces of theatre cannot have a life they deserve these days
Just bought tickets again for this week

this surely will be missed
all the best to the cast

[Barney Stinson]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 12:44am

TSR - you are the one oversimplifying things. You need to go back and reread the original post you (mistakenly) disagreed with. First off, he just said that success was MORE dependent on having a star, and secondly, and here's the kicker - he said ESPECIALLY in THIS economy.

Most of the shows you (incorrectly) threw up as counterexamples became hits years ago, in a much better economy.

And the orginal post didn't say having a star guaranteed anything. It's pretty silly to think that having a star or stars doesn't increase the chance of success dramatically - especially in this economy. Steady Rain, ALNM, are perfect examples. God of Carnage is another. Grosses have fallen off a cliff since the stars left and it still has big names, just not huge ones.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 1:05am

I will be at the final performance with my two best friends, my brother, and a bunch of friends from out of town will also be in the audience. While I am sad, we all knew this was coming. Everyone who is there on Sunday afternoon will have to show as much love and support for that cast as humanly possible. RAGTIME is the best revival of a musical of the 2009-2010 season and it's too bad that the 2010 Tony Awards ceremony probably won't reflect on this fact.

Congrats to the cast and crew...I hope they all find work again very soon.