RAGTIME to Close on Sunday January 3, 2010- Page 5

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 1:57am

I'm pretty upset about this. For my big Christmas present to my family, I bought tickets for all of us to see the show on the 9th. Hopefully I'll be able to get tickets this week. I really wanted to see this more than anything out right now.

~Steven

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 2:28am

"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."

I love this production too, WithoutATrace, but that's highly unfair considering... you know, every revival of the 2009-2010 has season has yet to open.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 3:03am

I am most saddened by the thought of how IGNORED this will come to be at Tony time. People SAY that most of the Tony voters have seen it, but I find it hard to believe. And even if it IS true, it's hard to fathom that the voters can keep any thoughts alive through APRIL. It might garner a few nods,but it isn't going to win. (although in my heart of hearts I'll be rooting for Bobby Steggart)

The out of town producers care about what's going to make them money on tour--sadly, this ain't it.

Good luck to the cast and crew.

[binau]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 3:08am

"The out of town producers care about what's going to make them money on tour--sadly, this ain't it. "

You make them seem heartless - they have lost their (I assume) entire investment and shouldn't have to keep/risk losing even more money every week either..:-/.

Updated On: 12/29/09 at 03:08 AM

[philly03]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 3:19am

"I just don't understand. How bad were the ticket sales? From what I heard, the theatre was packed every night. "

Tale of Two Cities similarly was said to have sold out every single night, with everyone on their feet every night. It's a ploy to get more people in without giving away half of the tickets as comps!

There's a large connotation that Ragtime is boring. After seeing it on stage live for the first time on Monday last week (having listened to the score since the original a decade ago!), I'd agree that the first Act has terribly slow moments. However, it's good enough to stick around for the second house, which is incredible. I'm sad that it's going to be over - especially so soon! I would have also been there January 9th!

I thihnk if you're going to revive anything this fast, it needs to be a notorious, exciting, jumpy story. First thing that pops into my head is Jekyll & HYDE. The story excites people, the music is pop-y and catchy to even today's listeners. Something like TITANIC (or even for you Wildhorn haters, The Scarlet Pimpernel wouldn't do great business either) I don't think would do so well. When I heard of Ragtime coming back, I was indifferent. So many people know about it and respect it, but it's still Ragtime. Personally fell in love with the story watching it live as opposed to the book!

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 3:53am

I was hoping to see Ragtime when I planned to come over from London at the end of March, sad to see a critically acclaimed show not recouping, I HATE that and is very unfair.

Unfortunately Riedel has some very good sources, being right yet again. What mistakes were made by the producers, one could be reviving this show so soon, but if you are going to do a revival follow the blueprint to 'Chicago', would be a good hint, the New York Times described the producers as ecperienced business men, so must have some producing nouse in there.

Very sad news indeed.

[Elke]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 5:20am

Oh no, I'm really gutted about this news. I was so looking forward to seeing this production again in early February. But I guess I have to be happy that I at least had the chance to see it once. It was such a delight.

[kec]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 6:10am

"Fences is not going to the Neil Simon and is not the reason why Ragtime is closing."

Ron Bohmer's message on his Facebook page indicated this was a reason for the closing.
Updated On: 12/29/09 at 06:10 AM

[JRybka]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 7:58am

I am very saddened by the news. This show was AMAZING. Maybe we will get lucky and someone smart will record the show for PBS. That would be the smart thing to do. The set it perfect for recording. If we can do a recording of Tale for PBS then why not RAGTIME which was 100x better.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 7:59am

>"Fences is not going to the Neil Simon and is not the reason why Ragtime is closing."

Ron Bohmer's message on his Facebook page indicated this was a reason for the closing.<


Ron Bohmer is wrong.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 9:16am

Who is getting it Smaxie??? Do tell!

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 9:24am

Word still hasn't gotten around to Ticketmaster about the show's closing. They're still selling tickets well into April. LOL.

[BroadwayGuy12]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 9:45am

Very depressing news. I feel very fortunate to have been able to see this production, and I'll always cherish my memories of my time in the Neil Simon.

Best of luck to this very talented cast and creative team. I'll be rooting for Team Ragtime when the Tonys roll around!

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 10:09am

"The out of town producers care about what's going to make them money on tour--sadly, this ain't it. "
You make them seem heartless - they have lost their (I assume) entire investment and shouldn't have to keep/risk losing even more money every week either..:-/.

qolbinau, she was referring to the Tony voters, not Ragtime's producers. The out of town producer Tony voters are heartless.

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 10:18am

I so wish I could be there for the final performance. Now I really regret not seeing it when I had the chance in November. I'll always have the fondest memories of the DC production, at least.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 10:40am

">"Fences is not going to the Neil Simon and is not the reason why Ragtime is closing."

Ron Bohmer's message on his Facebook page indicated this was a reason for the closing.<


"Ron Bohmer is wrong."

While I don't know for certain that Fences is the reason Ragtime is closing, I DO know that the producers of Fences looked at the theater right before Christmas. Also, Ragtime was evicted; the producers didn't choose to close the show. In general, theaters don't evict a show unless they have a tennant lined up. The Neil Simon's next known tennant, Love Never Dies, is almost a year away.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 10:59am

>Ragtime was evicted; the producers didn't choose to close the show<

This is a fallacy.

[Clopin73]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 11:06am

Any chance they will extend the run by a week or two? Ticketmaster is still selling tickets for upcoming shows. I just did not now know if this one of those ploys to sell more tickets by announcing it is closing - and although it is still closing soon maybe they would extend the run by a little more time if sales picked up. I am nervous abou buying tickets for another show until I officially hear from Ticketmaster that i am receiving a refund. Thoughts?

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 11:14am

Clopin, unfortunately no. Usually a ploy to extend would be to advertise "last weeks". No such case in this instance.

[americanboy99]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 11:16am

Very, very unfortunate news. I hope & pray that this show, especially its actors, are not forgotten come awards time.

[nealb1]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 11:18am

No, it won't extend. January 3rd is official.

Very, very sad to hear this.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 11:23am

Dang! That was fast!

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 11:26am

My heart stopped when I first read the announcement, even though I saw it coming... but it's a nice to see how much love Bobby Steggert is getting from this thread. When I first saw the show in DC, I thought, "That guy is the best part of the show," but no one else I was with thought he was anything special.

[i_love_megan]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 11:44am

Im going to the city this weekend, is it safe to say that lotto for saturday night/matinee will be packed?

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 11:46am

Schmerg, I loved Bobby Steggert's performance and think I even mentioned it in my initial review of the show. He was quite remarkable (IMO).