RING OF FIRE to close April 30

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 10:44am

http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=9226

[Princeton78]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 10:47am

*GASP!*

[tgrabon]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 10:49am

Playwrights Horizons should move Grey Gardens to the Barrymore.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 10:49am

What a shock.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 10:50am

I know...I couldn't believe it myself.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 10:51am

Well should be the next to go.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 10:52am

Well has advirtized "final 3 weeks" in the New York Times Sunday edition if that means anything.

[Vespertine1228]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 10:57am

Well I guess it's a good thing I'm going to see Ring of Fire on Friday night then. I'll be going to one of the last shows.

Must say I'm excited to see the show, as I like Johnny Cash, even if the majority of people here and in general didn't like it. I'm always up for something new and/or different (especially if it's free).

[Katurian2]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 10:58am

Finally!

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 10:59am

Can't figure out how this lasted so long.

Hope someone finally pulls the plug on Well.

[mominator]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 11:05am

Wow, now there is a b-day present!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 11:24am

Why would anyone HOPE they "pull the plug" on a show?

That's sick for anyone who supposedly cares about theatre to say.

It's not as if another show could make it into that theatre by the Tony deadline. You like people being out of work? You like dark theaters (and unemployed box office personnel)? Because nothing is set to go into that theatre and it will be likely closed for many months --possibly until late Fall or even Spring. You think that's better than having a critically acclaimed show that many people enjoyed and even loved running?

Yeah. Time to celebrate.

Sick.

Updated On: 4/26/06 at 11:24 AM

[kyguy78]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 11:31am

Very well said, Margo.

[Runner1B]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 11:32am

Very well said, Margo. Both the Barrymore and the Longacre will be dark for months. The more shows that are running, the stronger Broadway is.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 11:36am

I love theatre as much as the next person. We're all entitled to our opinions, but I would not say that mine was *sick*. Well was not my cup of tea, and maybe my statement was worded incorrectly. I should have said, I'm surprised it's still running due to the fact of low ticket sales.

I think an off-Broadway venue would have been more appropriate for that particular work.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 11:42am

Exactly Dottie. Would you rather Broadway be filled with poor quality shows devoid of any artistic merit, or a select few of well-made and intellectually stimulating musicals and plays? See what's happening to Hollywood and movies right now? Do you want that to happen to Broadway?

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 11:44am

I've loved the fact that Broadway is so full...

Plus, I definitely enjoyed Ring of Fire AND Well more than the average person...

Even though I know it's completely impossible, I would love Grey Gardens to transfer to Broadway- maybe then I could finally get to see it!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 11:45am

You didn't say anything about being "surprised."

You said that you "HOPED they would PULL THE PLUG." [emphasis added]

Those are two entirely different statements, the second evincing a mean-spirited, short-sighted attitude that's quite disturbing, and yes, sick.

There are lots of shows that I don't care for. But, I don't go around wishing them ill will or hoping for them to close -- ESPECIALLY when there's NOTHING on the horizon coming into town for perhaps 6 months or more that might want to occupy that theatre. Well closing means lots of people will be unemployed -- beyond just the actors on stage -- and that Broadway is going to have a dark, empty theatre for probably the rest of the year.

If you HOPE for that happening -- as you clearly said you did right there in black and white -- then I feel sorry for you.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 11:52am

Katurian2,

"poor quality shows devoid of any artistic merit, or a select few of well-made and intellectually stimulating musicals and plays"

Speaking of the latter, Well is as well-made and intellectually stimulating as anything on Broadway right now and is one of the finest pieces of writing to appear on Broadway in many seasons. If some didn't like it or "get it," you can't please everyone. There's no such thing as a show that EVERYONE likes, but the critical consensus was it is one of smartest, cleverest and touching works to grace Broadway in some time

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=892028#2050855

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 11:52am

Margo, you're right. I said it there in black in white in this particular thread. I can see where one would interpret it as mean-spirited. In previous threads I have in fact used the word "surprised". I do not wish for people to be unemployed (be it in theatre or anywhere else for that matter).

I am happy that Broadway is having a wonderful year, and there are many plays/musicals that I have seen, that normally I never would have considered seeing. Some I liked, some I didn't.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 12:08pm

And Dottie, I don't mean to pick on you, it's just that I'm tired of hearing people casually wishing for dozens of people to be out of work and for works that dare not to be the same old predictable, safe, well-made play to close. I don't mean to single you out.

WELL probably is better suited to a smaller, more intimate theatre than the Longacre, but producer Liz McCann bypassed Off-Broadway and went for the larger venue because she believed that such a bold and innovative new American work deserved greater exposure. She's said in recent interviews that she stands by that decision and is loathe to close it because to do so is like saying that Broadway is no longer a place for challenging original plays. The fact is -- it probably isn't unless maybe a movie star is on board.

Once upon a time, there was a contingent of serious Broadway theatregoers who supported new experimental avant garde works by Beckett and Brecht and Albee and others. Those days may be passed, but brave producers like McCann are to be saluted for at least making the attempt.

[Runner1B]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 12:12pm

Margo, what is the solution, if we have lost our serious theatre goers? What should be produced in these smaller houses if we are losing our audience for plays?

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 12:29pm

May these ridiculously talented actors have better luck with their soon-to-book new shows.

[Runner1B]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 12:31pm

??? You mean....

[Sleeper2]

Posted: 4/26/06 at 12:35pm

"Why would anyone HOPE they "pull the plug" on a show?

That's sick for anyone who supposedly cares about theatre to say.

It's not as if another show could make it into that theatre by the Tony deadline. You like people being out of work? You like dark theaters (and unemployed box office personnel)? Because nothing is set to go into that theatre and it will be likely closed for many months --possibly until late Fall or even Spring. You think that's better than having a critically acclaimed show that many people enjoyed and even loved running?

Yeah. Time to celebrate.

Sick."

Here's what I think is "sick": producers who mount a lame-ass show and market it poorly, directors who demand too much from over-worked actors, and theaters who charge $100 a ticket. Yup, I'm all for pulling the plug on bad shows. There will always be new vehicles for actors -- let's get rid of the dreck and have worthwhile theater. Ring of Fire was insulting and ridiculous. Jarrod Emick and the rest of the cast will go on to better things and will be better off without the show. So will the unsuspecting theater-going public.

Get over yourself, Miss I-Care-More-About-The-Theater-Than-You-Do.

Updated On: 4/26/06 at 12:35 PM