Ramin Karimloo won't perform Thursday Evenings; Les Mis Rush Policy Announced- Page 2

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 3/3/14 at 2:13am

Thursdays are convenient because they aren't quite a "marquee night" for ticket sales and, as close as possible, split the performance week in half.
As far as being upset about alternates, in an ideal world, it would be nice to not need them, but as long as composers write shows that are not healthy for someone to sing 8x a week, they are for everyone's benefit - the actor doesn't risk their vocal loge ity and the audience gets to hear stronger boices.
Regarding Valjean, as been said here and elsewhere, Baljeans have LONG been contracted for 7 a week. The difference is whether or not it is publicized and how the audience is made aware. In this case, be glad to be notified.
As far as other cases where alternates perform, stop blaming actors. You also have producers. Did you ever think that it is THEIR idea? They have to pay the extra actor after all..

[Princeton Returns]

Posted: 3/3/14 at 3:51am

Whilst vocal rest forms parts of it, when you get to a level that Ramin Karimloo is you can dictate that you have one show off per week to also allow for work on other projects, family time etc.

Having a Thursday will give almost two whole days of rest from Wednesday evening to Friday evening.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 3/3/14 at 5:28am

For what it is worth, I saw Hackman understudy Valjean on the tour, and he was absolutely out of this world.

[HBBrock]

Posted: 3/3/14 at 8:39am

Most unclear rush policy ever. General rush? Student rush? One ticket per person? Two tickets per person?

[HBBrock]

Posted: 3/3/14 at 10:40am

General rush. 2 tickets per person. Partial view.

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 3/3/14 at 10:50am

If he's doing all of the shows during previews, then it is clear he can do it 8x/week. He just doesn't want to. So, he's not gaming the system, he has a contract that gives him that day off, he chose to make less money and give himself that extra rest.

I do agree that this should have been announced when tickets went on sale, though, for people who want to see him in the role.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/3/14 at 11:33am

It was; they just didn't dedicate a press release to it.

[brdway411]

Posted: 3/3/14 at 11:36am

Rush update, about 25 people by 10am. line started around 630am. The tickets are scattered around the theater, orchestra on the sides. about 20 tickets sold today.

[HBBrock]

Posted: 3/3/14 at 11:46am

Not everybody in today's rush line got seats?

[brdway411]

Posted: 3/3/14 at 11:55am

no, rush tickets were sold to the first 9 or 10 people (you can get 2 per person for $37, cash or credit)

[thespian geek]

Posted: 3/3/14 at 2:14pm

Valjean on the West End always only does 7 shows a week and an u/s does the other show (generally the Monday performance so the main actor gets a solid 2 days off), they just announced it with Ramin because... well, he's a big enough name that it matters.

[Rainbowhigh23]

Posted: 3/3/14 at 3:56pm

"no, rush tickets were sold to the first 9 or 10 people (you can get 2 per person for $37, cash or credit)"

Imagine when the weather gets better!

[brdway411]

Posted: 3/3/14 at 4:00pm

And the pippin rush and les Misérables rush lines are running into one another. Lmao

[Princeton Returns]

Posted: 3/3/14 at 4:07pm

Ramin has made it clear through all his social networks that he wouldn't be doing 8 shows per week for ages, he even admitted that he couldn't say what day off it would be. So really people who cared whether Ramin would be on or not would likely also be following him on social networks and should have seen the posts. Whilst Ramin is a 'name' in the theatre world, to the average tourist seeing the show they won't have a clue who he is.

Ramin requested a 7 show week when he signed to Love Never Dies so its no surprise he did the same for Valjean.

[Rainbowhigh23]

Posted: 3/3/14 at 4:08pm

I went by the Imperial after Saturday night's performance (I had seen Natasha Pierre) and thought the stage door was next to it; I was wondering why Patina Miller was there singing autographs! I thought, wow, when did she join Les Miz? LOL The stage door for Les Miz on the other side of the theater was pandemonium.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 3/3/14 at 4:20pm

Hi, xyz789. The precedent for a non-musical cast not doing 8 performances started, I believe, with the original production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? At the time, it was felt that doing two performances a day was just too strenuous and the alternate cast was announced from the get-go. And they had some fine people doing the matinees -- Kate Reid, then Elaine Stritch for Uta Hagen, Shepphard Strudwick for Arthur Hill, Ben Piazza for George Grizzard. It's interesting that no alternate casts were used for the Kathleen Turner/Tracy Letts revivals and I'm pretty sure that in both cases, there was at least one day a week when they did both the matinee and evening performances. Cannot speak to the Dewhurst/Gazarra production in 1976 -- anyone remember? I wasn't living near NYC at the time.

Updated On: 3/3/14 at 04:20 PM

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 3/4/14 at 2:13pm

I saw the earliest someone got to Les mis for rush was 6:30. there's no way i can get there that early; what do you think the chances are of me getting 1 ticket if I get there around 8? Think that's too late? Does the number of tickets they sell for rush vary each performance?

[brdway411]

Posted: 3/5/14 at 12:42am

not sure. Only the first 9 or 10 people got tickets. I was thinking about going again Wednesday. The tickets are scattered around the orchestra section and I have heard the sight lines suck from the further back seats as they are off to the far sides and you cannot see 2/3s of the stage because of the way the set is built out. We got front row seats house right (there are only 2 seats in the row because they built the set out in to the audience) for rush but again not sure if these seats are always available. They were marked Partial View and were far from it, although I would have rather been a little further back to enjoy the projections a little more.


Edit. Not going Wednesday, I just checked the schedule and there is no Wednesday matinee.
Updated On: 3/5/14 at 12:42 AM

[Eliza2]

Posted: 3/5/14 at 12:56am

brdway411, what time did you get there?

[brdway411]

Posted: 3/5/14 at 1:08am

Eliza2 check your mail.