Refunds when Emma Stone isnt there?

[bwayobsessed]

Posted: 1/13/15 at 10:55pm

So I went to Cabaret tonight and it was amazing. Emma Stone, however, was not there which disappointed me but I was still excited to see my favorite. However in the lobby before the show, they were announcing that they were offering refunds and there was a line out the door waiting for the refunds. Do they always do this? I was shocked, I see no reason for Roundabout to offer refunds just because the understudy is on.

[haterobics]

Posted: 1/13/15 at 10:56pm

Standard thing for anyone above the title, so for this show only her and Alan, I'd imagine.

[Visceral_Fella]

Posted: 1/13/15 at 11:01pm

How full was the theatre after the refunds?

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 1/13/15 at 11:04pm

Any reason mentioned? Globes still? Hope she makes it back soon...going Thursday !

[bwayobsessed]

Posted: 1/13/15 at 11:07pm

Surprisingly the mezzanine was still full with only a few seats here and there open, I was hoping I'd be able to move closer up but that wasn't the case. I didn't go down to investigate the orchestra. There were much more people in the audience than when I saw Les Miz last month.

[Visceral_Fella]

Posted: 1/14/15 at 1:02am

Well that's good. I always feel bad for the understudy in this kind of situation.

Posted: 1/14/15 at 2:32am

Fascinates me they do this on Broadway. They won't do this for stars on the West End.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 1/14/15 at 5:43am

I don't know for sure as I haven't been to the UK, but one reason could be that Americans are more hyper-obsessed with putting famous people on a pedestal. I'm guilty of it myself, though I'm somewhat self-critical about it. It's also possible that Americans are more likely to become outraged and complain when a celebrity is absent, while Brits might be more inclined to just enjoy an evening of good theatre.

[bfreak]

Posted: 1/14/15 at 6:57am

She mentioned on the red carpet the other night that she had a bad cold combined with asthma, so maybe that combined with all the traveling was just too much for her to go on last night. Hopefully she gets better before February 4, because while I don't necessarily put celebrities on a pedestal (I know what you mean though JBroadway), but I am guilty of wanting to see the star in the play when I heavily enjoy them. :)

[haterobics]

Posted: 1/14/15 at 8:49am

The other side of the equation is that it isn't a cheap ticket, and all of their advertising is centered on "See Emma Stone in Cabaret!!!" etc., so if you bought a $250 table seat because you want to see Emma... it is a bit of a bait and switch.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 1/14/15 at 11:05am

Don't get me wrong, I think it's good that they offer refunds. I was just hypothesizing about why there might be a different policy in the UK.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/14/15 at 11:17am

I think haterobics nails it. The advertisement is "See [this star] in this show for a limited time only."

West End shows are much cheaper than Broadway shows and so the Brits may not feel as cheated.

Posted: 1/14/15 at 12:27pm

They are not always cheaper, mainly due increase in premium seating & dynamic pricing. Shows here do also Market to names. The difference purely is the terms & conditions here will never allow you to return your ticket purely because an understudy is on.

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 1/14/15 at 1:39pm

I don't find it strange that, if you've spent that kind of money to see someone specific, they'd refund if that person wasn't there. If I went to MSG to see The Rolling Stones and they announced that it would be The Backstreet Boys instead, I'd find a refund appropriate.

[bfreak]

Posted: 1/14/15 at 2:12pm

The prices for Cabaret right now are really outrageous! $192 for a regular orchestra or front mezzanine seat? I could see the $162 price now (which I thought was ridiculous when they weren't selling out). Luckily I snagged two of the last Broadway week tickets in perfect mid-mezzanine seats for $57!!!

[bfreak]

Posted: 1/14/15 at 2:13pm

^Not that that would make me feel any better if there was an understudy on for Alan or Emma!

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 1/14/15 at 3:23pm

Any word on whether Emma was on during today's matinee?

[victorg]

Posted: 1/14/15 at 6:16pm

i went to "death and the maiden" years ago with glenn close, gene hackman and richard dreyfuss. miss close was ill and i got a refund even with 2 other big names. (it was her i wanted to see).

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 1/14/15 at 6:30pm

Hoping she is on Tuesday. I am coming for the day from Syracuse just to see her. I missed Michelle Williams over the summer. Hopefully my luck is better this time!

[brldisteach2]

Posted: 1/14/15 at 8:23pm

Wilmington-It's not exactly the same: The Rolling Stones and Backstreet Boys would perform different music. With an understudy in a Broadway Show, you're still getting the same show-just a different person putting their own spin on the role.

It is frustrating though when the person you want to see is out, and I agree with those who said if they specifically advertise See this show with...for a limited time only. In general, though, I've seen a lot of theatres make it clear that you're paying to see the show, not the star.

[Nikeca]

Posted: 1/14/15 at 9:03pm

Im surprised the give refunds so easily, and i like it.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 1/14/15 at 9:47pm

^ if she's not in tomorrow...I'll be first in line.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 1/15/15 at 11:57am

Now I'm even more hopeful she's in tonight after her Oscar nomination announcement! I'm sure Emma will be that much more poised to deliver this evening...and the audience that much more eager to see her!

Congratulations to her for the nomination! Her performance in Birdman was superlative!

[getatme]

Posted: 1/15/15 at 12:21pm

Unsure about the matinee yesterday, but she was on last night.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/15/15 at 1:03pm

"The difference purely is the terms & conditions here will never allow you to return your ticket purely because an understudy is on."

If you buy a blue shirt from Marks & Spencer over the internet and go to pick it up at one of their stores and they give you a red shirt, do you just take the red shirt and say "oh well, stiff upper lip and all that"?

People pay to see Emma Stone. Her understudy may be excellent, her understudy may be even better than she is, but people pay for what they want and it's not to see the understudy.