Riedel on new plays already in danger
Riedel on new plays already in danger#25
Posted: 2/10/17 at 10:17am
Reidel is probably brushing Isherwood news aside as he's in fear of his own job. Reidel has become so irrelevant. Thanks to social media, most of his scoops are old news by the time they're published. I'd also imagine his sources are old-school folk who are ageing out of the industry. It's much easier to leak info via social media these days. Why would anyone need or want a relationship with Reidel?
I did like his book though! Would be great if he finally retired this BS gossip nonsense and focused his passions on being a Broadway historian.
Riedel on new plays already in danger#26
Posted: 2/10/17 at 10:22am
theatregoer3, the rationale in your post makes no sense. You think Riedel is not covering the Isherwood situation because he fears for his own job--but Isherwood was fired because of his conduct, not as an effect of downsizing. And if the news that Riedel covers in his column can be easily gleaned through social media without him, wouldn't it be more valuable for him to try and break an actual theater news story?
Riedel on new plays already in danger#27
Posted: 2/10/17 at 10:42am
Kad said: "Indecent at least has a somewhat interesting logo, compared to Sweat and Significant Other's bland font on bland photo approach.
But plays should be marketed as aggressively, or at least as creatively, as musicals are, regardless of their prestige."
I'm glad I wasn't the only one who noticed the Sweat marketing- I keep getting targeted Facebook ads for it, and it looks like an advertisement for a club, not for a play about unemployed factory workers.
Riedel on new plays already in danger#28
Posted: 2/10/17 at 10:48am
The Sweat artwork is so ugly and has the wrong tone.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
Riedel on new plays already in danger#30
Posted: 2/10/17 at 10:50am
The Sweat logo/art/photo (what do you even call it?) looks like they already had the cover of the published version and then just made it larger.
But it does not at all capture the play, or why people should see it. Yes, it's set in a bar. But it's not about a bar. It's about the disintegration of American manufacturing worker class. It's an extremely worthy and topical thing to explore and you would never get that from that photo.
Would you guess that the characters even work in a factory- the thing that fuels all of the action in the play- based on that photo? No!
Riedel on new plays already in danger#31
Posted: 2/10/17 at 10:55am
Actually, the Sweat artwork makes me think of Airline Highway, not a play about factory workers.
Riedel on new plays already in danger#32
Posted: 2/10/17 at 11:00am
The Sweat artwork honestly makes me mad whenever it pops up on social media or whatever for me. It's so wrong in tone and does nothing to make anybody say, A) "This is an ad for a Broadway show" or, more importantly, B) "I should go see this Broadway show."
Riedel on new plays already in danger#33
Posted: 2/10/17 at 11:05am
AC126748 said: "theatregoer3, the rationale in your post makes no sense. You think Riedel is not covering the Isherwood situation because he fears for his own job--but Isherwood was fired because of his conduct, not as an effect of downsizing. And if the news that Riedel covers in his column can be easily gleaned through social media without him, wouldn't it be more valuable for him to try and break an actual theater news story?
AC: Have you confirmed that Isherwood "was fired because of his conduct"? You had previously suggested you wouldn't speak to what you heard about his departure until you confirmed it. And if it is confirmed, is there any reason not to offer any further details you have here? (I'm not assuming you don't have good reasons, it's just that they aren't obvious to me).
Riedel on new plays already in danger#34
Posted: 2/10/17 at 11:15am
I said that I wasn't comfortable posting specifics from the situation because they haven't been confirmed. But I think it's common knowledge by now that Isherwood was let go due to matters concerning his professional comportment. As it's already been mentioned on several other threads, I didn't think I was saying anything new there.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
Riedel on new plays already in danger#35
Posted: 2/10/17 at 11:20am
None of us are at liberty to post the full details of someone else's firing, which we heard from friends or other people in the know.
Riedel on new plays already in danger#36
Posted: 2/10/17 at 11:30am
In May I have tickets for Six Degrees of Separation & Doll House Part 2. Is there any chance they don't make it until May if this report is true?
Riedel on new plays already in danger#37
Posted: 2/10/17 at 11:31am
I'm surprised he didn't mention the actual amount of shows opening. From Feb to April it's like 20 shows that are opening, that's more then I remember in the past bunch of seasons. I try to see everything but I try to do it cheap since I generally don't care where I sit and most of the shows don't have reasonably priced tickets at the top of the theatre. Sweat and indecent are the only ones below 40 bucks.
Riedel on new plays already in danger#38
Posted: 2/10/17 at 11:36am
canadian fan said: "In May I have tickets for Six Degrees of Separation & Doll House Part 2. Is there any chance they don't make it until May if this report is true?"
There's always that chance, if either spectacularly flops, but at this time I would assume your tickets are safe.
Riedel on new plays already in danger#40
Posted: 2/10/17 at 11:53am
Broadway Joe said: "I'm surprised he didn't mention the actual amount of shows opening. From Feb to April it's like 20 shows that are opening, that's more then I remember in the past bunch of seasons. I try to see everything but I try to do it cheap since I generally don't care where I sit and most of the shows don't have reasonably priced tickets at the top of the theatre. Sweat and indecent are the only ones below 40 bucks.
Sweat has tickets under $40?
Btw, Significant Other and A Doll's House Part 2 also have tickets under $40.
"
Riedel on new plays already in danger#41
Posted: 2/10/17 at 11:55am
I think everything is safe to run through the weekend after Tony Award nominations. Then, all bets are off. American Psycho folded quickly after it came up empty.
This spring will be a lesson in the down side of Tony backloading. But Indecent, Oslo, Significant Other and Sweat are definitely admirable gambles. Is there only room for one Humans a season?
Riedel on new plays already in danger#42
Posted: 2/10/17 at 11:59am
little_sally said: "
Sweat has tickets under $40?
Btw, Significant Other and A Doll's House Part 2 also have tickets under $40.
"
Sorry, I looked at my list wrong the play that goes wrong($30) does not sweat, I had looked up the cheapest prices for after the shows open and unless I was looking in the wrong spot significant other was $49 and a dolls house was $60
"
Riedel on new plays already in danger#43
Posted: 2/10/17 at 12:15pm
Broadway Joe said: "little_sally said: "
Sweat has tickets under $40?
Btw, Significant Other and A Doll's House Part 2 also have tickets under $40.
"
Sorry, I looked at my list wrong the play that goes wrong($30) does not sweat, I had looked up the cheapest prices for after the shows open and unless I was looking in the wrong spot significant other was $49 and a dolls house was $60
A Doll's House has a code for $39 rear mezz seats. Significant Other has one for $34 rear mezz seats (this is how I'm seeing the play.)
"
Riedel on new plays already in danger#44
Posted: 2/10/17 at 12:17pm
little_sally said: "Broadway Joe said: "little_sally said: "
Sweat has tickets under $40?
Btw, Significant Other and A Doll's House Part 2 also have tickets under $40.
"
Sorry, I looked at my list wrong the play that goes wrong($30) does not sweat, I had looked up the cheapest prices for after the shows open and unless I was looking in the wrong spot significant other was $49 and a dolls house was $60
A Doll's House has a code for $39 rear mezz seats. Significant Other has one for $34 rear mezz seats (this is how I'm seeing the play.)
"
"
Ah gotcha, the prices I listed are the face value of the shows. I think some of these should be priced like this already without needing a code.
Riedel on new plays already in danger#45
Posted: 2/10/17 at 12:18pm
Ah, sorry I misunderstood you, Broadway Joe.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
Riedel on new plays already in danger#46
Posted: 2/10/17 at 1:02pm
"Ah gotcha, the prices I listed are the face value of the shows. I think some of these should be priced like this already without needing a code. "
Particularly Significant Other should be promoting affordable pricing, since they're looking for the millennial audience. I don't see why they can't offer cheap tickets at face value in the back of the mezz.
Riedel on new plays already in danger#47
Posted: 2/10/17 at 1:06pm
I am shocked they didn't do something very inexpensive for their first previews, especially since it coincides with Valentines.
Another thing Hand to God did right: they offered very cheap ticket deals numerous times.
Riedel on new plays already in danger#48
Posted: 2/10/17 at 1:08pm
AC126748 said: "theatregoer3, the rationale in your post makes no sense. You think Riedel is not covering the Isherwood situation because he fears for his own job--but Isherwood was fired because of his conduct, not as an effect of downsizing. And if the news that Riedel covers in his column can be easily gleaned through social media without him, wouldn't it be more valuable for him to try and break an actual theater news story?"
My bad. I was unaware of the situation surrounding his departure. I thought it was part of the culture layoffs they've had over there. That said, I still stand by what I said about Riedel's column being irrelevant.
Riedel on new plays already in danger#49
Posted: 2/10/17 at 1:10pm
Along those lines, I'm surprised to see no plays using some kind of special preview pricing, as did Hand to God and a few other plays that season. Along with the brilliant and aggressive marketing, it helped the word of mouth for that show considerably.
I think Significant Other did a Valentine's pricing deal- two tickets for $50. But it was only one day and I think only at the box office- not the best way to get lots of people in the door.
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