Riedel once again proves to us that he has in in for Grey Gardens...

[jv92]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 3:42pm

...by saying in his column today that the Tony Awards will do little the boost its box office. He's already predicting its demise. Give it a chance!

[bwaygal1]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 3:45pm

I met him last week. He's a real jerk. When he heard how many times I'd seen GG, he said he'd have to back away from me. (He did say he voted for the ladies, though.)
Why can't he just leave poor GG alone?! Geez. Find someone else to pick on, man.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 3:46pm

Why does he hate it so much?? I don't get it! I guess he rather be in a theater with screaming tweens ala Spring Awakening.

I didn't even know he was a Tony voter. Scary thought.

[bwaygal1]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 3:47pm

Yup, I know. I gave SA a fair shake, too. (A couple, to be honest. It just couldn't click for me.)

[RockabyeHamlet]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 3:49pm

Oh jeez.

Hes a gossip columnist! What do you expect? I don't think he has it "in" for any shows, but merely states what he's heard and his opinon based on the information he has. And I'm sure he was joking when he made the comment about backing away from you based on how many times you have seen Grey Gardens. Don't take him so seriously.

[Dirty_Rotten_Guy]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 3:49pm

i agree that GREY GARDENS will shutter in a few months, but i dont think he's realized that the Tonys have already boosted the box office a bit for the show. just read reviews from last night! almost sold out! before the Tonys, that NEVER would happen for GREY GARDENS...

and bwaygal1, how many times have you seen GREY GARDENS? :)

[jv92]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 3:51pm

Oh, it's not going to run forever, but I can see it running at least five more months. Look how big a draw Christine's performance was WITHOUT a Tony. Imagine how much bigger it'll be WITH one.

"I met him last week. He's a real jerk. When he heard how many times I'd seen GG, he said he'd have to back away from me. (He did say he voted for the ladies, though.)"
That's awful, but what's even more awful is that he's a voter.

Updated On: 6/13/07 at 03:51 PM

[jg4892]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 3:52pm

I hope it runs for a long time. I can't think of any big stars capable of the role that could bring in business, though.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 3:53pm

He's just being realistic.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 3:56pm

Not really. The box office has IMPROVED according to the producers and fans on this board.

Anyway, I like Riedel most of the time. But I just can't understand why he hates this show. It's not like it's WicKkedd And iS OVerraTED aNd WorSHiPed By THE tWEEEn girlz and da teen boi in Mah SiggY. Updated On: 6/13/07 at 03:56 PM

[jv92]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 3:56pm

Oh, I know, but why not predict a demise for Curtains? (Not that I want to see that close either.) It's doing a little better than Grey Gardens, but not much.

"Hes a gossip columnist! What do you expect? I don't think he has it "in" for any shows, but merely states what he's heard and his opinon based on the information he has. And I'm sure he was joking when he made the comment about backing away from you based on how many times you have seen Grey Gardens. Don't take him so seriously."
Okay- so he's predicted its closing, he's said that Laura Bell Bundy of all people will beat Ebersole in Best Actress, he's bitched about the first act way too much and bitches every time someone says they liked it, every time the show is mentioned on Theatre Talk, he changes to subject. It's ridiculous. Updated On: 6/13/07 at 03:56 PM

[bwaygal1]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 4:02pm

I hope GG proves him wrong and lasts at least through the end of Christine Ebersole's contract. It wouldn't surprise me if Curtains didn't last any longer than GG.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 4:08pm

I'm no math genius, but according to the grosses, CURTAINS is doing quite a sight better than GREY GARDENS, and has been from day 1.

[jv92]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 4:08pm

That's true.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 4:19pm

i agree that GREY GARDENS will shutter in a few months, but i dont think he's realized that the Tonys have already boosted the box office a bit for the show. just read reviews from last night! almost sold out! before the Tonys, that NEVER would happen for GREY GARDENS...

I was at GREY GARDENS last night, in the orchestra, and there were plenty of empty seats. I'd say the orchestra section was about 80% full. I can only imagine that the mezzanine and balcony were less full.

Look how big a draw Christine's performance was WITHOUT a Tony. Imagine how much bigger it'll be WITH one.

Considering that it's been playing at 50% capacity for the past couple months, it certainly wasn't much of a draw without the Tony.

Oh, and here's a link to the article that this entire thread is referring to. It would have been nice to include it in the first post so people would know what the thread was fueled by.
Riedel

[bwaygal1]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 4:21pm

I hardly saw any empty seats anywhere last night. Don't know what show you attended. (I'd say 5% was empty.)

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 4:22pm

Do you think Grey Gardens will be around July 21st?

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 4:23pm

^ Oh. Without a doubt.

[jv92]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 4:25pm

All That Chat had a great thread about last night at the stage door (not that we didn't). If that same enthusiastic group keeps coming, plus the tourists (hopefully), it'll be around way past July 21st.

Foster-
I should has posted the article. Sorry. Updated On: 6/13/07 at 04:25 PM

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 4:27pm

bwaygal1, I was at GREY GARDENS at the Walter Kerr Theatre on West 48th Street. I guess we'll see what the actual capacity was after this week's out.

[jv92]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 4:30pm

It will certainly be higher than previous weeks, I can tell you that. The week after the Tonys has been a great week for every show that performed, even The Wedding Singer!

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 4:33pm

The man is a moron.

Why do people even read him, or take what he says to heart, anyway?

Next time someone meets him, they should ask him, "I'm sorry, I don't know who you are? Oh, sorry, I don't read your column.

[jv92]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 4:35pm

I'm not taking it to heart. I hope no one else is. I have so much faith in Grey Gardens. I know it can do well.
And besides, I lost all respect, belief, you name it, for Riedel when he predicted Christina Applegate would beat Victoria Clark for Best Actress in 2005 and that Spamalot would make a clean sweep that year.
Updated On: 6/13/07 at 04:35 PM

[gustof777]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 4:37pm

he'd rather deal with the annoying teen fans of Spring Awakening than the extreme bitchiness of most (not all) of the Grey Gardeners

[Tom148502]

Posted: 6/13/07 at 4:39pm

Riedel was merely discussing the effect of Tony wins on several shows. Some people here are trying to make it appear that he singled out Grey Gardens and was nasty about it. Far from the truth. That's the problem with one person commenting on a column in a less than fair manner and then others taking up the crusade when they haven't even read the column.