Riedel: Katie Holmes is NO Draw

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 10:06am

Ticket brokers stuck with thousands of $$ worth of tickets...because people just don't seem to care about Mrs. Cruise's Broadway debut in ALL MY SONS.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/07022008/entertainment/theater/you_cruise__you_lose_118139.htm

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 10:11am

Well, as much as I love the idea of the Roundabout's star-f**ker tendencies to blow up in their faces, it is a little depressing to see that people aren't interested in a big production of an American classic.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 10:13am

This ain't no Roundabout production. If it were, there would be no worries about tickets. This is commercial, through and through.

Can't help but wonder how they came up with Holmes' name to put it in the running. Of all the people who could be suited for the part, Katie Holmes was #1?
Updated On: 7/2/08 at 10:13 AM

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 10:18am

Whoever thought she would be a draw in the first place? She is not a well known or even critically praised actress (besides a few good notices for Pieces of April). She is known for being Tom Cruise's wife and that does not sell tickets. They would have sold more tickets had they chosen a more reputable young actress that people would want to see. Even a Hillary Duff (who can act pretty well) or Lindsay Lohan would sell better. Get any of the girls from Gossip Girl and ticket sales would be better.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 10:21am

It isn't so much that she's not a draw, it is more that she's just irrelevant. Patrick Wilson and John Lithgow are more than enough for me to go see this play. I can't even remember what Katie Holmes looks like, for god's sake.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 10:23am

Big eyes, cereal-bowl bob...Haha.

[acrocksyo]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 10:33am

Even a Hillary Duff (who can act pretty well)

In what universe can Hilary Duff act? Did you see Material Girls, Raise Your Voice, Cinderella Story, The Perfect Man, any Hilary Duff movie, she says everything as a question then gives that weird quizzical look after every line. Yeah that would sell tickets.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 10:34am

Let's see, Ms. Holmes is 4th billed below Lithgow, Weist, and Wilson; there has really only been one ad run in the Times and there is no tv buy or any other advertising I have seen; and she is not a household name on her own.

These are all givens.

It seems that it was a slow week for the Post-man and he decided to stir some crap.

[ExceedinglyPeculiar2]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 10:38am

"Ticket brokers and group sales agents, who at one point thought Holmes would be this season's Julia Roberts..."

...uh no. Dare I even begin to explain the vast differences between the two...

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 10:47am

Exactly...she's fourth billed, has no stage experience that I know of..and Riedel thinks they're banking on her when they have two legends and another big talent in the other three leads?

I'd see her out of curiousity, but Lithgow, Wilson and especially Wiest would be my reasons for going.

...although I'd will admit that being Mrs. Tom Cruise in this day and age is a black cloud any actress would have a hard time getting away from.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 11:10am

While I can't figure out what qualifies Katie Holmes to act on Broadway, she strikes me as sort of scary... a young Stepford-like person. from RC in Austin, Texas

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 11:27am

She seemed OK before the Men's Association got to her.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 11:36am

Still, Holmes will probably get them on Regis and get them on Letterman, which could lead to ticket interest as well.

There's more to name value than just being a direct sales draw.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 11:46am

Updated On: 5/3/09 at 11:46 AM

[once a month]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 12:03pm

It appears that my indifference over this casting coup is shared by most. Times are getting tougher every day, and I have to start showing restraint in all issues monetarily. I'll save and sacrifice for Broadway, but I sure am sure I won't be going to every star vehicle.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 12:30pm

Plus it's a hardcore drama by an author that some might find "boring." I think it would be a tough sell either way. Just look at "The Country Girl." I expected that show to sell-out so quick because of Morgan Freedman, but instead, "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" is selling-out. Hm, I find that interesting.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 1:02pm

She might have been a draw 5 or so years ago before she got married and had been allowed to pursue film work. After Batman Begins I have to imagine she would have taken more big budget projects that would have gotten her name out more.

But now she's more or less a joke

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 1:03pm

Updated On: 5/3/09 at 01:03 PM

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 1:15pm

As soon as they meet BWW's "We have no real morals" quote.

[AC126748]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 2:27pm

This production only holds one real draw for me: the fabulous Ms. Dianne Wiest. I think Kate is going to be a wonderful role for her. I still just can't picture John Lithgow as Joe Keller.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 2:44pm

I intend to go. However, I do NOT intend to spend $110.00 on a show I'm reasonably sure will show up on BroadwayBox, Playbill and others at reduced prices. I'll put the money I save into my collection box for Tom Cruise's debut. Hmmm, wonder what it'll be? Hamlet? Hello, Dolly? Blanche DuBois? Love, Valour, Compassion? Dracula? Ain't Misbehavin? Diary of Anne Frank? The possibilities are mind-boggling!

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 2:55pm

Yesterday's Post had a pic of Katie and Suri with this caption:

Katie Holmes dresses daughter Suri to match as she leaves dance class in Hollywood, where she's preparing for her turn in Arthur Miller's ALL MY SONS on Broadway.

Is it a musical now?

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 3:09pm

Every time a ticket scalper loses $ an agel gets its wings. SO Happy to hear these scumbags are losing money on this one.

But it serves them right... what IDIOT would invest in blocks of tickets when Mrs. Cruise is only playing a suppoting role. It's not as if Anne is on stage all that much.

Having recently seen a local production, the play still packs a powerful punch when performed correctly.

[ChristopherDurangFan]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 5:25pm

Hmmm...at first I was thinking for sure this would be a sell out type thing, where it wouldn't have rush or discounts or anything, so I was going to buy a full price ticket (I want to see Wiest and Wilson. I liked Pieces of April, but now, feh, I hope her understudy goes on.) But so now, should I wait? I want a good seat--when you wait and get discounts for something like this, what types of seats do you get? How good is the view from the rear orch. and from the balcony? I assume since the theater is often used for musicals, it's big so the leftover seats will be bad, but I don't know.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 6:26pm

Exactly...she's fourth billed, has no stage experience that I know of...

She played Lola in Damn Yankees at her high school prior to the creek. That's all I know of her stage credits.