SPAMALOT To Play The St James This Fall — Page 9

Truly a nothing burger. Why even wait? To goose the presale tickets? Now the pricing seems high IMO. This has me less excited. Oh,. well. Glad I got to see the original.

I will never not be excited to see Kritzer in a show, though.

... Does this mean James is exiting the Louis Armstrong project in Chicago?

Theatrefanboy1 said: "Truth be told. This was not the lineup I was promised. Very disappointed"


now I want to hear what you were told

RexInLights said: "Do you all realize how rude and jaded you sound? The cast is made up of talented theater performers and not stunt casting big names and you seem to be more interested in how many tickets it may sell as opposed to if it’s going to be good or not. Just another day around these toxic wastelands."

And even in the cases when it is a screen or film star, they're somehow never big enough or their star has faded. No one but Hugh Jackman is ever deemed big enough in these parts. I remember someone questioning Radcliffe's ticket selling ability.

I find this cast a bit....underwhelming. Tim Curry, David Hyde Pearce, and Mike Nichols it ain't.

blasvader said: "RexInLights said: "Do you all realize how rude and jaded you sound? The cast is made up of talented theater performers and not stunt casting big names and you seem to be more interested in how many tickets it may sell as opposed to if it’s going to be good or not. Just another day around these toxic wastelands."

And even in the cases when it is a screen or film star, they're somehow never big enough or their star has faded. No one but Hugh Jackman is ever deemed big enough in these parts. I remember someone questioning Radcliffe's ticket selling ability."



I don't imagine a lot of high wattage big name film stars would have committed to a grueling 8 performance a week schedule, especially if they'd never done it before,or haven't done it in a while. Even, as the SAG/AFTRA strike drags on. And I believe this is a very talented cast they've lined up. Whether it will sell strongly or for a long period of time is another question. Only time will tell

RexInLights said: "Do you all realize how rude and jaded you sound? The cast is made up of talented theater performers and not stunt casting big names and you seem to be more interested in how many tickets it may sell as opposed to if it’s going to be good or not. Just another day around these toxic wastelands."



Exactly! There would be just as much (if not more) bitching and moaning on these boards if they had cast movie/TV names. People would be OUTRAGED that they replaced solid theatre veterans with "stunt casting"!

Damned if you, damned if you don't...

Dom P said: "jakethesnake said: "I find this cast a bit....underwhelming. Tim Curry, David Hyde Pearce, and Mike Nichols it ain't."

The acclaimed esteemed and late Director Mike Nichols is unavailable."

One would also find it unbelievable he would have revisited this work were he not sadly deceased. He wasn't particularly know for revisiting his work, save for limited revisits to his work with the great Elaine May.

RexInLights said: "Do you all realize how rude and jaded you sound? The cast is made up of talented theater performers and not stunt casting big names and you seem to be more interested in how many tickets it may sell as opposed to if it’s going to be good or not. Just another day around these toxic wastelands."

100. This cast is wonderful, talented, funny, and correct. Can't wait!

RexInLights said: "Do you all realize how rude and jaded you sound? The cast is made up of talented theater performers and not stunt casting big names and you seem to be more interested in how many tickets it may sell as opposed to if it’s going to be good or not. Just another day around these toxic wastelands."


Broadway is a business and if you're unwilling to embrace that you should focus your interests solely on not-for-profit theatre (which is also a business).

It's valid to question if a revival of this material is "necessary," and expectations have hinged on a cast that would bring in more people to see it and a more interesting creative angle (since the KenCen production reportedly didn't offer much in the way of artistic genius).

We can and should have frank conversations about poor business decisions that are separate from the artistic merits of a show, and business decisions that impact the artistic merits of a show. Expensive flops hurt the industry and scare away investors, and flops that don't have MASSIVE artistic success are simply a waste of time. (And the jury is out on what this production will be.)