SPIDER MAN What the hell?

[RSrichie]

Posted: 1/8/10 at 4:58pm

The producers of Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark needs to tell people what the hell is going on. They're selling tickets & for those of us who have tickets but hear it's not happening and are coming from across the country need to make plans and buy other tickets if it's not happening. This is truly annoying!

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/8/10 at 4:59pm

Is this legal? I can't believe they're selling tickets for a production that is clearly not happening.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/8/10 at 4:59pm

What are you talking about? It's starting previews in 6 weeks at the Hilton. I mean, the posters out front don't lie!

[Pgenre]

Posted: 1/8/10 at 5:01pm

OMGugyzz, I herd they will be selling CRY BABY cast recordings in the lobby

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 1/8/10 at 5:04pm

Along with Pee Genie's account of how he survived NINE.

Regardless... I officially hate the producers of SPIDER MAN. They're such @ssholes for doing this.

We know it isn't happening until the April or May, at the earliest. Where is the announcement?

[Scott Briefer]

Posted: 1/8/10 at 5:21pm

Unfortunately, it is legal. AND, they have a good reason to be doing this. They are collecting money and profiting from holding that money. They are legally required to offer a refund and/or comparable tickets when they can't produce the event, but until then why not hold the money in an interest bearing account?

It totally sucks and I believe it's unethical, but it's legal.

[winston89]

Posted: 1/8/10 at 5:28pm

I wanted to also add that I believe that it would be one thing if they were still selling tickets after releasing a statement saying that the show was canceled or postponed. However the show being postponed was never in the form of an official announcement from the producers, rather a rumor printed in an article in the Post by He Who Must Not Be Named.

[jeffmiele]

Posted: 1/8/10 at 5:30pm

playbill.com finally chaged the start dates on their upcoming shows page.. it now all says TBD

[RSrichie]

Posted: 1/8/10 at 5:33pm

My point is they're pissing people off by not saying what is happening either way so we can make plans.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 1/8/10 at 5:36pm

Plan on this not happening.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 1/8/10 at 5:36pm

I saw a listing that said "Opening Fall 2010"...so who knows. I think what the producers are doing is awful-holding all that money. They are still promoting ticket sales too. I saw an ad on E! the other night for ticket sales for the holidays.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 1/8/10 at 5:37pm

This sounds ridiculous. This show is seriously a mystery right now. Where is Julie Taymor?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/8/10 at 5:39pm

Diving into her vault of money like Scrooge McDuck.

[jeffmiele]

Posted: 1/8/10 at 5:39pm

i forget if i put this in another thread or not but i have an inside source who said that all of the actors were let out of their contracts in december

[RSrichie]

Posted: 1/8/10 at 5:43pm

If it's true the actors have been let go sounds like a class action lawsuit waiting to happen!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/8/10 at 5:56pm

Barnum was right.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/8/10 at 7:48pm

I am suprised that they haven't officially changed the date OR officially stated that all is on schedule.

[Scott Briefer]

Posted: 1/8/10 at 7:49pm

If they changed the date, those patrons who have tickets for dates cancelled would be entitled to a refund. Why should they? As long as they hold that money, it's collecting interest. If they've spent that money, they're in legal trouble.

[averagebwaynut]

Posted: 1/8/10 at 9:11pm

To Scott Briefer's point, your assertion would be correct if indeed it was the SPIDERMAN producers who were holding on to the money.

Unfortunately, the producers do not take possession of any of the ticket sales revenue until the performance is played. Telecharge and Ticketmaster remit the money to the theatre owner and the theatre owner gets the benefit of the interest on the advance sales -- not the show. There is the occasional show that is able to negotiate a piece of that interest but those are very few and far between.

The producers of SPIDERMAN therefore have absolutely nothing gain by not authorizing a refund of monies paid for performances that clearly will not happen -- except perhaps to create an even bigger public relations debacle.

[Scott Briefer]

Posted: 1/8/10 at 9:20pm

averagebwaynut: I'm not sure you're correct in your believe that the interest is held by the theatre owner and not the producer. As I have access to ask a producer, I will do so tomorrow and offer clarity to this issue. My understanding is that the a show's "company" pays a rental which includes a percentage of box office, but that all revenues are controlled by the producer.

If there is a producer among us, I'd greatly appreciate your input. If not, I will find out soon enough.

[Dantes]

Posted: 1/8/10 at 9:22pm

I love how people on here keep on with the "its not happening" thing

Im so glad so many producers of this musical seem to be on here

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/8/10 at 9:23pm

^ Um, clearly it's not happening next month. And that is when the tickets are being sold for.

[Scott Briefer]

Posted: 1/8/10 at 9:27pm

I am very curious about averagebwaynut's comments regarding who owns the interest to advance ticket sales, so having invested in two shows - one Broadway and one Off-Broadway - i decided to read my prospectus'. Unfortunately, I don't have easy access to the Broadway contracts as they are not here with me, but I do have access to the Off-Broadway contracts and it clearly states that revenues, include advance ticket sale interest is owned by the "company". I will still check on this further, but it makes more sense that the show's company owns the revenue and not the theater owner.

[bk]

Posted: 1/8/10 at 9:28pm

Of course it's unethical and it could be very problematic in many ways if they don't do something soon. Obviously they are not opening next month or anytime soon thereafter, because in order to do so they'd actually have to be in a little thing I like to call - rehearsals. With a little thing I like to call - a full company. IF they were in rehearsals with a full company I do think these particular producers would be, you know, trumpeting that fact, and doing endless publicity, which they are not. Why anyone would plunk down money for something that is so clearly not happening on schedule is anyone's guess.

[Pgenre]

Posted: 1/8/10 at 9:36pm

It used to be the producers investing in questionable properties for the stage who were affectionately referred to as "angels". Now it's the friggin' TICKET BUYERS!

How far we have fallen!

But, what can you do? Right, BK?

P