Posted: 6/13/19 at 12:13am
Found out what happened. Nothing related to his family, etc. He had to appear in court to answer a criminal complaint of fraud for impersonating a woman to take advantage of a Time Square Bar's "Ladies Drink Free" promotion.
Updated On: 6/13/19 at 12:13 AM
Posted: 6/13/19 at 3:15am
Gizmo6 said: "qolbinau said: "Very disappointing for those that were expecting to see this Tony winning performance. I hope & trust that they will give refunds or exchanges."
I detest this attitude and wonder how anyone who truly loves the art of theatre could think like this."
Gurl the art of theatre comes at a high cost. If the producers are willing to claim it stars a Tony winner they need to refund or exchange if they can’t deliver - they are and should be taking the risk associated with this not audiences. But as discussed, thankfully in most cases in New York they are very good about this. They sometimes go above and beyond when they don’t even have to. So it’s a moot point because we already live in good times. Except the west end - how those shady immoral producers could possibly take money on Glenn Close’s name but not care when she couldn’t perform is despicable. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.
Posted: 6/13/19 at 3:30am
qolbinau said: "Gizmo6 said: "qolbinau said: "Very disappointing for those that were expecting to see this Tony winning performance. I hope & trust that they will give refunds or exchanges."
I detest this attitude and wonder how anyone who truly loves the art of theatre could think like this."
Gurl the art of theatre comes at a high cost. If the producers are willing to claim it stars a Tony winner they need to refund orexchange if they can’t deliver - they are and should be taking the risk associated with this not audiences. But as discussed, thankfully in most cases in New York they are very good about this. They sometimes go above and beyond when they don’t even have to. So it’s a moot point because we already live in good times. Except the west end - how those shady immoral producers could possibly take money on Glenn Close’s name but not care when she couldn’t perform is despicable. You can’t have your cake and eat it too."
He won the Tony Sunday, they didn’t sell the show on the fact it’s a Tony winning performance.
I saw Close in London I would have preferred to see Jones by all (except you) accounts Jones was better, she went on as the Norma for the Uk and Ireland tour.
https://www.thestage.co.uk/features/interviews/2017/ria-jones-the-place-went-crazy-it-was-a-huge-job-to-stop-myself-crying/
Posted: 6/13/19 at 3:52am
Tootsie is not sold out - there would have been at least a handful of audience members that would have bought a ticket based on his win. And regardless, they would have still been trying to sell tickets based on his nomination. I haven’t even seen the marketing material - but I bet you one scroll of their Facebook page or Instagram feed there will be an image with Fontana with pull quotes saying how amazing his performance is and giving kudos for all his nominations. The same thing will likely have happened post-win. (Edit: yep. Just go to their Instagram it’s all there).
I wouldn’t be surprised if Glenn Close’s understudy is ‘better’ because Close could barely sing the role. But those ticket prices were set because we were seeing a revered film and theatre star perform her Tony-award winning performance again 20 years later. Sorry but Jones-who or whatever her name was can not replace this kind of event.
But again of course it doesn’t matter except for the West End which unfortunately I have to live in/with now - I have found that New York is so good. For example, Ticketmaster were willing to move around multiple show dates just so I could see Andy Karl in Groundhog Day post-injury because he was only doing a couple performances a week. They didn’t need to do this but went over and above. In the west end at their worst you’ll get a dismissive “well you agreed to the terms” that said performers may change. So they’ll slap a billboard with Kelli O’Hara’s name and her Tony win on King and I marquees and posters to take your money but when it comes to curtain they don’t care what actually happens.
God bless America, truly.
Updated On: 6/13/19 at 03:52 AM
Posted: 6/13/19 at 8:03am
Gizmo6 said: "qolbinau said: "Very disappointing for those that were expecting to see this Tony winning performance. I hope & trust that they will give refunds or exchanges."
I detest this attitude and wonder how anyone who truly loves the art of theatre could think like this."
I agree with qolbinau - if they are selling tickets based on the name of a star, they should be willing to refund if that star is out. IMO it’s really as simple as that.
But even if we ignore the “celebrity” component to this, I still think you’re wrong to imply that you can’t “truly love theatre” and want to see the billed actors. Just like writing and composing and directing, acting is a theatrical craft, and no two actors do it the same. If I pay to see a renowned artist work their craft, I will be disappointed if I see them not in it. And that disappointment can very well be rooted in the love of theatre, because acting is part of theatre. And a Tony award is not just an award for being famous (usually). It’s an award for art. So wanting to see a Tony-Winning performance is about wanting to see good art.
Now I understand that the producers can’t give refunds for ANY actor that ANY patron might randomly have come to see, and sure there are probably plenty of people who don’t care about the acting, and really do just want to see a famous person. But since you were “wondering how anyone who truly loves the art of theatre could think like this,” here is your answer.
Posted: 6/13/19 at 9:55am
Has anyone mentioned that Santino will be out for the June 17th performance? Looks like he'll be taking part in Sweet Charity in Concert.
http://transportgroup.org/concert-series/
Anyone know who'll be going on for him on Monday?
Posted: 6/13/19 at 10:13am
Posted: 6/13/19 at 8:22pm
qolbinau said: "Tootsie is not sold out - there would have been at least a handful of audience members that would have bought a ticket based on his win. And regardless, they would have still been trying to sell tickets based on his nomination. I haven’t even seen the marketing material - but I bet you one scroll of their Facebook page or Instagram feed there will be an image with Fontana with pull quotes saying how amazing his performance is and giving kudos for all his nominations. The same thing will likely have happened post-win. (Edit: yep. Just go to their Instagram it’s all there).
I wouldn’t be surprised if Glenn Close’s understudy is ?better’ because Close could barely sing the role. But those ticket prices were set because we were seeing a revered film and theatre star perform her Tony-award winning performance again 20 years later. Sorry but Jones-who or whatever her name was can not replace this kind of event.
But again of course it doesn’t matter except for the West End which unfortunately I have to live in/with now - I have found that New York is so good. For example, Ticketmaster were willing to move around multiple show dates just so I could see Andy Karl in Groundhog Day post-injury because he was only doing a couple performances a week. They didn’t need to do this but went over and above. In the west end at their worst you’ll get a dismissive “well you agreed to the terms” that said performers may change. So they’ll slap a billboard with Kelli O’Hara’s name and her Tony win on King and I marquees and posters to take your money but when it comes to curtain they don’t care what actually happens.
God bless America, truly."
Perhaps you didn't come across as polite. I have never had a problem changing dates for any West End Production or at the National etc.
I don't live in London but lucky you, you have opportunities to see fantastic theatre at unbelievable prices. I'm sorry you're disappointed us Europeans place more importance on Art than celebrity, but as they say you can lead a horse to water you cannot make him drink or you can take the gurl out of America etc
I don't believe in God but praise Judy! Happy Pride.
Updated On: 6/13/19 at 08:22 PM
Posted: 6/13/19 at 9:11pm
UncleCharlie said: "Found out what happened. Nothing related to his family, etc. He had to appear in court to answer a criminal complaint of fraud for impersonating a woman totake advantage of a Time Square Bar's "Ladies Drink Free" promotion."
This sounds like a joke because it's similar to the plot of the show
Posted: 6/13/19 at 10:00pm
Oh snap. I was ALMOST there. It was on the top of my list as I was in line at TKTS yesterday but my friend talked me into Beetlejuice at the last minute. Now I kinda wish she didn't (though I mean second row dead center 50% off Beetlejuice tickets was not to bad either).
Can't help but think about the people that did get Tootsie tickets in line ahead of me.... and feel really bad for whomever had to deal with them at the theatre. They already seemed like the 'hard to please' types as they were bitching about where the seats were located to the poor girl at the ticket window.
Posted: 6/13/19 at 10:05pm
Stephanie J. Block was out of THE CHER SHOW as well for yesterday's matinee -- I bought my ticket about an hour before the performance so I could see her now Tony-winning performance and she was still scheduled to go on at that time. Nothing on the marquee or as an insert -- there was only a VERY quick announcement seconds before the curtain was rising that she would be out. A bit of a bummer -- and I likely would have asked for a refund -- but my flight home was in a few hours and it was too late to go see anything else. But, as others have said...**** happens, and the season is exhausting.
Posted: 6/13/19 at 10:21pm
Johnsylva said: "Stephanie J. Block was out of THE CHER SHOW as well for yesterday's matinee -- I bought my ticket about an hour before the performance so I could see her now Tony-winning performance and she was still scheduled to go on at that time. Nothing on the marquee or as an insert -- there was only a VERY quick announcement seconds before the curtain was rising that she would be out. A bit of a bummer -- and I likely would have asked for a refund -- but my flight home was in a few hours and it was too late to go see anything else. But, as others have said...**** happens, and the season is exhausting."
I'm going to the last show before her vacation. She told me on IG in April that she'd be on but who knows
Posted: 6/14/19 at 2:23am
“I don't live in London but lucky you, you have opportunities to see fantastic theatre at unbelievable prices. I'm sorry you're disappointed us Europeans place more importance on Art than celebrity”
Well I think this is also an interesting thing I didn’t realise about the West End - yes there can be some great theatre but it’s not quite as artistic at all compared to Broadway in terms of musicals. The most artistic new musicals are by far stronger on Broadway than the West End - and the celebrity of course can be stronger too. When people think British they think sophisticated and American trashy, but this stereotype does not hold true for musical theatre. It is cheaper, but (maybe field-dependent) I wish people would also acknowledge that NYC salaries can be much higher than in London - so it’s not exactly an apples to apples comparison. I mean, I don’t want to ignore the amazing productions in the West End over the last 12 months, but if you look closely you can see that unfortunately the best are British productions of American musicals. Anyway, maybe this isn’t a bad thing. London is an amazing city, Europe an amazing continent- so I don’t want to imply I’d rather be elsewhere. I just want to give credit where credit is due that, at least in my experience, Broadway theatre is absolutely the highest platform for new musicals in the world. It’s amazing!
Also sorry to derail this thread further lol.
Updated On: 6/14/19 at 02:23 AM
Posted: 6/17/19 at 9:01pm
ren598 said: "Has anyone mentioned that Santino will be out for the June 17th performance? Looks like he'll be taking part in Sweet Charity in Concert.
http://transportgroup.org/concert-series/
Anyone know who'll be going on for him on Monday?"
At intermission now, really surprise to see Santino in for tonight’s performance. I thought he was taking part in the Sweet Charity concert tonight so I was half expecting his standby to go on.
Posted: 6/17/19 at 10:33pm
Posted: 6/17/19 at 10:39pm
How the heck can he literally be in two places at once? This is REALLY confusing.
Posted: 6/17/19 at 10:54pm
Posted: 6/17/19 at 11:24pm
Posted: 6/17/19 at 11:58pm
Posted: 6/18/19 at 12:56am
I was at Sweet Charity tonight, and yes Santino did perform. The show began at 8:30 and he had the final song (at around 10:50ish), so he made it work while still doing tonight's performance of Tootsie. Must have been a crazy and exhausting night for him!
Posted: 9/7/19 at 3:25pm
Does anyone know if Santino has missed alot of other shows? Also any idea when his baby is due? Going to see the show in early October and I am hoping he will be there.
Posted: 9/7/19 at 3:27pm
Baby is due third week of September. I am seeing him on Monday, and he has the BN CD signing on Tuesday, so hopefully he will be at both. He might take leave after she is born though. No idea how long.
Posted: 9/7/19 at 11:23pm
I wanted to see Tootsie on September 23, but only with a rush seat. I knew I couldn't buy the ticket until after 12:00, so I chose Slave Play instead. It sounds like he may be out that night, so maybe I made the right decision.
Posted: 9/7/19 at 11:23pm
double
Updated On: 9/7/19 at 11:23 PM
