Speech and Debate Extends to 2/24

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/10/07 at 6:51pm

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/113416.html

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/10/07 at 6:56pm

The catch is that tickets are now $50.

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 12/10/07 at 6:58pm

Ah, I was hoping this would happen. Gyspy just got pushed to an Easter present. I'm going to see Speech and Debate for my birthday.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 12/10/07 at 7:32pm

The show was probably operating under an Equity Showcase contract for the first month or so of its run, which allowed them to pay the cast basically nothing if they wanted (though I'm guessing Roundabout heavily subsized the show and paid the actors a small salary). The Showcase contract would have expired by now, and so Roundabout is losing a good deal of money every week only charging $20, so the $50 reflects the additional cost of keeping the show running.

I remember this happening with URINETOWN when it originally played off--off-Broadway at the American Theatre for Actors with the same cast that eventually went to Broadway (Cullum, Foster, Opel, McCarthey et al). Originally it was the best deal in town with tickets going for $15 a piece (while they were still under a showcase contract). Then it extended again and tickets went up to $25 or 30. Then, as they were making plans to move it Broadway and wanted to keep it running to attract investors, the producers had to pay the actors their normal Equity fee for Off-Broadway and as a result the ticket price went to $50.

Updated On: 12/10/07 at 07:32 PM

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 12/10/07 at 7:50pm

This is fantastic news! This show is marvelous. It has such a BWW mentality.

There are only 65 seats available per performance. Get your tickets now, folks!

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 12/10/07 at 7:54pm

Tickets are still only $20 for Hiptix Members.

That means, if you are ages 18-35, you can join Hiptix online, and call to get your $20 tickets.

[Vespertine1228]

Posted: 12/10/07 at 8:23pm

Now I get to go. How exciting.

[jake6970]

Posted: 12/10/07 at 8:33pm

Yay...but boo because I had tickets for closing night.

[ILuv2shop531]

Posted: 12/10/07 at 11:21pm

is there a chance it could transfer to broadway? that would be great if it did, it is doing so well.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 12/10/07 at 11:26pm

It's doing well in a 64 seat theater. There's a HUGE dufference between that and a 1000 seat Broadway house which would swallow such a tiny little, charming show whole. I can't see it playing in anything larger than say a 200-300 seat Off-Broadway house and still be successful (and still work on its own intimate artistic terms).

Updated On: 12/10/07 at 11:26 PM

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 12/10/07 at 11:41pm

jake6970, I'll be there on what was supposed to be the closing night too.

I'm just thrilled that they extended. This show deserves to be seen by as many people as possible. I enjoyed it immensely.

[jake6970]

Posted: 12/10/07 at 11:45pm

I think that if this show went into maybeeee the circle in the square it could work, but even that would swallow it.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 12/10/07 at 11:50pm

People questioned whether AVENUE Q would work in a Broadway house, and Jason Moore made it work, to Tony winning effect. I think if he could tweak this show properly, it might work in a Broadway house.

The Circle would be a great fit, in my opinion.

[silversurfer2]

Posted: 12/11/07 at 9:35am

Congrats to Gideon and the rest of this wonderfully talented cast! I will be going for the the third and final time, on what I thought was the closing night, 12/30.

And if they could find a small enough Bwy house and make it work, I would love to see it move.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 12/11/07 at 9:37am

Im seeing it on 12/22- I cant wait !

J*

[silversurfer2]

Posted: 12/11/07 at 9:38am

jaystarr: You will love it, I bet you go again!!

[EugLoven]

Posted: 12/11/07 at 10:01am

This is great news. Take advantage of the HipTix program. NOW!

I understand the ticket-price increase. In an interview on NY1, Roundabout Artistic Director, Todd Haimes, explained that the Black Box Theatre was just an experiment, to see if it'd bring in a crowd. The response to "Speech & Debate" took them totally by surprise. And because tickets were a blanket $20, they essentially were LOSING money each day (even with a full-house).

[theatrespaz]

Posted: 12/11/07 at 10:46am

Just got 2 tickets via HipTix for the Jan. 6 evening performance. You can't beat 20 bucks. Now my schedule is all set for my trip next month from Arizona.

November
Young Frankenstein
August: Osage County
The Homecoming
The Little Mermaid
Cyrano de Bergerac
Speech and Debate (thanks to everyone on this site for recommending it)

And then I have to go back to New York for the annual APAP conference and I plan on seeing Rock 'n Roll and Come Back, Little Sheba. This board helps me so much in making decisions.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 12/11/07 at 10:47am

Great choices!

Enjoy your trip!

[ActualReality2]

Posted: 12/11/07 at 11:34am

Yay now I may actually have time to go and see it
Do think it will sell out fast?

[maninchair.com]

Posted: 12/11/07 at 12:19pm

I got my $20 tix for the original run at broadwaybox.com. Their current deal is only through December 16, but if you can't afford the $50, they may show up there again.

Broadwaybox.com is actually a great site for discount tix, as it compiles all of the various discount codes from different vendors into one site.

If you haven't seen the show, cough up the fifty bucks. You won't regret it!!
Speech and Debate Extends Again!

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 12/13/07 at 3:43am

I saw Speech & Debate for the second time tonight, and I really could not love this play more. My heart beats for this play. It, and August: Osage County, are the two shows I have been recommending to absolutely everyone I know.

I am so glad it was extended! If you haven't seen Speech and Debate yet, GO.

I want a shirt that says "I <3 Diwata". Or maybe "What would Mary Rodgers Do?"

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 12/13/07 at 3:50pm

Since "Die Mommie Die" is closing (sadly) one week before my tickets were for, reading this thread makes me think this would be a good replacement show.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 12/13/07 at 6:19pm

It's a marvelous show. A great replacement along the same line of humor as DIE MOMMIE DIE!

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 2:52pm

I didn't wanna start a FAREWELL SPEECH & DEBATE thread.

You will be missed.