THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES with Kristin Chenowith & F. Murray Abraham to open at St. James in November- Page 12

[Ensemble1711444445]

Posted: 9/20/25 at 6:57pm

DaveyG said: "Sales still sluggish. They will need great reviews and probably a priority loan to make it to awards season."

They are already taking priority loans while trying to finish the raise. 

[GottaGetAGimmick420]

Posted: 9/20/25 at 7:44pm

It now dawns on me... is Seaview/Greg Nobile only able to pull off successful plays? All of their musicals so far have flopped, have they not?

[Kad]

Posted: 9/20/25 at 7:51pm

GottaGetAGimmick420 said: "It now dawns on me... is Seaview/Greg Nobile only able to pull off successful plays? All of their musicals so far have flopped, have they not?"

Productions they've developed themselves, yes, but admittedly it's only really two- Lempicka and Last 5 Years. But Seaview hasn't really demonstrated much aptitude at developing new work generally. They're good at getting talent and pushing revivals or transfers, which certainly is something but is limiting and it's clear they want to change that. 

Updated On: 9/20/25 at 07:51 PM

[Auggie27]

Posted: 9/20/25 at 9:38pm

I just checked ticket sales, thru November and they're worse than sluggish. The mezz isn't moving at all. I pulled random Tuesday and Thursday eves and Wednesday matinees (my TDF go-to). The mezz is simply not selling. And it's not as if the orchestra is going clean. This looks like Side Show's sales at the St. James, the balcony closed. 

All of the arguments about the Chenoweth-Kirk controversy evaporate when you ask the average theatergoer if a show about this particular bougie woman and her struggles intrigues enough to invest pre-reviews. I feel it's got the Hands on a Hardbody curse (if you're saying, "hands on the wut?" I rest my case). It's based on a niche piece of documentary storytelling with a questionable wider audience level of curiosity.  I know, I know, it's early, but they desperately need positive and sales-generating social media vibe, and that's nowhere to be found.  

Updated On: 9/20/25 at 09:38 PM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 9/20/25 at 10:01pm

Just reading the comments on any of the recent postings on the QOV Instagram is quite telling. The amount of negative comments regarding Chenoweth totally outnumber the positive comments. She definitely hammered in the last nail of the coffin. I feel terrible for the cast and crew as they must be devastated their livelihoods are being affected by Ms Dumbass. 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 9/20/25 at 10:14pm

Let Sherie take over tbh! 😂 

[The Bandstand]

Posted: 9/20/25 at 10:43pm

Calm down people.  You could say this about almost every other show coming in this fall, but are choosing for some reason to pick on this one.  People just don’t buy in advance anymore, so you can’t glean anything from that.  

[Ensemble1711444445]

Posted: 9/20/25 at 10:44pm

The Bandstand said: "Calm down people. You could say this about almostevery other show coming in this fall, but are choosing for some reason to pick on this one. People just don’t buy in advance anymore, so you can’t glean anything from that."

Not true, Chess and Ragtime are selling. So is Keanu and Art. 

[The Bandstand]

Posted: 9/21/25 at 12:10am

Once they hear how good Kristin is, they will buy tickets 

[TheatreMonkey]

Posted: 9/21/25 at 12:34am

The Bandstand said: "Once they hear how good Kristin is, they will buy tickets"

Sure, cuz no one has ever heard her sing, or watched her act before...

I don't think that's in doubt -- it's the subject matter, and lately, the actress herself, that pose the biggest obstacles. I couldn't care less for a story about a deluded woman who just wants ...stuff. Recent events and comments aside, that's my personal impediment to having any interest in this venture at all. 

[east side story]

Posted: 9/21/25 at 7:16am

The Bandstand said: "Once they hear how good Kristin is, they will buy tickets"

She was never going to fill that theatre. 

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 9/21/25 at 7:30am

The Bandstand said: "Once they hear how good Kristin is, they will buy tickets"

She was good, but not THAT good. 

[binau]

Posted: 9/21/25 at 7:57am

Have they closed the balcony for all performances? That isn’t a good sign. It does look like they’re missing a little bit of momentum and it’s going to be a difficult start. 

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 9/21/25 at 12:58pm

Queerty ( spelling is that its name ) popped up on my Facebook feed yesterday about Kristin’s remarks and the responses were brutal. Most comments also mentioned this show, and how no one had plans to see it after her poorly worded response. 

[pagereynolds]

Posted: 9/21/25 at 1:01pm

Almost all of the comments on Instagram are positive. Like 90%

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 9/21/25 at 1:19pm

pagereynolds said: "Almost all of the comments on Instagram are positive. Like 90%"

Allegedly, they’ve been deleting negative comments yesterday so any that are currently on there will eventually be deleted within a few hours.  

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 9/21/25 at 1:35pm

Yeah, I noticed that. It doesn't seem to be getting any better for her or the show. Sales are currently pretty sad.

[east side story]

Posted: 9/21/25 at 1:41pm

Oh, yeah. The majority of comments have been scrubbed.

[RW3]

Posted: 9/21/25 at 1:55pm

Do we want to start taking bets that this is this season’s Tammy Faye?

[dan94]

Posted: 9/21/25 at 1:59pm

binau said: "Have they closed the balcony for all performances? That isn’t a good sign. It does look like they’re missing a little bit of momentum and it’s going to be a difficult start."

The balcony has always been closed from the day tickets went on sale. There is zero momentum. The promo code they have out also does practically nothing. They seem stuck on wanting a $90 entrance barrier and.....well we see how that's going.

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 9/21/25 at 3:12pm

So when are we meeting up to see Sheri ?

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 9/21/25 at 3:13pm

RW3 said: "Do we want to start taking bets that this is this season’s Tammy Faye?"

Based on the show in Boston, I can't believe the actual writing (or directing) will get clobbered by the critics like TF.  As for sales though...

[EmceeHammer]

Posted: 9/22/25 at 2:55pm

Auggie27 said: "All of the arguments about the Chenoweth-Kirk controversy evaporate when you ask the average theatergoer if a show about this particular bougie woman and her struggles intrigues enough to invest pre-reviews."

Agreed. However, I'd further argue that if you ask the average theatergoer about Kristin's recent controversy and subsequent "cancellation", they'd probably say that while her rendition of the National Anthem was beautifully performed it was totally wrong for the NBA Finals.

Ultimately, this production (and performer) seems doomed for a similar reason. It's out-of-touch, over done, and decidedly not want the audience wants at the moment. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 9/22/25 at 3:08pm

^ That part. 

[SteveSanders]

Posted: 9/22/25 at 3:21pm

I think The Queen of Versailles may share an affliction of many shows right now and in recent times:

No FOMO.

Potential audience members just don't have much fear of missing out so unless the buzz turns extremely positive or they happen on to some bargain tickets, life will go on just fine..

Updated On: 9/22/25 at 03:21 PM