The Grinch Musical

[mikeyb16]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 5:39am

Hey there --

I just read on Playbill.com about the upcoming return of The Grinch. Apparantly it states that it's increasing it's number of performances up to 15 times a week. Is that even possible??

I know The Grich is well known for having more peroformances a week than what a Musical usually has but 15?! Looks tiring to me.

Would anyone think Patrick Page would come back to the role or would they get someone else? And is the show doing Preveiws before the opening on November 1st?

-Mikey B-

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 6:05am

But did you also see the price of tickets?

$111.00 is top price, crap thats a bit pricey for what is really a kids show.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 6:28am

Wow. 15 performances a week?? I don't think that is possible unless they double cast this.

And that is WAAAAAAAAAYY to much to pay for a kids show. If they wanted to do it like this, they should have just done it at Madison Square Garden...

[bare_nakedlady]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 9:50am

What was their top ticket price last year? What's the top ticket price of Lion King/Tarzan/Beauty and the Beast/Little Mermaid/Mary Poppins?? I don't think this is much different. Last year there was at least one $248.75 premium ticket bought each week. I think it may be a lot, but if their is some great talent in it like there was last year it may just be worth it.

[broadwayhoney]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 11:56am

It's a Broadway show just like any other. It costs as much to produce as any other, so why not charge the same prices as any other Broadway show? And although we keep saying it's a "kid" show, the story is timeless and ageless, so it's not just for kids. I know many Dr. Seuss fans who chronologically are no longer children but they've managed to stay "young at heart." Good for them! Parents and Grandparents will be reading Dr. Seuss stories to the children in their lives for many years to come hopefully!
By the way Mikeyb16 the November 1st performance is the start of previews, the Official Opening is November 8th. And from what I've heard, just like last year there are two casts of kids but I believe the adults are not double cast. Most of the weeks are 12/13 performances, but during the height of the season there are 14 scheduled with the possibility of adding a show if needed.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 11:59am

That was the top normal price last year, they did 12 shows a week and that was double cast. So I assume everything will be the same this year with 3 added shows to compensate for the slightly smaller theatre.

[TLKfan]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 12:01pm

Yeah Patrick is returning. I know he's out of Lion King way before November because he said he's doing the Grinch again. BTW, what's the run time of the show?

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 12:11pm

Last year, it was around 70-75 minutes with no intermission.

[broadwayhoney]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 12:31pm

According to the article they've added two numbers so probably it'll be closer to the 90 minutes they advertise! Patrick Page was in the agreement meetings with Equity this year so it certainly looks as though he's coming back. Caitlin Hopkins was too. John Cullum says he's not and I believe he's got something else coming up, can't remember what though.

[RockabyeHamlet]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 4:11pm

The fact that it's a "kid's show" doesn't really matter. As someone said, Lion King, Mary Poppins, etc. are also considered "kid's shows" and ticket prices are the same if not more. But since they added the extra 3 performances, would they have to add another cast of kids?

None the less, I will be seeing it, since I somehow missed it last year.

[RockabyeHamlet]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 4:11pm

The fact that it's a "kid's show" doesn't really matter. As someone said, Lion King, Mary Poppins, etc. are also considered "kid's shows" and ticket prices are the same if not more. But since they added the extra 3 performances, would they have to add another cast of kids?

None the less, I will be seeing it, since I somehow missed it last year.

[broadwayhoney]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 5:26pm

Apparently there is still just two casts of kids. Even with 15 performances a week that's less than 8 shows a week for each cast of kids. And most weeks it's 12, which makes it 6 per cast. From what I've heard they also cut down the number of kids in the cast, but added two swings so that each cast has a girl and boy swing. Last year they had one girl and one boy swing who covered both casts.

[Not Barker, Todd.]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 5:32pm

Its a kids show if the writing fails to reach the adult level (which from reputation is dosen't) no matter how timeless the SOURCE MATERIAL is.

[broadwayhoney]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 6:42pm

The writing is pretty much taken directly from the source. The only thing added is music! So the story is the same. In fact that's where I think "adults" make their mistake. They want the story to be changed to suit their grown up world (the one full of cynicism, backbiting, dog eat dog everyday stuff), instead of taking a moment to bring up the innocence that is hidden somewhere inside and enjoying with the eyes and heart of a child!

[Jon]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 7:22pm

For the adults, doing 15 shows a week of a 90 minute show is pretty much the same as doing 8 shows a week of "Les Miz" or something like that.

What's worse - doing Grinch four times on a Saturday or doing Les Miz twice?

[Rotel1026]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 8:53pm

Did they offer a discount code for this last year?

[bwayfan4ever2]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 11:38pm

TheaterMania did. 30% off on Wednesdays and Thursdays through 12/14.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 8/17/07 at 5:55pm

Just got a presale offer from Citicards....

How brutal are Balc G or H? Those are $25- If show is truly 80 mins, dont feel like spending much on this, but would like to see it.

[purpleprince101]

Posted: 8/17/07 at 6:10pm

Not bad seats. For the $25, its worth it. Its better than my $60 for Balcony Row A!

[otis33]

Posted: 8/17/07 at 7:13pm

Lots of great changes happening with the show this year - I think all for the better. The new numbers are fantastic!