The NY Times on the RAGTIME closing rumors....

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/25/09 at 6:43pm

The rumors about "Ragtime," which opened on Nov. 15 to mixed reviews, began in earnest early this month, as poor ticket sales failed to cover performance costs, let alone chip away at the producers�¢?? original $8 million investment in the show. Over the last two weeks, though, "Ragtime" as increased its weekly gross by 11 percent from that weak start. That said, the lead producers of "Ragtime" are veteran Broadway businessmen, and they say they will not keep the show running if there is clearly no audience for it.

Kevin McCollum, a lead producer, said that while he did not see a conspiracy to damage his show specifically with rumors, he believed that they were driven in large part by real estate competition.

"I think part of the online worry buzz is stoked by the fact that "Ragtime's" supporters are more ardent, embattled and likely to go on chat boards or post on blogs trying to drum up support for their show," Mr. Cote said, "but that has a backlash effect. It only highlights the fact that the show has niche support."


A very interesting read!

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/26/theater/26ragtime.html?_r=2&hpw



Updated On: 12/25/09 at 06:43 PM

[Brick]

Posted: 12/25/09 at 7:17pm

Very interesting. And it does seem true of the Catch-22 of the discussion itself. Supporters coming out to promote it are driven by the rumours, and both the rumours and the supporters' cheers give the production buzz - but a production with an audience doesn't need Save This Show buzz.

That said, it seems some shows do truly build an audience. I remember Spring Awakening took awhile to find an audience, complete with New York Times article about their struggle.

[whatever2]

Posted: 12/25/09 at 7:37pm

so let me see if i've got this right: bobby steggert (who imho is both a terrific actor and a total babe!) tweets a couple of weeks ago that, "it's now or never" for Ragtime, yet simultaneously can't understand the internet rumors about a possible closing???

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 12/25/09 at 7:41pm

So glad this article exists. Gave me hope. Positive vibes in the universe.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 12/25/09 at 8:25pm

while he did not see a conspiracy to damage his show specifically with rumors

Oh, the irony.

[binau]

Posted: 12/25/09 at 8:30pm

Did Ragtime really open to "mixed reviews"? If I didn't know otherwise, this article might put me off the show ("It got mixed reviews and people aren't coming to see it...it mustn't be worth seeing").

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/25/09 at 10:02pm

It got almost across the board raves. It's nice to see that their weekly grosses & overall attendance are increasing. I'm really hoping for a huge number for this week. I just really want this show to stick around until the Tony's at least. It deserves at least a few awards.

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 12/25/09 at 10:03pm

Bobby Steggert certainly deserves an award.

[BillFinn]

Posted: 12/25/09 at 11:08pm

I'm confused. I thought people thought Ragtime was closing because of Michael Riedel's article? Was it started by the chat boards or Mr. Riedel?

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 12/25/09 at 11:35pm

"They did not teach Broadway Gossip 101 at his Maryland High School"
I guess the writer of the article was not a member of a high school Drama Club.

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 12/26/09 at 1:09am

Very interesting article, indeed. I love this show so much and hope that it gets what it deserves come Tony time. All I can say is a nice "Keep up the good work!" to all of those over at the Neil Simon Theatre.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 12/26/09 at 11:28am

>It got almost across the board raves.<

I have to disagree with this. It had some raves, certainly, but the reviews on the whole were not anything close to "across the board raves". The reviews from the New York Times, New York Post, Newsday, Time Out New York, The New Yorker, Wall Street Journal - all major sources - were either qualified or mixed.

Looking at the current season, Finian's Rainbow and Fela! I would say got much more to what I would term across the board raves.

[Fanb]

Posted: 12/26/09 at 11:01pm

The New York Times, anyway, was mixed. But I definitely hope this show holds on. The score is spectacular and Christiane Knoll is luminous as Mother.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 12/26/09 at 11:05pm

Well, "Ragtime" has its share of supporters. I was hearing Christine Pedi (in her radio show with Seth R. in the Sirius-XM "A Couple of Dueling Divas") today. She absolutely LOVES it and considers it her favorite show of 2009. from RC in Austin, Texas

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 12/27/09 at 11:18am

http://criticometer.blogspot.com/2009/11/ragtime.html


Looks like RAGTIME opened to predominantly favourable notices. 5 mixed, 0 negatives, and one pan (but from Matthew Murray at Talkin' Broadway, so it's not a legitimate review)

Beyond reviews, the problem is ticket prices. If all seats were at the rates they were 10 years ago RAGTIME, FINIAN'S RAINBOW and others would be selling out. In this economy people cannot afford $135 tickets week after week and it becomes a quarterly/semi annual experience for anyone but the mavens. And they support their habit with Lottery/rush tickets (or manage to get comps.)

I know Broadway shows have huge nuts to crack but until a show is established, the big challenge it to get the theatres filled and let people spread the word.