Will Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton travel to Broadway?- Page 2

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 1/1/12 at 7:05pm

$1,000 is definitely a low ball estimate. I'm going in a few weeks and with just the airfare and hotel for six nights, I'm already at $1,550 aka a touch over a month's rent as Kad said.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 1/1/12 at 7:08pm

Pitpro, sweetie, you have been around this board long enough to know that Jordan is the class clown of the board, haven't you?

He's joking.

Of course, maybe you are too. Dunno. I'm out to earn money to pop across the pond. 'cause I'm a real theater lover.

Ta.

[PitPro2004]

Posted: 1/1/12 at 7:11pm

"Pitpro, sweetie, you have been around this board long enough to know that Jordan is the class clown of the board, haven't you?

He's joking.

Of course, maybe you are too. Dunno. I'm out to earn money to pop across the pond. 'cause I'm a real theater lover.

Ta."

But of course! I only keep company with the finest.

It's all good. I am now off to 8th avenue to fund my trip because I am a theater lover...

[HBP]

Posted: 1/1/12 at 7:17pm

irrelevant and a pointless argument. many west end shows transfer. i hope this one does, too.

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/1/12 at 9:14pm

Wow, this is a bizarre thread!

[AnythingGoes2]

Posted: 1/1/12 at 10:57pm

Going back to topic.

Can't see this transferring. It's going to be a tough sell in London and these are two good names for the West End, they aren't know in the states really. Plus it's only 6 years ago since the last revival...

[adamgreer]

Posted: 1/1/12 at 11:00pm

I travel a lot, and saying that going to London was the same thing as going to L.A. sounded wrong to me, so I did a little checking around, just to see.

For travel in the first week of March, it would cost $729 r/t to fly from JFK into Heathrow on British Airways, per travelocity. Also using travelocity, if you made that into a "package" and added accomodations at a moderately hotel (in this case a Holiday Inn), the grand total would come to $1827.

For the exact same travel dates, it would cost $339 r/t to fly from JFK to LAX on Continental (incidentally, less than I paid to fly into Orlando next month). Adding accomodations to that at a Holiday Inn brings the grand total to $968.

The difference between the two trips is $859. Certainly nowhere near being comparable.

Updated On: 1/1/12 at 11:00 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/1/12 at 11:01pm

Well that's nothing if you're a true theater lover.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 1/1/12 at 11:14pm

You need to try Virgin Vacations. I went to London in late 2010 and March 2011, airfare and hotel for six nights was $900. And that was with the add on airfare from Florida. The package directly from NYC was much cheaper. Before you say that was then, they sent me an email two months ago for the same price. I have chosen to go to Turkey instead in 2012. And Phantom is correct. Theatre in London is much cheaper than NYC.

Updated On: 1/1/12 at 11:14 PM

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 1/1/12 at 11:15pm

Add to that a horrible exchange rate and it becomes a rather expensive trip.

To be clear, I try to get to London once a year...but if I make the trek, I do it knowing that the trip, along with any other country I visit while in Europe, will be my big trip of the year.

I'm going this year, and I can't hardly wait. I can't be blasé about such a trip.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 1/1/12 at 11:19pm

Haven't prices already started increasing due to Olympic-related tourism?

[PitPro2004]

Posted: 1/2/12 at 10:35am

If I were seriously planning this trip, I'd probably bypass hotels and just concern myself with airfare. The charges for everything short of toilet paper are going to be staggering.

As for accommodations, there are actually several ways to work around that if you don't really care to be a provincial American and stay in the typical hotel.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 1/2/12 at 11:35am

What "true theater lover" would travel all the way to London to see Legally Blonde or Singing in the Rain? In fact, I don't think I would travel to SKOKIE!

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/2/12 at 11:59am

The Skokie production of Nunsense is top drawer, Sue. Well worth the $1,000 to get there. Of course, if you eat at the Blue Dog Buffet and get their package deal, you can save a little.

[Kad]

Posted: 1/2/12 at 12:08pm

A real theatre fan shouldn't need to save a little. A real theatre fan has a lot of chicken feed. And money, to support the chickens.

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 1/2/12 at 1:12pm

What's the point in missing a brilliant production, as said by Sondheim and it doesn't transfer and you do have the spare cash, you're missing a great opportunity to see some cracking theatre and besides there are other great shows to chose from.

I will be over at the end of March to see the great shows opening and unfortunately closing (Carrie) and I only work on the subway.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 1/2/12 at 2:26pm

An alternative approach. Try thinking like this:

Maybe if I make friends with some of the guys on the West End board I might find someone I get along with very well and who may be willing to offer me accommodation when I'm in the UK, thus reducing my hotel bills.

Is the USA really the nation that produced How To Win Friends and Influence People?

And I read this thread after posting on the OT board about the latest AbFab special, with its brief but pertinent reference.

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/2/12 at 2:34pm

Would anyone here seriously travel outside of the U.S. to stay with someone they've never met before? Even someone they "get along with" really well on a chat board?

That's asking for trouble, I think. What happens if things don't work out? Where do you go?

I love London and have visited twice. It's a very expensive city, much more so than New York. More than any other city I visited in Europe (about 20 so far). Ticket prices are cheaper, if you're talking full price, but everything else is not. Far from it. The people here on BWW largely buy their tickets at a discount. They're diehard passionate theatre fans who attend often, but they aren't usually rich.

I highly recommend London to anyone who can afford to visit. It's an incredible city. I don't recommend staying with someone you've never met in person before, under any circumstances.

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/2/12 at 2:50pm

I don't recommend staying with someone you've never met in person before, under any circumstances.

Totally agree. Not the best idea.

[PitPro2004]

Posted: 1/2/12 at 3:00pm

"Would anyone here seriously travel outside of the U.S. to stay with someone they've never met before? Even someone they "get along with" really well on a chat board?"

There are programs out there in most major European cities where families who enjoy putting up visitors from afar can do just that. Mind you these are regulated and checked out by the proper travel authorities but a viable option to having to spend hundreds in a hotel. The screening process is very stringent, but if you are the type of person who enjoys meeting and making new friends in foreign lands, it's simply an alternative idea, nothing more.

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 1/2/12 at 3:42pm

As much as I love best12bars I disagree with London being more expensive than New York except for travel, which I aint complaining as it gives me my paycheck.

I get the impression there are a few people on this board, who think theatre doesn't exist outside New York City and it's a god given right that all great theatre MUST arrive on Broadway, well no that is not always the case and sometimes you have to go out and find great theatre.

Anyone else who has been to London?

P.S A great production of Ragtime is scheduled in the West End between May and September.

[binau]

Posted: 1/2/12 at 3:49pm

It is so, so strange that you are persisting with this. It has nothing to do with people thinking "theatre doesn't exist outside New York City" but as has been mentioned over and over again some people just cannot afford to travel outside it..

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 1/2/12 at 3:55pm

How do you know a planned production of Ragtime in MAY is going to be GREAT?

[PitPro2004]

Posted: 1/2/12 at 3:56pm

I've been to Europe twice and have always enjoyed the warm custom and friendly natives. Obviously you travel at your own safety discretion, but this it the type of program I was referring to...

http://www.couchsurfing.org/

Have never tried it, but there is a thread on Rick Steve's FB page where they are discussing this very topic, just as we are.

[Kad]

Posted: 1/2/12 at 3:59pm

It is far more tangible for many people in America to go to NYC than to go to London. It is not an issue of cultural elitism. It is not a matter of ignorance. It is just not as feasible.

Heck, it isn't even that feasible for many people in America to go to NYC. That's why there's national tours.

I don't understand the disconnect here.