how long before dracula closes? — Page 2

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#26

re: how long before dracula closes?

Posted: 8/20/04 at 1:27pm

everyone one of frank wildhorn shows have opened to bad reviews (let alone this is probably the worst reviews of any of his shows) but look dance of the vampires lasted a few months i give this a year or so.

"Judy Garland, Jimmy Dean, You tragedy Queen" ~ Taboo

"Watching a frat boy realize just what he put his d!ck in...ex's getting std's...schadenfruede" ~ Ave Q

"when dangers near, exploit their fear" ~ Reefer Madness the Musical

#27

re: how long before dracula closes?

Posted: 8/20/04 at 1:32pm

Maybe Rosie O Donnell will kick in 50 Million to keep it open untill the Tonys.

#28

re: how long before dracula closes?

Posted: 8/20/04 at 1:43pm

I don't think the "Wicked" or "Les Mis" comparisons are apt. The reviews for "Dracula" have not been "mixed" or "bad", they're murderous!! "Bombay Dreams" got raves compared to this.
These aren't the usual "Darling, this just isn't Sondheim" reviews...The word frequently being bandied about is BORING...a concept that speaks to both the high and low brow alike. I'd say it would speak to vampire freaks, but look what happened to "Dance Of The Vampires"...

Maybe vampires just have no cause to sing...it doesn't bode well for "Lestat" or whatever the hell Elton John is threatening with us next.

For those who liked it: What exactly DID you like? What about the songs or production worked for you? Curious.

"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” ~ Muhammad Ali

#29

re: how long before dracula closes?

Posted: 8/20/04 at 2:01pm

I know vampire freaks -- full-go Anne Rice lovin,' live-action-role-playing vampire freaks and, trust me, they couldn't care less about a musical about Dracula.

#30

re: how long before dracula closes?

Posted: 8/20/04 at 5:21pm

Remember that "Wicked" was already nearly selling out the enormous Gershwin Theatre in the first weeks of previews, based on a great marketing campaign that capitalized on the eternal popularity of "The Wizard of Oz." By the time the reviews came out (which were mixed, but fairly decent overall) it had an advance in the millions and great buzz and word-of-mouth with the audiences.

"Dracula" despite being heavily discounted has been posting attendance figures in the 70s in the small Belasco Theatre, with an average ticket price of $48 -- lowest of any musical on Broadway. That means despite all but giving away the tickets, they haven't been able do better than 80% -- and that was BEFORE the reviews came out. At this point, they're probably not even breaking even, word-of-mouth is awful, and I can't imagine they have much of an advance in the bank (few shows do these days, check out the link to Riedel's column below:

None of this bodes well for "Dracula" being able to run for very long...
http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/27168.htm

"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney

#31

re: how long before dracula closes?

Posted: 8/20/04 at 5:55pm

No, no, see Margo, if the fans get all of their friends to see it and maybe start a petition and everybody goes around telling everybody to go, the show could maybe stay open til Tony nomination time and then it will surely get several noms which will spike interest and then even if the critics who just never say anything positive it is like they have no skills of their own and they are bitter people even if they vote some other show best musical the Tony performance of Life After Life will SURELY make everybody go see this show and it will run longer than Moose Murders!

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#32

re: how long before dracula closes?

Posted: 8/20/04 at 6:01pm

morgo, i for one find it offensive that you would stoop to linking to that overwrought monkey boy in need of a republican father figure, riedel. if he's not the devil incarnate then he's darn sure one of her top minions and that rag for which he writes is not even good for making papier mache. please don't subject us to having to read his awful mean spirited snidely whiplash-ish copy as it makes all of us just horrendously ill. thank you for your compliance.

r.i.p. marco, my guardian angel.

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pray to st. jude

i'm a sonic reducer

he was the gimmicky sort

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#33

re: how long before dracula closes?

Posted: 8/20/04 at 6:04pm

Call now. Get tickets. Save Dracula! Don't protest buy tickets! I love the show. If everyone buys tickets maybe then the show can be saved.
Hell. It happened with GYPSY for a little bit longer.
Save Dracula. First The Normal Heart. Now this.
I am very upset.
It is a brilliant score. This is a very big upset.

BroadwayWorld: A home for the dangerously unhinged

#34

re: how long before dracula closes?

Posted: 8/20/04 at 6:06pm

sammy! your new icon!
you!
the shoes!
brilliant!

LOL

#35

re: how long before dracula closes?

Posted: 8/20/04 at 6:09pm

Thank you for noticing, Papa.

Now run out and buy your tickets to Dracula!

I thank the Producers for putting such a beautiful work on the Broadway stage. I also thank Frank Wildhorn and Don Black for making it happen. Why are all the great shows in trouble. IT MAKES ME SO MAD!

BroadwayWorld: A home for the dangerously unhinged

#36

re: how long before dracula closes?

Posted: 8/20/04 at 6:11pm

Well, it obviously doesn't make "all of us" ill, considering nearly every single theatre professional in New York reads his column faithfully, whether they admit it or not.

Say what you want about the the rest of the Post (which is vile), but Riedel's info regarding the behind-the-scenes machinations of Broadway has been remarkably accurate over the years. Like him or not, he has some great, very highly placed sources and what the article says about the dire state of ticket sales for this upcoming fall is entirely accurate. I ignore his slams on Peters, Murphy, etc.... and read him for the business and casting info that he gets straight from the horse's mouth (namely the producers/directors in question).

"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney

#37

re: how long before dracula closes?

Posted: 8/20/04 at 10:08pm

sorry i forgot that i haven't been posting much on the board board, margo. i'll try to be clearer when i am sticking my tongue in my cheek. i know it sometimes is hard to see from anywhere but next to me.

#38

re: how long before dracula closes?

Posted: 8/21/04 at 12:01am

True that "Wicked" got mixed reviews, but at least they were mixed !! These reviews for "Dracula" were all scathing. I, honestly could not really find one redeeming feature in this show. It is simply a bore ! After hearing scores such as "Caroline or Change", "Assassins", and "Taboo" this year- (not to mention the brilliant "Avenue Q", and YES... "Wicked" (the score blows away the "Dracula" score), this score is a major letdown !!! Calling it mediocre is too kind.

#39

re: how long before dracula closes?

Posted: 8/21/04 at 12:27am

i agree with Matt_G

#40

re: how long before dracula closes?

Posted: 8/21/04 at 12:31am

I'll give them two months before they throw in the towel.

#41

re: how long before dracula closes?

Posted: 8/21/04 at 1:50am

You know I'm looking at all the reviews, and then all of the pithy comments here, and I'm going to have to go with the November 20th closing date. It just seems the most realistic scenario. My fellow posters are correct to cite the contrast between mixed reviews and the kind of reviews Dracula is getting. There's a part of me that kind-of wants to see how bad the show could be...but then again I think that's the part of me that pondered "how bad could the movie Battlefield Earth be" I need to have this part removed my friends. peace.

"What could a computer do with a lifetime supply of chocolate? I am now telling the computer exactly what it can do with a lifetime supply of chocolate!"

#42

re: how long before dracula closes?

Posted: 8/21/04 at 2:09am

I am giving Dracula through the holiday season. February, 2005 it will close. I think tourists will help it through the fall and winter.
After reading the NY Times, NY Post, Daily News, AND USA Today, I have a strange feeling that no New Yorkers, not even theater-goers will see this production.

I personally didn't think it was as bad as the critics made it out to be.....but for all of them to write the way they did...

I wonder what went wrong?

#43

re: how long before dracula closes?

Posted: 8/21/04 at 2:37am

I think November is being generous.I don't think it is like Wonderful Town where they have the Weisslers to prop it up.I can't help wondering about that (Wonderful Town), does anyone here think like me that they are keeping it open (Wonderful Town) as a tax write off against the huge profits they must be making on Chicago?

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