Haines His Way

Let me explain something: The producers of Avenue Q hope the Vegas run will be successful.  However, it doesn't really matter one way or another since they received an advance of millions of dollars from Mr. Wynn.  That's what it's about.  They were offered a huge amount of money and they took it.  If the show plays three weeks and loses Mr. Wynn all that money plus the 40mil for his theater, they producers of Avenue Q will not care an iota.  At that point, they'll simply try to tour it.

Right now I am eating breakfast: chocolate pudding and a Cherry Coke. Feels great to start the day off right.

Pudding...the breakfast of champions!

As for Avenue Q in Vegas...

Possible "shady dealings" aside, I feel it is a good move for the show.  For the "integrity of the show" - notice, I said the "show" not the "producers".  As has been stated in some of the recent articles, Avenue Q would most likely get lost in most of the large touring houses on the road.  The show works because of it's "smallness".  It works because you can see the actors faces.  It works because you can see the video monitors on the sides of the stage.  It works because it's a show about a couple of puppets and a couple of humans.  It is not a "big chorus" show.  It's not even a "big ensemble" show.

If the producers were able to book the show into smaller venues on the road, there would be most likely no way for it make any money on the road - unless it played extended runs in each city.  But having the show play "caverns" would most definitely work against Avenue Q.  -Heck, I'd say the tour of Urinetown has experienced the same thing.  *And even Urinetown cancelled some of it's earlier bookings - including Washington, DC(!) due to low advance ticket sales.  

As for Avenue Q being able to succeed in Vegas...  We'll have to see how it gets marketed or "campaigned" out there.  If I remember correctly, Chicago played a large house, and it also had Chita Rivera in the cast for a while.  So it had a high weekly running cost.  And even though Chicago may seem the right type of show for Vegas, it was/is still a "show", not a revue.  I could easily see some audience members who were coming in expecting to see lots and lots of dancing done by men and women in sexy black costumes getting a bit restless between dance numbers.  Avenue Q doesn't claim to be an extravaganza of any sort, so, again, we shall see what happens.

-In the meantime, if people in Vegas want to see a "Broadway" show, they can catch Mamma Mia!, and the Frankie Avalon tour of Grease is scheduled to make the move there soon - although I'm not sure if Mr. Avalon will be staying with the show, but I don't see how the show could be a draw without him.  -And didn't Footloose run in Vegas for a while?  42nd Street? Is Startlight Express back there already too?

Oh - and on related fronts:

I remember seeing the announcement of Mr. Wynn's new "complex" a few weeks ago.  It will be the largest "hotel" in Vegas by the time it is completed.  And I also believe that Cirque du Soleil will be coming up with a new show for the new theatre that it will be getting in that complex.  And I believe an "entertainer" (can't recall which one right now), is slated for another venue there - like Celine Dion.

And who's to say that the whole complex will be completed and up and running by the Fall of 2005?

And if the out-of-town block of voters comprises only about 15% of the Tony vote, would Avenue Q still have taken home the Best Musical Tony had none of the out-of-town voters voted for the show. Could it have?  Should it have?

As we've stated here on this board many times in regards to many different situations, it is called "Show Business".  And as they say in Dreamgirls,

Showbiz is just showbiz.

Hey, Jose. You should post a picture of your room. It can't be any worse than the Cherry Coke room. (Or can it??)

Ummm... No.

 

As for chocolate pudding for breakfast - hey, it has milk in it doesn't it?  If it was a real pudding it would also have eggs too!  Well, at least egg yolks!  Next time, just add some granola on top!  Or some strawberries!  Or some whipped cream!  (just more dairy)

DR Jason:  Yes, "Trading Spaces: Unglued" is a new bloopers show.  -And from the clips they've been showing, it's culled from the most recent season of shows.  Looks like a lot of fun.

What's there to do on a Saturday night?...

I am back from my walk to the zoo. And my feet are tired.

I'm glad to see my daughter fixed herself a nutritious breakfast in my absence.

Good morning/afternoon.
Sad news, MBarnum.

I'm running really late, feel like sh-t, and have to be at a lunch meeting soon, so I'd beter get dressed and get the hell outta here. Will post later.
(No vibes, please. I'm quite healthy.)

In my VCR:  nothing.

In my CD player:  Bounce, and then the Sondheim concert that Ben made for me.

In my DVD player:   from amazon.co.uk, the region 2, British-only release of the new "Battlestar Galactica" that was on the Sci-Fi channel.  It's not available here in the US, yet.  According to amazon.com, "Availability: NOT YET RELEASED: The studio is currently not producing this title on DVD, but to be notified when it is available, enter your e-mail address at right. You'll also be voting for this release; we'll let the studio know how many customers are waiting for this title."

Why wait?  I've got a region-code-free DVD player!

IT'S PUPPETGATE!

By MICHAEL RIEDEL

http://www.nypost.com/seven/06112004/entertainment/22752.htm

'Avenue Q': The Fallout
By JASON ZINOMAN

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/11/theater/newsandfeatures/11BROA.html

I've been thinking about this whole Avenue Q idea of them skipping the tour and just doing Vegas.  I wonder why they couldn't do BOTH.

I do think that the road producers have a right to be mad, since it seems they were assured that the show would tour.  But is anybody else ANNOYED that these people don't simply vote for the best show.

It makes the Best Musical prize seem like a joke, when the road producers say they would have changed their vote if they had known Q had no chance to tour.  Why are these people even allowed to vote if getting the show at their venue is their only motivation?

Annoyed, yes.  Surprised, no.

The show's producers went for the money.

The road producers voted because of where they thought they'd get the money.

Next to what part of the anatomy do most men keep their wallets?

(I, on the other hand, have kept my wallet in my front pants pocket for years.)

But that's the zoo, not just a walk outside.

No, those are our neighbors.

My mom can walk to the zoo. I, on the other hand, prefer to sit at home and eat pudding.

Thanks for the pictures of your movie shoot, MRBK.  How interesting to see.  It looked like a very professional gig!  What did you wear, a suit and tie, I presume since you were a newscaster....or did you have to have a costume under the jacket....did you ever stand up?  

THAT'S what we need!  Pictures of our very own BK in his jacket and tie...and PANTALOONS!

We only accept the best excuses for a partay!

Actually a 1,200 seat theatre is even a little big for Q.  And does Vegas have a special Equity contract allowing ten shows a week instead of eight or will this be a non-union production?  I know that Equity does allow more performances if the show is under 90 minutes, but that would mean cutting and/or eliminating the intermission... oh wait... that was what shows used to do in vegas.

DVD-more Annie Oakley and Kit Carson.  We have a few movies but I don’t remember what.


I was inspired by DearReaderLaura and took our new camera along with me on my morning walk and got some incredible pictures.  I just don’t know how to size them down in order to post.

BTW, I love the zoo pics.

Actually a 1,200 seat theatre is even a little big for Q.  And does Vegas have a special Equity contract allowing ten shows a week instead of eight or will this be a non-union production?  I know that Equity does allow more performances if the show is under 90 minutes, but that would mean cutting and/or eliminating the intermission... oh wait... that was what shows used to do in vegas.

According to the female producer of the show (I can't remember her name...something Goodman), the show will be presented in it's entirety with no cuts. I'm sure that they will not be cutting the intermission, nor will they do 10 shows a week.

And for those of you who are interested, I am now eating a cucumber.