If they put stars in the cast, it could sell out. Sure.
It could also sell out without stars.
(For the record, I recognize that you consider Menzel, Rapp, and LaChanze "stars.")
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
Based on the available seats on Ticketmaster my guess is that it won't be an instant sell out and whether or not this show is successful will depend on reviews and word of mouth.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
It sounds like the critics will be dived, and it doesn't sound like it has quite a performance like Ripley - a must-see. It just kind of is "eh." Even the artwork is kind of boring.
I saw the show and wouldn't describe it as "eh." I thought it was in really good shape in D.C. and I look forward to see what they manage to do with it in NY. It's unfair to look at Idina's performance through the same lens as Alice's since they're completely different characters and completely different shows. Alice's performance was the type of perfect marriage between material and performer that happens very, very rarely.
I also don't think Ripley's performance alone made N2N a must-see. Its strong word of mouth, rave review in the NY Times, and its incredibly powerful story and score certainly helped it become a success. Who knows about word of mouth or what the Times will say regarding IF/THEN, but it does have a very lovely score, a unique story, and quite a lot of talent involved, onstage and off.
Anyway, it's not gonna "sell out" or be impossible to get tickets to. It's not BETRAYAL or A RAISIN IN THE SUN.
Updated On: 1/26/14 at 09:37 PM
I work in graphic design and I can honestly say that the artwork for the show is the most atrocious thing I have ever seen for a broadway-bound show aside from Hands on a Hardbody (possibly even worse).
Anything regarding shows stated by this account is an attempt to convey opinion and not fact.
I really don't see this running for more than a year, if that. I am curious how New York critics will respond to it. I think there is a great show somewhere in there, but it needed some work. I hope it improved since D.C., because I thought it was enjoyable. Either way, I'm very curious how successful it will be.
I am interested to see this again after the DC run, but basing anything on the DC run seems silly. If they showed anything in N2N, it was that they could shape a show that was supposedly all over the place (didn't see that in previews, sadly, was before my move to NYC), so this does have some chance of not ending up on the "didn't change from its our of town tryout" pile. There was definitely a strong show hidden in there, some powerful songs, major themes, so... it will be interesting to see what opens on Broadway. I hope they nail it.
Idina has a TONY award she was in Wicked she is not unknown and she is in ENCHANTED. She is very well know and respected actress. I think she will get a TONY award for this. But it really depends on who they replace Idina with, how good the reviews are , word of mouth etc.
I'm sure he means HE is confident that critics will agree. (Not that the criticsw are confident.)
Of course, if you were just playing with his words, ignore my comment.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
"Nobody has a clue who she is by name association outside of Manhattan, love.
At most, she can be identified as "that girl who was in that thing" kinda performer."
Ehhh...she's becoming a bit more known thanks to Frozen and "Let It Go." But she's definitely not a mega-star yet. And I say this as a die-hard Idina fan.