Hedwig's future

[haterobics]

There were a few discounts during previews, for mid-week mezzanine seats. Maybe for only two weeks total?

[averagebwaynut]

There were discounts for mezzanine and balcony twice, I believe -- once before the show had started previews and once for April previews. Since then, I haven't seen anything.

One clarification to haterobics' post above, it looks like the offer has seats FROM $99, $69 and $49. If you poke around, it seems the orchestra and mezzanine have prices at a whole bunch of different levels. There's $99, $119 and $139 orchestra, $69, $89 and $99 mezzanine, and $49 and $69 balcony. So definitely a lot of options. And while the show will clearly not sell out like it did with NPH, these are not "fire sale" prices that suggest the show is in trouble to me.

[dreaming]

They likely have money in the kitty from profits made during NPH's run. I'm betting those are helping offset the obvious drop.

However, they may have someone big waiting in the wings-you never know (and the kitty only goes so deep).

[haterobics]

I don't think you have to offset a drop until the drop dips below the show's operating costs... removing NPH's salary alone makes it a cheaper show to run now. So, there is just less profit, not a loss.

"One clarification to haterobics' post above, it looks like the offer has seats FROM $99, $69 and $49."

One would hope you wouldn't have to explain that on here? No?!

[haterobics]

They're also offering Audience Reward points for Hedwig now, too. Just got the e-mail for that...

[South Florida]

Still think this is gonna sell out for years and maybe Colonel Hogan had it right at the very beginning, 3-5.

[averagebwaynut]

I don't think you have to explain from a sales point of view, and I know YOU realized that, but from an analysis point of view -- since, as you noted, someone felt the prices were an indication of "trouble" -- it seemed worth nothing that these are the BEST discounts they're offering but in fact, they're still being limited in the deals they're offering and for better seats, the discounts aren't as steep. Which is less a sign of meaningful weakness than of settling into the pattern a more "normal"/typical, less star-dependent Broadway show (as you also noted). :)

[FindingNamo]

I predict it will close the morning after Rannels's opening. The writing's on the wall.

[South Florida]

I'll bet a dollar on that.

[J52]

What about Matthew Morrison? Or Raśl Esparza?

Everyone I think of as a possible replacement are all too young: Adam Lambert, Jonathan Groff, Aaron Tveit, Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

I still don't understand that, with all the updates to the book, they didn't change the chronology to adjust Hedwig's age. Yes, there needed to be overlap with the fall of the Berlin Wall but there's no reason he couldn't have left for America at 18 rather than 27.

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Raul Esparza has mentioned before that he would like to play Hedwig, but I think his filming demands with Law and Order and potentially Hannibal are his primary concerns right now. But I think he'd nail it.

I'm excited for Rannells and to see what he brings.

[FindingNamo]

Hedwig doesn't bleat.

[Jane2]

Raul's spectacular, non-bleating singing voice isn't quite right for Hedwig. Also, did you see him as the emcee in Cabaret? The audience laughed out loud when he took the stage for I Don't Care Much. Don't get me wrong, I'm a friend of and a huge fan of Raul, but I don't think he's right for the role

[FindingNamo]

My impulse if I travelled in his circle would be to put my hand on his shoulder and say, "Brah, not *every* role has to be about your personal sexuality journey."

[Jane2]

Yeah, we didn't have to know about when he was from the planet Transylvania.

[J52]

I'm not the biggest Raul fan but I see a lot of parallels between the characters of Hedwig and Philip Salon from Taboo.

Speaking of Taboo, Jeffrey Carlson might make a good Hedwig.

[dreaming]

How about Euan Morton? I really like him and think he could be terrific.

[Jane2]

"I'm not the biggest Raul fan but I see a lot of parallels between the characters of Hedwig and Philip Salon from Taboo. "

Will you mention some of them? I'm curious.

[J52]

Beyond the superficial - stomping around in platform heels - it's the outward expression of aggressive confidence masking a vulnerability and insecurity as well as identifying as a misfit/freak who hasn't found a place in the world.

[Jane2]

[J52]

Cheyenne Jackson?

[J52]

Will Swenson?

[Jane2]

"Beyond the superficial - stomping around in platform heels - it's the outward expression of aggressive confidence masking a vulnerability and insecurity as well as identifying as a misfit/freak who hasn't found a place in the world."

Besides being the style then.

[dramamama611]

Revivals seldom last 3-5 years. Taking Chicago out of the mix (which is an anomaly) successful revivals seems to run about 2 years.


After finally having seen this yesterday, I'm certainly curious about a different Hedwig...but with so much coming out that I want to see (and already have scheduled) I'm not sure if seeing Hedwig again will end up happening.

[Jane2]

The initial run was only 2 years and that was only because we had a producer who was able to keep it going.

[chellylovesrent2]

With Andrew Rannells headlining the show, perhaps it will be successful for a while because of his Book of Mormon/Girls/The New Normal (well I know that didn't last) fame. If I were in NYC during his run I'd love to go. Even with Andrew's success I predict that the show may be put on TKTS. I would like to see the show run for at least a year and see which other actors will play Hedwig.