Bette Midler Confirms Broadway Return in HELLO DOLLY

[Mildred Plotka]

There is much more availability than listed yesterday.  Just got 2 side orchestra seats row E in early May.  Just 7 1/2    Months to go!  If her standby is someone truly extraordinary I may be seeing this twice in 1 week. 

 

I also had had much better luck using my mobile browser. 

[BroadwayLuv2]

orlikethecolorpurple said: "How are the deep sides at the Shubert? I am in row C, three seats in from the outer aisle. 

 

"

I sat in seats about 7 rows back all the way to the side and they were stamped PARTIAL VIEW for Matilda and thought they were fine.  Didn't miss anything.  For Dolly I got Row D 3 seats off far side aisle and I'm sure they will be great.  They aren't listedpartial view so I wouldn't worry.  

[qolbinau]

For one of the Saturday nights in April Telecharge is still saying no premium tickets are available. Are they actuay sold out or not released?

[orlikethecolorpurple]

BroadwayLuv2 said: "I sat in seats about 7 rows back all the way to the side and they were stamped PARTIAL VIEW for Matilda and thought they were fine.  Didn't miss anything.  For Dolly I got Row D 3 seats off far side aisle and I'm sure they will be great.  They aren't listedpartial view so I wouldn't worry.  "

 

Thanks! I appreciate your insight. :) 

[neonlightsxo]

I was able to get a ticket in the center mezz for April just now, with no issues except Telecharge is a huge pain.

[curel1]

From Bette's twitter: "Hello Dolly" had the best first day of ticket sales in Broadway history!"

I wonder what the total was..

https://twitter.com/BetteMidler/status/777923139833561091

[neonlightsxo]

9 million. It's in the headline at the top of the page.

http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/HELLO-DOLLY-Makes-Broadway-History-with-9M-First-Day-Sales-Record-20160919

 

[Oak2]

Apologies for my ignorance if this is something that should be obvious, but what are the chances that Mrs. Midler will stage-door, do you think? I'm relatively new to these things so I don't know whether the really big names ever do so or if there's essentially no chance at all of seeing her and getting an autograph from her. I'm also hoping to see Mr. Pierce at stage door as well. But of course I'll be at the stage-door regardless for any of the cast who choose to grace us with their presence. 

[curel1]

neonlightsxo said: "9 million. It's in the headline at the top of the page.

http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/HELLO-DOLLY-Makes-Broadway-History-with-9M-First-Day-Sales-Record-20160919

 

Lmao I completely missed that

"

 

[Stage Door Sally]

I bought eight premium and mid-premium tickets so I think I'm responsible for $1.2 million in sales...

[bekk99]

FWIW Bette stage doored for I'll Eat You Last.

[n2nbaby]

I've never been in this theater before, how is Row E, center section in the balcony? Does it feel super far away? Any sight/hearing issues?

[neonlightsxo]

The balcony is pretty far away in the Shubert, but you should be able to see and hear fine.

[n2nbaby]

I'll have to go with it then because I really don't have the money to shell out for orchestra seats and I don't want it to sell out before I have a chance to get them. If anyone has sat in both, how is it compared to the last row at Phantom/Studio 54? I didn't think those seats were terrible.

[bwayphreak234]

I've sat in the balcony many times at Shubert for Matilda and the view has always been just fine.

[Phantom487]

http://www.playbill.com/article/ticket-sales-for-bette-midler-hello-dolly-break-broadway-record

From Playbill: "Tickets went on sale September 17. Representatives for the production stated that Midler is scheduled to appear at all performances currently on sale via Telecharge."

...so does this mean Bette IS doing matinees, given that they are on sale???

[ljay889]

^ Yes.

[ACL2006]

So Midler will do 7 shows a week with her alternate doing the Tuesday night shows.

[QueenAlice]

 I rather wonder if perhaps one of the reasons why they have not confirmed an alternate, is because the producers wanted to see what the sales numbers were like from this initial ticket offering.

Given the amazing box office, I wonder if they now have to weigh if the potential box office draw of the alternate is worth the expense of actually adding the eighth performance. I do think it would have to be a name at the level of Audra McDonald to justify it.

[ACL2006]

the alternate seems set, just not announced. She'll also be the standby for Bette, which if it is someone like Audra, I doubt anyone would be pissed if they announced her alternate/standby was going on.

[QueenAlice]

But don't the Actors Equity rules state that a standby is required to be "on call" at the theatre each night?  I would imagine there might be some names that would be willing to do the show once a week since it's such a little commitment, but who probably would not want to hang out at the theater or wait by the phone every night. I would think that they would have a scchwduled performance alternate, and then perhaps just an internal understudy, much as it is with Christine in Phantom. 

[ljay889]

Whoopi seems like a much more feasible option over Audra. I'm surprised some of you are running with this Audra idea, although I would not complain in the slightest if she is the one!

[QueenAlice]

Audra is probably a pipe dream. But I guess the Scott Rudin connection, the fact that we know she is about to have a baby and wouldn't want a heavy commitment to another show, and the fact that her husband, I believe, is also scheduled to be on Broadway next season is enough fodder to fuel hopeful rumors!

[BroadwayConcierge]

I haven't chimed in yet on the Audra proposal. I think it's hilarious that so many people are dead certain that the record-setting six-time Tony winner would ever possibly decide to pop in to be an alternate/standby for any show, even of this magnitude.

[buhbuhbilly]

Audra would never be an alternate....

[QueenAlice]

Well after six Tony awards, Audra also doesn't really have much left to prove does she? It would be a fun gig for a star who doesn't want to show up 8 shows a week and carry that burden.  I'm not saying I think it is Audra, but she seems pretty down to earth to me and not above taking this kind of gig if she thought it would be fun to be involved and it worked with her home life (if I just had a baby I would love to have one night off a week- please!). And if she were making some percentage of the box office for her performance that's  A really nice paycheck for a few hours work that doesn't require hopping on a plane. But I digress. It's probably not her

I actually always think it's funny when people on these boards assume these big stars "wouldn't" consider replacing.  Years ago people always said that about Bernadette Peters and Patti LuPone, and of course Bernadette replaced in NIGHT MUSIC, and Patti has gone on record as saying she would've also been happy to step in for that show.  We've also seen people like Liza Minnelli step in for Julie Andrews and Gwen Verdon. It's not unprecedented.