"Broadway Fans Still Not Warming Up To Holmes": MSNBC "The Scoop"

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 8/22/08 at 6:06am

Broadway fans still not warming up to Holmes

By Courtney Hazlett
The Scoop
MSNBC
updated 8:57 p.m. CT, Thurs., Aug. 21, 2008

One needs to look no further than the successes of “A Chorus Line” and “Spamalot” for proof that celebrities sell Broadway tickets, but in the case of “All My Sons,” that rule might not necessarily apply.

Ticket sales for the show, which stars Katie Holmes and Patrick Wilson, are thus far “definitely off from what the production hoped,” according to a source close to “Sons.” It’s hard to know what exactly is to blame.

“You can’t say it’s the economy,” says the source, “because there are shows, like ‘Mamma Mia’ that are selling out.” One possibility bandied about is that audiences are too nostalgic for Holmes’ “Dawson’s Creek” persona to clamor for tickets. “It’s not that Katie’s bad in the part. She’s good enough. The producers are just getting the feeling people still want to view Katie as sweet little Joey Potter.”
That said, Jackie Green, a publicist for “All My Sons,” says that chatter about tepid ticket sales and rumors of a shorter-than-expected run are entirely untrue. “That information is totally false. There is a healthy advance for the show, and there is no chance of the run being shortened,” says Green. “Sons” opens Oct. 16 and runs through Jan. 11.

from RC in Austin,Texas

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 8/22/08 at 7:13am

Perhaps after spending hundreds to see Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, et al., in a snoozefest, people are wising up?

(Of course, the only one of those I didn't think was a snoozefest was THREE DAYS OF RAIN, but that's solely because I enjoy the play.)

What agency is repping AMS? Updated On: 8/22/08 at 07:13 AM

[CarolynaGirl]

Posted: 8/22/08 at 7:24am

I can't stand her!
But I will go to see Diane Wiest, probably.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 8/22/08 at 7:24am

Boneau/Bryan-Brown

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/22/08 at 7:52am

I WANT to see this: but it has nothing to do with her. I want to see the play, Wiest and Lithgow.

[GatorNY]

Posted: 8/22/08 at 8:01am

I realize that it's the economics of it all but I was just thinking this week...why Katie Holmes? I had no familiarity with this play until the revival was announced. I bought the play and have been reading it and am looking forward to seeing it live on stage. But couldn't they find someone who could have more effectively bridged the gap between commercialism and acting resume? She's not even known for anything really other than marrying Tom Cruise? I mean the Creek was a success with a certain demographic, and was a hit for that particular network...but I just wish they would have gotton someone different. I can't wait to see the other members of the cast, especially Diane W. Hoepfully she'll win me over, like when I saw Vanessa Williams in KOTSW. I was never a big fan of hers until after I saw her as Aurora, but I feel much differently now.

[Weez]

Posted: 8/22/08 at 8:16am

I was just thinking that I'd like to see this play because of Patrick Wilson. And he's so lovely that they should emphasise the fact they've got him. Then I got to wondering; what if they'd delayed this play until after 'Watchmen'? If it's as good as it should be, he could totally be a draw.

Sorry, semi-formed thoughts probably aren't the best ones to spew all over the internet. XD

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 8/22/08 at 9:01am

Its not fair that she is getting blamed for the show not selling as well as they hoped.

Wiest and Lithgow are big names as well

I think shes a pretty good actress, she was brilliant in Wonder Boys

[Craig]

Posted: 8/22/08 at 9:12am

I think it's an unfair comparison anyway given the two examples listed in the piece are musicals and this is a play. And two very well known musicals at that.

All My Sons is one of my favorite plays and the cast for this is great (can't wait to see it myself) - but I would bet if you surveyed most of the people walking around Times Square today, most couldn't tell you what it was about or who wrote it. And I would bet most wouldn't have it on their list to see.

That being said - I encourage everyone who can to see the play because whether you like the casting or not - the play itself stands on its own, is timely and so well written. Add to that the cast they've assembled and it's on my must-see list for this season...

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 8/22/08 at 9:18am

I just have an itchy feeling that the reviews are going to be quite positive. That'll show 'em.

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 8/22/08 at 9:19am

Although she's become better known as Tom Cruise's zombie bride, I give Katie Holmes a world of credit for even attempting this, as I do most "celebrities" who comes to Broadway and don't embarrass themselves. It's a credibility builder..prove your mettle kind of thing. Something her hubby will probably never do.

And seriously, given the the stature of the other three actors, could she possibly be anyone's only reason for seeing it?

That said, she seriously needs to get Suri off the bottle.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 8/22/08 at 9:23am

All My Sons, like most of the plays in Miller's canon, is a very good work.

Holmes is best known for Dawson's Creek and her marriage to Tom Cruise. WONDERBOYS is a fantastic and very much underrated film, and it probably does have her best performance to date.

Lithgow and Weist are great actors, but hardly box office draws. (Lithgow moreso than Weist). They, I assume, were hoping that KH-C was gonna be the drawing factor, since, well, she has the pappers on her ass from the moment she wakes up.

But the simple fact is, audiences got upset when Julia was doing "a boring play." They don't want to spend money to see these people do "a boring play." If Morgan Freeman, Frances McDormand, and Mike Nichols can't sell something out... Updated On: 8/22/08 at 09:23 AM

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 8/22/08 at 9:49am

What about her movie "Pieces of April?" Of everything I've seen her do, that's been the standout.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/22/08 at 2:54pm

"But couldn't they find someone who could have more effectively bridged the gap between commercialism and acting resume?"

You know, can't you at least be fair and give her a chance? She might actually be good. If you see her and still feel the same way, that's fine, but why do people go in with such low expectations just because she's a "celebrity"? Some celebrities have done amazing.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 8/22/08 at 3:30pm

"One needs to look no further than the successes of “A Chorus Line” and “Spamalot” for proof that celebrities sell Broadway tickets"

Really??? The A Chorus Line revival was a success and recouped WITHOUT any celebrities in the cast... when a celebrity was brought in, it didn't do much for ticket sales and the show decided to close. THAT is proof that celebrities sell Broadway tickets? Do some research, MSNBC.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 8/22/08 at 3:53pm

I think the article's author chose the wrong reason to "blame" Holmes on the poor ticket sales. I think her days as Joey on "Dawson's Creek" are probably pretty far from the minds of ticket buyers. If there's anything about Holmes that is keeping people away is all of the publicity around her relationship with Tom Cruise. People, more or less, got sick of her. Yes, more of the negativity has hit Cruise than her but she's wrapped up in it.

"Dawson's Creek" has been off the air for five years and Holmes has done many other projects that have separated her from Joey. The aforementioned "Wonder Boys", "Batman Begins", and "Thank You For Smoking" to name a few.

If you're going to "blame" Holmes than you have to use the right reason.

That being said I think Holmes is a talented actress. This whole thing with Cruise has grown bigger than she is and people now judge her based on it.

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 8/22/08 at 4:21pm

i thought 'pieces of april' was a cliche, overworked and sentimental piece o' crap. Could Katie Holmes have tried any harder to be "off-beat"? You could see all of her effor behind it, instead of the character. It was a mess.

[Patash]

Posted: 8/22/08 at 5:34pm

I'm still confused by the original post here: "Ticket sales for the show, which stars Katie Holmes and Patrick Wilson. . ."

It does? Who's the "MY" in "All MY Sons"? When did the central character cease to be the "star".

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 8/22/08 at 6:29pm

^^when Katie Holmes decided she could be a broadway star.^^

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 8/22/08 at 6:41pm

Word from the rehearsal rooms is (gasp) that she's actually quite good.