Did anyone notice the new playbill cover for ghost the musical? The entire cast was awesome and I had them autograph my playbill and poster. Now I just need a frame.
The stock couple is one of the worst marketing ideas ever employed. It arrogantly assumes this show is destined for multiple productions in countless venues, and doesn't require anything but a generic buff boy and a girl who can wear the Levy wig. (Yes, that's Levy's hair but duplicated with a matching wig, per new practice; fascinating that Levy cannot secure a poster, but everyone who plays the role after her must wear HER hair.) If every couple who played the roles were different, the show's character and very nature wouldn't be under siege. This is not a show about the Perons; it's about fictional people. It would nice to imagine African Americans or Latinos in the roles, too, by the way. I've already posted: if the female lead were black, the whole relationship with Oda Mae would be fascinating, and very 2012 rather than the decades old sociopolitical climate the show insists on sustaining. I like the show, but find its narrow view of this couple no help to its campaign. Or likelihood of a long life here or elsewhere.
"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling
Auggie, the casting was not finalised when they did the artwork for Broadway, that's the only reason. It was the same when the show premiered here in Manchester, UK, we had this one that looked nothing like Cassie or Richard
Namo i love u but we get it already....you don't like Madonna
Still. I think the "stock couple" photos are quite boring. I mean it's a generic white girl and a generic white boy. No wonder it failed to bring in tourists.
The casting was not finalized? They were not expecting the American Equity actress Levy to recreate her role on B'way? Doesn't quite track. I respect the decision to make the show the event, never the stars. I've heard that the producers do NOT want the show identified with actors. That makes sense -- the original EVITA did the same of course. But why use Levy's hairdo but not Levy? I'm staring at my Playbill cover, from previews, when they surely knew exactly who was doing the role, and yet stuck a model on the cover with Levy's wig.
"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling
The stock couple is actually the London cast (Mark Evans and Siobhan Dillon). It's a rather daft idea, I agree. I also find it rather dumb that they replaced the CD cover of the Broadway release with the London couple, since the London release has the pictures of Caissie and Richard on the cover. Choices marketers make..
Actually they're models. The girl with Caissie's hair is Lauren Varnham, who is in WWRY in London. I've forgotten the guys name, but he's just a random model.
I don't know how it works on Broadway, but in London actors featured on the posters get paid for as long as they are used. I always assumed this played a part in choosing to use randoms who would get only a single payment for the shoot. Obviously something changed, and someone realised this image was crap, since they've now switched back to Caissie and Richard in London too.
Auggie27 They were waiting on Richards deal to be done, so as i said the casting was not final. It has nothing to with not wanting the stars on the poster etc, as soon as the show moved from Manchester to London the posters changed and had the 2 on them. They seem to have just been lazy this time.
Namo i love u but we get it already....you don't like Madonna
I know someone connected with the show who said it's entirely strategic on the part of the producers, anticipating a worldwide chain of productions, but whatever, it hasn't helped the show's cause much. I still hold to the idea that personalizing the characters with every casting decision -- letting them have their own hair, not Levy's, for example -- would help, not hurt. I like the show a lot, including the maligned score, but I think the overuse of things like models for actors creates a sense of a generic entertainment. If Sam and Molly are sold as real people who look like the actors playing them, then we won't be accused of humming the special effects. Just my two cents. I'd go way in the other direction now, and actually make this current cast specific, hot, compelling reason to go. This push of poster art suggests a sound and light show, i.e. the Vegas edition of GHOST on Broadway. Do Broadway well, and let Vegas come later. Again, they didn't ask me.
"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling
I also know many of the people behind the show in the UK and NY and im sticking to my guns, it has nothing at all to do with a marketing (i don't really see what difference that would make anyway)
Namo i love u but we get it already....you don't like Madonna