The timeline doesn't seem that strange to me for a musical that is actually next season. It may turns out to have been a smart move to open after the Tonys.
What would have been a SMART move is to perform on the TONYS since no one knows what the heck this is. With plans of filling an 1800 seat theater. Based on "it's a show based on Tupacs writings". No out of town run or star name. Lets see.
I'm not seeing how this is a smart move if the first preview is in 57 days, and not a single ticket has been sold, a lead announced, the creative team announced, or a website featuring more than a mailing list is launched, and and all we know is it based on writings of a rapper that's been dead for 18 years?!
My friend's husband wrote this thing. It's going to be awesome. Just wait. SO proud of them!
"There is no use trying," said Alice; "one can't believe impossible things." "I dare say you haven't had the practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." --Alice in Wonderland
"and and all we know is it based on writings of a rapper that's been dead for 18 years?!"
A show about Tupac isn't going to sell out houses on Broadway, but I think you're underestimating the level of interest the general public still has for TS. He wasn't just a rapper; his fame and stardom was a watershed movement for breaking down a number of racial, social, and cultural barriers in the music & entertainment world. The numerous conspiracy theories surrounding his unsolved murder also keeps him relevant every year.
I'm mainly commenting on how soft they seem to be launching this show. I don't think I'm underestimating how few people who might be interested in this show actually know it is happening, and it starts previews in less than two months.
He can be socially relevant, but this show is still nearly a secret.
I think they're smart to avoid the noise of the shows that are going to open n the next 3 weeks, and close in the next 8 weeks. And, remember, if their audience is going to skew African American, better to avoid MOTOWN, AFTER MIDNIGHT, LADY DAY and A RAISIN IN THE SUN in the Spring.
"Through The Sacrifice You Made, We Can't Believe The Price You Paid..For Love!"
There is a difference between avoiding the noise, and sharing no information what this show even is before tickets go on sale Monday.
If we're on a Broadway-obsessed website and know nothing, it seems they have an uphill climb filling up the Palace for 8 shows a week in less than two months from now.
I mean, look at their website. It has as much information as the website Disney put up for Frozen, which is barely in development. An image, and a form to join a mailing list.
I'm not really going to be the first one in the door for this, I'm just saying from a marketing perspective, it seems off. I mean, sure, save your marketing dollars until all this season's shows open, but not even a website refresh yet?
That said, the worse they are at their job, the better the chances I'll be seeing this crazy cheap when it opens. So, they will get me in there quicker, potentially, but for the wrong reasons, heh. http://www.hollerifyahearme.com
This thing is gonna be as dead as Tupac. The logo says it all.horrible..it looks like Audrey from Little Shop with a face on it and is that a warrior with a spear on the bottom? What show doesn't start selling tickets with only 8 weeks to go before previews. Amateur producers I say. Unless they have Usher or Jay Z as the star.
All I can say is if a show with Stars such as Big Fish, and Bridges who isn't selling so well, what makes this show think its going to do that? Especially with no out of town run or ANYTHING. And I hear the book is awful. For the sake of all involved I hope it works out. I hate to see actors and crew members out of work because of amateur mistakes.
I think the artwork is pretty beautiful; reminds me of a FOR COLORED GIRLS... vibe, which tells me that perhaps they are thinking more ambitiously with the story they want to tell than would meet the eye if that just had a portrait of Tupac or even just a stylized do-rag or other signifiers of Tupac as symbolism. This artwork makes me think they have something they want to say, and I hope they do (and do it well.) If they don't, the Palace is a barn that will swallow them whole.
Words don't deserve that kind of malarkey. They're innocent, neutral, precise, standing for this, describing that, meaning the other, so if you look after them you can build bridges across incomprehension and chaos. But when they get their corners knocked off, they're no good anymore…I don't think writers are sacred, but words are. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.
Isn't Leon directing this? He's doing Raisin and Lady Day (which has yet to open), so after Audra is up and running, I'm sure he'll focus his attention on this. I wouldn't write off the show. Sure, I giggled when I heard it was happening, but the artwork is pretty interesting and beautiful. And I didn't realize it was just based off his writings. It's not a juxebox musical of Tupac songs. And Leon has proven himself to be a really fresh and interesting director, so I'm excited.
Oh, sorry! Kenny Leon and Lonny Price! I get the two mixed up all the time. Well they're both great. I'm curious to see how "big" this show is. The palace is a big theater, but Annie/ WSS weren't exactly huge shows or anything.
I cannot believe this is playing The Palace. What are the chances of it getting full houses? It's a big theatre but this has Off-Broadway (and if anyone comes maybe we'll transfer later) written all over it.