I found it strange for a production that was so anticipated that I've seen very little coverage of the actual opening night, apart from the reviews..I enjoy reading about who attended and their comments about the show...but have seen very little apart from a Times article with photos of Bette and mentions of a few of the people who were there...
As for the sour review from the WSJ, (won't bother mentioning the name), I'm sure it was a compete and utter co-incidence that Bette has written some hilariously scathing tweets about the president and the so-called reviewer is ultra conservative, and just happened to be the only reviewer so completely negative about the show...
I think this is a strange Scott Rudin thing (specific for this production).
"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards
As far as I know, there wasn't a step and repeat or standard press line. The show doesn't need the media coverage. It's been a very calculated decision on Rudin's part.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
I know they didn't actually need any extra publicity given the ticket sales, but I still would have expected media outlets, including theatre websites, to file some colour pieces about who attended, the atmosphere and response on opening night, some comments from those who were there, etc...A media outlet doesn't need a producer's permission to do this kind of article, even if the producer wasn't doing the usual photo ops on opening night..Just found it curious...
A media outlet can't get access to the opening night party or the people in attendance at the show without the producer's permission. These things are coordinated through the press department. They don't just show up and get quotes from whoever is standing outside the theater.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Not referring to the private party, which obviously requires permission to attend. but the actual performance. Any journalist with a ticket can interview anyone they want.
Security is tight during these events and without any proper credentials, no journalist has access nor the ability to interview or photograph anyone on the premises. No proper credentials issued? No proper media coverage happens. This was obviously the case with this new revival of HELLO, DOLLY!