Phantom's future schedule on Telecharge?

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 6/4/20 at 9:00am

Hi all,  As a Phan (see what I did there), one of the things I obsess over is checking Telecharge to see when Phantom's next ticket extension will be and if there are any interesting schedule changes or updates. 

Well. Was I surprised today when I looked to see if the Christmas schedule was added and it sure was. Now it's normal for Phantom to have a 7 performance Christmas week and a 9 performance New Year's week. But the schedule that's loaded into Telecharge now has many odd things going on: 

-six show weeks starting mid-December 2020

-no matinees starting mid-December 2020

-added Sunday night performances

-tickets available all the way through August 2021

 Phantom NEVER releases tickets that far ahead of time. Normally this time of year, the tickets are released through early January. 

Could this be something COVID related? Like they need to clean the theater so thoroughly that they can't do two show days anymore?  I know what some of you will say--that isn't financially feasible. But if they cut everybody's salaries down by those two performances, maybe it would be.  Who knows--maybe the unions and producers have been hammering something out behind closed doors all this time. Or, maybe for some bizarre reason, Phantom's producers decided to do all of these strange Telecharge things all at once for no reason at all. 

When Phantom switched to Thursday matinees, they made such a big deal about it. Even the Tuesdays at 7 was a big deal. Now they're adding Sunday eves and nothing?  Something isn't adding up. 

I am well rested and ready for any snark or serious comments coming my way. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 6/4/20 at 10:12am

Have you checked if this is only a Phantom thing or if other shows have also done this?

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/4/20 at 10:35am

Thank you for that update Phantom4ever. Interesting. I also noticed there are only 5 shows the week before the 20th.

I just popped into another show in a Shubert house and the schedule was normal for that week. 

Phantom is the first show I want to see when Broadway comes back. I have seen it but for some reason, for me, it just seems fitting to see the longest running show first show back.

[nealb1]

Posted: 6/4/20 at 10:46am

I think you're reading too much into it.  Telecharge constantly changes/adds and revises their site.  For a show that hasn't opened yet, one day, a show can list 5 performances a week, and the next time you look, it's a full schedule.  It could be anyone of a number of reasons.  And, as I'm sure you would agree, really no big deal.  The show will go on. 

Broadway, more than likely won't come back until 2021.  Time will tell.

Updated On: 6/4/20 at 10:46 AM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/4/20 at 10:53am

uncageg said: "Phantom is the first show I want to see when Broadway comes back. I have seen it but for some reason, for me, it just seems fitting to see the longest running show first show back."

 

I’ve been thinking the same thing, either this or “Wicked”. There’s nothing else playing that screams “BROADWAY” more than those two (How I wish “42nd St” were playing) so it would be great to be in that audience the first night back. 

[nealb1]

Posted: 6/4/20 at 11:04am

Yes, would love to be in the audience on that first night back - at "42nd Street."  :)

I did see the final performance in January 2005 of the revival.  It was a Sunday night show, and it was a rock concert.  Such energy!  Never forget it.  

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/4/20 at 11:07am

Jordan Catalano said: "uncageg said: "Phantom is the first show I want to see when Broadway comes back. I have seen it but for some reason, for me, it just seems fitting to see the longest running show first show back."



I’ve been thinking the same thing, either this or “Wicked”. There’s nothing else playing that screams “BROADWAY” more than those two (How I wish “42nd St” were playing) so it would be great to be in that audience the first night back."

My second choice was "Chicago".  I guess I am wanting to see something from farther back. But if I can get a seat to the first Phantom performance, I am there.

 

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 6/4/20 at 11:27am

nealb1 said: "I think you're reading too much into it. Telecharge constantly changes/adds and revises their site. For a show that hasn't opened yet, one day, a show can list 5 performances a week, and the next time you look, it's a full schedule. It could be anyone of a number of reasons. And, as I'm sure you would agree, really no big deal. The show will go on.

Broadway, more than likely won't come back until 2021. Time will tell."

Neal, I get what you're saying,  but this kind of thing NEVER happens with Phantom. I check the Phantom ticket schedule at least 3-4 times a week for years and years and nothing like this has ever happened. I could understand if it was one thing, like they didn't add matinees. Or they just extended it to August, almost 4 times the length of a normal extension, but with the regular schedule. The real wonky thing is the added Sunday night show. Why would they do that?  Either my COVID conspiracy theory is correct, which I admit is a stretch, or whoever loads the Phantom schedule into telecharge is being lazy and/or inaccurate and a mistake has been made. 

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 6/4/20 at 11:29am

And yes I am hoping that I could make it to the first performance back of Phantom and I don't care if I have to wear a hazmat suit and take a bleach bath in the lobby at intermission. As an out of town teacher, I hope they do not open on a weeknight during the school year. Christmastime would be PERFECT. 

[Lot666]

Posted: 6/4/20 at 11:48am

uncageg said: "Jordan Catalano said: "uncageg said: "Phantom is the first show I want to see when Broadway comes back. I have seen it but for some reason, for me, it just seems fitting to see the longest running show first show back."

I’ve been thinking the same thing, either this or “Wicked”. There’s nothing else playing that screams “BROADWAY” more than those two (How I wish “42nd St” were playing) so it would be great to be in that audience the first night back."

My second choice was "Chicago". I guess I am wanting to see something from farther back. But if I can get a seat to the first Phantom performance, I am there."

Same!

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/4/20 at 11:51am

Phantom4ever said: "And yes I am hoping that I could make it to the first performance back of Phantom and I don't care if I have to wear a hazmat suit and take a bleach bath in the lobby at intermission. As an out of town teacher, I hope they do not open on a weeknight during the school year. Christmastime would be PERFECT."

I would suspect they will open on a Monday or Tuesday. 

 

[nealb1]

Posted: 6/4/20 at 1:01pm

It is a smart business decision to add a Sunday night show.  Not very many shows have Sunday nights, and it's a sure way to bring in more revenue.  Win/Win.    Same when the show added a Thursday matinee.  It's a great way to capture an audience that wants to see a show.  

Did you try reaching out to Telecharge to ask?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/4/20 at 1:34pm

Oh that’s something I hadn’t even thought about - altered schedules. I love in the UK you can find shows with Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday matinees so if you’re in town for a week, you could technically see 11 shows, depending what’s on Monday’s (their usual day off). I always thought it was silly for more shows here to not do that.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 6/4/20 at 1:44pm

nealb1 said: "It is a smart business decision to add a Sunday night show. Not very many shows have Sunday nights, and it's a sure way to bring in more revenue. Win/Win. Same when the show added a Thursday matinee. It's a great way to capture an audience that wants to see a show.

Did you try reaching out to Telecharge to ask?"

I was also thinking that Sunday night might be a performance that people who are still worried about their safety may be incented to attend.  Not much other theatre activity nearby (unless of course everything else follows suit), so out of towners might feel more comfortable going into Manhattan than any another day.  Sure that I am overanalyzing this.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 6/4/20 at 1:58pm

The time changes reminds me of the 42nd Street ads where it was a creepy picture of David Merrick saying "David Merrick is holding the curtain for you!" so, if you could get tickets to the 8:00pm performance of Phantom, you could run across the street and grab a ticket to 42nd Street at 8:30pm

[matt1982]

Posted: 6/4/20 at 2:24pm

What's interesting is that they don't have a single matinee on their schedule from mid December through August.  I can get the 1 show a day concept, but I can't fathom a show like Phantom wouldn't have at least one matinee performance.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 6/4/20 at 2:44pm

matt1982 said: "What's interesting is that they don't have a single matinee on their schedule from mid December through August. I can get the 1 show a day concept, but I can't fathom a show like Phantom wouldn't have at least one matinee performance."

I'd imagine all shows will ditch matinees in the beginning so the theaters can be properly cleaned between performances.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 6/4/20 at 2:44pm

Considering the the general makeup of matinee audiences. It might be smart not to have them.

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 6/4/20 at 3:51pm

Wowww so this board is buying into my six-show week conspiracy!  Phantom chose to be dark on Wednesdays. I wonder if they could possibly add a matinee on Wednesday and then no eve show, to build up to 7 performances a week. Perhaps the 6-show week will just be in the beginning like CATSNY said. Maybe that's why the unions agreed (to my conspiracy theory).  

Maybe that mid December week where this new schedule starts is when they hoping to actually re-open, and with a 6 schedule week. 

Lion King and Hamilton are both selling 8 show weeks through the end of December.  Curiouser and Curiouser I tell you. 

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 6/4/20 at 4:09pm

I doubt they could add a matinee on Wednesday. They probably have to have a day off per union rules but that’s just a guess.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 6/4/20 at 4:36pm

I know this show has plenty of fans but it's really time for PHANTOM to close and free-up the Majestic for something new.

Updated On: 6/4/20 at 04:36 PM

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 6/4/20 at 5:00pm

Phantom is at the majestic. Not the imperial.

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 6/4/20 at 7:33pm

It was kind of nice that Phantom was the only show that didn’t play a Sunday.

As Jordan says you can see a matinee on a Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday in London, where I am from, in the Summer you go an also see a Friday matinee at the Globe, if Shakespeare is your thing. So nice when I came to New York to have the option to see the Phantom on a Thursday afternoon, as well recently Moulin Rouge did the same, be a bummer if there is no Thursday matinee and my only option would be Papermill Playhouse.

[nealb1]

Posted: 6/5/20 at 9:33am

I don't think anyone is buying into any "conspiracy theory" at all.  Since everything is so up in the air right with now, I'm sure the producers of "Phantom" haven't determined what day(s) during the week starting in January that additional performances will be added so that the show, like normal, has 8 performances. That would have nothing to do with needing more time to clean in between performances.  Other shows have double performance days and would do it.  Why would "Phantom" be any different?

As many of us have discussed, more than likely Broadway isn't coming back until 2021.  Nobody knows what will ultimately happen.  This will be one of those threads that we can revisits in several months and have a good chuckle over. 
 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 6/5/20 at 9:56am

Every single post in this thread is much ado about nothing. They can post a schedule and sell tickets for whatever agenda they are implicitly peddling but the bottom line is that they cannot open until given permission by the state, and even then they will be subject to restrictions on social distancing that will make those performances economically untenable. And there is zero chance of having a treatment by then. I suggest everyone save their energy on this and expend it on something worthy of their time, like thinking about how they might contribute to our collective self awareness about ending systemic racism.