It's the BOOK OF MORMON mentality- put the show in a smaller house where you know it will sell out, which will create much higher demand for tickets and allow for an inevitably higher pricing structure.
Considering it's a one woman play, having it be in a more intimate venue is also more appropriate for the piece (not to mention how desirable the location of the Booth is.)
but it's not like Midler won't be able to sell out the Longacre or Barrymore. Considering it'll likely be a limited run(3 months??) will make it nearly impossible to get tickets. I have to wonder if they'll do any kind of rush or lottery. And does the Booth have SRO??
"Tickets for I'LL EAT YOU LAST are available exclusively to American Express cardholders starting Saturday, February 2 at 10 AM by calling 212-239-6200 or visit Telecharge.com. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Sunday, February 17. Ticket prices range from $82 - $142. Standing room and rush policies will be announced in the coming weeks."
It's Bette, but it's also a non-singing one-woman show about someone most people haven't heard of, in a really crowded spring season. I think it's a great move, actually. They'll be able to make a mint just off the Bette audience alone, not worry about low attendance, and make it a tough-to-get ticket.
talkinloud, i was talking to a bunch of my friends about this,all 23 and younger its sad, but most dont know who she is other then "that annoying lady in Parental Guidance". I know its very sad, i agree.
I agree that there may be an overestimation of her broad appeal/popularity going on here.
She had her time, but I think she's thought more of as a B-lister these days, and it doesn't surprise me at all to hear that the under-25 set might only be tangentially aware of who she is.
What, that talkinloud has college aged friends? (I kid!)
I'm 35 and went to Bette's Vegas show a few years ago. I swear I was the youngest one there. So I'm not surprised our youngins' don't share our fondness for her, aside from the couple of weirdo kids obsessed with the 60s and 70s.
Not well known to the kids, I'll concede, but "B list"? I don't think so. Midler's more in the "legend" category like Cher, who hasn't had a film hit in decades.
When PROJECT RUNWAY previewed the guest judges for the season that began last week, they saved Bette Midler for last and she was clearly the "big deal" on a list that included Jennifer Hudson, Debra Messing, Zoe Saldana, Hilary Duff and Hayden Panettiere.
And I didn't see the movie, but I feel sure "that annoying woman from PARENTAL GUIDANCE" was Billy Crystal.
she really hasnt been in any big movies or tv shows that people my age watch in years. same with Babs, Im a theater geek so i know them but do get a lot of ribbing for it.
Is she thought of as a legend, Gav, broadly? I guess for the “Project Runway” audience, the reception you describe makes sense, but outside of circles with significant male homosexual fan bases beyond a certain age… I honestly don’t think she’s thought seen that way. I’d guess that if I were to ask my coworkers or, say, my mom or sister, they’d think of her as a sort-of washed-up ‘80s actress/singer.
And I wouldn’t necessarily defend that perception. I’m just saying I think reverence for her is reserved by minority segments, demographically speaking.
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joined:10/9/05
Posted: 1/30/13 at 10:54am