The Winter of Broadway's Discontent

Thanks to the current economic downturn and the usual winter doldrums, fifteen Broadway shows are expected to close in the next six weeks. High-profile Broadway musicals on the list include Spring Awakening, Spamalot, Grease, Young Frankenstein, Hairspray, and 13.

Those productions that are battling on are generally offering huge discounts on tickets, or even giving them away free.

Disney is offering a "Kids Go Free!" deal for its three family musicals – The Lion King, Mary Poppins and The Little Mermaid – for three months after January.

Although Billy Elliot is bucking the trend and doing well, big budget productions are particularly vulnerable.

A $4.5 million revival of Godspell has been scrapped while a lavish $16 million musical version of A Tale Of Two Cities closed in November, just two months after it opened.

Source: Telegraph

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Broadway Ticket Prices Increase for Aisle Seating

Would you be willing to pay more for an aisle seat?

Well, prepare yourself, because the next time you take in a Broadway show, the convenience of aisle seating may soon come with a premium price tag.

Three plays — Spring Awakening, Gypsy, and The Seagull — are introducing a new pricing policy that reflects the added value of sitting in an aisle seat. In each case, the increase applies to orchestra seating only. Also, aisle seats must be purchased in pairs.

The Broadway revival of The Seagull, starring Kristin Scott Thomas and Peter Sarsgaard, opens on September 16 at the Walter Kerr Theatre. Aisle seats will cost an additional $25.

For Spring Awakening, currently playing at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, the aisle seats are priced $23 higher.

At the St. James Theatre, Gypsy — starring Patti Lupone, Boyd Gaines, and Laura Benanti — adds $18 to the previous cost of aisle seats.

Of course, aisle seating already has at least one disadvantage: instead of having to step over other people to get to the bathroom, you're the one getting stepped on.

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Weekend Roundup: 7/21 - 7/27

This week at Broadway Musical:

Jason Robert Brown Musical Headed to Broadway
Phantom Sequel Coming Soon
Review Roundup: [title of show]
Angels Skips Try-Outs, Winging it to Broadway
A Little More Hairspray
Broadway Gets A Tale of Two Cities
Robin and the 7 Hoods to Muscle in on Broadway
Godspell Goes Back to Broadway
Caitlin Kinnunen Joins Cast of Spring Awakening

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Caitlin Kinnunen Joins Cast of "Spring Awakening"

Caitlin Kinnunen, 16, will make her Broadway debut in Spring Awakening today at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre. She will play the role of Thea.

Raised on Camano Island, Washington, Caitlin appeared in many Seattle-area theater productions, including The Wizard of Oz (Dorothy), Little Women (Amy), and Annie (title role).

At the age of 5, Caitlin first took to the stage in the nonspeaking role of a fairy in a play at Sky Theatre, where her mother was the production manager.

The casting process for Spring Awakening took ten months. Last September Caitlin attended an open casting call in Seattle. A month later she got the call to come to New York, where she was asked to sing and read a script. She got a call-back for the next day. Then on her way home, while changing planes in Philadelphia, she received the call to return in November. During the final call-back in November she spent three days singing, dancing, and acting. She was finally cast in June.

Sometimes talent and persistence do pay off.

Source: HeraldNet

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