The Music Man : Show Development and Promotion

[jo]

Roger Friedman ( who is sometimes deemed to be controversial in his views) -- has been hyping The Music Man lately.

Demand may be on the high side because --

*there are no new tickets being sold on its official Telecharge site at the moment ( presumably because they are waiting to sort out the producer issue?)
*Many people are now encouraged to travel because the pandemic seems to be easing in the USA and New York itself has declared that things are back to normal.
*The theatregoer profile may include many whose cash spending on entertainment & travel during the pandemic may have been limited and there may be a tendency to splurge for some as a sort of celebration of moving away from the pandemic way of living?

Hope this does not create any backlash against the show.


Jo

[jo]

The Friedman article --

Broadway: $8,500 for Hugh Jackman in “The Music Man”? Scalpers and Resellers Have Hijacked New Musical
■business■Theater
by Roger Friedman - June 16, 2021 8:17 pm
0 59

Want a ticket to see Hugh Jackman in “The Music Man” this winter?

Forgetaboutit.

The Scott Rudin-produced musical has been hijacked by scalpers.

Set to begin previews in December and open in February, “The Music Man” — also starring Sutton Foster — is going to become a template for greed in the history of the Great White Way. Not even Rudin’s production of “Hello, Dolly!” with Bette Midler was this avaricious.

So far you can only buy tickets for “The Music Man” on reseller sites like StubHub or Vivid Seats or SeatGeek. There are none available from December 2020 through July 2022 on Telecharge, the site that sells most seats to most Broadway shows.

On Stubhub, a pair of tickets in Row F for January 2, 2022 are going for $8,485.05. That includes a service fee of $1,505. For that much money, I would expect Jackman and Foster to come clean my house for a week, repaint the garage, and babysit the kids every night while singing about Trouble in River City.



For that much money you could see 20 other Broadway shows including the revival of “Company” and the excellent “Girl from the North Country,” have dinner each time at the Palm, and still rent the classic movie of “The Music Man” with Robert Preston for a week.

StubHub does offer financing through Affirm, if you want to spread the payments out. But I’d rather buy a decent used car for that much money, not sit through an old show starring Wolverine. Or maybe just buy groceries for a year.

Just think of it. For eighty-five hundred dollars you could own not 76 trombones, but five really good ones. And you could donate them to music schools and get a tax deduction.

And since you’re thinking it, thirty years ago Richard Gere only paid Julia Roberts $3,000 to sleep with him and be arm candy for a weekend in “Pretty Woman.” With inflation, Gere would have to pay $6,187 now — still far less than two tickets to “The Music Man.” You still might be able to get three days of sex and two balcony seats.

The producers of “The Music Man” — Rudin has supposedly stepped away, but he’s lurking in the background — have allowed ticket scalpers to play this game, basically insulting New Yorkers and tourists who might have enjoyed this show. When Jackman reads this he should be horrified. There’s simply no excuse for it except greed.

And these prices I quoted for January are no anomaly. They’re the norm through for months on end, and at every site, not just StubHub. And the prices will go higher once the show opens on February 10, 2022. The New York Times and other outlets will be drooling all over the stars, who are very talented, raving about the production. That should send prices even higher out of reach of the one-percenters.

Will it matter at that point whether you’ve seen “The Music Man”? Probably not. Once the Tony Awards come and go in June, the original cast will exit. Like other Rudin shows, replacements will come in and prices will drop. And almost all the time that happens, you get a better show.

You know, the whole point of “The Music Man” is that Harold Hill is a con man. So maybe that’s the point here.

You can watch a production of “The Music Man” on YouTube with Matthew Broderick and Kristen Chenoweth. For free. Right here. Or just skip to the big number below with Robert Preston.



Roger Friedman
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. He wrote the Intelligencer column for NY Magazine in the mid 90s, reporting on the OJ Simpson trial, as well as for the real Parade magazine (when it was owned by Conde Nast), and has written for the New York Observer, Details, Vogue, Spin, the New York Times, NY Post, Washington Post, and NY Daily News among many publications. He is the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

[njr]

^ Love that article!!
Especially this:

On Stubhub, a pair of tickets in Row F for January 2, 2022 are going for $8,485.05. That includes a service fee of $1,505. For that much money, I would expect Jackman and Foster to come clean my house for a week, repaint the garage, and babysit the kids every night while singing about Trouble in River City.

Nancy 😂

[jo]

The more sane response on the Friedman article re Music Man secondary market prices --

This is a nothing story

Posted by: Leon_W 10:28 am EDT 06/17/21

In reply to: $8,500 for tickets to THE MUSIC MAN? - StageLover 09:14 am EDT 06/17/21
Tickets are only being swapped right now and will be available to buy at “regular” prices in the future. So some people are chancing their arm with insane resale prices and no doubt some people will fall for it. This isn’t controlled or initiated by the production. I guess all they could do is advertise an on sale date for remaining tickets in the hope that it cools the resale market down.

This is more skeptical --

re: This is a nothing story

Posted by: Roman 10:57 am EDT 06/17/21

In reply to: This is a nothing story - Leon_W 10:28 am EDT 06/17/21

We’re due for an update on TMM and when tickets are going to go back on sale. What’s the hold up? We’re just six months from previews starting.

Someone here said there was another postponement on the horizon. They seemed to suggest there were legal things to sign and work out, etc. Which I suppose makes some sense, given new contracts and the Rudin fiasco. I was skeptical about another postponement, but each day we go without some info on when tickets will go back on sale, the more I think another postponement IS possible, if not likely.

Unless they’re also trying to figure out a spin story to replace Sutton with Audra! A boy can dream?

[jo]

[jo]

Someone's monitoring the replies

The Music Man on Broadway
liked your reply

At last! An update Multiple musical notesMusical note
Hope to hear more news about the show development soon

[jo]

[jo]

This is very interesting!

It seems that holiday travel is now easier to plan for...and one enterprising theatre entrepeneur ( in this case, Broadway.com) has designed a package with The Music Man as the center of the New York visit!

What is interesting about it ... is that they have planned for packages that can be booked till November 2022!
Do they have inside information that Hugh Jackman will fulfill his original commitment to stay with the show for a year?

Broadway.com is one of the older and more reliable sites that regularly updates on Broadway news...and also known for travel packages for Broadway shows!

travel.broadwayacrossamerica.com/hugh-jackman-the-music-man/


Excerpts --

The highly anticipated arrival of The Music Man on Broadway is now set to launch with previews beginning in December 2021.

Starring in the role that has been called the greatest written in musical history, Hugh Jackman along with his co-star Sutton Foster are headlining Broadway’s historic comeback story.

Below please find our very latest rundown of The Music Man excursions.

Please call [phone] or [phone] or email us at [e-mail] for more information or to confirm your places!

If you don’t see a “Book Now” button next to a trip, please inquire about availability.

A Broadway Across America representative will respond to any messages or emails in the order they are received.

Previously booked guests will have their second trip package payment of $500 per person due 120 days prior to travel. Final balances for all guests are due 60 days prior to travel.

To confirm your places for one of our strictly limited The Music Man packages starring Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster, please select from one of the following trip dates below. Please contact us for availability if you do not see a “Book Now” button next to a trip of interest, as some spaces may open up due to the change of dates:


Package Name Trip Status NEW Trip Dates

A. First Performances Package: Sold Out! CALL December 19 – 22, 2021

B. Hollywood Heavyweights: Six places available BOOK NOW January 5 – 8, 2022

C. Winter’s Delight: NEWLY ADDED TRIP! January 27 – 30, 2022

D. Early March: Sold Out March 2 – 5, 2022

E. Late April: Sold Out April 21 – 24, 2022

F. Mother’s Day: 10 places remain May 5 – 8, 2022

G. Memorial Day Weekend: Available to book May 26 – 29, 2022
H. July Summer Escapes: Option 1 June 30 – July 3, 2022

Option 2 July 7 – 10, 2022

Option 3 July 14 – 17, 2022

I. September To Remember 2022: Available to book September 22– 25, 2022

J. Fall Foilage: Available to book October 20– 23, 2022

K. Autumn Escape 2022: Available to book November 17– 20, 2022

PACKAGE DESCRIPTION:
Two-time Tony Award®, Grammy Award®, and Emmy Award® winner Hugh Jackman makes his highly anticipated return to Broadway in what has often been said to be the greatest role ever created for an actor in the history of musical theater.

With Broadway’s extended “intermission” slated to come to a dramatic conclusion after a year and a half of dark theatres, Broadway Across America is excited to share an updated schedule for our patrons to book one of our exclusive experiences built around this iconic musical.

With Broadway’s reopening plans in development and much going on behind the scenes for existing and new productions, the 2nd and 3rd shows choices for each package will be presented to our travelers in the months leading up to the respective dates of travel. As detailed on the itinerary tab, each program will feature the high level of service and core trip elements our patrons have come to expect from Broadway Across America’s trip experiences.

Jo

[jo]

More info on the Broadway.com packages --

PACKAGE INCLUDES:

Roundtrip coach class airfare to New York from most major cities within the continental U.S.

Roundtrip airport – hotel transfers via luxury town car

Three (3) nights full-service accommodations amidst the luxurious comforts of our 4-diamond partner hotels: The Muse Hotel by Kimpton, the Intercontinental Times Square or the M Social Times Square.

Welcome dinner: Invitations to an exquisite welcome dinner with your fellow guests featuring a pre-fixe menu of outstanding food, flowing cocktails, good conversation and dessert.

Orchestra/front mezzanine seating to The Music Man starring Two-time Tony Award®, Grammy Award®, and Emmy Award® winner Hugh Jackman Hugh Jackman and Two-time Tony Award®, Sutton Foster

The Music Man Playbill or show poster autographed by cast members

Orchestra/front mezzanine seating to two (2) additional shows to be announced as we get closer to your weekend.
Note: Patrons will be provided choices of shows for their second and third performances in the package.

Your choice of an exclusive Broadway history tutorial and behind-the-scenes theatre tour or a fascinating walking tour given by a seasoned New York City guide

Q & A Lunch at Sardi’s: The second day of our excursions feature a group lunch of fine food and open bar selections at Sardi’s, the famed fixture known for its caricatures of Broadway stars. Your lunch will feature a Q & A session with Broadway performers who will share stories and experiences as well as a meet-and-greet opportunity for photos and autographs – perhaps even a song or two!

An exclusive opportunity for a scheduled post-show chat back with members of the cast from one of your shows *

Professional on-site program management by Broadway Across America staff

Comprehensive guest itineraries
* Post-show opportunities subject to availability of particular actors on this particular performance day. More details to follow as the weekend draws closer.

[jo]

More --

Package Payment terms:

$750 deposit per person upon booking
Your trip package balance is due 60 days prior to your trip
Package Name Trip Status NEW Trip Dates

A. First Performances Package: Sold Out! December 19 – 22, 2021

B. Hollywood Heavyweights: Six places available BOOK NOW January 5 – 8, 2022

C. Winter’s Delight: NEWLY ADDED TRIP! January 27 – 30, 2022

D. Early March: Sold Out March 2 – 5, 2022

E. Late April: Sold Out April 21 – 24, 2022

F. Mother’s Day: 10 places remain May 5 – 8, 2022

G. Memorial Day Weekend: Available to book May 26 – 29, 2022
H. July Summer Escapes: Option 1 June 30 – July 3, 2022

Option 2 July 7 – 10, 2022

Option 3 July 14 – 17, 2022

I. September To Remember 2022: Available to book September 22– 25, 2022

J. Fall Foilage: Available to book October 20– 23, 2022

K. Autumn Escape 2022: Available to book November 17– 20, 2022


Package A, D, G, I, J and K:

PRICE PER GUEST (double occupancy): $2798

BAA Price for TWO: $5596

PRICE PER GUEST (single occupancy): $3415



Packages B and C:

PRICE PER GUEST (double occupancy): $2632

BAA Price for TWO: $5266

PRICE PER GUEST (single occupancy): $3087



Packages E, F and H:

PRICE PER GUEST (double occupancy): $2726

BAA Price for TWO: $5452

PRICE PER GUEST (single occupancy): $3271



Please inquire about custom pricing from nearby cities such as Boston, Philadelphia and Baltimore

# An appropriate, comparable substitution may be made for certain program elements if group minimums are not met

* Post-show opportunities subject to availability of particular actors on a particular performance day and subject to the industry’s post-show experience guidelines which are currently being reviewed. More details to follow as the weekend draws closer.

[jo]

[jo]

They also liked this one --

The Music Man on Broadway

liked 2 of your Tweets

From the Instagram Page of @musicmanbway
Count 'em -- all 76 trumpets ( masquerading as trombones) -- unless the trumpets are about to make an announcement

Musical noteMultiple musical notes pic.twitter.com/SsmhfiUzIJ

Hint??

[jo]

Not a hint!

It's a reality!!

http://instagram.com/p/CQa4K5Fjd8d

[jo]

www.broadwayworld.com/article/THE-MUSIC-MAN-Tickets-Are-Now-On-Sale-Producer-Kate-Horton-Replaces-Scott-Rudin-20210622

THE MUSIC MAN Tickets Are Now On Sale; New Producer Replaces Scott Rudin and Additional Casting Announced

Additional casting includes Remy Auberjonois as Charlie Cowell, Gino Cosculluela as Tommy Djilas, and Emma Crow as Zaneeta Shinn.


by Stephi Wild Jun. 22, 2021

Tickets

Cast

Photos

Videos

Info
The Music Man

Tickets for the upcoming revival of Meredith Willson's The Music Man are on sale beginning at 10:00 a.m. EST this morning. Tickets for all performances can be purchased via Telecharge.com.

Starring two-time Tony Award, Grammy Award, and Emmy Award-winning star Hugh Jackman as Professor Harold Hill, and also starring two-time Tony Award winner Sutton Foster as Marian Paroo, preview performances of The Music Man are set to begin on Monday, December 20, 2021, with Opening Night scheduled for Thursday, February 10, 2022 at the Winter Garden Theatre (1634 Broadway).



Hugh Jackman shared a clip from rehearsal on Twitter earlier today. Check it out below!

Hugh Jackman
@realhughjackman
Inching ever closer to the bright lights on Broadway! @musicmanbway @carlylewarren #onsale #KateHorton #TheWinterGarden t.co/EGdS3JHs7p
7:06 PM · Jun 22, 2021
1.1K
95


It was also announced that Kate Horton has been named Executive Producer of The Music Man, effective immediately, and will oversee all aspects of the production. Ms. Horton heads Fictionhouse, an independent production company making work in television, film, and theatre, alongside screen and stage director Dominic Cooke. They previously ran The Royal Court Theatre in London, UK as Artistic Director and Executive Director, and have produced Tony, Olivier, and Pulitzer Prize-winning work. Over her extensive career in theatre, with executive roles also at the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre, Ms. Horton has collaborated with the finest acting, directing and writing talent, and was responsible for numerous commercial transfers, including The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Jerusalem, Clybourne Park and Constellations.

[jo]

Wow - resumption of ticket sales gets a feature on the TODAY show!
They sure are fans over there


Jo

[jo]

Also, on People.com --

Hugh must also be grinning -- not only Ryan Reynolds but also Tom Brady who LIKED his dancing...and will presumably see the show

Jo

[jo]

Even movie sites are covering the new ticket sale --

www.cinemablend.com/news/2569346/even-ryan-reynolds-can-pause-a-feud-for-long-enough-to-admit-when-his-pal-hugh-jackman-has-chops?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[jo]

www.playbill.com/article/producer-kate-horton-joins-the-music-man-revival-following-scott-rudin-departure

Excerpts --

The Music Man at the Winter Garden Theatre
Marc J. Franklin

Kate Horton has been named executive producer for the upcoming Broadway revival of The Music Man, set to begin performances at the Winter Garden Theatre December 20. Horton’s appointment follows the departure of Scott Rudin, who announced intentions to step down from his theatrical ventures as allegations of workplace abuse and intimidation came to light.

The U.K.-based Horton leads the independent stage and screen production company Fictionhouse with director Dominic Cooke. The pair’s collaborations have also included leadership positions at the Royal Court Theatre and the subsequent West End and Broadway transfers of such plays as Jerusalem, Clybourne Park, and Constellations.

Remaining on the producing team are Barry Diller and David Geffen. The move follows a similar shift with the upcoming return of Broadway’s To Kill a Mockingbird, which in the absence of Rudin has added Orin Wolf to its team.

More...

Good to know that the angel producers Diller & Geffen are staying -- they do provide financial stability to this fairly lavish production!

Jo

[jo]

[jo]

[jo]

[njr]

I just got an email today about buying tickets - checked a matinee on May 25th and not very close seat was $274, not including fees. Just too much since would have to add airfare and hotel. ☹️

[jo]

[jo]

From the NYTimes --

Broadway’s ‘Music Man’ Names British Producer to Replace Rudin

Kate Horton will become executive producer of the show, which stars Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster. It is scheduled to begin performances on Dec. 20.

Kate Horton was hired by the business titans Barry Diller and David Geffen, who had been producing the revival of “The Music Man” alongside Scott Rudin, and who are now the sole lead producers.


By Michael Paulson

June 22, 2021, 7:00 a.m. ET


A veteran British theater administrator will take over the day-to-day management of a starry Broadway revival of “The Music Man,” assuming many of the duties previously performed by Scott Rudin.

The administrator, Kate Horton, who previously held high-level management positions at the National Theater, Royal Court Theater and Royal Shakespeare Company in England, will become executive producer of “The Music Man,” which stars Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster, and which is scheduled to begin performances on Dec. 20 and to open Feb. 10.

Rudin, who was the revival’s lead producer, departed that role earlier this year, saying he was stepping back from all of his theater and film productions amid renewed scrutiny of his bullying behavior toward subordinates and collaborators.

Horton was hired by the business titans Barry Diller and David Geffen, who had been producing the revival alongside Rudin, and who are now the sole lead producers. The production, at the Winter Garden Theater, reunites much of the creative team behind the Tony-winning 2017 revival of “Hello, Dolly!,” led by the director Jerry Zaks.



Horton currently runs, with her longtime collaborator Dominic Cooke, a British producing company called Fictionhouse. She was previously deputy executive director of the National Theater, executive director of the Royal Court Theater and commercial director of the Royal Shakespeare Company. She and Rudin both were previously involved with the team behind Little Island, a new park and performance space in New York, but no longer have any role there, a spokeswoman said.

Horton declined a request for an interview.

“The Music Man,” like many Broadway shows, has been delayed by the pandemic. It was originally scheduled to open last fall. The show sold a large number of tickets before the pandemic; rather than refunding those tickets, as many shows did, the production exchanged them for future seats. During the pandemic, the producers stopped selling new tickets; tickets to the show are going back on sale starting Tuesday.

Several other Rudin-related Broadway productions have found new leadership teams. A stage adaptation of “To Kill a Mockingbird” named Orin Wolf as executive producer; the musical “The Book of Mormon” and the play “The Lehman Trilogy” said their existing leadership teams would simply proceed without Rudin. (“The Book of Mormon” is overseen by members of the “South Park” team, while “The Lehman Trilogy” is overseen by Britain’s National Theater.)

[jo]

This could be out-of-the-box thinking...

but ...