Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Lack of Desire for Tickets Threatens ‘Elms’ Which Will Probably Close May 24th

After failing to nab a single Tony Award nomination last week, followed by a 5 percent decline in its grosses for the week, the revival of Eugene O’Neill’s “Desire Under the Elms” appears to be on the rocks(Yuck, Yuck).
The limited run of the show is supposed to end in July — yet tickets are available for sale only through May 24.
A lead producer of “Desire,” Jeffrey Richards, said that he and his colleagues would be looking for an improvement in box office business this week and next — and that if ticket sales did not increase, the show might close early(it's pretty much a given in my book).
“We have not put in a closing notice, but if business doesn’t pick up— ” he said in a phone interview, before pausing. “Let’s just say, we’re watching the grosses very closely, and we do need to see an improvement in business.”
The production, at the St. James Theater, grossed $192,262 for its eight performances last week through Sunday; the prior week, it grossed $203,745. The Tony nominations were announced last Tuesday. I think it is ashame that the three leads were not nominated and the show itself for best revival. I loved it and all the performances were powerful!
An emotionally brutal play, set on a New England farm in the 19th century, about a father and son and the woman who upends their hardscrabble lives, the production received strong critical reviews — especially for its stars, Carla Gugino, Brian Dennehy, and Pablo Schreiber. Many Tony competition watchers thought that Ms. Gugino had a good shot at a nomination for best actress, but she was squeezed out in an unusually large and competitive field of candidates.
So, do Broadway a favor and try to help save this show if that's at all possible at this point and time. We here at Applause have an amazing deal where we can get you tickets at below the normal face value of the ticket. Call us at 800-451-9930. This show is sure worth saving!

No comments:

Post a Comment