Tuesday, September 29, 2009

In The Heights

I know. I know. It's been almost two weeks since my last In The Heights blog. I'm sure you're all going thru withdrawl right? Now don't worry. My love for the show is just as strong as it's ever been. It's just with all the new shows as of late my blogs have been mostly about them. So what is new with my favorite show? Well I am happy to say that sales have increased since my last post and with the holiday's coming up I expect it to increase even more. Keep your fingers crossed. Better sales means our show will be around for the foreseeable future.


Anyway this past Sunday marked the final performance of one of my favorite cast member's Janet Dacal. Ms. Dacal who has been with the show since it's Off-Broadway premier is leaving the show to take on the title role in Frank Wildhorn's retelling of Alice in Wonderland. The show titled Wonderland is scheduled to begin previews in December at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Those of you who have seen the show can attest to how talented she is and I am so happy that she has been given the opportunity to show what she will bring to this iconic role. Best of luck Janet. You are a star on the rise. No word on her replacement but I am sure like her predecessor will make the part her own.

Get your tickets to see In The Heights on Broadway and coming soon to a theatre near you.

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment
311 West 43rd Street
Suite 601
New York,NY 10036
212-307-7050 or 1-800-451-9930

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Customer Story

That's right theatre fans. It's time for my customer story of the week. In all the years that I have worked for Applause I have talked to thousands of customers about Broadway and other events in and around the New York City area. Therefore you would think I would have plenty of stories to tell right? This is one of my favorite ones. It was a Sunday afternoon in late July. The phones hadn't rung for awhile and by all accounts the day looked like it was going to be a long one. When out of the blue I got a call from a gentleman who was coming to New York with his girlfriend and wanted to see a Broadway show. Not only was it going to be their first time in the city but he was also planning on proposing to her while he was here. How romantic.

Anyway he wanted me to suggest a show that he could take her to see.I suggested The Phantom of The Opera. Sounds like the perfect choice right? Wrong. These were not your typical theatre people. They are from a little town in Arkansas and don't go to a lot of theatre. In fact the only show that he had ever seen was a local high school production of Shakespeare Comes To Calamity Creek. Now before you think I am making this up I am not. I looked it up and the show actually exists. So I went down the list of Broadway shows and to be honest nothing seemed to interest him. I then went to my Off-Broadway list hoping I could find something that might work.

I mentioned Our Town and he started to laugh. He told me that when he was a freshman in high school his English teacher assigned the play to his students to read during class. Well wouldn't you know it but my new friend was cast as George. Playing Emily was none other then his future girlfriend. The very girlfriend that he was bringing to New York. Until that time they had barely spoken to each other and after that they were inseparable. The rest is history. Well suffice to say we both agreed that Our Town was the perfect choice. I got him great seats to the show and for much less then he thought it was going to be. Another satisfied customer. By the way she said yes. I wonder if I'll get invited to the wedding?

A Steady Rain To Open On Broadway Tonight

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past month or so you know that a little play called A Steady Rain is officially opening on Broadway tonight at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre starring Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig.

Audiences have been flocking to the theatre since it first started and most performances are already sold out for this limited run.

The show which has already gotten a lot of press because of it's two stars has recently become a tabloid sensation due to a recent incident at last week's show. Take a look.
Video-A Steady Rain

Some people are speculating that this unplanned interruption is actually a plant. In fact my co-worker attended the show two weeks ago and the same exact thing happened . Is it just a coincidence or part of the show? Who knows. I guess we will have to wait for the reviews tomorrow to find out. I will keep you posted.Until next time theatre fans.

P.S. Don't forget. The show is only scheduled to run thru December 6. Get your tickets before it is too late.

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment
311 West 43rd Street
Suite 601
New York,NY 10036
212-307-7050 or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/

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Saturday, September 26, 2009

Finian's Rainbow Comes to Broadway-Performances Begin October 8, 2009

Finian's Rainbow is a Broadway musical revival I've been personally been looking forward to for several years. Honestly, I have heard talk about it being revived but it never seemed to happen until very recently. So now its my pleasure to tell you a little something I have heard about Finian's Rainbow.

Finian's Rainbow will begin preview performances at the St. James Theater on 44th Street in New York City on October 8, 2009. With a cast of 35 talented actors and actresses, this old fashioned musical with a great musical score is sure to please young and old alike. It's a real quality family show, something Broadway could use much more of in my opinion.

Set in the "deep South", Finian's Rainbow tells the story of an "Irish dreamer" named Finian (played by Jim Norton) and his daughter Sharon (played by Kate Baldwin) who move there all the way from Ireland. Not only is Finian's daughter a difficult person but they settle in a town where they face the prejudice of the local politicians, an economic crisis and an obnoxious leprechaun. Still Finian's Rainbow is also a love story that gives way to some of the best classical songs ever to be written for a Broadway musical.

Jim Norton plays Finian, who was recently seen in The Seafarer and won a Tony Award for his performance in 2008. His daughter Sharon (Kate Baldwin plays the role) falls for Woody (played by Cheyenne Jackson, formerly of Xanadu), and Christopher Fitzgerald plays "Og", the leprechaun. Mr. Fitzgerald recently played in Young Frankenstein on Broadway recently.

At this time, I thought I would share with you a little "secret" insider tip about how to get tickets for Finian's Rainbow at discount prices. If you think you might want to see Finian's Rainbow during the October through December 2009 months, my company can obtain great tickets for you at prices that are below face value. Simply put, we have an insider's price with Finian's Rainbow where we get significant discounts for most performances of the show. We then add on a modest service charge and offer you a retail price that is still lower than the usual printed ticket price.

Applause Ticket Agency (NY State license #71AP1001029) is open seven days a week to answer any questions you may have. If you think you, your friends, co-workers or family members might want to catch a performance of Finian's Rainbow, you might want to call us at 212-307-7050 or toll free at 800-451-9930. Whether you want to make a purchase or just want to talk about Broadway Shows, we'd love to hear from you.

Remember to call and say The Ticket Man told you to call. That's me, Rich Gladstone, The Ticket Man.

Take care now. Enjoy Finian's Rainbow

Sincerely,
Rich Gladstone
Applause Ticket Agency
311 West 43rd Street, suite 601
NY,NY 10036
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Friday, September 25, 2009

Ragtime The Musical begins its Broadway Revival on October 23, 2009



The first time I ever saw Brian Stokes Mitchell on Broadway(one of my favorite actors), was in the original Ragtime, a great musical on Broadway. It's always been one of the shows I wanted to see again as it is one of Broadway's classics. Ragtime won 4 Tony Awards in 1998 including Best Book and Best Score. I really enjoyed it very much. I'm pleased to tell you that Ragtime The Musical is returning to Broadway direct from a sold out, extended run at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.


Ragtime takes place around the turn of the century where it seems like everything is changing in American life. The story revolves around three families whose lives are interwoven together. They include an upper class wife who is stifled at this point in her life, a Harlem street musician and a hard working Jewish immigrant, all trying to make a better life in what clearly is a difficult time for the country. They all have a great belief in the American way of life and the dreams that they believe in for a much brighter future in what many have called "the land of opportunity". Each of the stories are told throughout Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens Tony Award-winning Score.


Ragtime the Musical is based on the E.L. Doctorow novel and has a fantastic Tony Award-winning Book by Terrance McNally. This version of Ragtime the Musical is a huge production which includes 40 cast members and a 28 piece orchestra as well. Direction of Ragtime the Musical is by Marcia Milgrom Dodge.


Some actors you may know that will play leading roles in Ragtime the Musical are Christiane Noll (in the role of Mother). Ms. Noll has been seen in many shows which include South Pacific, Miss Saigon, Grease, Jekyll & Hyde, Urinetown and several others. Ron Bohmer will play in the role of Father. He has played in several shows as well including The Phantom of the Opera, Sunset Boulevard, The Scarlet Pimpernel and numerous other productions. I understand that most of the Kennedy Center's ensemble cast will be staying with the show when it starts playing its Broadway revival run.


I have some good news for anyone that might want to see a performance of Ragtime the Musical in October through December of 2009. While the show is in previews and for a short time thereafter, our company Applause Theater Service (NY State license #71AP1001029) has access to discounted tickets for this show. All you have to do is call Applause Theater Service in New York at 212-307-7050 or toll free at 800-451-9930 and ask for the Ragtime BFV ticket discount. BFV stands for below face value, which is something we feel everyone should checkout before buying tickets for Broadway Shows.


There's never any pressure to buy anything at Applause, We're just Broadway ticket experts that like to talk about Broadway Theater and everything else going on in the city as well.


I hope you find this information helpful to you. Enjoy Ragtime The Musical or any of the other exciting Broadway shows playing.


Regards,
Rich Gladstone
Applause Theater Service
311 West 43rd Street, suite 601
NY,NY 10036
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In The Heights To Launch National Tour

That's right theatre fans. In The Heights, my favorite show and the 2008 Tony Award winner for Best Musical, is hitting the road. The show which opened at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in March of 2008 will be launch on October 27 at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. This is good news for those of you who love the show but haven't been able to make it to New York to see it. Future cities and dates have yet to be announced. If you get the chance I highly recommend you see the show when it comes to a city near you. It is amazing. Oh and by the way if you want to get tickets to see In The Heights don't forget that Applause is just a phone call away.


JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment
311 West 43rd Street
Suite 601
New York,NY 10036
212-307-7050 or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/

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Thursday, September 24, 2009

Carrie Fisher Stars in Wishful Drinking on Broadway

I always had a "thing" for Carrie Fisher movies. From her debut starring with Warren Beatty in the 1975 hit film called Shampoo to her playing Meg Ryan's best friend in When Harry Met Sally.

Carrie Fisher is the daughter of Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds. She became known to generations of film lovers when she played the role of Princess Lea in the Star Wars trilogy, one of the best selling films of all time. She has appeared in many films as well as appeared in many episodes of Laverne and Shirley, Sex and The City, 30 Rock and Weeds. She is also the author of a best selling book based on her life called Postcards from the Edge whereby she discusses her battle with bipolar disorder and drug addiction, mental institutions, marriage (and divorce) to Paul Simon, what its like to have Elizabeth Taylor for a stepmother, having the father of her baby leave her for another man as well as experiencing a best friend die on her while sharing the same bed. That's an awful lot of drama for a human being to have to handle, wouldn't you say?

Ms. Fisher has just begun performances of her "one woman autobiographical" show on Broadway on September 22, 2009. The show is called Wishful Drinking and is a Roundabout Theatre Company production. It officially opens to critics reviews on October 4, 2009 and is a strictly limited engagement that will end on January 3, 2010. It will have a running time of just 2 hours with only one intermission.

In Wishful Drinking, we can expect to see Carrie Fisher explain what the "highs and lows" of being a Hollywood star were like. From being a youngster to enduring many of life's difficulties like suffering from depression, mental illness, having love affairs, problems with drug dependency and just about anything else she still might be able to remember.

I understand that Ms. Fisher will be sharing her life's stories with the audience in a similar fashion that she used in Postcards from the Edge. Postcards from the Edge was written with great wit, a keen sense of humor and great honesty.

It probably takes everything a person has to give to "lay it all out there" for everyone else to see. But my guess is that by doing so, Carrie Fisher has helped her get through some of life's serious times. Who knows how many thousands of people she can help by sharing pieces of her life with all of us. And I'm sure it will be done quite tastefully.

I am planning to see Wishful Drinking in the next two weeks at Studio 54 on Broadway, one of the Roundabout Theatre Company's Broadway homes. If you think you might be interested in seeing Carrie Fisher in her solo show, I would be pleased to offer you some advice on how to obtain discount tickets for performances through November 25, 2009. You might want to check out the below face value ticket deals my company Applause has been offering its customers.

Applause-tickets.com is an authorized ticket agency and is licensed by New York State (license #71AP1001029) to offer you tickets for Wishful Drinking or any of the Broadway Shows playing in New York City. I hope this information was helpful for you or someone you know.

Sincerely,
Rich Gladstone
Applause Ticket Agency
311 West 43rd Street, Suite 601
NY,NY 10036
local phone 212-3-7-7050
toll free 800-451-9930
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Memphis A New Musical Playing on Broadway

What do you get when you mix a popular young, black female singer named Felicia with a white radio disc jockey with a name of Huey Calhoun? You get a brand new musical named Memphis A New Musical, which is previewing in New York right now.

Inspired by actual events, this musical tells the story of the "underground clubs" of Memphis in the 1950's. We are witness to a very unique collaboration of these two talented people in the music industry as they each struggle to break out from the confining work atmosphere they both have. It seems that Felicia cannot break free from playing outside the segregated music clubs but Huey's great passion for music seems to take her music far and well beyond to audiences all over the country. In addition, their passion for each other will be put to the test during this early period of when Rock and Roll began.

Chad Kimball plays the role of Huey Calhoun and has been seen on Broadway in Lennon, Good Vibrations, Into The Woods and The Civil War. Montego Glover plays Felicia Farrell. Broadway credits include The Color Purple, Ragtime, Dreamgirls, Aida and Once on This Island.

Some of the other cast members include Derrick Baskin, J. Bernard Calloway, James Monroe Iglehart, Michael McGrath, and Cass Morgan. 22 additional cast members make up the balance of what I understand is one of the most "electrifying" ensembles on Broadway today.

Mr. Joe Dipietro has written the book and lyrics for Memphis A New Musical. He was last seen on Broadway in All Shook Up, and Off Broadway in I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change (a former long running Off Broadway hit for many years) and several other shows. He recently received the 2009 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off Broadway Musical for his work with David Bryan in The Toxic Avenger (currently playing at the New World Stages Off Broadway). Mr. Bryan is responsible for writing the music and lyrics for Memphis A New Musical as well. He is a Grammy Award-winning keyboard player and one of the original founders of Bon Jovi.

I am going to attend a preview performance that I have been invited to on Thursday October 8, 2009. When you work in the theater business like I have for over 32 years, you hear allot of things about shows in previews. Some are good, some not so good. Right now the word of mouth is that this show, Memphis A New Musical, is going to be one of the bright spots in this fairly new Broadway season. I will report back on the show right after I see it. I'm really excited as I've been following Mr. Bryan's career for a few years now.

Before I close, let me offer some free advice to anyone who might be interested in seeing Memphis A New Musical. Being an insider in the ticket selling business for a long time now, I often try to advise the public exactly how to obtain seats at a discount when attending Broadway Shows. In the case of Memphis A New Musical, this show looks like a real winner so far and probably will get great critical reviews. Hopefully it will start "selling out" all its seats. But right now the show is looking for people to fill up the seats, enjoy the show then spread the natural "word of mouth" about how great it is.

So if you think you might want to take a chance and catch a preview performance of Memphis A New Musical or even one of the shows after it opens to critic's reviews, simply consider giving me a call at Applause Ticket Agency (NY State License #71AP1001029). We are located right in New York City and know all there is to know about everything happening on Broadway. Be sure to mention the BFV ticket discount ticket offer. If you purchase tickets now I can get you the best seats at below the usual cost.

At Applause there is no pressure to buy tickets ever. We are just honest folks that like to talk about theater. Along the way, if you decide you want to see a show, we'd love to assist you. We can even make dinner reservations for you at places we love to dine at ourselves.

Could you posssibly get this very personal, high level of service from any one of the large on-line ticket services? Remember to call Applause and say The Ticket Man told you to call.

That's me, Rich Gladstone, The Ticket Man. Enjoy the theater my friends. For my money, there's nothing like it!

Regards,
Rich Gladstone
Applause Ticket Agency
311 west 43rd Street, suite 601
NY,NY 10036
local phone 212-307-7050
toll free 800-451-9930
web site
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Yankees Clinch Playoff Spot, Face Boston This Weekend


The Yankees 1 year playoff drought is over, if you can call it a drought. With their victory over the Angels on Tuesday night the Yankees officially clinched at least a wild card spot in the postseason, and with a 6 game lead in the division with only 9 games left in the season it looks like they will win the AL East. They face Boston this weekend at the Stadium and with a sweep could do just that.
It doesn’t get much more exciting for Yankee fans than to play Boston with a chance to win the division against their biggest rivals, its gonna be party time up in the Bronx this weekend.
Applause has tickets to all 3 games against Boston as well all Yankee playoff games once the playoffs start in less than 2 weeks, so give us a call today to catch Yankee playoff fever!

New York Stories

Why do people come to New York City? For most like me it's to pursue a career in the arts. That is what I had planned to do when I moved to New York almost eighteen years ago. Now here I am all these years later still working a 9 to 5 job waiting for my big break to happen. The question is will it? You're damn right it will if I have anything to say about it. Look everybody has a dream of what they want their life to be. It's what you do to achieve that dream is what counts. Some people take the easy way out. That's fine for them. I just won't step on any one to get ahead. Maybe if I did I would be further in my career than I am now. Or maybe I wouldn't. At least I can go to sleep at night with a clear conscious. Now I know what you are thinking. What does this have to do with theater tickets. At this moment there are hundreds of ticket companies out there who sell tickets. Now for the most part the companies that sell these tickets are on the up and up. Sure anybody can design a website and start selling tickets. Not everybody is legitimate but that's the case in any type of business. Do we always have the best prices? For the most part yes, but there will always be somebody else out there trying to be number one. Look we may not be the biggest company in town but we do our best to give each and every customer the attention that they deserve. That's what we do here at Applause after all. I guess I'll be sleeping with a clear conscious tonight again too.

Creating ‘The Lion King Musical’ on Broadway

Producers of every Broadway show must undertake a massive amount of preparation and planning. Some shows require more work than others, especially those with non-human characters or requiring scenes set in large- scale surroundings. The creators of Disney’s ‘The Lion King’ faced enormous challenges in dealing with both of these issues to make their production a convincing, captivating show.

Julie Taymor’s work on The Lion King won her a Tony Award in 1998 for Best Costume Design. The show used puppets for all characters, complete with 18 foot tall giraffes and 13 foot long elephants. But the final product took some leaps of faith by production supervisors and by Julie herself.

After being approached by Disney producer Tom Schumacher, Taymor came to Disney with the idea of leaving the actors exposed while they worked the puppets. In a 1999 interview with ‘The Drama Review,’ Taymor said that she had difficulties conveying her ideas to producers. Taken out of context, the actors upstaged the puppets, confusing the viewer as to what to look at. It took multiple renderings of characters, with a final presentation in the New Amsterdam theatre under proper lighting, before the decision was made.

The costumes themselves depart from the humanized renderings in the animated version, opting instead to use more abstract shapes, much like in traditional African masks. Julie noted that though the sculpted masks can only convey one single emotion, leaving the actors’ faces visible help to communicate changes throughout the story. The large puppets use elements of Bunraku puppetry, a Japanese form of theater from the 16th century which often uses puppets operated by multiple people.

Today, the innovative and inspiring costumes used in The Lion King consistently captivate audiences after more than 18,000 performances worldwide. Hundreds of puppets representing over two dozen kinds of animals, birds, fish, and insect make this show the most magical on Broadway.



Jason writes for Applause Theatre and Entertainment Services, a New York based ticket company that specializes in Broadway Theater. For Tickets and More information about this show, click through here.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Bye Bye Birdie Is Back On Broadway

I saw the first revival of Bye Bye Birdie tonight at the newly refurbished Henry Miller Theater. It's the opening of the Roundabout Theatre Company's 2009-2010 theater season. Bye Bye Birdie last appeared on Broadway 48 years ago and was a Tony Award-winning musical at the time. Although this Bye Bye Birdie aims to please its audience, somehow I think it never quite gets you to fall in love with everything that goes on, on the stage. Still it is a show that has lots of "heart". The hard working and energetic cast is the one reason why I think many out-of-towners and locals alike should consider buying tickets.

Bye Bye Birdie is based on the 1963 film starring Dick Van Dyke, Ann Margaret and Janet Leigh. The show tells the story of an "Elvis-like" rock star named Conrad Birdie (played by Nolan Gerard Funk, making his Broadway debut) who seems to have every girl in the nation eating out of the palm of his hands. Conrad travels to Sweet Apple, Ohio where he is supposed to give "one last kiss" to young teenager Kim MacAfee (who just happens to be the leader of his fan club), just before he is to be drafted into the military. The special "kiss" is to take place on The Ed Sullivan Show on nationwide TV. Sounds kind of corny but "public relations is public relations, right"?

The main characters in the show are Conrad Birdie's record producer/manager Albert Peterson (played very capably by John Stamos) and his love interest Rose Alvarez (played by Gina Gershon). Mr. Stamos has played in Broadway's Cabaret, Nine and How To Succeed in Business..., as well as film and television for over 25 years now. He is always fun to watch in every medium he performs in and can even "carry a tune" quite nicely in this show. He has toured the country frequently throughout his career playing the drums with The Beach Boys, my favorite band.

Miss Gershon, who was last seen on Broadway in the 2008 Best Play Revival named Boeing- Boeing,has appeared in Cabaret, Camille, several other theater productions and a ton of film and television as well. She was very funny in Boeing-Boeing and tonight showed she has versatility while being able to convey herself as a "good girl" as well as someone who can "strut her stuff" as well. Although not a singer, she capably handles her song material. In Bye Bye Birdie, she plays Albert's secretary of 8 years waiting and waiting for him to propose. Unfortunately Albert's mother Mae has been against the relationship all the time. Mae is played by the very funny Jayne Houdyshell. She has performed in "Wicked" and "Well" on Broadway and has lots of additional theater, film and television credits. There are several moments where she clearly steals the show.

Rounding out the large cast are Bill Irwin who plays the young teenager Kim MacAfee's father and Dee Hoty as her mom. Mr. Irwin has an incredibly accomplished career that includes several Broadway shows, winning a Tony Award for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf in 2005 and lots of film and television credits too. Mr. Irwin might just be the best thing about this production of Bye Bye Birdie. He is funny and has a very unique style with mannerisms that make him quite noticeable throughout the evening. Dee Hoty has earned several nominations for Broadway appearances in Footloose, The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public and The Will Rogers Follies. She has played the role of Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia! in many cities throughout the country and also played major roles in City of Angels, Me and My Girl, The Five O'Clock Girl and Shakespeare's Cabaret.

I thought that the Conrad Birdie role could have been a stronger one but maybe its because Mr. Funk needs a little more experience on the Broadway stage. Only time will tell.

Bye Bye Birdie has a book by Michael Stewart with excellent music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Lee Adams. The sets are quite nicely done by Andrew Jackness with really colorful costumes by Gregg Barnes.

There are many songs in Bye Bye Birdie that take me back to the 1960's as I now recall the film from my childhood. The include "We Love You Conrad", "Put On A Happy Face", "One Boy", "One Last Kiss", "Kids", "A Lot Of Livin' To Do", "Rosie" and of course "Bye Bye Birdie".

So even though I sat in the audience for 2 hours and 20 minutes tonight, and was waiting for the show to "wow" me, maybe some of us expect too much when we go to the theater. Does every show have to "wow" us? I've seen 18 of the shows currently playing on Broadway. I've enjoyed many of them. And although maybe I expected too much from this Bye Bye Birdie, it is a show still worth seeing.

If you need advice on obtaining discount tickets while the show is in previews, I'd be happy to help you. Call me at Applause Ticket Agency (license #71AP1001029) in New York City, toll free at 800-451-9930 or locally at 212-307-7050. I consider myself a Broadway Show ticketing expert and would love to help you get great seats and prices for Bye Bye Birdie on Broadway.

Sincerely,
Rich Gladstone
Applause Ticket Agency
311 West 43rd Street, suite 601
NY,NY 10036
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Oleanna To Offer Audience Talk Back

That's right theatre fans. This is your chance for your voice to finally be heard. It was just announced today that the new Broadway revival of David Mamet's Oleanna will offer a series of talkbacks for all preview performances. The show which will star Bill Pullman and Julia Stiles will begin previews at the John Golden Theatre on September 29. An official opening is set for October 11. The show according to it's official website,"Focuses on the relationship between an intimidating university professor on the verge of obtaining tenure, and a timid female student who is having difficulty with the concepts in his classroom. Neither one are who or what they seem, and in the end, an act of sexual harassment may or may not occur. Oleanna is often described as Mamet's attack on political correctness"

Sounds interesting to me. As with most Mamet plays expect lots of drama and profanity. Leave the kids at home for this one. Now for those of you who can't get enough David Mamet his newest play Race is set to begin previews on November 17 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. This new play which is also directed by Mr. Mamet stars James Spader,David Alan Grier,Kerry Washington, and Richard Thomas.

This will mark the second year in a row with two Mamet plays on the Great White Way at the same time. Does this man ever sleep? Until next time theatre fans.

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment
311 West 43rd Street
Suite 601
New York,NY 10036
212-307-7050 or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/

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Remembering Bob Fosse

Twenty-two years ago today Bob Fosse left this earth and danced his way into heaven. Every dancer or performer from the last fifty years would not be where they are at today if it wasn't for that man. Even to this day his influence is still being felt. He may be gone but his legacy will live on forever. Bob Fosse was a talent the likes of which will never be seen again. Years ago I had the chance to read his biography and I became a fan. While not a dancer myself if I could have even half the success that he did I will consider myself very lucky. Here's to you Mr. Fosse. You are truly a legend.

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment
311 West 43rd Street
Suite 601
New York,NY 10036
212-307-7050 or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/

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We Make Booking Tickets E A S Y!!!!!!!

How many companies that you call offer you a live person as soon as they pick up the phone? Well, here at Applause you will always get a live person to help you with all your theatre needs. We also offer you the ability to chat with us live over our bold chat feature. So remember when you need any theatre tickets or have any questions you need answered about a show give us a shout or visit us on line at www.applause-tickets.com and speak with a live agent or call us at 1-800-451-9930. Our friendly sales staff is waiting to help you choose the show that will make your trip to New York a memorable one. For the best seats at the best prices call Applause!!!!!!!!



Carol Burg
Applause Theatre and Entertainment Service, Inc.
311 West 43rd Street
Suite 601
New York,NY 10036
212-307-7050 or 1-800-451-9930

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A Day In The Life Of A Ticket Broker

Wednesday September 24. 12:39pm. Here I sit at my desk trying to come up with something to blog about. To be honest I haven't a clue. Sure I guess I could write another blog about how much I love In The Heights or how much I despise Disney on Broadway. Been there. Done That. Maybe I could write about the new shows opening up this season. I guess I could but everybody that has a theatre website or goes on to some theatre message board can do that. Who cares right? Look don't get me wrong. I love the theatre. If I didn't I wouldn't be working for Applause or blogging every day.I guess maybe I'm just bored with the same old crap that we keep seeing on Broadway year after year. I mean do we really need a revival of Bye Bye Birdie or another revival of La Cage aux Folles for that matter. Now I love Neil Simon as much as the next guy. He is one of my favorite playwrights. I would just rather see him write something new. Every year we get three or four great plays that come to Broadway via the West End. That's great and all but it's time to see new plays by American playwrights get more recognition. Yes I know August:Osage County won the Tony and the Pulitzer Prize last year. There are plenty of talented people out there who bust there ass everyday hoping that their life's work will get the recognition that it deserves. Some make it. Some don't. All they need is a chance to show what they can do. Producers spend all this money on expensive sets and flashy costumes. Big deal. People don't spend $120 a ticket to see what somebody is wearing or that people are flying around the stage. Here's a thought. Why not invest your money on a good story and let that speak for itself.

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment
311 West 43rd Street
Suite 601
New York,NY 10036
212-307-7050 or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/

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Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Broadway's Top Five Shows

Maybe its that I have been selling tickets for Broadway Shows for so long that I think I might know a thing or two about which shows are hot and which ones are not so hot (in terms of ticket sales of course). After over 32 years of being a licensed ticket agent for Broadway, I've seen hundreds of shows open and close. Many of them last only a few months.

Still one thing that I always have witnessed is that there is always one and sometimes two "hit" shows with the dawning of each new Broadway season. This years most popular show is Billy Elliot, the winner of ten 2009 Tony Awards and one of the best shows I ever saw. In fact I have seen it three times.

In addition to the newest hit we always see that "last year's hit" show or two still seem to stay very popular. Although they lose a little steam to the newcomer show, they still sell allot of tickets. One such show that comes to mind is South Pacific, the 2008 Tony Award winner for Best Revival among several other top awards. South Pacific almost always sells out every performance but during off peak times of the year, usually has a few seats left at showtime.

The two shows that seem to have staying power and that still sell out just about every performance are Wicked and Jersey Boys. If you have not had a chance to catch a performance of these two shows, do yourself a favor and try to get some tickets whenever you have some free time. You'll be so glad you did.

The last in my "top five" of Broadway sellout shows is a new one. It's called A Steady Rain and stars Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig. It is a strictly limited engagement appearing through December 6, 2009 and just about all the tickets are sold out with a few weekday and weekend performances still available.

My name is Rich Gladstone and a own a company called Applause Ticket Agency (License #71AP1001029) in New York City. If you need some advice on how to obtain tickets for the shows I mentioned or anything on Broadway, it would be my pleasure to assist you. My contact information is below. Call or email anytime, I'd love to help you.
Sincerely,
Rich Gladstone
Applause Ticket Agency
311 West 43rd Street, suite 601
NY,NY 10036
local phone 212-307-7050
toll free 800-451-9930
web site
Facebook
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Fela!, A New and Exciting Addition to the Broadway Theater Arrives on October 19, 2009

Fela! is a new and very unique show coming to Broadway. The first preview performance is on October 19, 2009 and it will play the Eugene O'Neill Theater on west 49th Street in the Broadway theater district.

Fela! is a unique type of Broadway attraction in that it is comprised of a combination of musical theater, dance and concert. Fela! is a new musical which is based on the life of Fela Anikalupo-Kuti who was a famous "Afrobeat legend".

Fela! played Off Broadway last year summer and was quite popular. So popular that it is booked to play on Broadway with an open ended run. Several critics loved the Off Broadway show. Bloomberg News said it is "electric and eclectic, exotic and hypnotic, at once overpowering and empowering". In addition the New York times said it was "nigh impossible to resist".

Fela! has been produced with arrangements by Aaron Johnson and Antibalas with direction and choreography by Bill T. Jones. Mr. Jones recently won a Tony Award for Best Choreography for Spring Awakening a few years back. The music and lyrics in Fela! are written by Fela Anikalupo-Kuti.

Fela! will perform for Broadway audiences every day but Sundays. There will be two shows on Saturdays, at 2 and 8pm. Fela! will have a running time of 2 hours and 15 minutes with one intermission.

Being a local Broadway ticket expert, and seeing as how the show is a one of a kind unique type show, my hunch is that Fela! might need a hand with getting the word of mouth out about the show. With this in mind, Applause Ticket Agency (New York State license # 71AP1001029) is offering discount tickets at below face value prices.

What is below face value you might ask? Very simply put, we will be able to obtain seats for Fela! at less than the usual printed price on the ticket. We then add on a small service fee for our efforts and you pay us less than the usual cost of a ticket.

What could be better than this? And if you think you would like to consider seeing some other superb Broadway Theater, click here for a full list of all the shows. And when you are ready to talk about Broadway Show tickets, we are here to talk every day, anytime. You can call us toll free at 800-451-9930 or locally in New York City at 212-307-7050.

Just say the Ticket Man sent you. That's me, Rich Gladstone. I hope you find that this information was helpful and hope to hear from you.

Sincerely,
Rich Gladstone
Applause Ticket Agency (NY State license #71AP1001029)
311 West 43rd Street, suite 601
NY,NY 10036
web site
Facebook
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In The Heights Creator Lin-Manuel Miranda Makes His Way from Broadway to Your Living Room

If you have not had a chance to see the 2008 Tony Award winner for Best Musical called In The Heights yet, I suggest you consider obtaining tickets for this wonderful "feel good" show about the local people from three generations living in the uptown neighborhood called Washington Heights. It's a musical that has the ability to make you really give a lot of thought to the appreciation of where we all come from. As the show moves along and we come to understand the different characters well, we come to terms with why we all make often difficult decisions in our life. Like whether or not to keep up certain family traditions or choose to move on with different more modern choices for ourselves.
Not only did In The Heights win the 2008 Best Musical Tony Award but it also won awards for Best Score, Best Choreography and Best Orchestrations.


Most notably Broadway was introduced to one of the newest and most talented artists I have ever seen. His name is Lin-Manuel Miranda. Mr. Miranda is the creator, writer and original star of the Broadway production of In The Heights. He originally wrote the In The Heights story when he was a student at Wesleyan. He started the show Off Broadway then moved it to Broadway where it continues to sell lots of tickets to every performance. Although the show is about Hispanic people that have lived in uptown New York City for decades now, I cannot convey enough just you how this show manages to make the entire audience applaud and jump to their feet often during the show. Simply put, no matter what your ethnic background, it’s a sure bet that In The Heights will please everyone, young and old alike.

I just found out recently that Mr. Miranda is going to be appearing in the season premiere of House on television and that he will be seen in several episodes that follow. You will be hearing the name Lin-Manuel Miranda for many years to come, whether it be on stage, television or the big screen. I hear that a film version of In The Heights is being worked on right now as well. I can't wait.If you or anyone you know might be interested in obtaining tickets to In The Heights on Broadway, you might want to contact Applause Ticket Agency (NY State license #71AP1001029) and ask for their below face value ticket deals for this show. When it opened on Broadway and was selling out all their inventory, tickets were going for high prices. Now that many people from the local area market have mostly seen this great show, it is garnering strong tourist support. Still, In The Heights sometimes doesn't sell all their seats and offers us discount tickets of admission to pass onto our customers.Whenever you have a few hours with nothing to do and you want to see some live Broadway theater that will "make you feel great" inside, deep down where your heart strings tug, give me a call. I'll help you secure the best seats and at prices that will save you lots of money.



Simply call my company Applause in New York City. We are open every day and love talking to people about Broadway Theater.I hope you find this information helpful. If so, we'd appreciate you passing it on to other folks who might benefit from the very best in service and ticket prices on Broadway.Take care now.

Sincerely,
Rich Gladstone
Applause Ticket Agency
311 West 43rd Street
Suite 601
NY,NY 10036
Local phone 212-307-7050
Toll free 800-451-9930


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Customer Story

Earlier today I received a telephone call from one of our regular customers. He is the concierge for one of New York's most popular hotels and calls us quite frequently to order tickets for theatre and other events in the city. Today he was looking for a new show at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Most people who visit New York come here to see a Broadway show or on occasion a baseball or hockey game. So when our customer called today he wasn't even sure if we could get the tickets. Being a ticket broker in New York we have access to tickets to any event in New York and all other surrounding areas. We can also get tickets to any event Nationwide as well. Sure they may be a little more but they are available. So next time you are thinking about tickets to your favorite show on Broadway or anywhere in between think of Applause. We are just a phone call away.

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment
311 West 43rd Street
Suite 601
New York,NY 10036
212-307-7050 or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/

Follow us at http://twitter.com/applausetickets
Facebook: Applause Theater and Entertainment Service,Inc

Last Minute Tickets

So it's 3pm on a Tuesday afternoon and you feel like seeing Wicked or The Jersey Boys. Now of course it has to be sold out right? They are two of Broadways most popular shows after all. What do you do? Well you could stand for two or three hours in a cancellation line and hope and pray that they release some tickets. Or you can call Applause and we can get you tickets without having to wait. We can get you last minute tickets to any show On or Off-Broadway.Not only that but at prices that are usually lower then you will find anywhere else.The choice is clear. Why not give us a call.?You'll be glad you did.

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment
311 West 43rd Street
Suite 601
New York,NY 10036
212-307-7050 or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/

Follow us at http://twitter.com/applausetickets
Facebook: Applause Theater and Entertainment Service,Inc

Monday, September 21, 2009

Buy Broadway Theater Tickets from the Local New York City Experts

And why not pay Below Face Value when you shop? First let's describe what what I mean by buying tickets at below face value.

If I told you that some Broadway tickets have a printed face value of approximately $125.00 and when ticket brokers add a reasonable service charge, a ticket buyer will typically pay between $160.00 and higher to attend Broadway Shows. If I added the typical mailing fees of $15-20.00 to overnight the tickets to a customer, you can clearly see that the cost of attending Broadway Theater is quite substantial.

What if I told you that my company Applause Theater Service in New York City can get you "top priced seats" to most of the Broadway Shows, and still only ask you to pay less than the $125.00 face value that is usually printed on the ticket? Everyday we are talking to people that like Applause's honest approach to buying Broadway Theater tickets. Long story short, if a ticket is not available below face value, Applause will offer you a seat for purchase at the regular printed price plus a reasonable service charge.

We are helping to bring about educating the public on what a fair price to pay is and where in the theater the best seats are located. If you want to read about our BELOW FACE VALUE ticketing program please click here.

So please allow me to give you our weekly update on every Broadway Show that we are currently offering the public at below face value. They are:
39 Steps
After Miss Julie
Big Apple Circus
Brighton Beach Memoirs
Broadway Bound
Burn The Floor
Bye Bye Birdie
Chicago
Collected Stories
Fela!
Finian's Rainbow
God of Carnage
Hair
In The Heights
Mamma Mia!
Mary Poppins
Memphis: A New Musical
Next to Normal
Oleanna
Present Laughter
Ragtime
Rock of Ages
Shrek The Musical
Superior Donuts
The Phantom of the Opera
The Royal Family
Time Stands Still
West Side Story
Wishful Drinking

Applause is a New York State licensed ticket agency (license #71AP1001029) doing business for over 22 years now. Call us to talk about buying seats for Broadway Shows at below face value. What could be better?
Sincerely,
Rich Gladstone
Applause Theater Service
311 West 43rd Street, suite 601
NY,NY 10036
local phone 212-307-7050
toll free 800-451-9930
web site
Facebook
Follow us at www.twitter.com/applausetickets

Broadway Ticket Prices-Checkout Applause's Price Match Guarantee

Anyone that keeps abreast of what's happening on Broadway knows that our company Applause Theater Service has an outstanding level of personal service since the company's inception back in September 1987. After 22 years of catering to the theater going public for Broadway Show tickets, we'd like to share a little secret with anyone shopping for tickets to Broadway Theater in New York City.

We suggest people stop clicking on lots of different web sites (well maybe just a few might be a good idea). Simply check out the show you want to attend as well as the day and date and number of tickets you need. Take this information along with the specific show or shows you are interested in and simply call Applause Theater Service in New York. Ask "how much it will cost to buy tickets for the event you want to attend".

I know you will find our service fantastic. The prices will be fair as well. However, if you find a better price from another authorized licensed ticket agency from New York State, simply mention the Applause PRICE MATCH GUARANTEE. We are sure you'll be ecstatic with our superior service and great every day reasonable prices.

Remember to tell the Applause staff that The Ticket Man sent you. I guarantee you'll love the service, prices and experience of doing business with a "local expert".

Thanks for reading. I hope you find this information helpful to you.

Sincerely,
Rich Gladstone
Applause Theater Service (NY State license #71AP1001029)
311 West 43rd Street, suite 601
NY, NY 10036
local phone 212-307-7050
toll free 800-451-9930
web site
Facebook
Follow us at www.twitter.com/applausetickets

Customer Story-How to Buy Broadway Tickets at Prices You Want To Pay

Funny thing happens when people shop the Internet for Broadway Show Tickets. My guess is that consumers click on several web sites (most of which look and feel the same), they then see prices ranging from high to ridiculously expensive. Why do I say this you might ask?

Its simple really. Many ticket companies want to charge the highest price they can, not really paying attention to the fact that consumers are looking for the best seat at the least amount they have to pay. Especially during these economic times.

Being a proud owner of one of New York State's few licensed and legitimate ticket agencies (NY State license #71AP1001029) for over 22 years now, I would put my reputation next to any other ticket service that specializes in obtaining Broadway tickets for the public. I guarantee that no other licensed ticket agency in New York State will offer service anywhere near that of our company, Applause Theatre Service. And just to show you that we listen to customers and shoppers that call Applause's service, let me share a customer story with you.

Today I received a call from Sharon from Andalusia, Alabama. She had been on line searching out seats and prices for Jersey Boys in New York City for early December. When I told Sharon exactly where she would be sitting in the orchestra, she said "that's great but she said "Rich, your prices are higher than I see on the Internet". The reason our prices are higher I explained are because we offer a very personal service, take our time with customers and offer "exact seat locations". Still Sharon seemed to value the service I was giving her but wanted to pay the lower competitor price. Being the 31 year sales veteran of Broadway Theater that I am, I simply asked "how much did my competitor quote you Sharon"? When she gave me the lower price and I told her which one of the competitors it was, I went further to ask if she'd "like me to match the price". She said "Rich, if you match the price and promise to give me the exact seats you offered me, I will give you the business. And send other folks to buy from you as well".

So I confirmed Sharon's order and am mailing the tickets today. Although I run a company that has a level of service that far "outshines" most others in the ticket business, I am happy to make a new customer today.

If you are tired of searching and searching for Broadway Show tickets, clicking from one web site to the next to the next, etc. maybe it's time you called on a local Broadway expert to help you with tickets. At Applause, its not about making quick sales and lots of profit. It's about people. Our people on staff and our customers. Sure anyone can say they have the best service. What I'm doing is simply putting my money where my mouth is.

If you want to experience the best service on Broadway, consider giving Applause Theater Service a call today. Ask for our PRICE MATCH GUARANTEE. And tell them the Ticket Man sent you. You'll be so glad you did.

Sincerely,
Rich Gladstone
Applause Theater Service (NY State license #71AP1001029)
311 West 43rd Street, suite 601
New York, New York 10036
local phone 212-307-7050
toll free 800-451-9930
web site
Facebook
Follow us at www.twitter.com/applausetickets

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Superior Donuts on Broadway



Here's my take on Superior Donuts, a very funny new play that is in previews at the Music Box Theater in New York. I loved everything about Superior Donuts. Let me tell you exactly why.

My initial excitement about Superior Donuts is that I love the writing of its playwright, Tracy Letts. Many folks will recall that Tracy Letts is the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play August:Osage County, which picked up the Tony Award for Best Play in 2008.

Superior Donuts is a wonderful comedy-drama about a local donut store owner in an uptown Chicago neighborhood. We get to witness the often daily mundane routine of the shops owner named Arthur Przybyszewski and the relationships with the small circle of friends and customers that we see come in and out of his outdated little shop. In particular, we get to witness a young black man who comes to work at Superior Donuts who manages to have a great impact on Arthur. At first he tries to convince his new boss to update the old donut shops appearance along with making suggestions on how he might go about making a greater effort to try to improve business in general. Instead he stirs up some feelings in Arthur that he almost forgot he had. And of course there are the local cops on the beat that look out for the local merchants as well as the neighborhood hoodlums. All in all, what starts out as a fairly straight forward mellow sort of staging of the daily relationship between Arthur (played by Michael McKean), and his new employee Franco (played by Jon Michael Hill), winds up being lots of laughs as well as witnessing some very deep feelings of just how far friends will go for each other.



Mr. McKean has done some very good work on Broadway, most recently receiving a 2008 Drama Desk Ensemble award in The Homecoming. He has appeared in the 2006 Tony Award winning revival of The Pajama Game and played roles in Hairspray and Accomplice. He has done Off Broadway, film and television. most notably for playing the role of Lenny in Laverne and Shirley. Although I remember the Laverne and Shirley TV show like it was just yesterday, I had never seen him in a serious role before. He does a great job playing the role of Arthur.


Mr. Hill often "steals the show" with several funny lines. He graduated from the University of Illinois with a BFA, is a member of Steppenwolf Theater Company since 2007, has appeared in several shows around the country as well as having had a recurring role on Guiding Light and also made his Opera debut in A Midsummer Night's Dream.

In addition to the two wonderful actors I previously mentioned is a superb supporting cast that includes Jane Alderman, Kate Buddeke, Cliff Chamberlain, Michael Garvey, Robert Maffia, James Vincent Meredith and Yasen Peyankov. All of these talented actors have had a great deal of experience working their theater craft in the city of Chicago, most recently with the Steppenwolf Theater Company. Many people will recall that August:Osage County is a Steppenwolf Theater Company production as well. They know how to create fantastic theater experiences and we are fortunate that shows that originate in Chicago have been making their way to New York City the last few years.

I had the great pleasure to attend a performance of Superior Donuts a few days ago on September 17, 2009. Although it was only the second New York City preview perfomance of Tracy Letts latest play, I simply have to suggest to you to try and get yourself some tickets as soon as you can for this terrific new play. It has everything a show needs to entertain its audience. It's chock full of the right blending of comedy, drama, great acting talent that aims to please every moment they are on the stage, as well as a simple yet excellent staging of the show. Superior Donuts is directed by Tina Landau who has been involved with 12 productions with Steppenwolf over the years.

Although the new Broadway season only just began this past June 2009, so far it looks to me like Superior Donuts could very well be one of the top contenders for the 2010 Tony Award winning show for Best Play. It will have to compete with several new plays like Wishful Drinking, Race, A Steady Rain and others that surely will appear in New York over the coming months.

I hope you enjoyed reading my blog and review of Superior Donuts. If you think you might want to see Superior Donuts in the near future, may I suggest you give me a call in New York. I run a company that sells tickets to Superior Donuts and have the ability to get you excellent seats at below face value prices. Simply put, I can get you great seats at less than the usual printed price on the ticket.

One might ask how can you acquire tickets at less than cost? The answer is a simple one. Right now the show is looking to build an audience with word of mouth and hopefully garner really good reviews from the New York critics. Also they will look to win some Tony Awards in June 2010. Until these things begin to happen for Superior Donuts, ticket sales will benefit from our company Applause Theater Service offering you discounted tickets of admission.

You can save the most money for Superior Donuts on Tuesdays through Fridays but I can offer discounted seats for weekend performances as well, so not to worry. I loved Superior Donuts and can see why everyone else will also. Why not pay less and consider buying tickets before it possibly starts selling out?

When calling Applause, you can use our toll free number at 800-451-9930 or call us locally in New York City at 212-307-7050. And be sure to ask for me, Rich Gladstone, also known as the Broadway Ticket Man. No kidding, that's what many folks call me.

All kidding aside, I think I help to run the best ticket agency in the country. Our staff is warm and friendly, we have an excellent knowledge of everything on Broadway and we aim to please. If you think you are interested in other Broadway Theater, we'd love to be of service to you, your friends, family and people you work with.

Have you ever heard the expression "try us, you'll like us"? That's my promise to you today. Whether you need tickets to Broadway Shows or just want to talk about Broadway Theater or anything in New York, all you have to do is pickup the phone.

Enjoy Superior Donuts or the Broadway Show of your choosing. I hope this information was helpful to you.

Take care theater lovers.
Regards,
Rich Gladstone
Applause Theater Service
311 West 43rd Street, suite 601
New York, NY 10036
web site
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Ragtime Box Office Now Open

Two days ago we got a call from the treasure at the Neil Simon Theatre wondering why they hadn't heard from us recently. I said,"We didn't know you guys were open." When a new show like Ragtime opens tickets usually go on sale about a month prior to the first performance. That is when we get our tickets. Not only that but we have access to every seat and at every price range as well. Since we are based in New York we have direct contact with the theatres and can get you good seats and usually at prices that are lower than what you would see online. Anyway back to the reason for my blog. Ragtime which first premiered on Broadway in December 1997 was the first show to open at the Hilton Theatre.

The show which received rave reviews was thought to be the front runner for that years Tony Award for Best Musical. That is until Julie Taymor and The Lion King came along. The show lost the big prize and closed within two years. Now here we are almost ten years later and Ragtime is back on Broadway following a well received sold out production at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.

I find it ironic that in the same year the Ragtime is coming back to Broadway, Julie Taymor is attempting to launch her latest project, Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark. The show which has a rumored budget of over $50 million dollars has been plagued with problems since the beginning. Speculation is running rampant that Spiderman won't see the light of day. Could this be Ragtime's chance to finally get their due? Let the games begin. Until next time theatre fans.

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment
311 West 43rd Street
Suite 601
New York,NY 10036
212-307-7050 or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/

Follow us at http://twitter.com/applausetickets
Facebook: Applause Theater and Entertainment Service,Inc

Customer Story

Earlier this week I got a phone call from a customer who had just received her tickets and was wondering why the price printed on the ticket was less than what she was charged. I asked for her last name so I could look up her order. I saw that she had ordered tickets for Billy Elliot which is not only one of our biggest sellers but she had purchased it for the day after Thanksgiving which is one if not the busiest weekends in the city. I explained to her that while we do have a mark up on the tickets she was paying a little more to get better seats and at a price that is lower than she would probably find anywhere else. She said that she had seen other seats on another website that sold them for a little less but that she had called us because she knew she could speak to a live person. After talking to me she felt better and said that she would definitely use us again in the future. Another satisfied customer at Applause.

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment
311 West 43rd Street
Suite 601
New York,NY 10036
212-307-7050 or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/

Follow us at http://twitter.com/applausetickets
Facebook: Applause Theater and Entertainment Service,Inc

Friday, September 18, 2009

Try us! You'll Like us!!!!!!

My parents always told me to be patient because it would pay off.... Well being in this business one does need to listen and be patient. Case and point. I was talking with a travel agent yesterday and she was looking for tickets to Wicked for her clients. I offered her seats for the show on two dates and she was unsure which the client would want. I told her not to worry she should let me put both sets on hold and contact her clients and ask which they would prefer. She was so happy I could do that for her. Well a few hours later the same agent called me back and sounded a bit panicked. She could not locate her client and did not have an answer for me and asked if there was there anything I could do?. I again told her not to worry as I already extended the hold until the morning. Once again, she was very pleased with our service. When I arrived this morning the first call was from her. She purchased the tickets and thanked me for going above and beyond our duty to help her. I smiled and responded "that's what we are here for, to help you and your clients". If you need to check locations, dates or anything about a particular show please do not hesitate to call and chat with one of our friendly and patient sales agents. We would be happy to help you out!!!! For the best seats at the best prices call Applause!!!!


Carol Burg
Applause Theatre and Entertainment Service, Inc.
311 West 43rd Street
Suite 601
New York,NY 10036
212-307-7050 or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/

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Thursday, September 17, 2009

Broadway Loves Billy

This years winner for the Tony Award for Best Musical is Billy Elliot. The show which won a total of ten Tony's at this years ceremony is one of Broadway's highest grossing shows week in and week out. Billy Elliot first premiered in London where it continues to be one of it's most popular shows year after year. With music by Elton John and book and lyrics by Lee Hall, Billy Elliot is poised to be one of Broadway's biggest hits for many years to come. Call Applause now to get your tickets to see Billy Elliot The Musical.

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment
311 West 43rd Street
Suite 601
New York,NY 10036
212-307-7050 or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/

Follow us at http://twitter.com/applausetickets
Facebook: Applause Theater and Entertainment Service,Inc

Less Than Two Months Until The Radio City Christmas Spectacular

That's right folks. There is only 56 days until the first performance for this years Radio City Christmas Spectacular. The show which is now in it's 77th year at New York's famed Radio City Music Hall is one of the city's most popular holiday traditions and should not be missed. While still popular the show is not a big a seller as it has been in the past mostly due to the economy. Now because of that good seats are available at prices that are a little easier on your wallet. Performances begin on November 13 and will run thru December 30. Call now.

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment
311 West 43rd Street
Suite 601
New York,NY 10036
212-307-7050 or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/

Follow us at http://twitter.com/applausetickets
Facebook: Applause Theater and Entertainment Service,Inc

Phantom of the Opera Celebrates Milestone

Last night Broadway's longest running musical,The Phantom of the Opera,celebrated it's 9000 performance.Who would of thought that when this show was first launched over 22 years ago it would still be running not only on the Great White Way but in the West End as well. It was also announced that Love Never Dies, the eagerly awaited sequel to Phantom will premier in London in the Spring of 2010. A planned Broadway production is set to open in November of the same year. Will lighting strike twice or is one musical about a mask wearing obsessed musician enough for audiences? We will soon find out. Until next time theatre fans.

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment
311 West 43rd Street
Suite 601
New York,NY 10036
212-307-7050 or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/

Follow us at http://twitter.com/applausetickets
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Broadway Grosses

I am writing today to talk about last week's Broadway grosses. As is always the case most shows see a drop in sales after Labor Day. That usually continues until Columbus Day weekend and then drops again until right before Thanksgiving where almost every show gets an increase thru Christmas. That is the way it has been for years. I don't see that changing anytime soon. Now of course most shows like Wicked and Jersey Boys sell out no matter what time of year. They are the two most popular shows on Broadway after all. Now instead of focusing on hit shows I would like to talk about two shows while popular are experiencing a major drop in sales lately. First up is Shrek.

The show which got a nice bump from it's performance at this year's Tony Awards and during the summer months was only at 49% for the week of September 9-13. That is not good my friends. Now as I said when the holidays get here their sales will probably go up. However I fear that once January hits it will not be enough for the show to survive. This year we had over twelve shows close in the month of January alone. Now granted some of those were shows that were not doing that hot to begin with anyway. Shrek which is scheduled to tour next year should do very well on the road. Whether it is here six months from now is a different story. I think the show is a lot of fun. It is a great show for the whole family and deserves to be here for a long time. I fear that it won't. We will soon find out.

Next up is my favorite show on Broadway In The Heights. I have loved this show ever since I saw it and recommend it to anyone and everyone that I talk too. Now unlike Shrek, In The Heights recouped it's investment within the first year and is still selling well. Last week the show dropped 13% from the previous week. Like I said most shows always experience a drop after the holiday. For a show that won the Tony Award last year for Best Musical it should be selling better than it is right now. Now as much as I love the show I still think that there is a misconception out there that you have to be a Latino to get the show. The show is about people with dreams and what they go through to achieve them. That is a message that everybody can relate too. No matter what the color of your skin. I've also talked to people who don't want to see the show because the music is all hip-hop and rap. Yes the show does contain that but so much more. Look before you judge the show on what you've heard or what you think the show is about why don't you buy a ticket and find out for yourself. Who knows? You might even like it.

That's all for now. Until next time theatre fans.

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment
311 West 43rd Street
Suite 601
New York,NY 10036
212-307-7050 or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/

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Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Customer Story

Look let's be honest. Sometimes things happen that are out of our control. Let's say you are planning a trip to New York to see a show and your flight is cancelled. Or maybe your Visa is denied and you are not allowed into the country. What happens to your tickets? Do they go dead? Do you lose all your hard earned money that you spent on the tickets? This is what happened recently to one of our customers. Back in July we had a young lady who purchased tickets to see the Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera. Unfortunately an error occurred and her Visa had expired so she was denied entry into the United States. She immediately called us explaining that she would not be able to come to New York and asked if we could refund her tickets. As most of you know when you purchase tickets for a show or most things for that matter there is a strict no refund policy. Luckily for them every theatre has what they call a "Past Dating" policy. It states that you still may be able to use your tickets to attend a future performance. If possible "Past Dated" tickets will be honored on a Monday-Thursday. Please note that this is a courtesy subject to box office discretion and is not guaranteed.

Although upset we could not refund her tickets she was happy that if we could not sell them that hope was not lost. Well long story short the tickets did not sell but there was a chance that we might be able to get her into the show at a future date. We told her to let us know when she was coming into town again and we would see what we could do for her and her husband. Cut to two months later and she e-mails us that she will be coming to New York for a few days and wanted to try to "Past Date" her old tickets. As Phantom does not perform on Sunday we attempted to get her into the show for Monday's performance. While the box office sympathized with our customer's situation they said that although that night was not an option to try the following day. That is when things took a turn for the worst. We informed the customer of the situation upon her visit to our office and she became irate. She accused not only me but our entire company of not delivering on our promises and that we should refund her immediately. I told her that there was no reason to get upset as there was still a chance that we might be able to get her into the following day's show. Although still upset she realized there was nothing else to do but wait and see what happens.

Cut to the next day. After several attempts to try and get her in it was not going to happen. As I said before it is up to the discretion of the box office if they past date. It is a courtesy and there is no guarantee.

Now I pride myself on exceptional customer service. In fact all of us do at Applause. Sometimes situations work out. Sometimes they don't. All we can do is give 100% and hope for the best. If we do that then the rest is easy. After all I was just doing my job. A job which I love and am very thankful to have in this economy. I don't fault the people for being upset that they could not see the show. Like I said. There are some things we can't control. That's life. It's how we choose to live that life is what is important.

Applause Theatre and Entertainment
311 West 43rd Street
Suite 601
New York,NY 10036
212-307-7050 or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/

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Superior Donuts Begins Previews Tonight

I can't begin to tell you how excited I am about seeing this show. I was a big fan of Tracy Letts last masterpiece August:Osage County and I am hoping this one is going to be just as good. Here is a synopsis of his new work Superior Donuts. "Arthur Przybyszewski owns a decrepit donut shop in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. Franco Wicks, a black teenager who is his only employee, wants to change the shop for the better. This provocative comedy, set in the heart of one of Chicago's most diverse communities, explores the challenges of embracing the past and the redemptive power of friendship."

This new play which first premiered in Chicago in the summer of 2008 at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago. Previews begin tonight with an official opening set for Oct 1.

Superior Donuts will play Tuesday at 7 PM, Wednesday-Saturday at 8 PM, Wednesday and Saturday at 2 PM, and Sunday at 3 PM.

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment Service, Inc.
311 West 43rd Street
Suite 601
New York,NY 10036
212-307-7050 or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/

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Sounds like a winner to me. Let's see what the critics think.Until next time theatre fans.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Avenue Q Lives On...........Off-Broadway

That's right theatre fans. Avenue Q lives. The show which was scheduled to conclude it's six year run this past Sunday will now continue Off-Broadway at the New World Stages. Performances will begin October 9. The surprising announcement was made following the 7pm performance on September 13. Here is a statement from producer Kevin McCollum."Research indicates that this transfer is unprecedented, marking the first time that a Broadway musical has, indeed, moved to an Off-Broadway theatre.Avenue Q is about all of us, so why should it close? People arrive in New York every day hoping to make their dreams come true, so as long as they're here, we're here! It's just one of the funniest, wittiest and wisest musicals ever written and the more you see it, the more you love it."

I for one think it is a brilliant idea. The show still has a large fan base. Plus because the show is now Off-Broadway running cost's will be lower which should ensure a longer longevity for the show. That's good news all around as far as I'm concerned. Long live Avenue Q.

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment Service, Inc.
311 West 43rd Street
Suite 601
New York,NY 10036
212-307-7050 or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/

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Customer Service at its Best!!!!!

I had a phone call today from a woman wanting to take her family of 7 to see Mamma Mia this Friday night. When I asked what type of seats she wanted she replied "the lowest price rear mezzanine". I took her information and called the theatre to get the seats and was told they were sold out of that price range. I started to do some checking and I found I was able to stay within her budget and got her Orchestra seats for below face value. When I called her back to tell her she was so happy and said she would pass our name out to all her friends and family because we worked so hard to get her family into see the show. Hey, what can I say except it's all in a day's work. For the best seats at the best prices call Applause!!!!


Carol Burg
Applause Theatre and Entertainment Service, Inc.
311 West 43rd Street
Suite 601
New York,NY 10036
212-307-7050 or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/

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Monday, September 14, 2009

How would you like someone else to pay for your dinner before the Broadway Theater?

When you buy tickets for Broadway Theater, you may want to consider using a service that can save you time, money and possibly even suggest some really nice places to enjoy a great meal. The following is a list of Broadway Shows that a local Broadway expert named Applause Ticket Agency (NY State license # 71AP1001029) can offer at below face value prices.

Buying tickets at below face value is a great way to save some serious money when buying theater tickets. Applause generally saves folks between $40-65.00 a person from usual ticket broker fees. So when you think about it, why not let the Applause folks pay for your meal with money saved from these ticket deals? Buy the way, here's a list of some of our restaurant suggestions. These are places we ourselves enjoy before going to Broadway Shows. Click here for restaurants please.

Here's the list of up-to-date below face value deals. They are:

39 Steps -valid through November 1, 2009
After Miss Julie -valid through October 15, 2009
Big Apple Circus -valid through January 18, 2010
Brighton Beach Memoirs -valid through October 24, 2009
Broadway Bound -valid through December 9, 2009
Burn The Floor -valid through November 22, 2009
Bye Bye Birdie -valid through October 15, 2009
Chicago -valid through November 1, 2009
Collected Stories -valid through October 31, 2009
Fela -valid through January 31, 2010
Finian's Rainbow -valid through December 20, 2009
God of Carnage -valid through October 1, 2009
Hair -valid through November 1, 2009
In The Heights -valid through October 31, 2009
Mamma Mia! -valid through October 30, 2009
Mary Poppins -valid through November 22, 2009
Memphis -A New Musical -valid through November 25, 2009
Next to Normal -valid through October 25, 2009
Oleanna -valid through November 15, 2009
Present Laughter -valid through October 15, 2009
Radio City Christmas Spectacular -valid through Nov 25, 2009
Rock of Ages -valid through November 1, 2009
Shrek The Musical -valid through November 1, 2009
Superior Donuts -valid through November 8, 2009
The Phantom of the Opera -valid through October 31, 2009
The Royal Family -valid through November 22, 2009
Times Stands Still -valid through October 31, 2009
West Side Story -valid through September 30, 2009
Wintuk -valid through December 11, 2009
Wishful Drinking -valid through October 4, 2009

If you have a question about Broadway Shows, dining or New York City in general, let us hear from you. We love to talk.
Take care now.

Regards,
Rich Gladstone
Applause Ticket Agency (license #71AP1001029)
311 West 43rd Street, suite 601
NY,NY 10036
local phone 212-307-7050
toll free 800-451-9930
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