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Post by FrontroverPaul on May 3, 2019 23:41:13 GMT
I completely agree that there are reasonable seats for Hairspray costing well under £150 but not the seats I go for. I book most new musicals as soon as they go on sale but always aim for a central seat in the front three rows, ideally the very front which I get about 75% of the time.
Occasionally my ticket costs less than I expected (eg Falsettos today and the Adrian Mole musical recently). Usually tickets cost more or less what I expect (eg Mary Poppins, Dear Evan Hansen). Sometimes I pay a bit more than I would wish. I do spend an awful lot of money indulging my love of musical theatre but there has to be a cut off point and £150 for the front row to see Hairspray is just too much. I saw an excellent amateur production of Hairspray last year which cost £15 and I paid about £40 for my ticket on the last professional tour in 2017, both front row. For me it just isn't a £150 front row ticket show.
I also note that there are already 2020 tour dates for Hairspray beginning in Manchester on 3 September as there is following On Your Feet's run at the London Coliseum this summer. Maybe Michael Ball will tour with it ?
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Post by andrew on May 4, 2019 0:07:37 GMT
It's fun to see how much Hairspray love there is on TB. Hairspray is the first professional musical I ever saw (on tour, in Dublin, with Mikey Ball) and I've always enjoyed the campy fun of the music ever since. I'm going to chance day seats/lottery for this though next year I think.
I would echo some of the comments in asking why it's been announced this early, I'm not sure what they're gaining from such a long lead-in.
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Post by princeton on May 4, 2019 0:21:59 GMT
I also note that there are already 2020 tour dates for Hairspray beginning in Manchester on 3 September as there is following On Your Feet's run at the London Coliseum this summer. Maybe Michael Ball will tour with it ? The tour is a completely different production to the West End one. The Coliseum version is a remounting of the original Broadway/London production directed by Jack O'Brien and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell www.hairspraythemusical.co.ukThe tour is the third outing for a version based on a production which originated at Curve Leicester - directed by Paul Kerryson and choreographed by Drew McOnie (though when it first played at Curve choreography was by Lee Proud) www.hairsprayuktour.comRemarkably similar logo though....probably not the only thing that's going to lead to confusion!
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Post by Deleted on May 4, 2019 7:04:12 GMT
Well I have booked for an early matinee. Haven’t been to the Coliseum for about 30 years, so I am excited to return. Went for row C side seats at £87. Indie’s little and one of the seats only has one row in front so I am hoping she gets a good view. Wouldn’t have known about the better midweek prices or the side stalls without this board.
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Xanderl
Member
Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on May 4, 2019 7:27:26 GMT
I wonder whether this Hairspray announcement has totally overshadowed Man of La Mancha, making it even more of a non-event? Also, has this box office move been advanced to offset the lack of cash coming from the current show? It does seem on the surface suspiciously "coincidental", but as noted later in the thread this is a different production company, not the ENO, so I'm assuming the ENO just gets the venue hire not the box office income. Looking back, this year's non-ENO Coliseum production "On Your Feet" went on sale in May 2018 - theatreboard.co.uk/post/205568/thread - a couple of weeks after the press night for "Chess".
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Post by danb on May 4, 2019 7:46:41 GMT
I'm not sure what they're gaining from such a long lead-in. Money. Cold hard early booking collateral cash. Capital to spend on the production instead of it just being an idea in someones head. It’s where so many recent productions got it wrong. They have a big name so they can go out and sell it a year in advance. If ‘Waitress’ had got a similarly big brand recognition name they could have done the same.
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Post by wickedgrin on May 4, 2019 8:05:42 GMT
Well I have booked for an early matinee. Haven’t been to the Coliseum for about 30 years, so I am excited to return. Went for row C side seats at £87. Indie’s little and one of the seats only has one row in front so I am hoping she gets a good view. Wouldn’t have known about the better midweek prices or the side stalls without this board. Front side stalls at the Coliseum are absolutely fine. The stage is wide and you are not too far to the side. If I was to book this those are the seats I would go for. The Coliseum is a beautiful theatre - it's a thrill to be in the building (like The London Palladium) - the only rather big disadvantage is that the stage seems a long way away even from the front stalls because of the large orchestra pit between the front stalls and the stage. Therefore, even the front row seems like mid stalls in any other theatre. The Circle and Upper Circle seem miles back although offer clear views. If the orchestra pit is covered (with the orchestra on stage) and the action brought forward (like Chess) this solves the distance and intimacy issues for the stalls but restricts the view from the back of the circles as the orchestra pit cannot be seen from those seats as the theatre wasn't designed to do that.
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Post by xanady on May 4, 2019 8:30:51 GMT
^Been too busy or lazy to read whole thread so didn’t know it was a diff production company.Talking of lazy,this seems like Ball is just cashing-in on a previous hit.Can’t blame him if it’s going to be a money-grab but wonder if he just sees it as an easy gig.Before Infuriated Ball fangirl or boy of Slough bites,I am a massive fan but would have loved to see him take on a new challenge.
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Post by emeraldbaudelaire on May 4, 2019 21:49:32 GMT
Very tempted to book this one. Would like to see Michael as Edna.
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Post by grannyjx6 on May 5, 2019 20:23:35 GMT
Am I right in say MB played Edna on the first UK tour? I remember it being my first musical I saw in the Edinburgh Playhouse, around 2010 if I'm correct. Can't remember loads- but do remember Tracey's stand up bed, I was amazed as a kid at that. Also remember the big can of hairspray shooting confetti when it opens to Edna. And of course remember Mum gushing over MB afterwards! Love this show- cannot wait to catch it next year! Yes, you are, and wasn't he amazing? I went with my friend (not as avid a musical theatre fan as me) and we just loved it.
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Post by emeraldbaudelaire on May 6, 2019 12:33:21 GMT
Just booked my tickets £55 Row D in the circle not a bad price compared to most seating.
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Post by elphaboy on May 6, 2019 20:07:29 GMT
I hope Brenda will be in this
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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 6, 2019 20:13:57 GMT
I have to say, Brenda Edwards shook the Palace Theatre Manchester to its very core with her rendition of I Know Where I’ve Been. At one point I thought my seat was actually moving. She was fabulous.
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Post by elphaboy on May 6, 2019 20:18:57 GMT
She has raw emotion and killer vocals that make her perfect in my opinion
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Post by LaLuPone on May 6, 2019 20:19:40 GMT
It would be nice to see a different actress now that Brenda’s done two tours but I have to agree her voice is spectacular, was moved to tears last time.
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Post by david on May 6, 2019 20:22:26 GMT
I have to say, Brenda Edwards shook the Palace Theatre Manchester to its very core with her rendition of I Know Where I’ve Been. At one point I thought my seat was actually moving. She was fabulous. When the tour stopped at the Liverpool Empire, her singing IKWIB was the highlight for me. If she was cast in the London production that would definitely get me to book.
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Post by elphaboy on May 6, 2019 20:25:14 GMT
I couldn’t see anyone else doing that role. She portrays Motormouth perfectly and her vocals will blow the coliseum away.
Plus it will be nice to see Brenda on the west end again.
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Post by greeny11 on May 6, 2019 21:43:53 GMT
Brenda and Sandra Marvin are both phenomenal Motormouths - would be happy with either. Would be interesting to see Brenda in this production as she's only done the Curve production previously.
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Post by poster J on May 6, 2019 22:05:49 GMT
I thought Brenda Edwards was great in WWRY so would love to see her in this. I can't recall who I saw at the Shaftesbury so will have to find the programme!
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Post by david on May 6, 2019 22:09:41 GMT
I thought Brenda Edwards was great in WWRY so would love to see her in this. I’d be very happy if she was cast in either the new WWRY tour or Hairspray. Loved her in both productions.
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Post by emeraldbaudelaire on May 6, 2019 23:28:44 GMT
I'm wondering if any of the Effie's could cross over now Dreamgirls is closed although they may be too young. I'll be excited to see who they cast.
Cant wait to se this production I haven't been able to catch it with the beautiful original set and costumes in tow and I heard amazing things about Michael during his run. I wonder if they will use the original West End set for this or the UK Touring version 2010/13 one.
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2019 9:04:07 GMT
Miss Ball is already getting ready . . .
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2019 9:05:54 GMT
As much as I love Brenda Edwards, I wonder what Miss Beverley Knight is doing next year . . . ?
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Post by johnie21 on May 7, 2019 9:11:22 GMT
When I Saw Hairspray in it’s original West End Stint I saw Sharon D Clarke as Motormouth Maybelle. She was fantastic, I would love her to come back. But I’m not sure on the roles age. I loved her version of he Hit Song I know where I’ve been. She was amazing. I also love Brenda Edwards version to so would be happy if she is casted in the role.
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Post by HereForTheatre on May 7, 2019 9:12:25 GMT
Brenda and Sandra Marvin are both phenomenal Motormouths - would be happy with either. Would be interesting to see Brenda in this production as she's only done the Curve production previously. Sandra Marvin is a main character in Emmerdale now so doubt it will be her.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 7, 2019 9:34:51 GMT
Alexandra Burke?
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Post by latefortheoverture on May 7, 2019 15:04:22 GMT
I wouldn't be surprised if a few more 'names' are added.
Don\t think Ms Knight will do a bad job.
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Post by emeraldbaudelaire on May 7, 2019 16:38:28 GMT
They'll probably get a name for Wilbur again. I wonder what Lez Dennis is doing during next summer.
They may well stunt cast Penny, Seaweed and Velma too. It seems to be that type of show. I hope we get a stellar Tracy.
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Post by Being Alive on May 7, 2019 17:02:09 GMT
Wash your mouth out with soap! I'd love to see Motormouth legend Sandra Marvin come back, and there probably is enough time for her to be written out of Emmerdale but seems unlikely. Beverley would be fabulous, and I'd put my name down to see Sharon D Clark have a bash at it too.
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Post by latefortheoverture on May 7, 2019 17:02:47 GMT
Ariana Grande didn't do bad as Penny in the NBC Live. She would fill the coliseum undoubtably but whether it'd would be the right career move is another question!
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