why damie why?

[learning2fly]

WAAAAAAAH!!!
First I hear that they're getting rid of Vanessa Williams......rumors about GLORIA ESTEFAN taking over.....which I found odd, yet amusing since I grew up on her music from my Mom...
THEN I heard this. I was planning on maybe possibly going to see it just for the sake of seeing it live. AND THEN I read this.
WHAT.THE.FUUUUUCK is this? ITW closes and Raul leave on the same day?????? The day before I fly over there!?!?
Now I'll never get to see Raul in his glory as the emcee.

Excuse me I must sulk for a while.

Comments

[corenrind]

AUGH I KNOW.

actually, I didn't know about ITW. I found out yesterday about Raul. very, very unhappy.

well, part of me doesn't mind ITW leaving because as a production it really pissed me off, but still. 1) it's one of the topmost legitimately good, well-written, entertaining shows on Broadway, and it can't stay open or make money. 2) it won major Tony awards, whose distribution is corrupted by the economic theory that award clout = ticket income, and it can't stay open or make money. 3) it stunt-casted from the getgo, sacrificing any chance of relevant character portrayal for the economic theory that famous people = ticket income, and can't stay open or make money. does nobody in the industry mind the blatant banging-into-wall repetition of these problems?

I don't get it, dude. I know that like everything, the people who make the money (when money is being made) also make the rules, but it's so strange. I would bet that the majority of people present in the industry would testify that they aren't in it for the money. there's a reason over 90% of the Actor's Equity union is unemployed but actively seeking work (my own boss, even.) people want to make theater. theater does not have to be expensive to make. theater does not have to be expensive to attend. if the people who like making theater make it on small safe stakes, then the people who come to see it will be the people who like seeing theater. haven't we proven that shiny lights do not equal financial success? are people really dumb enough to not understand that the reason Disney's shiny-lights productions do so well is because they're promoted by Disney money, and that if any other operating company had mounted the present production of Beauty and the Beast (its oldest) it would no way still be around now almost ten years later, because Disney does not mind taking the comparatively small financial losses that come when you spend lots of money on shiny lights because Disney has more money than anyone else? it's so silly. and it's ruining everything.

um. done now thanks! it's just that this keeps happening. Meg had a theory early this fall when the baseball players were planning a strike and all of a sudden a bunch of beloved old players started to die in succession. it's a sign from somewhere that you're being stupid. ITW is just the latest on the string of serious-quality shows to be crushed by the Broadway economy. The Full Monty got it this summer. Proof is next. Cabaret is in perpetual rumor that this spring will be it. even Les Miz. man. it's just so sad. make it stop. and somebody tell the world that they don't actually want to see Aida.

blah. the end. sorry. ::bow::

[learning2fly.livejournal.com]

AMEN SISTA!!!!!
I love you so much. We live so far away yet understand each other so well. It's scary sometimes.
I agree with every word. The sad thing is that it doesn't end in the theater world. The music industry and the merry land of commerce is based on the same things. We could give the public quality for less cost, but lets just move our plants to third world countries and sell our products for 4 times as much. We could give the public quality music that has substance and meaning, but they'll buy our overpriced fluff bimbo of the month cd without complaint. people just don't care anymore.
this is why I keep my head firmly planted in the sand. and cry.