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Post by thistimetomorrow on Nov 21, 2022 10:12:19 GMT
I'm not the biggest fan of ArtsEd's new booking system. It showed sold out for all the Catch Me If You Can and Sweeney Todd shows, but for the Catch Me If You Can performance that I went to, there were plenty of empty seats. I assume people returned, but their new booking system doesn't allow those seats to be put back up for resale or something? Which is a real shame because I would have loved to see their Sweeney Todd  |
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Post by theatrefan77 on Nov 21, 2022 12:27:06 GMT
Yes, not sure what's going on there. Catch Me If You Can was quite empty the day I went too.
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Post by Dr Tom on Nov 21, 2022 14:35:43 GMT
Yes, I had the same finding regarding seat availability for Catch Me If You Can. I guess people turning up on the day would probably get let in, but it's always a risk.
I'm seeing Made in Dagenham tomorrow. The last time I saw this was also a Mountview production, but five years or so ago (and actor-musician if I remember correctly). I have high hopes for this one version.
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Post by matildaswinton on Nov 22, 2022 13:46:29 GMT
It’s been a while, but I caught a performance of ALNM at Mountview after following some of this thread.
Why are colleges attempting this show? The whole thing is about relationships resurfacing after 15 years, characters confronting their age, and watching the unavoidable changing of the times as you grow older.
Needless to say, subtext did not exist on that stage, neither in the acting nor the concept. The singers were all technically fine, but no one had “IT”. I most enjoyed the Countess and Petra. The songs sounded pretty but very soulless. Catch Me If You Can makes sense for a college show. I’ve got tickets to see Our Town in December, which also makes more sense. I just think it does a disservice to the students to put up a very nuanced and complicated piece that really requires years of life experience.
Even when college kids do Chekhov, there is more for them to mine (and more age appropriate characters). But I suppose that’s gonna happen in an acting program as opposed to musical theatre. Needless to say, if I see more college musicals, I’ll be sure to pick frothy and young shows.
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Post by TheOneOnTheLeft on Nov 22, 2022 18:49:17 GMT
Saw Sweeney Todd at ArtsEd and Made in Dagenham at Mountview last week and was quite impressed overall. Obviously, some pieces work better than others for college productions and the respective age of their performers, but I think the programming of more “difficult” shows should be admired as it provides the young actors the chance to tackle roles they might never perform on a professional stage (or rather late in their career). Also, we should not forget that the main purpose of a college production is to let the available talent shine (for most as part of a final exam), not necessarily to produce the best show for an audience. (Of course, the perfect outcome is when both is achieved, like the Royal Academy’s City of Angels a few years back, which I enjoyed immensely).
Regarding empty seats at sold-out shows: working for a university theatre myself, I can provide as possible explanation that many (if not most) tickets are comps given to college students and staff, with a higher than usual no-show rate.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Jan 4, 2023 1:06:04 GMT
Arts Ed presenting Beautiful Game from 24-28 January, already on sale, then A Chorus Line from 7-11 February, on sale 10 January.
Mountview offers Vinegar Tom from 25-27 January, followed by Addams Family, Bare: A Pop Opera and Blue Stockings (Play) during February and March.
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Jan 4, 2023 9:26:26 GMT
I'm seeing Bare at Mountview  Been wanting to see this musical in person for years and thought I'd go see Bird's production last year, but unfortunately they weren't open for the public to go to. |
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Jan 4, 2023 11:08:38 GMT
I'm seeing Bare at Mountview Been wanting to see this musical in person for years and thought I'd go see Bird's production last year, but unfortunately they weren't open for the public to go to. Me too. Not sure about Vinegar Tom, already booked Beautiful Game and will book A Chorus Line too. I definitely signed up to the Arts Ed mailing list but nothing received. |
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Jan 4, 2023 11:30:45 GMT
I definitely signed up to the Arts Ed mailing list but nothing received. I just keep an eye on their instagram usually, but I didn't see them post anything about A Chorus Line yet. I assume they'll post once the tickets actually go on sale. |
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 10, 2023 13:09:01 GMT
A Chorus Line is on sale now. I was about 150th in the queue but did manage to get tickets.
Not many left now, if anyone else is hoping to attend.
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Jan 10, 2023 13:19:53 GMT
most of the tickets sold so quickly!! My first choice date was gone |
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Jan 10, 2023 17:35:16 GMT
I've been out today and A Chorus Line was completely sold out when I got home. Disappointed. From past experience when booking is through Ticket Source once a show is sold out it stays sold out.
I will enquire at Arts Ed when I see Beautiful Game about returns. I asked about Sweeney Todd on a previous visit for Catch Me If You can when that was supposedly sold out, and was told there are usually seats available on the day, though in the event I didn't follow it up.
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 10, 2023 20:46:37 GMT
I've been out today and A Chorus Line was completely sold out when I got home. West End shows wish they could sell out that fast. My impression from the matinees is that if you turn up on the day, you're almost certain to get in. They hold tickets for agents and industry guests. But I'm never keen to do that. The only way really to guarantee tickets is to sign up as a Friend at £10 a month (which doesn't get free seats, but does get priority booking - free seats only kick in at the £250 a month level). |
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Post by showgirl on Jan 27, 2023 14:37:48 GMT
Has anyone yet seen The Beautiful Game at Arts Ed, please? Trying to get a running time but they don't provide this & the only phone number appears to be for the school itself, not the box office, which would be open for very limited hours anyway.
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 27, 2023 18:02:55 GMT
Has anyone yet seen The Beautiful Game at Arts Ed, please? Trying to get a running time but they don't provide this & the only phone number appears to be for the school itself, not the box office, which would be open for very limited hours anyway. Yes, this ran 2 hours 5 minutes or so (including interval). All very smooth and an excellent production. It's not a show I've seen before, but it's really quite powerful. I got to see both casts this week and both are strong and it's one that even improved for me on a second viewing. |
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Post by showgirl on Jan 27, 2023 18:08:25 GMT
Thank you so much, Dr Tom;that's really helpful. I did try looking at running times for previous productions but could find little info re those too. |
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Post by Dr Tom on Jan 27, 2023 22:36:24 GMT
Italia Conti - Rhoda McGaw Theatre, Woking
Sweet Charity - Thurs 23 to Sat 25 March
Big Fish - Thurs 30 March to Sat 1 April
Thurs 19:00, Fri 14:00, 19:00, Sat 10:30, 14:30, 18:30
Not up on the website, but tickets are on sale through ATG
The Saturday schedule opens up some interesting options for people who like to fit a lot of theatre into a single day.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Jan 27, 2023 23:26:35 GMT
Italia Conti - Rhoda McGaw Theatre, Woking Sweet Charity - Thurs 23 to Sat 25 March Big Fish - Thurs 30 March to Sat 1 April Thurs 19:00, Fri 14:00, 19:00, Sat 10:30, 14:30, 18:30 Not up on the website, but tickets are on sale through ATG The Saturday schedule opens up some interesting options for people who like to fit a lot of theatre into a single day. There was an amateur production of Sweet Charity in the same venue last May, Wasn't well attended when I saw it. Hopefully this will do better. I'm tempted by Xanadu at the Gate Theatre Cardiff, also a college (University Of Wales) production, Thursday and Friday 23 and 24 March only. One I've never seen though the film is a bit naff. Also in Cardiff there's Flora The Red Menace from 29 -31 March at the Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, shame they're not the same week and no Saturday performances. |
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Post by bobbievanhusen on Jan 29, 2023 13:14:10 GMT
Has anyone yet seen The Beautiful Game at Arts Ed, please? Trying to get a running time but they don't provide this & the only phone number appears to be for the school itself, not the box office, which would be open for very limited hours anyway. Yes, this ran 2 hours 5 minutes or so (including interval). All very smooth and an excellent production. It's not a show I've seen before, but it's really quite powerful. I got to see both casts this week and both are strong and it's one that even improved for me on a second viewing. After being renamed 'The Boys In The Photograph' I see it has gone back to being called 'The Beautiful Game' Did the show include the song 'Our Kind of Love'? It was cut previouspy because he reused the tune in Love Never Dies, but wonder if it came back when it got the shows original title back. |
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Post by shownut on Jan 29, 2023 14:33:44 GMT
After being renamed 'The Boys In The Photograph' I see it has gone back to being called 'The Beautiful Game' Did the show include the song 'Our Kind of Love'? It was cut previouspy because he reused the tune in Love Never Dies, but wonder if it came back when it got the shows original title back. "Our Kind of Love" is not back in. This production did include the song "The Boys In The Photograph" but did not include other new material such as "Born In Belfast". Saw the "Game" cast who were terrific - a very strong production. |
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Post by max on Jan 29, 2023 18:17:19 GMT
I've only seen 'Born In Belfast' performed in the version at the Union Theatre, London. I really liked it, and it gives Del a song to express his desire to get out of N Ireland, now that 'Let Us Love In Piece' is given to Ginger/Bernadette instead. I remember '
Born In Belfast' having a rock feel, but it was a while ago. A bit of a shame it wasn't in the production at Arts Ed, giving another performer an acting-through-song moment; he was really good in his dialogue scenes.
This year group at Arts Ed are really strong, and I've enjoyed watching them move in and out of the main spotlight from show to show.
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Post by max on Jan 29, 2023 22:21:03 GMT
Typo above - lol. 'Let Us Love In Peace'
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Feb 10, 2023 9:55:54 GMT
Really enjoyed A Chorus Line at ArtsEd. This is my first time seeing the show so I have no comparison in terms of staging or portrayals, but I thought they had a really strong group. Definitely not 100% full despite being sold out on the website, so if you want to try and go on the day to get returns or something I'm sure that's possible.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Feb 10, 2023 17:38:02 GMT
The next musical at Arts Ed is Legally Blonde but already sold out.
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Post by Dr Tom on Feb 10, 2023 19:02:38 GMT
The next musical at Arts Ed is Legally Blonde but already sold out. I think that was sold out by the time it was advertised on the website! It is their sixth form musical though, so likely to be of a different standard. |
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Been wanting to see this musical in person for years and thought I'd go see Bird's production last year, but unfortunately they weren't open for the public to go to. 
