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Post by danb on Jun 16, 2023 5:02:15 GMT
Note to all. If you try and travel to Wembley when Harry Styles is in the area, it will be an interesting experience. I’ve already been warned of two hour queues to get tubes to central London afterwards (thankfully, I can walk to a bus). This being another reason why I don’t think Newsies sold well. People go to Wembley for Wembley stadium, Troubadour gets overshadowed and really has no purpose being there, it’s too far. The venue is nice and I see why the producers were attracted by it but I think they misjudged people’s willingness to travel all the way there. I think its probably a bit more chicken & egg than that. Had DT been searching for a London home for Newsies for years or are the Troubadour hosting it for drinks sales and to build their name? It was always going to be a bit of a hard sell outside of MT circles…”dancing paper boys you say…on strike…I think I’m busy that night”…other than the ropey sound design, I think it was a fantastic space for the show. More to the point, it could be a fantastic space for Starlight if the appetite was there for it. But the business model would really need working up, and many layers of support function (transport offers, meal offers at Boxpark) to make it a ‘day out’ are, I think, the only way it could even hope to turn a profit. Like Nic says of Bochum in the Starlight thread, it’s more of a theme park attraction now. |
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Post by Jon on Jun 16, 2023 11:32:31 GMT
Seems it's both 22nd June shows being filmed for archive purposes according to various booking sites (curiously no mention on official Newsies site?). I'll probably get an evening ticket, curious to see how obvious the cameras are. Plus at least I can be content I've seen the filmed version, not for public viewing... I think it should be shared with loyal Fansies! There's already a filmed production, the producers probably can't release the London production even they wanted to as Disney controls the rights. |
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Post by christya on Jun 16, 2023 16:32:35 GMT
I think its probably a bit more chicken & egg than that. Had DT been searching for a London home for Newsies for years or are the Troubadour hosting it for drinks sales and to build their name? As far back as 2014 I heard from a NY friend that they'd seriously intended coming to London but simply couldn't get a theatre. It was about the time that the rumour of 'I Can't Sing' closing was going around (which was true) so I remember half-joking that the Palladium was about to be free. Once the Broadway production closed I'd be surprised if there had been much serious activity around bringing it to London for a while. I still wish it had been the Broadway production, no matter how much I enjoyed this one it just doesn't compare for me. |
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Post by Dr Tom on Jun 18, 2023 16:21:46 GMT
There are some real jokers in this cast!
I got to see all three Jacks this week (Matt is on today). They're all excellent.
I've also decided I haven't seen Newsies too many times, after hearing the people next to me talking. Although I'm not sure where I will sit. There's very little in the way of decent seats near the front left for the rest of the run.
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Post by hadeswasking on Jun 18, 2023 16:40:40 GMT
There are some real jokers in this cast! I got to see all three Jacks this week (Matt is on today). They're all excellent. I've also decided I haven't seen Newsies too many times, after hearing the people next to me talking. Although I'm not sure where I will sit. There's very little in the way of decent seats near the front left for the rest of the run. I was also in today! Absolutely adored Matt's Jack. I think he MAY be the strongest out of the three. Both with singing and with the accent. Bobbies Katherine is a bit more mean than Brontè's but she sounds amazing. I did miss Brontè's quirks and humour though. Also enjoyed seeing the newer members of the cast they've all blended in semlessly and it might be even stronger than before. I think this pullitzer plays a villain better than the previous and he was great. Really enjoyed my time today and what an atmosphere! Was glad this was the one to close off my journey to newsies |
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Post by theatregoer22 on Jun 20, 2023 17:58:28 GMT
Does anyone know what the chances are of getting rush tickets to the Saturday matinee?
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Post by Dr Tom on Jun 20, 2023 18:21:44 GMT
Does anyone know what the chances are of getting rush tickets to the Saturday matinee? 100%, I would think. They set a lot of tickets aside. |
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Post by theatregoer22 on Jun 20, 2023 22:39:33 GMT
Does anyone know what the chances are of getting rush tickets to the Saturday matinee? 100%, I would think. They set a lot of tickets aside. Brilliant thanks. I've got an unexpected free Saturday so it's tempting to go and see this before it closes. |
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Post by danb on Jun 21, 2023 6:13:18 GMT
Does anyone know what the chances are of getting rush tickets to the Saturday matinee? 100%, I would think. They set a lot of tickets aside. Optimistic to think that they’ve been deliberately set aside Dr Tom. I’m pretty sure that this is getting by on repeat business and offers however unfair it may seem. |
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Post by Dr Tom on Jun 21, 2023 6:38:35 GMT
The Rush ticket comment, there are always tickets at the back that are unsold and end up in the rush pool. But I’ve also seen tickets appear that have not been possible to book online in advance. So I suspect it’s a combination. They sell a lot of tickets through rush.
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Post by danb on Jun 21, 2023 7:04:07 GMT
The Rush ticket comment, there are always tickets at the back that are unsold and end up in the rush pool. But I’ve also seen tickets appear that have not been possible to book online in advance. So I suspect it’s a combination. They sell a lot of tickets through rush. It may well have been part of their strategy from the beginning? They have extended so obvs know what they’re doing one way or the other. We’ll just never know if this could have been a smash in a ‘proper’ theatre. |
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Post by regza on Jun 21, 2023 10:58:49 GMT
Following some weeks of zero availability, I see a number of good seats for the final performance (30 July) have been made available on the official site 🙂
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Post by Dr Tom on Jun 21, 2023 11:32:11 GMT
Following some weeks of zero availability, I see a number of good seats for the final performance (30 July) have been made available on the official site 🙂 Available, but you need a secret code to unlock them by the look of it. Thankfully, I did proactively book for that show a while ago. |
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Post by Dr Tom on Jun 23, 2023 8:46:23 GMT
For anyone curious, I did attend the first of the two filmed performances yesterday. The cameras were almost unnoticeable apart from a small red light. As best I could spot, there were two cameras on the upper levels of three sides of the theatre.
Otherwise, everything went on as normal, although things were a bit more restrained than usual.
There were surprisingly few seats on sale and the reason turned out to be lots of school parties being in, who basically filled up the empty spaces. The school (or usher) were very kind and let me sit in their midst in a slightly better seat to the one I should have been in (your view on that will depend on how close to the action you like to be, as some of the pupils moved further back during the interval).
I did have a nice chat with one of the teachers and the trip was a reward for pupils who had been in the school musical. I must say, all were much better behaved than most adults. It was a full theatre, but quieter than usual. The film, with school uniforms all around, will look different.
There were some line flubs (and someone coming in about two bars late for their song), but I'm sure they can edit two performances together. Although how they edit two different child actors playing Les is a question. Perhaps for archive performance filming, it really doesn't matter. I did end up getting the last available front row seat in Woodside for tonight. This weekend looks unlikely as I can only do the Sunday matinee and the first three rows (which are the only place I've ever sat) are sold out. That could change, as tickets do seem to randomly appear.
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Post by regza on Jun 23, 2023 20:14:50 GMT
And I saw the evening performance! (Good to hear of the school parties at the matinee btw, similar to when I went to this performance a fortnight ago. Hopefully a few will return with their families!)
Noted a camera taking up the back corner of both Woodside and Richmond with filming by Black Rabbit Projects. Agree it was pretty unobtrusive.
For this performance the audience could barely contain itself! I was in Flushing back row and unlike my last couple of shows all the front areas were well filled leaving only Upper Manhattan with rows of empty seats. Good that many rush seats had been made available in the four side blocks and these were largely filled by boisterous theatre students and similar. By the end I was nearly deafened by the whoops!
In Brooklyn there were also a good number of older American tourists for contrast. Overhearing some conversations at the end, it seems all loved the show 🙂
I do think Flushing back row (FF) is worth it for the close-up of the fight on the headlines board (if you're in seat 4 up), not to mention the slide and (very loud) hatch above it that alarmed a couple of other audience members...
Surprised that George Crawford played Bunsen in this performance, assume Sion Lloyd was unwell, first time I've seen him in this role. Also saw Ben Dalton's Les for the first time.
Thought Michael was on great form. And have the odd sound glitches finally been fixed? Only obvious issue was at the end of the swinging in King of New York when two of the six Newsies did not do the final spin (not sure which two) for whatever reason. Looked distinctly odd for them just to stand there! Hopefully the earlier performance was more routine.
Overall a really great atmosphere, with such an enthusiastic audience it felt like this was the final performance! And as noted the audience appeared 100% positive in its reaction. Currently I've two more shows booked in Upper Manhattan but very tempting to look out for rush tickets in Woodside or Richmond, it's been a while since I last sat in those blocks.
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Post by theatregoer22 on Jun 24, 2023 20:16:37 GMT
Pleased to report that getting a Rush ticket for today's matineee was very easy. I'd really wanted Brooklyn, but Woodside Row EE offered a great vantage point, as for most scenes the actors played to the whole audience. It was also probably the closest to the stage I've ever sat at any theatre before - I could see not only the actors facial expressions but also all the detail on their faces like the sweat dripping off them!
In terms of the show itself, overall I thought it was really good. Initially the audio was quite poor - I couldn't hear all the dialogue and the music drowned out the singing. But thankfully after a bit that problem seeemed to be recitifed and I was able to follow along.
As pretty much everyone else has said, the choreography is incredible to watch. I also loved the big number songs that all the Newsies sung and the Les we had (Harry Newby) was incredible for someone of his age. I wasn't so sold on the quieter ballads and the main romance, but overall this was an easy 4*-4.5* for me.
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Post by margoc on Jul 1, 2023 0:27:07 GMT
This show would have done so much better if it wasn't so far out, it would have worked well in the GL theatre but its a shame thats ALW owned. Its such an amazing show but such an arse-ache to get to!!
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Post by dip on Jul 7, 2023 8:19:41 GMT
Want to catch this before it closes - any sections to avoid/aim for?
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Post by Dr Tom on Jul 7, 2023 9:15:08 GMT
Want to catch this before it closes - any sections to avoid/aim for? TodayTix has a £15 and up offer, which does include some weekend matinees that weren't on offer before. Not valid for the final week. The choice is rather limited now, but if this is the only time you'll ever see this, you really want Brooklyn, or the more central parts of Woodside or Richmond. It's a huge theatre and Manhattan is a long way away from the stage (especially everything that happens at the back of the stage). |
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Post by capybara on Jul 7, 2023 14:51:36 GMT
Want to catch this before it closes - any sections to avoid/aim for? Buy on TKTS. £29.50 for very decent seats down the side. |
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Post by Being Alive on Jul 7, 2023 15:11:19 GMT
Just go to the box office. Day seats £25 best available. It's never sold out.
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Post by Dr Tom on Jul 7, 2023 20:12:44 GMT
Just go to the box office. Day seats £25 best available. It's never sold out. Well that’s poorly advertised. I’ve been relying of TKTS. |
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Post by Being Alive on Jul 7, 2023 20:25:09 GMT
£25 on todaytix rush too and there's usually a good supply and they're usually in pretty consistently in good places
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Post by Dr Tom on Jul 7, 2023 21:51:06 GMT
£25 on todaytix rush too and there's usually a good supply and they're usually in pretty consistently in good places That one I know, but I’m not keen on sitting so far back. Anyway, I’ve pretty much booked up tickets for my spare dates up until closing. For some reason, Romeo side is always much easier to get than Ike side. |
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Post by Dr Tom on Jul 14, 2023 20:03:21 GMT
Newsies tonight (front row) I have a hyperactive American boy next to me. He gave me the show warnings before the show. He gets rather excited during the songs. He managed to somehow beg for a newspaper (which I still don’t have), which he’s since proceeded to rip up and screw into a ball.
Show is very good, with Spencer really on form!
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