19,705 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 19, 2021 13:25:44 GMT
So how come the extreme side stalls are off sale for every date I just checked from august onwards? There are only 4 stalls seats where my legs will fit and none of them are on sale.
I mean, after all this time, when people are finally looking to book seats and pay cold hard cash theyre buggering about keeping seats off sale? It makes me not want to bother.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2021 13:33:27 GMT
So how come the extreme side stalls are off sale for every date I just checked from august onwards? There are only 4 stalls seats where my legs will fit and none of them are on sale. I mean, after all this time, when people are finally looking to book seats and pay cold hard cash theyre buggering about keeping seats off sale? It makes me not want to bother. I've also been wondering this. If you check enough dates though, the right hand side stalls (as you look at stage) are available. Guess they just go quickly for those wanting aisle seats, especially now the centre aisle has been removed (don't get me started - drives me mad how aisle fans are increasingly pushed to the far sides). The left hand side has never been on sale though. Cinderella had a similar issue though everything is on sale there now. Apparently that was due to reconfigured auditorium and not being sure how many seats across they would have. God knows if that's actually true. Could be a similar thing here if they haven't actually plumbed the seats back in yet? Though you'd have thought they could work it out with a map and a calculator. |
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3,452 posts
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Post by ceebee on Mar 27, 2021 13:37:13 GMT
Has anybody heard from the box office yet? (Particularly anybody with tickets for the previous first night...)
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Post by ThereWillBeSun on Mar 27, 2021 14:17:50 GMT
Random but they must be doing a cast change or auditioning others as they were holding auditions this week.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2021 14:41:39 GMT
Random but they must be doing a cast change or auditioning others as they were holding auditions this week. Yes seems to be a new cast. Josh Piterman was Phantom when it 'closed' March 2020, he's off to play Phantom on home turf when the show opens in Sydney Opera House instead of continuing in London when it reopens. I presume when they closed the show to bring the tour in all contracts were cancelled. |
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1,736 posts
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Post by fiyero on Mar 27, 2021 14:42:25 GMT
Has anybody heard from the box office yet? (Particularly anybody with tickets for the previous first night...) Not yet, it’s bugging me as it looks like reopening is midweek, which is fine but more planning than a Saturday! |
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Post by inthenose on Mar 27, 2021 18:52:52 GMT
Random but they must be doing a cast change or auditioning others as they were holding auditions this week. I'm looking into this as I know several who won contracts, including some main roles. |
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Post by 141920grm on Mar 28, 2021 15:52:35 GMT
Random but they must be doing a cast change or auditioning others as they were holding auditions this week. I'm looking into this as I know several who won contracts, including some main roles. Oh, I really hope the long-running cast members are returning as well as some of the really talented ensemble- they rightfully won their place and deserve to continue upon reopening! 🤞 |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2021 12:32:07 GMT
Has anybody heard from the box office yet? (Particularly anybody with tickets for the previous first night...) Nope. After BTTF got in touch last week, Phantom is the only show I am still waiting on since the roadmap was announced (have had the generic e-mail). Wonder what's holding them up!? |
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3,452 posts
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Post by ceebee on Mar 29, 2021 14:51:08 GMT
Has anybody heard from the box office yet? (Particularly anybody with tickets for the previous first night...) Nope. After BTTF got in touch last week, Phantom is the only show I am still waiting on since the roadmap was announced (have had the generic e-mail). Wonder what's holding them up!? I know - I didn't mind other shows getting bumped but this one is important. I really hope they honour the first night tickets after the whole "early access" stunt to get people to put their money down early. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2021 14:59:03 GMT
Also has the re-opening date been officially confirmed? As lockdown shenanigans have certainly taught me that "on sale and taking your money from" date is not always the same as actual "opening" date.
Although in fairness this is much more of an ATG trick and is not what one would expect from LWT....
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1,736 posts
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Post by fiyero on Mar 30, 2021 21:09:46 GMT
Also has the re-opening date been officially confirmed? As lockdown shenanigans have certainly taught me that "on sale and taking your money from" date is not always the same as actual "opening" date. Although in fairness this is much more of an ATG trick and is not what one would expect from LWT.... Not confirmed yet. I wish they would hurry up as if it is 21/07 I need to book the day off work (and maybe book a matinee before it!) |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2021 8:54:25 GMT
Also has the re-opening date been officially confirmed? As lockdown shenanigans have certainly taught me that "on sale and taking your money from" date is not always the same as actual "opening" date. Although in fairness this is much more of an ATG trick and is not what one would expect from LWT.... Not confirmed yet. I wish they would hurry up as if it is 21/07 I need to book the day off work (and maybe book a matinee before it!) Indeed. I also wonder if it is actually opening on a Wednesday, or if will be the preceding Friday - in which case they could move people who'd booked the first week of shows into like for like performances. Or indeed if whole thing will be later! Maybe they don't know yet. As LWT usually pretty prompt sorting things when they have definite dates. Got my new Cinderella confirmation a while back. |
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Post by fiyero on Mar 31, 2021 9:14:30 GMT
Not confirmed yet. I wish they would hurry up as if it is 21/07 I need to book the day off work (and maybe book a matinee before it!) Indeed. I also wonder if it is actually opening on a Wednesday, or if will be the preceding Friday - in which case they could move people who'd booked the first week of shows into like for like performances. Or indeed if whole thing will be later! Maybe they don't know yet. As LWT usually pretty prompt sorting things when they have definite dates. Got my new Cinderella confirmation a while back. I’ve now booked the 21st off and Amelie in the afternoon so fingers crossed but who knows right now! |
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Post by scarpia on Apr 4, 2021 22:30:02 GMT
Slightly off-topic in that it's international news but I was a bit surprised to see new this morning of "Cameron Macintosh's Brilliant New production" of Phantom opening soon in Sydney Opera House, with the Laurence Connor artwork. Details inside show what looks to be the 2012 production that originated on the UK touring circuit, so given the show is nearly a decade old the press lingo is surprisingly loose with facts. au.thephantomoftheopera.com/I saw this earlier as well! I thought this production would have been discontinued, seeing as apparently ALW wasn't a fan of it, at least that's what I've heard. It has been as far as I know in the US and the UK. I suppose Cameron needs to generate income fast in light of COVID and Oz is the only other territory he has the rights to the show other than N America and the UK and Ireland, so it's just a case of shipping out the sets that are gathering dust and done. Hopefully the last time that production will be seen... |
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Post by couldileaveyou on Apr 12, 2021 11:11:44 GMT
This is more upsetting and infuriating than any set change tbh
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Post by partytentdown on Apr 12, 2021 11:13:52 GMT
Gasp! Nobody saw this coming!
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5,152 posts
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Post by Being Alive on Apr 12, 2021 11:19:33 GMT
I hate to be "that guy" but a 27 piece orchestra is an enormous luxury, and whilst it's sad that they're halving it, 14 is still a large orchestra by modern standards... I know it's not the same, but it's not like we are down to single figures...
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2021 11:30:32 GMT
Part of Phantom's unique appeal and selling point was the size of the orchestra and it's sound.
I remember asking a ticket booth what the best sounding show in London was and his immediate response was Phantom due to the orchestra.
It was fairly inevitable there'd be some reductions, but 14 seems really meagre for this show in London.
But 14 is the touring orchestration, so no expense to be had re-orchestrating this production for the West End! Another nice saving for Cameron's retirement fund there.
Just another confirmation this is just the reduced touring production shoehorned into the West End.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Apr 12, 2021 11:41:37 GMT
They should just do 10 hander actor-musician production!
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Post by 10642 on Apr 12, 2021 11:46:40 GMT
13 musicians and their deps losing work. Not to mention the many stage crew who are being replaced by technology. Very sad
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Post by couldileaveyou on Apr 12, 2021 11:55:42 GMT
Gasp! Nobody saw this coming! I didn't say it's surprising, but it's still upsetting. The fact that it was inevitable doesn't make it any better. Phantom was the only show in the West End with a harp in the pit and it will be sad to see it go. |
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Post by westendboy on Apr 12, 2021 12:15:18 GMT
Very sad news.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2021 12:17:55 GMT
It’s very sad. Musicians are as important as actors.
Don’t be fooled if they could replace actors through automation they probably would. I hope all stakeholders support musicians.
Technology is great and has advanced the arts but it shouldn’t be used to take away from it or make it harder for artists to find work.
One of my favourite parts of a show is the overture and I get outraged when people talk through it. When do you have the opportunity to experience that, the virtuosity moves me.
Sad day for the West End.
Phantom wasn’t losing money putting people out of work for greed turns my stomach.
Original Phantom in the West End would have probably outlived all of us here posting now and especially Macintosh.
The new production will appeal to a tourist crowd but the lean months might not be supported by locals/return theatre lovers.
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2,250 posts
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Post by richey on Apr 12, 2021 12:22:22 GMT
So if they are using the tour orchestrations then I think we can definitely agree they can stop all pretence this is the return of the "brilliant original"
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