Duel Meaning
May 18, 2016 3:59 PM Subscribe
Want to See ‘Hamilton’ in a City Near You? Buy a Subscription and Wait Two Years.
I've been debating this for Seattle myself. Get a sub 2 years out (Guarantee tickets, more expensive) or get a sub year-of (Riskier, less-expensive?)? (Since getting tickets just for the show would be a rich fool's errand)
I wonder what this'll do for the rest of the season's shows, if their otherwise-assumption that people will go to other shows gives way to people who are interested in one show 2 years out or so.
posted by CrystalDave at 4:16 PM on May 18, 2016
I wonder what this'll do for the rest of the season's shows, if their otherwise-assumption that people will go to other shows gives way to people who are interested in one show 2 years out or so.
posted by CrystalDave at 4:16 PM on May 18, 2016
I refuse to go to that much trouble for any show that's playing in Schenectady. ( Proctor's Theater )
posted by mikelieman at 4:19 PM on May 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by mikelieman at 4:19 PM on May 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
So the first places getting a Hamilton run outside of New York are Chicago, San Francisco, Washington, and Des Moines?!?
Does Iowa have an amazing theatre scene? I can't be the only one who finds it hilarious that Des Moines is getting a production of Hamilton before London or Toronto.
posted by thecjm at 4:31 PM on May 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
Does Iowa have an amazing theatre scene? I can't be the only one who finds it hilarious that Des Moines is getting a production of Hamilton before London or Toronto.
posted by thecjm at 4:31 PM on May 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
Huh. I checked Des Moines Performing Arts, and two of the five shows this year are things I would really like to see: Fun Home and The Curious Incident of the Dog at Midnight. (I don't know about the other ones. I'd have to be sold on The Sound of Music.) I don't think it's a good idea to do this just to get tickets for Hamilton, but I could see it inspiring people who might realize that they were actually interested in seeing the other productions.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 4:31 PM on May 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 4:31 PM on May 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
Iowa doesn't have an amazing theater scene, but we do get touring productions.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 4:33 PM on May 18, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 4:33 PM on May 18, 2016 [3 favorites]
"I wonder if it will tour Canada. And if it does, how we feel about being the bad guys?"
I honestly can't wait for it to open in the West End and at least SOME of the British royals to see it and offer their opinions. Although really King George is such a DELIGHTFUL villain in the piece, about a dispute whose origins are well-understood and long, long healed, I feel like nobody will really mind. I just want to hear what QEII has to say about it! (Probably, "Well, it was delightful, wasn't it?")
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 4:34 PM on May 18, 2016
I honestly can't wait for it to open in the West End and at least SOME of the British royals to see it and offer their opinions. Although really King George is such a DELIGHTFUL villain in the piece, about a dispute whose origins are well-understood and long, long healed, I feel like nobody will really mind. I just want to hear what QEII has to say about it! (Probably, "Well, it was delightful, wasn't it?")
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 4:34 PM on May 18, 2016
I just want to be in the room where it happens.
posted by gc at 4:42 PM on May 18, 2016 [16 favorites]
posted by gc at 4:42 PM on May 18, 2016 [16 favorites]
The only place in the southeast that they have scheduled it Atlanta? Not Tampa, Miami, Nashville or Birmingham? Look, I'm used to Jacksonville getting shows after everybody else but I'm not buying a subscription for 2 years in a city 6 hours away from me by car.
To be honest, it put a bad taste in my mouth when I tried to get tickets for 3 people for ANY day as far out as they would let me search. I was even willing to go as high as $500 each (when your 13 year old son asks to see a Broadway musical, you'll do whatever you can) and there are literally no shows where I can get 3 tickets. If you add in that we would have to pay airfare and hotels we are looking at paying as much to see one show as we usually pay for our big summer vacations.
posted by hollygoheavy at 4:48 PM on May 18, 2016
To be honest, it put a bad taste in my mouth when I tried to get tickets for 3 people for ANY day as far out as they would let me search. I was even willing to go as high as $500 each (when your 13 year old son asks to see a Broadway musical, you'll do whatever you can) and there are literally no shows where I can get 3 tickets. If you add in that we would have to pay airfare and hotels we are looking at paying as much to see one show as we usually pay for our big summer vacations.
posted by hollygoheavy at 4:48 PM on May 18, 2016
Well, that's embarrassing.
posted by hollygoheavy at 4:50 PM on May 18, 2016
posted by hollygoheavy at 4:50 PM on May 18, 2016
Given the limitations on the touring show, I think this means I'll try to get tickets for the Chicago production, since my brother lives there and it's hella cheaper to go there than NYC.
posted by suelac at 4:52 PM on May 18, 2016
posted by suelac at 4:52 PM on May 18, 2016
hollygoheavy - it's coming to Charlotte, too.
posted by 41swans at 4:57 PM on May 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by 41swans at 4:57 PM on May 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
Guys, all of this Hamilton hype ticket pricing is just too much. I'm just going to wait until they release it for community theater use and see it in my hometown in 2026. They'll scour the mostly white/hispanic town for a willing and able black lead, and the rest of the leads will be rounded out by white churchgoing protestants trying to rap and one 22-year-old filipino beatboxer. It's gonna be the theater experience of a lifetime, a steal at only $16.
posted by JauntyFedora at 5:26 PM on May 18, 2016 [30 favorites]
posted by JauntyFedora at 5:26 PM on May 18, 2016 [30 favorites]
Broadway in Chicago has sent me many emails with the word 'Hamilton' in the subject line. None has ever said when "Hamilton" tickets are going on sale. I know that they know that the only reason I've subscribed to their newsletter is to learn that piece of information, but no, it's all 'Matilda' this and 'Spongebob: the Musical' that. Which is to say that their line-up of shows is not one that tempts me to subscribe, and also that I have not unsubscribed from the 'newsletter' of subscription-peddling promotional emails.
give me the on-sale dates you monsters
posted by palindromic at 5:27 PM on May 18, 2016 [3 favorites]
give me the on-sale dates you monsters
posted by palindromic at 5:27 PM on May 18, 2016 [3 favorites]
I'm glad everyone in DC is freaking out they get to see Hamilton. I'm just going to be over here pouting we're not getting Fun Home any time soon (it'll be in Pittsburgh, but once I add up travel costs & hotel, I might as well just go see it in NYC ...).
posted by darksong at 5:31 PM on May 18, 2016
posted by darksong at 5:31 PM on May 18, 2016
I honestly can't wait for it to open in the West End and at least SOME of the British royals to see it and offer their opinions.
Cameron Mackintosh is supposedly already trying to book a West End theater for a possible 2017 run of Hamilton. Apparently the Grammy performance was actually skipped in the UK broadcast, though who knows why?
posted by kmz at 5:34 PM on May 18, 2016
Cameron Mackintosh is supposedly already trying to book a West End theater for a possible 2017 run of Hamilton. Apparently the Grammy performance was actually skipped in the UK broadcast, though who knows why?
posted by kmz at 5:34 PM on May 18, 2016
I just started volunteer ushering at my local Broadway touring production theater. We get things on the 2nd or 3rd tour so I figure in 5 years I'll be able to see Hamilton free.
posted by interplanetjanet at 5:38 PM on May 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by interplanetjanet at 5:38 PM on May 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm in line on the Kennedy Center site RIGHT NOW. (Thank you, MeFites, for reminding me to do this.)
posted by bowtiesarecool at 5:42 PM on May 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by bowtiesarecool at 5:42 PM on May 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
Spider-Man Turn off the Dark Arena Tour Coming Soon
posted by benzenedream at 5:51 PM on May 18, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by benzenedream at 5:51 PM on May 18, 2016 [2 favorites]
All righty, I'm in hock to the folks at the Kennedy Center for the next two years of my life, but in 2017 I get to see Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, Into the Woods, Wicked, Chicago, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, The Sound of Music, Cabaret, and The King and I. And I've been grousing about how I don't go to the theater anymore now that I'm no longer in college and get free opera tickets, and I can (however grudgingly) afford it. Plus I frankly admire the brazenness of the marketers behind this tactic. Damn skippy, the theaters SHOULD be figuring out how to leverage the popularity of the biggest musical phenomenon in ages and use it to grow a new generation of theater goers. They've got my mark.
posted by bowtiesarecool at 6:04 PM on May 18, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by bowtiesarecool at 6:04 PM on May 18, 2016 [8 favorites]
Spider-Man Turn off the Dark Arena Tour Coming Soon
That's awesome, but what I really want to see is Spiderman Too: 2 Many Spidermen.
posted by asperity at 6:08 PM on May 18, 2016 [12 favorites]
That's awesome, but what I really want to see is Spiderman Too: 2 Many Spidermen.
posted by asperity at 6:08 PM on May 18, 2016 [12 favorites]
I looked at getting the Kennedy Center subscription, but two years for a family for four was like $4800. I can but scalped tickets in NY and take everyone up on the train for that.
posted by procrastination at 6:32 PM on May 18, 2016
posted by procrastination at 6:32 PM on May 18, 2016
Why haven't Boston dates been announced?
posted by pxe2000 at 6:53 PM on May 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by pxe2000 at 6:53 PM on May 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
The last I looked, I'd have to pay waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much money to get the subscriptions to the nearest big city, a crazy-ass city that I do not love to travel to, much less do over and over again into one of the craziest areas of it, for super expensive theater shows, plus I don't even WANT to see such sterling shows as "TBA" (last time I checked, which was a while back) and "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time," which I was not intrigued to read when it was a book and still feel similarly about it as a musical. (Also, seriously, that is now a musical?!)
I get why theaters do that, but it still kinda sucks when you feel obligated to pay for and attend shows that you don't really want to see, when someone else might actually want to be seeing it and you're just buying it to see Hamilton in eleven months or whatever.
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:57 PM on May 18, 2016
I get why theaters do that, but it still kinda sucks when you feel obligated to pay for and attend shows that you don't really want to see, when someone else might actually want to be seeing it and you're just buying it to see Hamilton in eleven months or whatever.
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:57 PM on May 18, 2016
I wonder if it will tour Canada. And if it does, how we feel about being the bad guys?
Sorry would be my guess.
posted by Aizkolari at 7:05 PM on May 18, 2016 [8 favorites]
Sorry would be my guess.
posted by Aizkolari at 7:05 PM on May 18, 2016 [8 favorites]
I refuse to go to that much trouble for any show that's playing in Schenectady. ( Proctor's Theater )
That would be quite a Gamble.
posted by grumpybear69 at 7:23 PM on May 18, 2016 [2 favorites]
That would be quite a Gamble.
posted by grumpybear69 at 7:23 PM on May 18, 2016 [2 favorites]
This is going to be such a wonderful influx of cash for these theatres, but I am a bit concerned about people buying these subscriptions and then trying to sell their seats....there's going to be a lot of people also selling their seats, trying to make their money back. I mean, half concerned (I would feel terrible for any performers giving their all for an empty house), half ready to take advantage of folks unloading their tickets for bargain basement prices.
posted by everybody had matching towels at 7:31 PM on May 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by everybody had matching towels at 7:31 PM on May 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
The market cannot cope with things for which demand is infinite. Things such as health care, education, or hamilton tickets. Madness.
posted by absalom at 7:44 PM on May 18, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by absalom at 7:44 PM on May 18, 2016 [2 favorites]
I considered doing this for Seattle, and then took a look at the lineup for the season's pass, and was distinctly underwhelmed. I'm not thrilled about paying a ton of money for shows that don't interest me, especially when there are so many unknowns about how this will all work, what the supply/demand for Hamilton will be in two years. I'll save my money and take my chances with the scalpers, if that's the only other way.
(I also had the unpleasant experience of signing up for season tickets for a theater group mostly so that I could get good tickets for One Specific Play That I Was Interested In, only to have the theater unilaterally cancel One Specific Play and replace it with Completely Uninteresting Play. The people who bought single tickets to One Specific Play were allowed to request refunds. Season ticket holders were not given the option of a refund for One Specific Play. So I have deep, deep skepticism when it comes to the promises that are made to season ticket holders.)
posted by creepygirl at 7:45 PM on May 18, 2016 [7 favorites]
(I also had the unpleasant experience of signing up for season tickets for a theater group mostly so that I could get good tickets for One Specific Play That I Was Interested In, only to have the theater unilaterally cancel One Specific Play and replace it with Completely Uninteresting Play. The people who bought single tickets to One Specific Play were allowed to request refunds. Season ticket holders were not given the option of a refund for One Specific Play. So I have deep, deep skepticism when it comes to the promises that are made to season ticket holders.)
posted by creepygirl at 7:45 PM on May 18, 2016 [7 favorites]
I was in the same position for Book of Mormon, I just really atm not interested in seeing jersey boys and wicked or whatever.
I'm still not entirely sure what Hamilton is, but I'm pretty cautious of "hip-hop in an unexpected setting", and basically anything referred to as "battle raps" hitting the american zeitgeist.
But look, they got shows, they got tickets, you like one musical, you might like others. You could always risk reselling the tickets for the shows you don't want for a guaranteed ticket, but I'm pretty sure the best membership tickets are already taken.
Or you could just take PE's advice and Don't Believe The Hype. If you aren't going to be able to see it until 2018 in Des Moines, then you can almost certainly find tickets before then.
That being said, I'm a member of a local indie theatre for the last few months and it's been great, but they just did a John waters mini festival and a whole series of non-miyazaki ghibli cartoons. Totally loved it so far, and see way more things than if I just heard about something and thought I'd try it.
Basically, if you like musicals, but don't go to enough, and can swing it, do it! This show will be icing on the cake. If you're buying in because there's some super hyped thing, then you're just succumbing to marketing.
Otherwise, if you're curious about hip hop, get the new Chance mixtape and try to figure out if you like it or not.
Or watch youtube videos titled "epic history rap battle", and wonder if a well produced live version is actually something you want to stress about for 2 years, or if you're just buying cachet.
posted by lkc at 9:45 PM on May 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm still not entirely sure what Hamilton is, but I'm pretty cautious of "hip-hop in an unexpected setting", and basically anything referred to as "battle raps" hitting the american zeitgeist.
But look, they got shows, they got tickets, you like one musical, you might like others. You could always risk reselling the tickets for the shows you don't want for a guaranteed ticket, but I'm pretty sure the best membership tickets are already taken.
Or you could just take PE's advice and Don't Believe The Hype. If you aren't going to be able to see it until 2018 in Des Moines, then you can almost certainly find tickets before then.
That being said, I'm a member of a local indie theatre for the last few months and it's been great, but they just did a John waters mini festival and a whole series of non-miyazaki ghibli cartoons. Totally loved it so far, and see way more things than if I just heard about something and thought I'd try it.
Basically, if you like musicals, but don't go to enough, and can swing it, do it! This show will be icing on the cake. If you're buying in because there's some super hyped thing, then you're just succumbing to marketing.
Otherwise, if you're curious about hip hop, get the new Chance mixtape and try to figure out if you like it or not.
Or watch youtube videos titled "epic history rap battle", and wonder if a well produced live version is actually something you want to stress about for 2 years, or if you're just buying cachet.
posted by lkc at 9:45 PM on May 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
Or you could figure out what Hamilton actually IS before you get all "your favorite musical sucks" in here.
posted by gingerbeer at 10:36 PM on May 18, 2016 [25 favorites]
posted by gingerbeer at 10:36 PM on May 18, 2016 [25 favorites]
Grr.
I get the reasoning behind this. Most of the theatres pulling this stunt are non-profit entities largely funded by their local communities that contract with Broadway Across America for the touring season. This is one piece of their larger puzzle, which includes opera, ballet, classical music, etc. Subscriptions have been trending down for a long time and single ticket sales are happening a lot less further out than they used to. And you have to make sure you have the funding to continue programming all the things you're doing into the future in a very uncertain funding landscape. Anything that seems like a chance to find a steady cash flow is a good thing.
But unless both of the Broadway Across America seasons are programmed in such a way that compliments Hamilton and the audience that is coming in directly to Hamilton -- it's a clear, short term cash grab and a really crappy way of doing audience development. I could see it working if it's two seasons with selections that are Fun Home, Kinky Boots, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, Book of Mormon, etc. But if it is An American in Paris, Jersey Boys and Phantom of the Opera... there's going to be a problem when the renewal comes around post Hamilton. And many of these theatres have already signed the contracts for next season -- so it's not like there's a chance to revise given this new game plan.
Is bankable money for two years as far out as they're willing to think? And does it provide enough of a buffer or a surplus that it can allow these larger performing arts centers to seed new programs? And are they making a plan for what happens after Hamilton leaves?
posted by JustKeepSwimming at 10:50 PM on May 18, 2016 [3 favorites]
I get the reasoning behind this. Most of the theatres pulling this stunt are non-profit entities largely funded by their local communities that contract with Broadway Across America for the touring season. This is one piece of their larger puzzle, which includes opera, ballet, classical music, etc. Subscriptions have been trending down for a long time and single ticket sales are happening a lot less further out than they used to. And you have to make sure you have the funding to continue programming all the things you're doing into the future in a very uncertain funding landscape. Anything that seems like a chance to find a steady cash flow is a good thing.
But unless both of the Broadway Across America seasons are programmed in such a way that compliments Hamilton and the audience that is coming in directly to Hamilton -- it's a clear, short term cash grab and a really crappy way of doing audience development. I could see it working if it's two seasons with selections that are Fun Home, Kinky Boots, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, Book of Mormon, etc. But if it is An American in Paris, Jersey Boys and Phantom of the Opera... there's going to be a problem when the renewal comes around post Hamilton. And many of these theatres have already signed the contracts for next season -- so it's not like there's a chance to revise given this new game plan.
Is bankable money for two years as far out as they're willing to think? And does it provide enough of a buffer or a surplus that it can allow these larger performing arts centers to seed new programs? And are they making a plan for what happens after Hamilton leaves?
posted by JustKeepSwimming at 10:50 PM on May 18, 2016 [3 favorites]
or if you're just buying cachet
To be honest, that's mostly what's on sale here. 1) The fact that "other" people won't get to see it and you will. 2) The fact that you had to shell out 2-year subscriptions to get tickets, and everyone will know you shelled out $x for tickets, etc.
There are a lot of great live shows out there. Go see an open mic night instead. Or a symphony performance.
are they making a plan for what happens after Hamilton leaves
lol.
posted by mrgrimm at 10:53 PM on May 18, 2016
To be honest, that's mostly what's on sale here. 1) The fact that "other" people won't get to see it and you will. 2) The fact that you had to shell out 2-year subscriptions to get tickets, and everyone will know you shelled out $x for tickets, etc.
There are a lot of great live shows out there. Go see an open mic night instead. Or a symphony performance.
are they making a plan for what happens after Hamilton leaves
lol.
posted by mrgrimm at 10:53 PM on May 18, 2016
Seriously can't they just do a live broadcast they way the National Theatre does because that would be really great
posted by jokeefe at 11:51 PM on May 18, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by jokeefe at 11:51 PM on May 18, 2016 [9 favorites]
pay waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much money to get the subscriptions to the nearest big city
Paid waaaaaaaaaaay too much to see it in NYC. Satisfied.
I just really atm not interested in seeing jersey boys and wicked or whatever.
There's something really nice about that typo there.
posted by wildblueyonder at 1:10 AM on May 19, 2016 [1 favorite]
Paid waaaaaaaaaaay too much to see it in NYC. Satisfied.
I just really atm not interested in seeing jersey boys and wicked or whatever.
There's something really nice about that typo there.
posted by wildblueyonder at 1:10 AM on May 19, 2016 [1 favorite]
Jersey Boys is an optional add-on to the series in Des Moines, which is good, because you couldn't pay me enough to see that.
Some of the comments here make me a little sad. I can understand not personally being interested in innovative theater, but if you genuinely can't see any reason other than posing that a person could be interested in Hamilton (or Curious Incident or Fun Home), then the think that's your problem, not the problem of people in Des Moines who are excited about touring productions.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 1:28 AM on May 19, 2016 [5 favorites]
Some of the comments here make me a little sad. I can understand not personally being interested in innovative theater, but if you genuinely can't see any reason other than posing that a person could be interested in Hamilton (or Curious Incident or Fun Home), then the think that's your problem, not the problem of people in Des Moines who are excited about touring productions.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 1:28 AM on May 19, 2016 [5 favorites]
I have not unsubscribed from the 'newsletter' of subscription-peddling promotional emails.
Good luck trying to unsubscribe when the time comes. Broadway in _______ either wildly overestimates casual interest in the theater or is just a crass moneygrabbing spam service.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 3:47 AM on May 19, 2016 [1 favorite]
Good luck trying to unsubscribe when the time comes. Broadway in _______ either wildly overestimates casual interest in the theater or is just a crass moneygrabbing spam service.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 3:47 AM on May 19, 2016 [1 favorite]
I have not unsubscribed from the 'newsletter' of subscription-peddling promotional emails.
Congratulations on managing to subscribe at all. I can't even get the form to work, and have tried several times.
Chicago is supposed to be the first production non-NYC production of Hamilton. The announced opening is in September, but you still can't buy individual, group, or even season tickets on the site. I could maybe think about buying a season ticket, but I'm not feeling that much confidence that Hamilton will go on as planned, at least in the first several weeks. And if the theaters are selling season tickets on the promise that they'll include Hamilton, without a guarantee, that's really nasty.
It's live theater. Stuff happens.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 5:02 AM on May 19, 2016 [1 favorite]
Congratulations on managing to subscribe at all. I can't even get the form to work, and have tried several times.
Chicago is supposed to be the first production non-NYC production of Hamilton. The announced opening is in September, but you still can't buy individual, group, or even season tickets on the site. I could maybe think about buying a season ticket, but I'm not feeling that much confidence that Hamilton will go on as planned, at least in the first several weeks. And if the theaters are selling season tickets on the promise that they'll include Hamilton, without a guarantee, that's really nasty.
It's live theater. Stuff happens.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 5:02 AM on May 19, 2016 [1 favorite]
As far as I know group tickets were only by phone for Chicago and those have already "sold out". Really would have thought they'd have individual tickets up by now though.
posted by kmz at 7:03 AM on May 19, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by kmz at 7:03 AM on May 19, 2016 [1 favorite]
Eh, I'm usually happy to give musicals a chance--I do have season tickets at one place-- but the tickets aren't costing out the wazoo PER SHOW that I don't care so much about seeing in order to do so.
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:15 AM on May 19, 2016
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:15 AM on May 19, 2016
Otherwise, if you're curious about hip hop, get the new Chance mixtape and try to figure out if you like it or not.
It's interesting that you picked Chance as the example in your "I don't actually know what I'm talking about but here's my opinion anyway" thing, because here's his opinion of Hamilton:
"I love the play. I don’t know if I said that yet. I love it so much. The musical aspect of it, the staging is awesome. . . Hamilton is revolutionary in terms of writing. There’s so many different pieces and each one hits perfectly as a musical theater piece, hits perfectly as a hip-hop song, and really tells the story."
One of the things that I really like about Lin Manuel Miranda is his unironic enthusiasm for the things he loves, like rap and musical theater. What would LMM do (WWLLMD) if he didn't know anything about a really popular piece of art? Probably not weigh in with his very important opinion or accuse the fans of looking for cachet. I mean, the cast album is out there. The people who are really excited to see the show on tour probably just really like it. There's no need to make up reasons why people want tickets.
posted by Mavri at 7:24 AM on May 19, 2016 [9 favorites]
It's interesting that you picked Chance as the example in your "I don't actually know what I'm talking about but here's my opinion anyway" thing, because here's his opinion of Hamilton:
"I love the play. I don’t know if I said that yet. I love it so much. The musical aspect of it, the staging is awesome. . . Hamilton is revolutionary in terms of writing. There’s so many different pieces and each one hits perfectly as a musical theater piece, hits perfectly as a hip-hop song, and really tells the story."
One of the things that I really like about Lin Manuel Miranda is his unironic enthusiasm for the things he loves, like rap and musical theater. What would LMM do (WWLLMD) if he didn't know anything about a really popular piece of art? Probably not weigh in with his very important opinion or accuse the fans of looking for cachet. I mean, the cast album is out there. The people who are really excited to see the show on tour probably just really like it. There's no need to make up reasons why people want tickets.
posted by Mavri at 7:24 AM on May 19, 2016 [9 favorites]
> Otherwise, if you're curious about hip hop, get the new Chance mixtape and try to figure out if you like it or not.
I love both Hamilton AND the new Chance mixtape! I guess I am doing it wrong? Unlike people who don't know what something is but seem willing to be dismissive of it? Or people who get all skeptical about hip-hop in an "unexpected" setting - because a musical about Mormon missionaries is totally expected.
I mean, maybe if you're curious about Hamilton, give the cast album - free for listening in about a million places - and figure out if you like it or not.
posted by rtha at 7:47 AM on May 19, 2016 [7 favorites]
I love both Hamilton AND the new Chance mixtape! I guess I am doing it wrong? Unlike people who don't know what something is but seem willing to be dismissive of it? Or people who get all skeptical about hip-hop in an "unexpected" setting - because a musical about Mormon missionaries is totally expected.
I mean, maybe if you're curious about Hamilton, give the cast album - free for listening in about a million places - and figure out if you like it or not.
posted by rtha at 7:47 AM on May 19, 2016 [7 favorites]
Here in Houston, the theater that will get the tour is, well, profoundly shitty.
It'll be cheaper to pay secondary market prices for tickets to the touring production of Hamilton, plus I'm way more comfortable with a scalper getting my extra monies than the terribad theater, which will only use it to do another production of something awful. (Or an awful production of something that might be good elsewhere, anyway.)
posted by uberchet at 8:00 AM on May 19, 2016
It'll be cheaper to pay secondary market prices for tickets to the touring production of Hamilton, plus I'm way more comfortable with a scalper getting my extra monies than the terribad theater, which will only use it to do another production of something awful. (Or an awful production of something that might be good elsewhere, anyway.)
posted by uberchet at 8:00 AM on May 19, 2016
It seems like the impetus behind the creation of this show is partly a reaction to current events and to important social trends. Wouldn't it make sense, ethically, for the producers to let it be performed as widely as possible, as soon as possible?
I mean, I know that this is obvious, and that the forces behind the current model are obvious, but I put this comment here in hopes that people will at least _talk_ about these issues.
posted by amtho at 8:13 AM on May 19, 2016
I mean, I know that this is obvious, and that the forces behind the current model are obvious, but I put this comment here in hopes that people will at least _talk_ about these issues.
posted by amtho at 8:13 AM on May 19, 2016
LMM has said he wants to get Hamilton available for local productions as soon as possible, but I'm sure there's contractual stuff with investors, producers, etc.
posted by kmz at 8:30 AM on May 19, 2016
posted by kmz at 8:30 AM on May 19, 2016
already bought the subscription; only 10 months to go!
Also, I'll be very disappointed if The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time doesn't set cubing primes to music.
posted by Zed at 11:48 AM on May 19, 2016
Also, I'll be very disappointed if The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time doesn't set cubing primes to music.
posted by Zed at 11:48 AM on May 19, 2016
To be honest, that's mostly what's on sale here.
It's funny -- with the Broadway production, there are people who wouldn't blink at you if you told them you spent $500 per person to treat yourself to a three-day weekend away that will soon blend in with every other vacation you've ever taken, but who somehow feel that there must be a scam afoot or something gross and plutocratic if you spend $500 a person (or more) for a live performance experience that, after another couple of months, you will never be able to quite duplicate anywhere and that will be influencing American culture for decades. Of course it's expensive; of course it's a privilege; of course it's out of many people's reach. But of all the fantasies and treats and experiences that well-off people could choose to spend their money on, this is actually one of the things that makes the most sense and deserves the least condemnation as a dumb status symbol. Relatively ordinary people spend tens of thousands of dollars throwing weddings -- let alone other parties -- that don't last much longer than Hamilton, and my guess is that they often don't get nearly as much unalloyed pleasure from them, nor does that money then support more art by more people who happen not to be all the same people whose art is most often supported by rich people's money.
It's absolutely true that if you compare it to going to the movies, it's insanely expensive. But if you compare it to other things affluent people do with money, it doesn't even register on the foolishness/grandiosity scale.
posted by Linda_Holmes at 11:53 AM on May 19, 2016 [9 favorites]
It's funny -- with the Broadway production, there are people who wouldn't blink at you if you told them you spent $500 per person to treat yourself to a three-day weekend away that will soon blend in with every other vacation you've ever taken, but who somehow feel that there must be a scam afoot or something gross and plutocratic if you spend $500 a person (or more) for a live performance experience that, after another couple of months, you will never be able to quite duplicate anywhere and that will be influencing American culture for decades. Of course it's expensive; of course it's a privilege; of course it's out of many people's reach. But of all the fantasies and treats and experiences that well-off people could choose to spend their money on, this is actually one of the things that makes the most sense and deserves the least condemnation as a dumb status symbol. Relatively ordinary people spend tens of thousands of dollars throwing weddings -- let alone other parties -- that don't last much longer than Hamilton, and my guess is that they often don't get nearly as much unalloyed pleasure from them, nor does that money then support more art by more people who happen not to be all the same people whose art is most often supported by rich people's money.
It's absolutely true that if you compare it to going to the movies, it's insanely expensive. But if you compare it to other things affluent people do with money, it doesn't even register on the foolishness/grandiosity scale.
posted by Linda_Holmes at 11:53 AM on May 19, 2016 [9 favorites]
To be honest, that's mostly what's on sale here.How amazingly, ridiculously reductive.
posted by uberchet at 1:12 PM on May 19, 2016 [2 favorites]
I wonder if it's possible to have Hamilton done with something like Fathom Events. I mean, we would absolutely pay $50 a person to see it in a movie theatre. It's not ideal but frankly it looks like our only chance for years.
posted by hollygoheavy at 1:29 PM on May 19, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by hollygoheavy at 1:29 PM on May 19, 2016 [2 favorites]
Oh, man, I love it so much when someone who doesn't know anything about Hamilton calls it over-hyped. The almost certain future regret is delicious!
posted by lauranesson at 2:05 PM on May 19, 2016
posted by lauranesson at 2:05 PM on May 19, 2016
Sorry for the way that came off, I'm a huge Chance fan (two of my very few FPPs are about him, I was actually wearing an old Chance shirt when I wrote that) and I can't really figure out his new album, and the opinions on it are almost Napoleon Dynamite level divisive.
I haven't seen Hamilton, nor have I heard anything bad about it. I don't doubt that it's good, and I totally think that if someone likes musicals, and would go to more and can swing it, that it's totally worth it! I'm literally already putting that money into a local theatre and it's been totally worth it, and suits my tastes. I have a friend who has had NBA season tickets, and it's the same thing, dude can watch basketball games all day, and he can resell the tickets (which is like a whole other thing that's not for everyone). For some people that's awesome, but for a lot of people that's a big fucking obligation, but it's a guaranteed way to get cheap playoff tickets.
This stuff comes up here when discussing Michelin restaurants, it's a great experience, but a lot of folks balk at the cost, but it's a one of a kind thing. However, if the only way to get guaranteed tickets to Alinea were to buy 2 years worth of quarterly Michelin dinners (actually this is starting to sound awesome), it makes sense to people into fine performance dining, but doesn't make a helluvalotta sense for someone who just wants to check out the one restaurant everyone is talking about.
So, like I said I was interested in the last big musical, the choice was overpaying for a not great seat, or paying even more money for similar quality seats and the obligation to go see more musicals, which aren't my thing, or the hassle of reselling the tickets, also something I'd rather not do.
I don't blame theaters for capitalizing on a shows popularity, but musicals are just... not for everybody, and not everyone can afford to plunk down a ton of money on something like that. 2 years is enough time for something to go from "Sounds cool, I'll check it out" to "ugh more of this", but for someone who's a huge fan it could be "totally fucking amazing omg more!"
Sometimes the former becomes the latter, but if that were likely then theatres wouldn't be coercing people into these package deals.
If you're considering this, but unsure about the cost and uninterested in the other shows and won't be able to see it for another 2 years anyway, then you might consider that you're literally buying into hype. If you love musicals, can swing the price and the show lineup excites you, then by all means, do it! I do similar things, more to my taste, and don't regret the time or money one bit.
(also: 10 days: good, acid rap: AMAZING, surf: impressive rolodex; decent overall, coloring book: I dunno? Has it's moments but nothing straight up jaw-dropping for me.)
posted by lkc at 2:47 PM on May 19, 2016
I haven't seen Hamilton, nor have I heard anything bad about it. I don't doubt that it's good, and I totally think that if someone likes musicals, and would go to more and can swing it, that it's totally worth it! I'm literally already putting that money into a local theatre and it's been totally worth it, and suits my tastes. I have a friend who has had NBA season tickets, and it's the same thing, dude can watch basketball games all day, and he can resell the tickets (which is like a whole other thing that's not for everyone). For some people that's awesome, but for a lot of people that's a big fucking obligation, but it's a guaranteed way to get cheap playoff tickets.
This stuff comes up here when discussing Michelin restaurants, it's a great experience, but a lot of folks balk at the cost, but it's a one of a kind thing. However, if the only way to get guaranteed tickets to Alinea were to buy 2 years worth of quarterly Michelin dinners (actually this is starting to sound awesome), it makes sense to people into fine performance dining, but doesn't make a helluvalotta sense for someone who just wants to check out the one restaurant everyone is talking about.
So, like I said I was interested in the last big musical, the choice was overpaying for a not great seat, or paying even more money for similar quality seats and the obligation to go see more musicals, which aren't my thing, or the hassle of reselling the tickets, also something I'd rather not do.
I don't blame theaters for capitalizing on a shows popularity, but musicals are just... not for everybody, and not everyone can afford to plunk down a ton of money on something like that. 2 years is enough time for something to go from "Sounds cool, I'll check it out" to "ugh more of this", but for someone who's a huge fan it could be "totally fucking amazing omg more!"
Sometimes the former becomes the latter, but if that were likely then theatres wouldn't be coercing people into these package deals.
If you're considering this, but unsure about the cost and uninterested in the other shows and won't be able to see it for another 2 years anyway, then you might consider that you're literally buying into hype. If you love musicals, can swing the price and the show lineup excites you, then by all means, do it! I do similar things, more to my taste, and don't regret the time or money one bit.
(also: 10 days: good, acid rap: AMAZING, surf: impressive rolodex; decent overall, coloring book: I dunno? Has it's moments but nothing straight up jaw-dropping for me.)
posted by lkc at 2:47 PM on May 19, 2016
For what it's worth, the cheapest five-ticket season package in Des Moines is $133. That's for all five shows, not per show. That's the price for crappy seats on a weeknight, and you'll pay more than twice that for good seats on Saturday, but we're not talking about vast sums of money. And I don't think there are too many people in Iowa who buy theater tickets out of a sense of obligation.
I've almost talked myself into buying season tickets. I'm definitely going to try to see Fun Home.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 3:23 PM on May 19, 2016
I've almost talked myself into buying season tickets. I'm definitely going to try to see Fun Home.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 3:23 PM on May 19, 2016
If you're considering this, but unsure about the cost and uninterested in the other shows and won't be able to see it for another 2 years anyway, then you might consider that you're literally buying into hype.
It's not as if the only source of information about Hamilton is press releases, news articles, and marketing materials. As has been mentioned above, the soundtrack is publicly available for free in many places. It took me barely thirty minutes of listening to the soundtrack to answer my question of "Is this just hype, or something I really want to see in person?"
posted by creepygirl at 4:52 PM on May 19, 2016 [2 favorites]
It's not as if the only source of information about Hamilton is press releases, news articles, and marketing materials. As has been mentioned above, the soundtrack is publicly available for free in many places. It took me barely thirty minutes of listening to the soundtrack to answer my question of "Is this just hype, or something I really want to see in person?"
posted by creepygirl at 4:52 PM on May 19, 2016 [2 favorites]
But if it is An American in Paris, Jersey Boys and Phantom of the Opera .. there's going to be a problem
Phantom of the Opera is positively hip and edgy compared to most of the upcoming Seattle slate:
Cabaret: the music is 50 years old.
The King and I: the music is 65 years old.
An American in Paris: Based on music written 88 years ago.
Beautiful: The Carol King Musical: Jukebox musical of songs written 40-55 years ago.
Finding Neverland: the one offering with music written in this decade! But from listening to songs on YouTube, the music might as well have been written 40 years ago.
posted by creepygirl at 6:50 PM on May 19, 2016 [1 favorite]
Phantom of the Opera is positively hip and edgy compared to most of the upcoming Seattle slate:
Cabaret: the music is 50 years old.
The King and I: the music is 65 years old.
An American in Paris: Based on music written 88 years ago.
Beautiful: The Carol King Musical: Jukebox musical of songs written 40-55 years ago.
Finding Neverland: the one offering with music written in this decade! But from listening to songs on YouTube, the music might as well have been written 40 years ago.
posted by creepygirl at 6:50 PM on May 19, 2016 [1 favorite]
Wait 'till you find out the dates on the music the symphony plays!
(I'm not that interested in Beautiful, but Carole King is a complete genius, by the way.)
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 6:54 PM on May 19, 2016
(I'm not that interested in Beautiful, but Carole King is a complete genius, by the way.)
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 6:54 PM on May 19, 2016
I haven't seen Hamilton, nor have I heard anything bad about it. I don't doubt that it's good
I do.
posted by mrgrimm at 12:05 PM on May 25, 2016
I do.
posted by mrgrimm at 12:05 PM on May 25, 2016
You doubt that it's good? Not sure I'm parsing you correctly.
posted by gingerbeer at 12:29 PM on May 25, 2016
posted by gingerbeer at 12:29 PM on May 25, 2016
The Chicago Tribune just confirmed that people who bought subscription tickets in Chicago will not be able to buy additional tickets to Hamilton as part of their subscriptions. And that the subscribers aren't happy about it.
The article also says that mailing the group tickets is being delayed, and that Broadway in Chicago is saying that they'll cancel the whole order for any group tickets that they see on resell sites before they're mailed.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 5:20 AM on May 26, 2016
The article also says that mailing the group tickets is being delayed, and that Broadway in Chicago is saying that they'll cancel the whole order for any group tickets that they see on resell sites before they're mailed.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 5:20 AM on May 26, 2016
mrgrimm has been clear that he mostly thinks the phenomenon around Hamilton is status-seeking behavior unrelated to the quality of the work.
How he knows this is unclear. In the absence of direct experience, you'd think the freight train of awards and accolades might suggest it's genuinely a fantastic show, but apparently not. My suspicion is that he's just down on it because so many people like it. Contrarian positions appear to be a pattern for him, so there you go.
posted by uberchet at 7:13 AM on May 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
How he knows this is unclear. In the absence of direct experience, you'd think the freight train of awards and accolades might suggest it's genuinely a fantastic show, but apparently not. My suspicion is that he's just down on it because so many people like it. Contrarian positions appear to be a pattern for him, so there you go.
posted by uberchet at 7:13 AM on May 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
What would we do without brave souls to tell us we don't actually like things we think we like.
posted by Mavri at 8:11 AM on May 26, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Mavri at 8:11 AM on May 26, 2016 [4 favorites]
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