Richmond CenterStage

[burt]

Richmond's upcoming "Broadway Series" of second-rate touring shows for 2-night stands at The Landmark Theatre is not likely to attract throngs of ticket buyers.

By comparison, take a look at the national touring show lineup in Charlotte:

MARY POPPINS and BILLY ELLIOTT have been booked for three-week runs by The Blumenthal Performance Arts Center. In addition, 7 other shows have been booked for one-week runs. They are: SHRECK THE MUSICAL; 9 TO 5; DREAMGIRLS; IN THE HEIGHTS; WHITE CHRISTMAS; YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN and NEXT TO NORMAL.

Under the aegis of Blumenthal PAC, the shows will be presented on three different stages in Charlotte -- The Belk Theatre, Ovens Auditorium and, for NEXT TO NORMAL, the brand new Knight Theatre.

Last spring's three-week sell-out of the national company of WICKED at Richmond's Landmark may have spoiled local theatre-goers.

http://www.blumentha...?blumenthal=162

[wrldcoupe4]

Burt, why is CenterStage such a let down in this regard?

[burt]

Burt, why is CenterStage such a let down in this regard?

IMO, when it was decided to eliminate more than 200 seats at the renovated Carpenter Theatre, capacity was reduced to about 1,760. Although the rebuilt stage at The Carpenter is large eniugh to accommodate just about any show touring the country, a theatre under 2,000 seats would have to charge at least $100 for top tickets in order to guarantee road producers their cut. Outside of New York, such high priced tickets are not the norm, although The Virginia Opera and Richmond Ballet sell seome seats for as much as $110.

Further, management of CenterStage has a policy of favoring local resident companies (opera, ballet, symphony.) Thus, almost all choice weekends are booked, thereby prohibiting any sit-down engagements by top touring shows.

As to why RPAC, which manages the Center Stage properties as well as the Landmark, have chosen to ally themselves with the orginization (SMG?) that books the Richmond Coliseum, I haven't a clue. SMG, apparently, is a contractural signator with an organization out of Chicago called Jam Theatricals. http://www.jamtheatricals.com (whose website is under construction at the moment) books second rate road shows in cities comparable to those in the Eastern Baseball League. I believe I am correct in saying that Richmond is its premier city. But Jam is not averse to some outside booking -- thus, RPAC, SMG and Jam negotiated the booking of the National Company of WICKED into The Landmark last spring for a three week run. Incidentally, the 3-week Richmond run broke house records across the country.

I see no reason why The Carpenter couldn't book smaller musicals/shows such as NEXT TO NORMAL for one-week runs. Or, perhaps, coordinate with the boys at Theatre IV to book in some attractions at The Empire in its down time.

Meanwhile, it's reasonable to hope that negotiations are underway to bring in some of the big shows in 2011 and beyond. Full theatres are good for the restaurant economy as well as hotels.

[JSI]

Anybody see the latest nTelos commercial? I'm pretty sure it was filmed in front of CenterStage. I saw a huge film set out there I believe the night Smashing Pumpkins played at the National. I can't find the commercial on-line. Wonder if this is nationally televised?

[burt]

Richmond Center Stage invested in the hit musical THE AADAMS FAMILY now filling the Lunt Fontanne Theatre on Broadway.

The show will commence its National Tour at The Mahalia Jackson Theatre in New Orleans in September of 2011. The complete tour schedule will be announced at a later date, but I bet a quarter Richmond will on the show's itinerary.

http://www.theatermania.com/touring-productions/news/04-2010/addams-family-musical-to-begin-national-tour-in-se_27045.html

[burt]

The Incomparable Tony Bennett hasn't played Richmond for 16 years. But the 84-year old singer will come into the Carpenter Theatre for a concert on Friday, November 5th.

In fact, The Carpenter Theatre will host two other top entertainers during that same week:

Comedian Daniel Tosh will offer his adult humor on Wednesday, November 3rd.

And celebrated jazz trumpeter, Chris Botti will appear on Saturday, November 6th.

Check out the website for ticket information:

http://www.richmondcenterstage.com

Click "Events."

[wrldcoupe4]

Tosh.O on E! can be pretty entertaining. Glad to see some additional acts utilizing the facility.

Do the smaller venues get much use?

[burt]

Tosh.O on E! can be pretty entertaining. Glad to see some additional acts utilizing the facility.

Do the smaller venues get much use?

It's odd.

Last year, events at The Gottwald Playhouse were listed -- such as Richmond Shakespeare and African American Theatre Company productions. But, so far, only one benefit concert has been posted on Octotber 17th for The Gottwald and only one entry about Rhythm Hall (an event complementing The Nutcracker in The Carpenter Theatre.)

Check "Events" at:

http://www.richmondcenterstage.com

[burt]

The Carpenter and Landmark Theatres in Richmond are both under the same booking management.

Tickets for the Tony Bennett concert on Friday, November 5th at The Carpenter Theatre go on sale this Saturday, August 21st. They are priced from $48 to $128.

Meanwhile, the southern accented cooking lady known as Paula Deen will take the stage of The Landmark Theatre Friday, October 1st for food discussions and possible demonstrations. Tickets priced at $48 to $68 go on sale tomorrow, Friday, August 20th.

Tickets for either of the above may be purchased at venue box offices, or at all ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 800/745-3000.

[burt]

Richmond CenterStage has redesigned and vastly improved its web site.

You can track every show and order tickets for events appearing on the stages of The Carpenter and Landmark Theatres. But, this year, for reasons unknown, programmings for The Gottwald Playhouse and Rhythm Hall are omitted.

http://www.richmondcenterstage.com

[burt]

Richmond CenterStage has not had an Executive Director since Linda Dalch Jones resigned that post in 2008 prior to the grand opening of the facility.

Today, The CenterStage Foundation announced that the important position is being filled by Richard M. Parison, Jr. Beginning on November 1st, he will oversee development, PROGRAMMING (my emphasis) and marketing as well as arts/education activities.

Mr. Parison comes with impressive credentials. He has held associate and assistant producer positions at The Hal Prince Music Theatre and at The Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia. He has also been involved with The Great Lakes Theatre Festival at Playhouse Square in Cleveland.

From Will Jones in today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...ctor-ar-502982/

Here is the new CenterStage website:

http://www.richmondcenterstage.com

[burt]

Rhythm Hall at Richmond CenterStage was touted initially as a site for jazz concerts. The principal reason it has foregone booking lots of musical concerts is because of a sound problem.

The 200-seat Gottwald Playhouse on the second level of the converted Thalhimer building at 6th and Grace Streets is directly above Rhythm Hall. It was architecturally designed with spring-like construction as a "floating" space rendering it immune from invasive outside sounds. But it is difficult to mask the thumping reverberations of percussive bass drums. Because of that issue, Rhythm Hall's primary use in its first year of operation has largely been limited to meetings, receptions and social functions.

Remedies to the situation are being studied so that both halls can be used simultaneously.

From today's RTD:.

http://www2.timesdis...ag18-ar-511835/

Unfortunately, the otherwise excellent new CenterStage website provides limited views of the smaller halls' interiors. When clicking pictures under the "our venues" caption, one of the photos for the Gottwald shows actors on the large Carpenter Theatre stage.

http://www.richmondcenterstage.com

[burt]

The National Theatre website has posted the following:

"Effective October 11th all show ticket prices listed on Ticketmaster will already includeTicketmaster convenience fees."

Whether or not Richmond CenterStage has such an arrangement with ticketmaster is not known at this point.

http://www.richmondcenterstage.com

[burt]

It appears that the Daniel Tosh show at The Carpenter Theatre on Wednesday, November 3rd is sold out.

And there are very few tickets still available for Tony Bennett on Friday, November 5th.

The Carpenter Theatre sells "stool" seating at the top of the balcony as well as standing room, but I don't believe tickets for these spaces go on sale until the last minute. I could be wrong.

http://www.richmondcenterstage.com

Click "Events."

[burt]

Richard Parison arrived November 1st from his former theatrical post in Massachusetts and is now the Executive Director of Richmond CenterStage.

So far in his first week of residency, Richmond CenterStage has been busy and has racked up two sell-outs in the large CarpenterTheatre. Comic Daniel Tosh played to a full house Monday and last night, Tony Bennett packed the hall.

Tonight, Chris Botti and his music ensemble move into the theatre for a performance. There are some tickets remaining for the Botti concert.

Here's a review of Tony Bennett from today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/entertainment/2010/nov/06/tony06-ar-635105/

Click on the website for programming and ticket availability:

http://www.richmondcenterstage.com

[burt]

I just spoke with a friend who was at The Carpenter Theatre last night. He told me that Tony Bennett chatted with the crowd and told them how lucky Richmond is to have such a beautiful renovated OLD theatre (it was built in 1928 as a 2200-seat Loew's movie palace.)

Most of Bennett's touring engagements are in large modern theatres which require heavy amplification. To demonstrate the accoustics of the reconfigured 1800-seat Carpenter, he set his mike on the piano, stepped to the center of the stage and sang one song without any electronic help. My friend was under the balcony in the back orchestra section and said Bennett was perfectly audible, although he re-miked himself for the remainder of the concert.

[burt]

Richmond CenterStage has compiled a list of attractions at The Carpenter Theatre, Gottwald Playhouse and The Landmark Theatre during the holiday season:

http://emails.manageclients.net/T/ViewEmail/r/F8E6F028A39BAA09/4E594C99644031EFC67FD2F38AC4859C

Check the website for listings of attractions for the entire season. Click EVENTS.

http://www.richmondcenterstage.com

[burt]

Richard Parison is now on the job as Executive Director of Richmond CenterStage facilities which include the Carpenter and Landmark Theatres.

The thin touring show seasons of 2009/2010, 2010/2011 at the two booking houses is likely to continue until at least 2012/2013. One reason is because it takes considerable time to negotiate with National Touring companies and to clear schedules. Another stumbling block is financial guarantees.

Reportedly, Jam Theatricals, the producing company out of Chicago which has offered one-nighter and split week engagements in Richmond since 2009 is having major problems.

Remember the exception WICKED which broke every existing house record, grossing just short of $5 million during its three-week run last spring at The Landmark? A run of that length (or longer) is called a "sit-down" engagement in theatrical parlance. And cities covet them because of the economic activity they engender. Unfortunately, neither The Landmark nor The Carpenter is likely to offer that type of show in the near future (although there is the possibility of a WICKED return engagement in the future.)

Here are some major Broadway shows currently on tour that will NOT be playing Richmond anytime soon: THE LION KING, which currently is beginning a six week run at Chrysler Hall in Norfolk; JERSEY BOYS; MARY POPPINS; BILLY ELLIOT; ROCK OF AGES; SOUTH PACIFIC, and even PHANTOM OF THE OPERA which has played just about every city in the country.

Among major shows which may have open dates are: Dolly Parton's NINE TO FIVE; HAIR;

SHRECK; IN THE HEIGHTS; WEST SIDE STORY, and THE AADAMS FAMILY*. Perhaps Mr. Parison can negotiate with a company other than Jam Theatricals to lure one or two of them.

*Richmond CenterStage invested in the Broadway production of THE AADAMS FAMILY.

[burt]

I know I'll be spending at least three nights at theatres in Richmond during my Christmas visit. I have tickets for THE NUTCRACKER at The Carpenter, WHITE CHRISTMAS at the Empire and THE WINTER'S TALE at the Gottwald Playhouse.

I've been to The Carpenter and The Empire, but am anxious to see the interior of The Gottwald, which is within the Richmond CenterStage complex.

Here's an excellent review of the Shakespeare play from yesterday's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...le06-ar-696980/

http://richmondcenterstage.com The ballet and Shakespeare at CenterStage.

http://barksdalerichmond.org/ White Christmas at The Empire.

[burt]

It appears that the James Taylor concert on Wednesdy, March 30th at The Landmark Theatre has sold out. But check the Events calendar at:

http://www.richmondcenterstage.com

The Richmond Forum which frequently sells out The Landmark Theatre for its one-night appearances of celebrities apparently sold out Anderson Cooper's announced date at The Landmark on Saturday, February 19th quicker than expected. Mr. Cooper agreed to a second appearance at 2PM on Sunday, February 20th. It, too, may well be sold out.

If available, tickets must be purchased through:

http://www.RichmondForum.org

[burt]

Ross Catrow and Susan Howson of RVA News decided to "crack the code of opera", so they slipped on their pink socks (his) and pink pumps (hers) and paid big bucks to hear and see Wagner's very heavy and very Germanic opera, THE VALKYRIE staged by The Virginia Opera Company at The Carpenter Theatre.

http://rvanews.com/e...pera-code/38009

Just to balance this amusing take on Wagner, here is professional critic Roy Proctor's assessment of VALKYRIE .

From Sunday's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...erfo-ar-870261/

[burt]

Richmond CenterStage isn't talking, but there is a strong possibility of THE LION KING coming into Richmond's Landmark Theatre for a "sit-down" engagement beginning in January of 2012 after the show's 5-week run in Baltimore..

Since WICKED played to 78,000 people and grossed almost $5 million in its 3-week run at The Landmark last March, Richmond is becoming more attractive to producers.

While WICKED was probably the heaviest show ever hung on the Landmark stage, it pales by comparison with the mechanics of THE LION KING.

More info as it becomes available.

[burt]

Richmond CenterStage isn't talking, but there is a strong possibility of THE LION KING coming into Richmond's Landmark Theatre for a "sit-down" engagement beginning in January of 2012 after the show's 5-week run in Baltimore..

Since WICKED played to 78,000 people and grossed almost $5 million in its 3-week run at The Landmark last March, Richmond is becoming more attractive to producers.

While WICKED was probably the heaviest show ever hung on the Landmark stage, it pales by comparison with the mechanics of THE LION KING.

More info as it becomes available.

This proved to be an unfounded rumor which I picked up from someone who should know better. THE LION KING is not booked into The Landmark any time soon. Present engagagements will carry it into other cities until fall of 2012.

[burt]

Notwithstanding my false report above, I can say with certainty that Broadway singer/actress Bernadette Peters has been booked to appear for one evenings at The The Carpenter Theatre next September to celebrate the third anniversary of Richmond CenterStage.

[burt]

Richmond CenterStage isn't talking, but there is a strong possibility of THE LION KING coming into Richmond's Landmark Theatre for a "sit-down" engagement beginning in January of 2012 after the show's 5-week run in Baltimore..

Since WICKED played to 78,000 people and grossed almost $5 million in its 3-week run at The Landmark last March, Richmond is becoming more attractive to producers.

While WICKED was probably the heaviest show ever hung on the Landmark stage, it pales by comparison with the mechanics of THE LION KING.

More info as it becomes available.

Richmond CenterStage is getting bolder in its booking practices!

My source was correct -- DISNEYS THE LION KING will come into Richmond's Landmark Theatre for a four-week run from February 15th thru March 11th, 2012

Also, WICKED will return to The Landmark for two weeks this year beginning October 5th thru October 16th

Remaining shows, although split-week engagements, are of considerably higher quality than current season offerings:

RAIN -- A Tribute to The Beatles (currently playing on Broadway) will arrive for two nights at The Carpenter Theatre November 5th and 6th.

SOUTH PACIFIC will play 2 nights at The Landmark December 16th and 17th.

THE BLUE MAN GROUP is booked for 3 nights into The Landmark April 27th, 28th and 29th, 2012.

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THE LION KING will break the long-run record in Richmond with its 4-week sitdown engagement at The Landmark. The National Tour of the show will arrive in Richmond from Minneapolis.