Ziegfeld Theatre

141 W. 54th Street,
New York, NY 10019

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MPol
MPol on January 25, 2009 at 4:19 pm

Hi, LuisV.

This:

“The playing of WSS at the Ziegfeld would be a wonderful complement to the stage production coming soon to the Palace. One generates interest in the other. ”

is something that I totally agree with, and which has always been the case. When the ORIGINAL Broadway stage version of West Side Story opened at NYC’s Winter Garden in late September 1957, toured a number of other large cities, including Boston, the release of the film version of WSS four years later helped popularize this great musical per se. So, in a way, it’s deja vu all over again, only the movie from 1961 is still around. Hopefully, there won’t be a remake of the film version of “West Side Story”, because THAT would be a disaster! The heart and soul would be cut right out of it!

I did see the movie “Hairspray” back in the late 1980’s, which I thought was lots of fun and enjoyed a great deal. Never having seen “In The Heights” on stage at all, I don’t have anything to compare it with if and when “Heights” comes out in film version. Since I don’t live in New York, I don’t get there very often. Lucky you, if you’re able to see that many Broadway shows. Somehow, I have the feeling that musicals aren’t like they used to be, but that’s a matter of taste, I guess. Come to think of it, though, whatever happened to Broadway musicals that originated in NYC’s Broadway going on tour in other bigger cities here in the United States? That’s how it used to be. I’d love to see the Broadway revival of WSS come to Boston, the way the ORIGINAL Broadway stage play of WSS did, but that’s just me.

What are the chances of prices coming down if people DON’T boycott? Just curious.

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez on January 25, 2009 at 10:02 am

The playing of WSS at the Ziegfeld would be a wonderful complement to the stage production coming soon to the Palace. One generates interest in the other. The success of Hairspray and Chicago are but 2 examples.

Regarding the high price of Broadway, it’s too simplistic to just say prices should be lower. Don’t you think they would do that if the realistically could. About 80% of Broadway shows do not recoup the money that investors put in. That’s a really scary number and yet, people do risk their money because of a love of the art of theater and the promise, that if you have a big hit, you can make a lot of money in return.

I attend about 8-10 broadway shows a year. Sometimes I pay full price, other times I get discount codes or go to TKTS. Yes , I think tickets are expensive, but I still think that, for certain shows, they are worth it. For those that I am not sure about, I will get discount tickets. If people boycott, as has been suggested above, the prices won’t come down. There will just be fewer and fewer productions and those that come to Broadway will be focussed more and more on those shows most likely to draw the most audiences; mostly revivals. Many say that that is already happening, but there are still wonderful shows on Broadway that are different like “In the Heights”, “Avenue Q”, and “Spring Awakening”.

p.s. In the Heights has just been optioned for a film version and what better place for it to open than at The Ziegfeld where all the big recent musicals like Chicago, Dreamgirls and Hairspray have premiered. But…….How fabulous would it be to have the premiere of “In The Hights” at Loew’s 175th Street which really is in the heights! I will post this thought on that theater’s page though I’m not sure that the screen still exists.

MPol
MPol on January 25, 2009 at 8:44 am

Hi, ErikH. Thanks for the info. I DID read about the mixed reviews that came in the wake of the Washington DC trial run of West Side Story. I’m still thinking about it, although I certainly wouldn’t go right the minute it opened if I went; I’d wait afew months. Regarding the prices: What I said earlier in another post; those hefty orchestra seat prices couldn’t be maintained/increased with the way the economy is right now—they’d have to drop them down some—probably a lot. The cheaper seats, though, are considerably farthur back from the stage, which isn’t what I’d want, with a stage play.

Anyway..back on topic; Glad there’s going to be a 70mm film festival in Berlin. 70mm prints of various classic films must be tough to come by, just generally. It would nice if they could/would include the film “West Side Story” in that 70mm festival!

MPol
MPol on January 25, 2009 at 2:54 am

Right.

This:

“ Bill said:

I got “Billy Elliot” tickets. The closest date I could get for the seats I wanted: July 4th.“”

is something I know. Thanks, though.

JeffS
JeffS on January 24, 2009 at 2:17 pm

MPol, Bill said:

I got “Billy Elliot” tickets. The closest date I could get for the seats I wanted: July 4th."

Don’t know what the WSS play wait time situation is yet. We haven’t tried to get our tickets yet.

MPol
MPol on January 24, 2009 at 2:08 pm

Youch!! Whatever…..$120.00 a pop is still a lot, regardless of what anybody says or thinks. Going directly to the box office where ANY event(s) in question in person and picking up tickets, however, is the best way to avoid the extra service and handling charges, plus it’s more assuring to just know that one has the ticket(s) right in hand, so to speak.

July 4th is the closest date you could get tickets for the Broadway revival of West Side Story?!? Wooohoo! I guess West Side Story is a hot musical, be it on stage or on screen!!\

I guess we’ve strayed quite far from the topic at hand here, but, hey…regarding West Side Story…both the movie and the stageplay are excellent, imho! I’d LOVE to see another screening of WSS at the Ziegfeld one day. Perhaps, maybe, I will. However, to stray off topic some more for a bit: I’m elated and excited that the patrons of the Coolidge Corner Theatre, in Brookline, MA, and at Trader Joe’s voted in the film West Side Story as the number one film of the 1960’s!!

Bill Huelbig
Bill Huelbig on January 24, 2009 at 9:50 am

At Ticketmaster, a “West Side Story” ticket is going for $120 like Jeff said, plus $8.75 service and handling charges. I avoided those extra charges on “Billy Elliot” by going directly to the box office at the theater.

MPol
MPol on January 24, 2009 at 9:35 am

Ouch!!! Do they HONESTLY think that those prices can be maintained/increased indefinitely, with the economy being the way it is right now? Seriously, if that’s the case, there may well come a time when many more people, even ones who DO have that kind of money to spend for a super-expensive seat for a Broadway show, will think twice before buying, plus who’s to say that this Broadway revival of West Side Story won’t be even MORE expensive than other Broadway shows? Everytime a revival of any show comes along, it’s much more expensive to do, than to do whole new musicals, etc.

I’d also like not to see the Ziegfeld close. It’s one of my favorite movie theatres, even though I don’t reside in the New York area.

ZiegfeldMan
ZiegfeldMan on January 24, 2009 at 9:29 am

For the classics, thast is

ZiegfeldMan
ZiegfeldMan on January 24, 2009 at 9:29 am

Bill:

Don’t get nervous, just get ready…………

Best

Bill Huelbig
Bill Huelbig on January 24, 2009 at 6:41 am

Jeff, do you want to share the inside joke with our CT friends? I’ll leave it up to you, but it’s something you should be very proud of. Besides, anyone who goes up to the Ziegfeld posts from 3/28/06 can figure it out :)

Boycotts or not, I don’t see Broadway prices going down anytime soon. In fact, I think they just went up. I got “Billy Elliot” tickets for my nieces last night: $126.50 each. The closest date I could get for the seats I wanted: July 4th. A lot of long-running shows did close recently due to the economy, but incoming tourists love Broadway and they’ll pay whatever it takes to see a show.

I was a little nervous when I saw so many Ziegfeld posts in my inbox. I thought either they announced the Classics schedule, or the theater might be closing! (may that never happen).

MPol
MPol on January 24, 2009 at 6:01 am

You sang “Something’s Coming” in a 7th-grade variety show? How neat!

Thanks again, Ziegfeld Man. Whether or not I’d be able to make the road trip/pilgrimage down to NYC for any of the classic films would depend on at least a couple of things, though:

A) The weather. If any of them were in the wintertime, there’d be no way I’d be able or willing to make the trip down there, especially since the winters up here are too unpredictable; one never knows what’s really going to happen from one day to the next.

B) Whether or not I’d be able to find a place to stay the night. The couple of times I’d made road trip/pilgrages down to NYC for screenings of West Side Story (one to the Ziegfeld, the other to Radio City Music Hall 5 years before), I stayed overnight with relatives (who might or might not still be residing in the City)

ZiegfeldMan
ZiegfeldMan on January 24, 2009 at 5:53 am

If you do make a pilgrimage to any of the Classics at the Ziegfeld, generally, due to the graciousness of Craig, I briefly introduce the Saturday night screenings. It adds a nice personal touch for all. If you come, would love to meet you, and frankly, at my age, I’d love to meet anyone (lol).

Side note-In a 7th grade variety show, I sang “Something’s Coming.” That was my last “professional” gig.

Best

MPol
MPol on January 24, 2009 at 5:37 am

(smiling) Thanks, Ziegfeld Man.

ZiegfeldMan
ZiegfeldMan on January 23, 2009 at 5:28 pm

Doesn’t matter-this site is like the Olive Garden: When you come here, you’re family.

Best

MPol
MPol on January 23, 2009 at 4:48 pm

Hi again, Ziegfeld Man.

Thanks. I can think of a dozen more films, in addition to West Side Story, which give me lots of the good-o feeling to watch, but they admittedly don’t hold the same special place in my heart regarding movies as West Side Story does. I have mixed feelings of “getting on the horn” to Craig, since I don’t live in New York, however.

ZiegfeldMan
ZiegfeldMan on January 23, 2009 at 4:38 pm

Absolutely:

Now think of a dozen more films that give you that feeling and get “on the horn” to Craig.

Thanks

MPol
MPol on January 23, 2009 at 4:33 pm

I’ve seen the Special Edition of the 2-disc DVD version of the film “West Side Story”, with all the interviews, and the scrapbook. It’s cool. However, NOTHING beats seeing this great, golden oldie-but-goody movie classic film on the great big, wide screen, in a REAL movie theatres with the lights down low, especially in a place like the Ziegfeld.

MPol
MPol on January 23, 2009 at 4:27 pm

Thanks for the suggestion, Jeff S. How do I hit END? Where do I find it on my computer? That might make it easier to go down to the end of the thread in order to post a comment/reply.

I’m going to wait for the prices to hopefully go down some before I even consider going to a performance of the Broadway revival of West Side Story. I’ve also read some mixed views about it, so I’m still thinking about it, also.

ZiegfeldMan
ZiegfeldMan on January 23, 2009 at 4:09 pm

Just to add:

Although it’s not the Ziegfeld, the multidisc special edition of WSS is fabulous with amazing extras, interviews, and especially seeing Jerome Robbins directing the cast in the streets on the west side. Definitely one of the best DVDs I’ve ever bought. But even with all that, as they say “the camels still look small” (inside joke for “Lawrence” fans).

Best

JeffS
JeffS on January 23, 2009 at 4:01 pm

@Mpol,

I was referring to the text entry box, where you type your reply. It has no scroll bars to effectively move around once the number of lines exceeds the box size. Your text just vanishes. Yes, the up/down arrow keys work, but it’s a real pain. The scroll should be automatic as you type.

As for the length of this tread, that length doesn’t matter. Just hit END and you go to the end of the thread in one keystroke.

I also won’t boycott, because it won’t matter, and I do want to see the show.

MPol
MPol on January 23, 2009 at 3:54 pm

Hi, Jeff S. and Ziegfeld Man:

Jeff: What a mistake I made—not knowing about the inside joke between you and Bill! I got egg on my face with THAT one!

Jeff S. I agree with you wholeheartedly about the scrolling all the way down to the very bottom of a given thread, especially long ones, with many, many comments, such as this thread and a bunch of others, before one can make a comment. Scrolling all the way down to the very bottom of a long thread like this in order to post a comment/reply is also quite tiresome and can be annoying sometimes.

Also, Jeff S., I’ve seen several good stage productions of West Side Story, including one at NYC’s Lincoln Center, at around Thanksgiving time, 1980. Boycotting super-expensive prices: While I agree that $120.00 a pop for a Broadway revival of West Side Story at the Palace Theatre is outrageous, the only way to really boycott those prices is to do it on a personal basis—by not attending! It won’t stop people from attending a WSS Broadway revival at the Palace Theatre who are willing to spend that kind of money or possibly more, but at least you’ll have made your voice heard, if one gets the drift.

Webmasters, if you’re listening, while I enjoy posting on this website a great deal, there are certain things that need changing, and this is most defnitely one of them!

Ziegfeld Man: As I mentioned on another post, I, too saw the film West Side Story at the Ziegfeld afew years ago, and it was, indeed a beautiful experience! I’d make the trip down to NYC again for another screening of my alltime favorite flick at the Ziegfeld again, weather permitting, of course.

ZiegfeldMan
ZiegfeldMan on January 23, 2009 at 9:06 am

Jeff:

Just an opinion, WSS has been revived theatrically before, I remember seeing a Lincoln Center revival in 1968. However wonderful, it just didn’t cut it for me because I admit to being spoiled by the film which really “takes it to the streets.” I suppose they can both be enjoyed as separate works of art just as all plays that become films. BUT, even before, when WSS has been at the Ziegfeld, it’s been an amazing experience.

Best

JeffS
JeffS on January 23, 2009 at 8:07 am

OK, a tad “off topic” here for the moment.

Can somebody PLEASE explain to me why the comments box here on this web site does not have a SCROLL BAR when you have filled it with text. Your text and cursor vanishes below the bottom of the box and while your text is still being inputted, you CAN’T SEE IT OR CORRECT IT.

Webmasters: This has been a constant issue with this web site. It’s the ONLY web site out there like this. Can you PLEASE get with the times and fix this?

Opps there goes my text, I’m typing blind again…

And no, having to constantly use the up and down arrows to follow my text ISN’T the answer. We need a scroll bar and automatic scrolling as you type – just like every other web site.

JeffS
JeffS on January 23, 2009 at 8:03 am

I’m planning on seeing that Broadway revival too. We hope to go in April. The tickets are not cheap, I think they were $120 a seat, which I think is outrageous, and should “boycott” those prices, but that won’t have any effect. Besides, I’d like to see a stage rendition of this even if it isn’t the cast I’m used to, and that some of the musical numbers may be in different places.

@Mpol, that was an inside joke between Bill and myself. It isn’t another theater I was alluding too, but Bill certainly knows what I mean.