January 27, 2008

Timing is Right for Jersey Boys in Vegas!

January 27th, 2008

In his entertainment column today, Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Mike Weatherford talks to Producer Michael David about the April arrival of Jersey Boys at the Palazzo.

Weatherford notes that once Avenue Q and Hairspray closed, producers realized the task of selling a nonexclusive product might even be harder. If you weren’t in a rush to see The Producers before it leaves Paris Las Vegas on Feb. 9, maybe it’s because you saw it elsewhere.

According to Weatherford, you can look at the upcoming production of Jersey Boys and say one of two things: “Don’t they get the message? Broadway doesn’t work in Vegas!” Or, “At least this one can benefit from what others learned the hard way.”

It’s no surprise that Jersey Boys co-producer Michael David leans toward the latter, and counts lessons learned in other cities as well. “This will be the fourth production of Jersey Boys we’ve done,” he says. “As we get wiser about the one we just did, we try and refine and improve the new one we’re doing.”

A deal with the Palazzo was done early enough to enable the producers to scale down the seating, from 2,200 to 1,650. David gives kudos to casino management for agreeing. The extra seats would be “money in the bank if people come, but they were in agreement that making it more intimate would be more helpful (to the show) in the long run.”

A learning curve also helps determine when to bring a Broadway title to Las Vegas. Avenue Q came before a national tour could promote the brand. The Producers came after the saturation point.

Jersey Boys played almost all of last year in San Francisco, but David hopes shorter tenures in Los Angeles and Tempe, helped more than harmed. “You couldn’t get a ticket in Los Angeles. Theoretically you heard about us but you weren’t able to see us,” he says.

“My hope is that we have tantalized or titillated an audience nearby but hardly used them up.”

What about the incredible fanbase of Jersey Boys–with so many fans that have seen the show time and time again? Will you be making the trip to experience JB at the Palazzo? Let’s take a poll!


2 Comments »

  1. BUZ AND I are honored and privileged to host an after show party for everyone in the JB family who comes on opening night, April 4. Watch the Forum. We will post once arrangements are made. IE

    Comment by irene eizen — January 27, 2008 @ 8:41 pm

  2. OMG! You have got to be kidding, right? I have seen this show 70 plus times. It NEVER gets old.I knew of 20-30 people that are flying into (Vegas) see Jersey Boys, in April and May alone, from all over the US. And you can be rest to sure they will be back, time and time again. I’ve seen the show in SF, LA, Sacramento,Costa Mesa and planning a trip to Chicago and Minneapolis soon.
    So don’t fear they won’t come to Vegas….they will.
    And the grand opening at the Palazzo was awesome!
    Oh What A Night!

    Comment by Kathy Johnstone — January 28, 2008 @ 12:43 pm

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