I come to this commercial with the advantage of having seen the show already. And I can affirm that it is a terrific representation of the show it advertises.
The very set up of the commercial is apropos - the head cheerleader and the basketball team captain going head to head in a gym. The visual alone summarizes the story: the basketball team looks good, but has no skill, while the cheerleaerds exude sexuality that they aren't giving up until the team improves its game.
Perky, not slutty, Patti Murin smiles, winks and shakes her hips in a skimpy cheerleader uniform, while dim but sexy Josh Segarra gets frustrated both with his weak basket skills and with the lack of action out of his shorts. None of it is overt or dirty, but definitely risque and even kind of sweet. Just like Douglas Carter Beane and Lewis Flinn's book, lyrics and music, not to mention Dan Knechtges' choreography and direction.
You do get a sense of the style of the book from the snappy lines. Lyssie J. is a sharp girl who knows how to use her feminine wiles, not only to get her man, but to show him a thing or two about the power and smarts of women. Think Xanadu goes to college, with an even smarter storyline, one that is millennia old!
Grade: A
And now, the commercial for the Broadway-bound musical, Lysistrata Jones:
And here is the "Making Of" video:
There is plenty to see - including info about $25.00 seats - at their growing-every-day website. Go to http://www.lysistratajones.com/. And add Lysistrata Jones to your must-see list!
Rate this blog below and leave your comments here, by email at jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com , or Tweet me! Jeff 3.039
Every year both USA Todayand TV Guidelaunch campaigns to "save" shows they like from cancellation due to low ratings. I think that today, I am going to launch a one-blogger campaign to save a show that I love from what appears to be impending "cancellation," also known in Broadway parlance as "closing."
SAVE PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT!
OK, all cards on the table: I have no information that confirms that this show is in trouble of closing, and am only basing the following on opinion and certain things, that, over my long history of observing the comings and goings of Broadway shows, leads me to believe that Priscilla Queen of the Desert may be in danger of closing sooner, rather than later.
First and foremost, the numbers are not good, and have not really been good over the past several weeks - Easter week, not withstanding. The most recent Broadway Grosses have the show at just 56.3% of capacity at the Palace Theatre. This is the third lowest percent of capacity of any Broadway show, play or musical (only RAIN and the newly previewing Hair are lower). Of course, I have no idea how the advance is; perhaps the early fall has an uptick that I am unaware of. I sincerely hope that is the case.
Second, and generally a sign that things are needing to be changed is the unveiling of yet another advertising tack. The most recent before the commercial I'll discuss shortly was a good, if silly, attempt to capitalize on the show's lone Tony win - "Winner! 2011 Tony Award for Best Costumes!" Not a single mention of the other (publicly lesser) awards the show has received. And now a third ad campaign has been launched.
Here is their latest commercial:
Dubbed by the company as the "Three Friends" commercial, this ad is clearly trying to distance itself from its drag queen roots. There is not a single close up of a drag queen or any of the "three friends" in full get up, either. And bless 'em, Tony Sheldon looks so much like a woman, the quick champagne toast he shares with Bob in the spot, could go by to the untrained eye as "love" found in a most conventional way. Poor Nick Adams, scorching hot as "Felicia," gets no air time, but his young Adam smiles and struts a few times. But let's face it, Priscilla is so gay you'd have to be blind (and deaf; it is raining men, after all. And so why not cash in on the wave of good will that has overtaken New York, where gay marriage was just legalized, and show our gay hero (Will Swenson) reuniting with his precious (and seriously adorable) little son on his way to sure and true love! Please don't mistake my tongue-in-cheek tone with disrespect. I applaud any and every attempt made in order to get more asses in the seats.
But the other aspect of the ad is the one that they should really be cashing in on: the element of fun spectacular Broadway entertainment, with a score full of songs that people of my generation can sing word for word. Having our 80's heroine (and show co-producer) Bette Midler invite us is a big plus to go along with the dance numbers, flashy sets and crazy costumes showing whilst she narrates. The 80's generation and the gay population remain the two groups with the most extra income for Broadway show tickets, so again, this is smart.
Since decent seats to the other really fun show on Broadway are months off at best, the producers of Priscilla might do well to court the producers of The Book of Mormon, as well as their fans, who might enjoy a "fun fix" before next April.
I am telling you, Priscilla is a Broadway show that has it all - glitz, glamour, a teeney bit of naughtiness, a lot of smiles, fabulousness. And it is HILARIOUS, and still manages to be smart, to have a point, and best of all, to have a heart. Pack a tissue and a small bag to collect the confetti that rains down (in lieu of men) on the delighted audience at every performance! People throw around the term "feel good musical" a lot these days. But I can pretty much guarantee you will feel much better than good after you see this show.
It has been some time since I've blogged about TV commercials for Broadway shows. So, today, I thought I'd blog about the commercials for the two shows I've most recently seen, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Priscilla Queen of the Desert. And despite giving it up for Lent, I thought now might be my last chance to talk about the current ads for Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark before they make any of the substantial changes promised, so I relented and am talking about it now.
One of the things that strikes me about all three commercials is the inclusion of onscreen quotes from reviews - a common practice to be sure. Another thing that strikes me about all three is what isn't being touted in the ads. I think you'll see what I mean.
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
You sure get a lot in this 30 seconds! And it will likely sell tickets, especially to those who are marginal fans of the Harry Potter films, who wanted to wait and see if Daniel Radcliffe could actually sing and dance. Well, the very first quote/voice over tells us that he is a "musical comedy superstar." And who wouldn't believe that? Clip after clip shows him doing just that - singing and dancing. And if that won't sell tickets alone or makes you still unsure, the quotes/voice overs tell us that the songs are "classic, bright and funny" and the dancing is some of the best on Broadway. The ad also succeeds because it is fast paced, shows a lot of scenes - hot guys in suits dancing (gay men, check), pretty girls in costumes that "they just don't make anymore" (wives who love musical theatre, check).
And it also succeeds by what it doesn't mention: a. the Harry Potter films. Seeing Daniel live is the prize; let's not remind folks that this is a decidedly un-Hogwarts show; b. that while critics loved his performance, his voice isn't going to get him to Carnegie Hall any time soon, so you never hear him singing; c. the husbands of the aforementioned "wives who love musical theatre" might just go along because cool funny man John Larroquette is in it, and he carries golf clubs and footballs...
Grade: A
Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Gay musical theatre fans don't need a commercial to get them to see this show at the Palace Theatre. And clearly, the ad is going for a more "universal" crowd. For a show that features two drag queens (and dozens of others) and a transgendered person, this ad is surprisingly (not really, click HERE) lacking in drag queens and gay themes. OK, maybe the 2 second shot of Priscilla bathed in a rainbow lighting effect might be a clue. But if I didn't know anything about the show, save for it was "finally on Broadway," I'd see big, colorful sets, lights and costumes, and HUGE dance numbers with people in kick lines and pinwheels. The mention of "three friends" has our leads in street clothes both times they are on screen for more than a few seconds - I'd bet if you screened this for 100 people, 99 wouldn't know Tony Sheldon wasn't really a woman from this. And nothing says sexy fun for wife like a soundtrack of disco hits, and for husband like three sexy divas with tight dresses, prodigious cleavage and pouty lipsticked-lips gyrating to quotes about the show. And all of the costumes are outrageous, so as they blur by at an amazing pace, you don't even notice that those Broadway chorines are really Broadway boys. Now, I'll admit, and hope, that the ticket buying public at large might figure all the pink, neon and feathered clothing just might have to do with gay themes, not to mention the background song, "Finally," but the producers wanted a cleansed version "to get people in the seats" and to "teach them a lesson" once they are there. This commercial certainly fills that bill... and if you are savvy enough to realize what's up, a tight shot of Will Swenson hugging a child who leaps into his arms, will seal the deal... this has a FAMILY angle. The ad does what is supposed to - at least what the producers want, anyway - so in that way it is a big success. But an ad for a show that wears tolerance on its spangled sleeves that is tricking people into the seats, rather than educating them before money is exchanged kind of lessens the bigger impact that the show could have. Maybe it's just me...
Grade: A (for selling tickets) Grade: D (for selling out)
Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark
Ad #1
Nothing beats bad word-of-mouth like filmed good word-of-mouth! And by all of the demographic groups - teenaged boys, tween girls, a lady who "goes to a lot of Broadway plays," a middle aged man... inter cut with lots of flying and fighting... lots of color and lighting... and a shot or two of Bono, with a rock guitar underscoring. Images of the most stunning visuals aside from the flying - the swinging/weaving (remember those colors in The Lion King?), the pop-up cartoonish sets (it is based on the comics legend, not the films) and some dancing to boot (a real Broadway musical, right?) This commercial pretty much gives the finger to all the bad word-of-mouth - especially since the majority of it comes from people who have never stepped foot in the Foxwoods Theatre.
If all I had to go on was this ad, I'd RUN to the B.O. and buy a ticket!
Grade: A+
Ad #2
This ad will not likely be playing much longer, as it is big on Julie Taymor's visuals. Note that it relies on a quote from a review. Hey, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right? That quote focuses on three things: "Visual feast," "electriFLYING" and "Bono and the Edge's rock score." On these three counts, the ad succeeds with, um, flying colors. First of all, there is a barrage of interesting visuals - gorgeous moving sequences, spectacular close-ups of villainous costumes and electrified sets. Then there is the blaring rock music throughout (if it is actually in the show, I don't remember it, but that isn't really the point, is it?). And finally, the flying - Spidey zipping around the theatre, Spidey and Green Goblin in an aerial battle, and perhaps most significantly, they are doing so OVER THE AUDIENCE, unscathed, not stopping, no one being injured. And this includes the final image before the logo - a clearly wired Spider-Man catapulting from upstage, right to the edge of the stage and in the face of a patron. See? They fixed it!
I can't really blame them for using the quote, either. They didn't ask for it, but they sure got it. Why not make lemonade from lemons? (And I checked - The New Jersey Star-Ledger does refer to the "stellar songs.")
Grade: B+ (They should have used one of those "stellar songs.")
Here is the commercial teaser for the interview of injured Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark actor Christopher Tierney. The interview with reporter Dana Tyler of CBS-2 News aired on January 3rd's 11PM telecast.
(For some reason, I can not get the segment to stay attached to the blog. Please click HERE to see the teaser for the CBS2 interview.)
There is so much I could say about this commercial alone. But I think the poetic irony of it is so much more powerful than the ad itself. In the show, there is a scene with the editor of the big newspaper in town, who rejects each and every idea and headline pitched to him. None, it seems was enough to sell papers, particularly the truthful ideas. Hyping and twisting words in the scene got a laugh, particularly in light of all the press surrounding the show in real life. And now here we are, with a heroic cheating of death, in conflict with the public's love of failure and the potentially juicy tidbits we might get from the the ACTUAL person involved. Here is a chance to set the record straight and maybe even focus on a good news survivor story. But, just like those outlets who focused on the Chilean miner who had a wife and mistress waiting for him, here we are again... This tease for a news interview makes TMZ look tame and The National Inquirer look like a children's book. I'm not naive to the point that I don't recognize a hard sell to garner viewers, and I appreciate that news is a business. But this is a NEWS program, right? Not a gossip show.
HERE is the complete interview from CBS-2, which I can also not seem to embed.
Try as she might, reporter Dana Tyler cannot get Tierney to say a bad word about the experience, the show or the future. She warms us up with the idea that here is the actor "breaking his silence." Um, maybe he was only just now well enough to do an interview? Maybe he wanted to wait until he was mobile so he could show us that he survived and isn't clinging to life as reported throughout? I'd go with the latter, considering the 100% class act this young man has proven to be. He wouldn't take the bait when Tyler suggested that the cast had been "pushed too hard," and she seems positively aghast when a teary Tierney tells her that as far as the people directly responsible for the "human error" are "forgiven and forgotten" by the actor.
Of course, you can't blame Ms. Tyler entirely. Her job is to dig for the harder to admit truths. The piece even ends with the anchors asking about possible legal action (how Chicago). Finally a smile of admiration comes when she says he feels "he doesn't need to."
Finally, yesterday on Good Morning America, George Stephanopolous had an interview with Tierney, plus Reeve Carney, Jennifer Damiano, Patric Page, and newly minted Arachne, T.V. Carpio.
This interview is a somewhat softer sell, though Stephanopolous does go in for the kill when he brings up Tweets by Alice Ripley and Adam Pascal. Patrick Page should go into politics: he response was perfect - "Well, I can understand and appreciate their responses, but I wish they could be in the building with us every day to see what really goes on." Yes, they have a right to be upset, he says, given what they have heard. But the reality is different. I dunno...he seemed sincere as did every other actor in his/their praise for the way the show's crew and cast work together. And poor Carpio. Just hours after taking over the role, she is asked if she's afraid. Unprepared for the question, she misinterpreted it, thinking he was asking about taking over the leading female role, when he was asking if, new to the part, was she afraid for her safety. Decent save by both parties.
ABC News, of course, had to titillate: note the captions during the interview: "SPIDER-MAN SURVIVOR: The Cast Goes Public", etc. Hmm... a seedy tell-all on the way? OK, it was awfully positive, but it is a great news story of triumph. None of it seemed too "party line, stick to the script."
Again, though, a new standard of class, dignity and humanity has been set by Christopher Tierney. His positive attitude, his gratitude for everyone who supports him, his awe of the show and its company, and his selflessness is role model material. What an example he is setting. Just like a real-life super hero.
I knew a Broadway show had become a national phenomenon when my dad called me after the 60 Minutes segment about Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark aired last night. "That may be the coolest thing I've ever seen!" he yelled into the phone (part excitement, part still not realizing that just because he's in Florida and I'm in Vermont, he doesn't need to shout into the phone). "It sure does, Dad. I can't wait to see it next Sunday!" "I think I might want to see that. Let me know how it is." Of course, he doesn't follow the Internet or theatre websites, so I didn't have to tell him to stay away from that stuff until AFTER the show has been worked on and reviewed. Imagine my surprise when he called me again this morning, having read The New York Times front page story about the "bumpy" opening. "Uh-oh," he said, "sounds like there is trouble..." "Yep, Dad, sure does. But remember how much you loved The Lion King? The same woman is in charge of this." "OK! Sign me up!" There you have it. And that is all I am going to say about the big batch of ugly surrounding the first preview of a not-ready show, until I see it Sunday.
In case you missed it, here's the 60 Minutes segment:
What I will talk about is the all-out media blitz surrounding the show - not including the above. And it is really about time, right? Of course, considering how much press the show has gotten for NOT happening, why waste good money promoting the show when you can get it for free? Now that they have something to show, they are really putting it out there! And they really have gone first class: Annie Liebovitz photos in Vogue! A 60 Minutes segment! And TWO TV commercials!!
First, let's take a look at the logo:
I think the entire logo gives you a hint at what you will see and what you won't. Interesting that the names above the title are the "show" selling points - a score by Bono and The Edge, directed by Julie Taymor. For show folk, it lets us know to expect creative, stunning imagery. For non-show folk, the draw might just be music legends from U2. But even they are dwarfed by the real draw, Spider-Man himself hurling towards us, next web spinning as he moves. A very motion oriented image, it signals that this guy won't be on the ground or clinging to rock walls made to look like skyscrapers.
Dominated from behind by a giant moon which illuminates the NYC skyline, the contrast of colors also is very telling - darkness can be dangerous, scary and very lonely, all of which certainly plays into the mythos of Spider-Man and the cryptic subtitle, "Turn Off the Dark." But what I find most interesting is the type style of the title - a blurred, and partially incomplete lettering, which might suggest an incompleteness (and I don't mean the current state of the show) of Spider-Man's being. We are at the beginning of Peter Parker's story, and as such the story is yet to be fulfilled. Note, too, and especially, that the image of Spider-Man is not a crisp, clear black-edged icon/comic, but also has the look of a sketch - complete and colored in, but the lines are without definition. Perhaps after the "dark" is turned off, Spider-Man himself is a clearer image to all. The ambiguity and mystery only serve to add to the eye-catching appeal. A+
Knowing that every Taymor production, both on stage and on film is a visual feast, it is nice to get some idea of what we'll be looking at in the Foxwoods Theatre. It is a terrific bonus that Annie Liebovitz, the world-famous photog was commissioned to do Vogue's spread! The pictures, minus the "glam staging" certainly reveal much about the detail, the other-worldliness and the colorful comic book world brought to life. And has Jennifer Damiano ever looked more beautiful?
Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson
The Amazing Spider-Man on 42nd Street
Spider-Man battles his nemesis the Green Goblin
in order to save Mary Jane Watson as the soar over
And just today, the New York area will be treated to two commercials for the show, both very similar to the other. Interestingly, both show in images the same thing as the logo: You see Julie Taymor, Bono and the Edge rehearsing. You see, too, that live actors, not animated or computerized images will be dancing, singing and swinging. And you have to love the final image. Spider-Man flying toward you, stopping at the edge of your TV screen (I think I'd hate that front row seat... it would scare me to death!). Speaking of flying, we see rehearsal footage - untouched and revealing again that real people are doing this - of the spectacular, over the seats-in-midair stunts. They have made the balconies prized seats without saying a word. Very smart. My only quibble is that there is SO MUCH to take in in just 30 seconds! Smart, though, because now I want to see the ad again. How many commercials can you say that about!!?
Here is one of those TV spots:
Comments? Leave one here, Tweet me, or email me! Jeff 2.90
Let's take a look at some TV commercials that put Broadway shows in view of their target audience: men! Producers have long struggled with getting more men to the theatre, instead of just having them arrive as arm candy for their theatre-loving wives. I think we can all agree that the gay male segment of the male population has been served well-enough both in advertising and content of Broadway shows for years. It is the straight, married, along-for-the-ride guys that more and more shows are targeting with advertising. Is it working?
Well, some shows seem to be man magnets with or without advertising aimed at the guys. Jersey Boys is a prime example. I can name at least 7 men in my office (out of 29 souls) that have seen that show, and of them 3 have seen it multiple times. I guess you can't get more guy-friendly than 4 males from Jersey singing "songs like they just don't make anymore." (Yes, my boss actually said that about the show.) And get this, he and another guy in my office are thinking of checking out another 4 guys aka the Million Dollar Quartet.
Million Dollar Quartet That show, as evidenced by a huge poster in Shubert Alley and an aggressive audio and video campaign is unabashedly going after the man who escorts his lady love to Times Square:
"Wife-tested, husband-approved," huh? Let's see a woman's voice gets both of them to look up at the TV. The first qualifier, "Passion," gets her interested because well, it is romantic, right? And he's noticing the lip action with a hot babe (even I can recognize that Elizabeth Stanley is smoking hot). Then you have that nasty "Betrayal" with one guy in the face of another (has Hunter Foster ever looked that charged up?). And you end it with the dazzle of "concert footage" aka safe visuals for the anti-musical man. We give them a reason to sing and it's cool (not to mention the absence of OMG! DANCING!). Top it off with 4 manly men for the ages - Elvis, Jerry Lee, Carl and Johnny, plus a hard rocking (and nostalgic) underscoring of "Blue Suede Shoes" and "Hound Dog." Testosterone pretty much beams out of the TV set and there is, gasp, finally a show both members of a couple can agree on. Considering its goal, I think the ad is spot on. I wonder how it is working, though. the show's attendance numbers haven't really spiked...
Grade: A
American Idiot/Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
For the younger guys, is there a more exciting pair of musicals than American Idiot and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson?
For an earlier advertisement for American Idiot, please read my comments HERE.
I stand by what I said then, especially now that I have seen it more than once.
Grade: A
Limited by the fact that I don't live in NY and the stations I get don't come from there, I can't verify whether or not Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson has a longer TV commercial yet or not, but here is a very short one.
Well, it certainly does a lot fast: for the girls, pin-up quality glimpses of Mr. Hot Broadway, Benjamin Walker, plus a killer tag line - "Broadway Just Got All Sexy Pants"; for the theatre goer needing validation, a New York Times quote, and for they guys: a rocking song, that combined with the frantic visuals never really registers as "Populism, Yeah Yeah!" but just more gritty rock live on stage. "Hey, if my girl can drag me to that Green Day show, and I liked it, maybe this won't be too bad, either," he's thinking. Funny how they gloss over the Andrew Jackson part, and don't use the real tag line, "History Just Got All Sexy Pants." Shows about dead presidents won't bring them in in droves. What this does in 16 seconds is all great, but a longer commercial will probably sell more tickets...
Grade: A-
The Scottsboro Boys
I think this brilliant ad speaks to everyone: the music and joyous jumping/dancing, along with the references to past shows by Kander and Ebb should really appeal to theatre goers; the cast should get more men to at least give it a second look, after all, how "prissy Broadway musical" can a show with all these guys be?; and the striking use of violent headlines projected like whipping scars on the backs of black men should ignite a spark in any American who has ever felt that injustice wins out far too much. These days, that universally American feeling might just sell this complex and controversial show. Not having seen it yet, I can't speak to how well it reflects the show it is advertising, but as a commercial it does its job for this viewer: I am intrigued and excited about seeing this new show. Easily the best TV spot for a Broadway show this year.
Grade: A+
Lombardi
With the NFL as a producing partner, there is no other show on Broadway that needs to or is more likely to court potential male patrons than Lombardi. And the producers are smart. The initial spot is simple, to the point and features a star many guys know, Dan Lauria from TV's The Wonder Years, who looks and talks amazingly like football legend/icon Vince Lombardi. Just so they know they wouldn't be seeing a film, the commercial looks theatrical - live people in slow motion staring at the camera, lights ablaze...ah, but those light look like stadium lights, so it is still cool. Add three rough and tumble Green Bay Packers, and wow, this could be a show a manly man could love. Still, a guy couldn't be caught dead going to a Broadway show ALONE! So they sneak in another beloved TV (and soap queen) star, Judith Light, silent and a drink in hand. "OK, so my wife/girlfriend won't be bored with all the football stuff," he thinks. And just who is that other guy with the pad... leave it to the press to muck it up! I can see a lot of sales in Lombardi's future if enough guys actually see this commercial. And how many other Broadway show air ads on ESPN?
Grade: A+
Smart producers they are! They have also created two other brief ads to appeal to more sectors of the ticket buying public. And both are also A+ efforts!
For the ladies who might think there is nothing in it for them, this goes a long way toward showing them that even on Broadway, they won't be football widows.
And for theatre folks, tie it all up with a whiff of controversy and drama... and give us a chance to show that football can be more interesting to us besides the Super Bowl ads and halftime show! (I'm joking... I'm sure there are many Broadway/NFL fans out there...)
Let's hope these shows are as good as their advertising, right?
