It seems that those theatrical presenters around the country who book the big Broadway shows are a bit miffed at the Avenue Q producers for this Vegas deal. According to a story in today’s Variety (sub req’d), one presenter called the whole thing “very Machiavellian” and others said the show’s producers pulled a “bait and switch.” For those of you interested who can’t access the article by Chris Jones, here are a couple excerpts:
The surprise revelation that this year’s Tony-winning best musical, “Avenue Q,” would not be going on the road has caused consternation, to put it mildly, among the presenters.
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Like a lot of her colleagues, (Cleveland’s Playhouse Square Center manager Gina) Vernaci had been holding a slot for the hit sleeper tuner for the 2005 season and was already teasing subscribers with its arrival.
After all, Vernaci had been told by the show’s bookers … that it would be available.
Producers Kevin McCollum, Robyn Goodman and Jeffrey Seller Fed-Exed hundreds of letters to interested parties that were timed to arrive the same day as the Times story (which announced the Vegas deal).
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As many people saw it, the Vegas deal was carefully kept under wraps until after the Tony Awards so the musical could present itself as the sweet little show that could.
Had it been known there was a big Vegas payday in the offing, the thinking went in many offices, that all important Tony would not have been forthcoming.
The producers argument is that “it would have been irresponsible to refuse the deal,” which simply means Steve Wynn threw far more money at them than any of us can likely imagine. Still, it’s troubling that the producers might have kept this deal secret because it could have cost them the Tony. In fact, that’s upsetting on many levels, particularly that the show’s producers (who otherwise put forward a brilliant Tony campaign, worthy in its creativity of the show itself) would be this dishonest in their dealings with prospective business partners as well as what this possibly says about the integrity of the Tony voters.
Out of Focus 