SCHENECTADY Theatergoers thrilled with summer show; Proctors plans more BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter
Summertime Broadway will return. This week’s run of “Rent” has been successful enough to prove that theatergoers will support musicals in the summer, Proctors CEO Philip Morris said. “It’s a new thought that summer recreation is in downtown Schenectady,” he said. “We think people liked it. We want to keep doing it.” By Sunday, he expects to have sold 70 percent of the total seats — the benchmark he set for success. That’s a strong figure, not only because “Rent” raised the curtain during the first week of the annual Saratoga thoroughbred racing meet but because the show was not part of Proctors’ annual subscription. Putting a summer show on the subscription would have guaranteed another 3,000 to 4,000 people, Morris said. He may make next year’s summer show part of the package. Those who came this year raved about the time slot. They said summers are far better for theater than any other time. “It’s perfect,” said Belinda Leackfeldt, a teacher from Ballston Spa. “I have summers off, and I have outof-town guests from San Diego, so they get to see it, too. They’re only here in summer.” Students loved it, too, saying that it’s far easier to see a show during the summer than to negotiate with parents for permission to be out late on a school night. “Because school is out, we can .............>>>>..............>>>>..............http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....1&Continuation=1
Proctors Theatre's first shot at hosting a summer Broadway show turned out to be worthwhile. "Rent" averaged about 1,700 showgoers per performance during a six-day stand.
That number was far from the 2,700 capacity, but it created many customers for downtown restaurants. In view of the economy and competition from other Saratoga venues theatre bossman Philip Morris was pleased with the gate.
It's interesting to note that after every performance dozens of mainly young school girls waited patiently to take photos and get autographs.
Anthony Rapp, a star of the original Broadway show, was at Proctors. With the exception of Rapp, few cast members accommodated their fans. He came out after every single show posing and signing with a smile.
Only in Schenectady is 63% of capacity some great feat. Before Rent said they must break 70%. As usual the bar is lowered to accomodate Metrograft and Mr Morris's whims. There's no plan-they go from pillar to post.
The sooner Proctor's is off the taxpayers back the better. More and more sheeple are waking up to the failure of "the arts" to generate any job creation or sales tax expansion.
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Only in Schenectady is 63% of capacity some great feat. Before Rent said they must break 70%. As usual the bar is lowered to accomodate Metrograft and Mr Morris's whims. There's no plan-they go from pillar to post.
