IN an effort to boost ticket sales, the producers of “Dracula” are pursuing two distinct audiences: Vinnie and his buddies from the Bensonhurst Hunt and Fish Club, and Sally and her classmates from P.S. 11.
How are they going after preferred customers at Scores and school groups simultaneously?
By offering two versions of “Dracula.”
The first we might call the “Penthouse” production, since in this one, the show’s two leading ladies – Melissa Errico and Kelli O’Hara – take off their clothes.
The second we might call the “Nickelodeon” production, since in this one, the girls keep their clothes on.
The two “Draculas” came to light this week in a memo the producers sent to group-sales ticket agents.
“Starting this Saturday, 7 August, there will be no nudity at all for Wednesday and Saturday matinees only,” the memo advises.
“All other performances will include female nudity. Please be sure all clients booking ‘Dracula’ are made aware of this at the time of booking.”
The memo is the subject of much mirth on Broadway.
“If they can book a bachelor party, are they going to offer lap dances?” snickered one producer.
A top drama critic wondered, “Are they going to make an announcement, ‘At this performance Melissa Errico will disrobe?’ What if she forgets?”
Another critic, not quite so amused, sniffed, “I think this speaks to the artistic integrity of the show.”
Group-sales agents were also chuckling at the memo, although a few were annoyed because they’d already booked some school groups into evening performances.
At a group sales presentation a few months ago, the agents were informed that “Dracula” would be suitable for children 10 or older.
“They obviously wanted groups of kids who are reading the book in school,” one person who attended the event said.
Then, when the show began previews, word got around that there was nudity onstage, and some agents began to get nervous.
The producers have offered refunds to any school groups that booked evening performances.
I assume, although I was not able to confirm this, that they are also offering refunds to any Scores regulars who booked a matinee.
A spokesman for “Dracula” said the group-sales agents were not told of the nudity early on because it was something that evolved during rehearsals.
“It’s an artistic process,” the spokesman said.
For the record, that “artistic process” has culminated in the following displays of flesh:
1. Ms. Errico removes only her top.
2. Ms. O’Hara removes everything.
TWO Broadway weak lings have succumbed to the inevitable.
“Caroline, or Change,” Tony Kushner‘s grumpy maid musical, and “Frozen,” that crowd-pleaser about a child killer, yesterday posted closing notices.
“Frozen” goes down Aug. 22 at a loss of more than $1 million.
“Caroline” does its last load of laundry Aug. 29. It will lose all of its $5.5 million investment.
Both shows are closing right before the Republican National Convention, which theater people are predicting is going to be terrible for their business.
While there will be a influx of delegates from around the country, they really only have one day, Sunday, free to see a show.
During the week, they’ll be at Madison Square Garden listening to speeches.
“There’s also a ton of free stuff for them to do,” says one theater producer, who notes that the Democratic Convention in 1992 did little to boost ticket sales on Broadway.
Theater people also note that during the Democratic Convention in Boston last week, two musicals that normally sell out in that city – “The Lion King” and “Mamma Mia!” – had plenty of seats available.
Tight security, closed-off streets and huge protests will probably drive many New Yorkers out of the city and keep suburbanites from coming in.
“Nobody but the delegates and the protesters are going to be in town,” says another producer, adding that he’s headed to the Hamptons that week.