Here are the rules of the game.
Here is what the lottery looks like:
I’d say that you’d have had a 10% chance of winning on Preview Night.
Realize that the scalpers and scam artists are going crazy right about now, so paying $29 for a seat what’s worth north of $290 IRL might strike you as a good deal.
Get lucky!
This is it.
This is the biggest Broadway roadshow to hit town since forever.
Book of Mormon will play at our Curran Theatre from November 27th to December 30th 2012 and then it will be gone.
There is no way that the run of this smash musical comedy will be extended as the BoM crew will start up in Portland the day after New Year’s.
So here’s what you need to know:
1. This thing is going to be huge – everybody’s going to be talking about it. You know, because it’s ”the best musical of this century” per the New York Times ‘n stuff.
2. You want to go to this show whether you know it or not, even if you’re not into Broadway. Yes, Book of Mormon is profane, but it’s also “an atheist’s love letter to religion.”
3. Tickets are beyond sold out. So the scalpers and the scam artists are going to have a field day.
Check it, from the craigslist:
So that’s hundreds of dollars per seat for tickets what originally cost way less than $100.
So here’s what you do, you show up at the box office on Geary two hours early and enter the lottery.
At $29 a ticket for the winners, this is a steal.
If you don’t want to go through this kind of hassle day after day, then don’t do it because you are not a true fan, (The SHN / BoM people are making you jump through hoops for a reason, don’t you know.)
Now I’ll tell you, when they did this for Rent, back in the day, they lotteried away the two front rows for $19 a piece.
Good times.
Of course the angle was sort of ridiculous and you would see things you weren’t meant to see, but this was quite nice for students of the theatre.
(I don’t know which seats lottery winners will get – they might not get to sit right up front.)
So, have at it.
You Can’t Win If Don’t Play.
Our Schools Win Too.*
PRE-SHOW LOTTERY ANNOUNCED! THE BOOK OF MORMON Lottery Ticket Policy:
THE BOOK OF MORMON will conduct a pre-show lottery at the box office, making a limited number of tickets available at $29 apiece; cash only. This lottery will be held prior to every performance.
Entries will be accepted at the SHN Curran Theatre box office beginning two hours prior to each performance; each person will print their name and the number of tickets (1 or 2) they wish to purchase on a card that is provided. One and a half hours before curtain, names will be drawn at random for a limited number of tickets priced at $29 each.
Only one entry is allowed per person. Cards are checked for duplication prior to drawing. Winners must be present at the time of the drawing and show valid ID to purchase tickets. Limit one entry per person and two tickets per winner. Tickets are subject to availability.
Nine 2011 Tony Awards® say it’s the Best Musical of the Year. Vogue says, “It’s the funniest musical of all time.” And The New York Times says, “It’s the best musical of this century.” It’s THE BOOK OF MORMON, the Broadway phenomenon from South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and Avenue Q co-creator Robert Lopez. The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart calls it “A crowning achievement. So good, it makes me angry.” Contains explicit language.
For more information please visit www.bookofmormonthemusical.com.
If you come across any website other than shnsf.com claiming to sell THE BOOK OF MORMON tickets for the San Francisco engagement, buyer beware! SHN has no way of validating, or replacing tickets that have been purchased through any website other than shnsf.com. We cannot seat or refund you for an invalidated ticket.
If you have any questions, please call 1-888-746-1799 before purchasing.
*Oh, that’s just a saying – our schools won’t actually win.
The Book of Mormon, the so-called “best musical of this century,” is coming to town November 27 – December 30th, 2012 at our SHN Curran Theatre on Geary in Union Square.
This thing is going to sell out with extreme prejudice due to:
1. All those recent Tony awards, including Best Musical 2011;
2. Extremely good reviews;
3. A relatively small theatre (The Curran is big but the Orpheum and the Golden Gate are bigger); and
4. A short, five-week engagement – this show will bug out of here for Portlandia on Dec. 30th, 2012 NO MATTER WHAT, no extensions
And for the first time in my life, I can articulate a reason to have an AMEX card. The remaining decent-priced good seats at (those not already promised to SHN Members) will get sold today starting at 10:00 AM.
Choose or lose…
“AMERICAN EXPRESS CARDMEMBER EXCLUSIVE - GET EARLY ACCESS TO THE BOOK OF MORMON TICKETS!
BEGINNING WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 12 AT 10AM
Nine 2011 Tony Awards® say it’s the Best Musical of the Year. Vogue says, “It’s the funniest musical of all time.” And The New York Times says, “It’s the best musical of this century.” It’s THE BOOK OF MORMON, the Broadway phenomenon from South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and Avenue Q co-creator Robert Lopez. The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart calls it “A crowning achievement. So good, it makes me angry.” Contains explicit language.
Coming to the SHN Curran Theatre for a strictly limited five-week engagement, November 27 – December 30.
SHNews customers: if you are an AMERICAN EXPRESS® cardmember, you can purchase tickets beginning today at 10 am, before the general public on sale which begins Friday, Sept. 21 at 10am.
To purchase, click here or call 888 746 1799. We recommend purchasing online for faster transaction process.
Please note: Tickets for the American Express® pre-sale can only be purchased using the above link or by phone. They are not available at any SHN Box Office.
Hurry! This exclusive offer ends Thursday, Sept 20.
Good for American Express® cardmembers only.
For more information, please visit
www.shnsf.com/online/
See the crew after the jump
I don’t know what you’re looking for in a play, but how’s this?
In addition, Adrian Kohler and Basil Jones of Handspring Puppet Company won the Special Tony Award for War Horse.
So yeah, War Horse at our SHN Curran Theatre is a puppet show based on a children’s book, but it looks amazing.
Speaking of which, here’s SFPD horse “Hammer” meeting SHN horse puppet “Joey” the other day in Golden Gate Park – check the video:
Click to expand – more deets on this equine experiment from Kavin Fagan here.
And, the reviews:
“Miracles abound in the electrifying “War Horse“ per Robert Hurwitt of the San Francisco Chronicle
A “theatrical coup” per long-time San Francisco critic Janos Gereben
It’s “spellbinding” per Karen D’Souza of the San Jose Mercury News
“War Horse earns its stripes” per Ken Marks of KQED
“War Horse is the one touring show that shouldn’t be missed“ per Cy Ashley Webb of the Stark Insider
Four stars out of five per Albert Goodwyn, SF Performing Arts Examiner
It’s a great show. You (and your kin aged 12 and up) ought to go see it.
And oh, BTW, if you don’t already have tickets for The Book of Mormon, you know, the Best Musical of the Century (already!) per the New York Times, well, it’s time to start freaking out. You can’t buy tickets now because the only way to do that is to get a subscription for the 2012-2013 season (you know, Lion King, Wicked, etc.) but here’s the catch: SOLD OUT, baby! Already. So you’re going to need to move move move when individual tickets go on sale, whenever that will be. BoM, which is, fundamentally, a “love letter to religion written by an atheist,” however foul-mouthed it may be, will only be here for five short weeks. Every last show will sell out, just saying.
Well, as they say:
“There’s nothing like a three-time Tony Award winning musical about a civil rights titan who used his distinctly original brand of big-band music to fight against injustice to usher in inspiration during the holidays.”
Indeed.
Now I missed Opening Night of Fela yesterday at SHN‘s Curran Theatre in Union Square, but Rachel Masters was on the scene:
“Amazed by Fela @SHNSF. Beyond incredible story, music & dance. Thank you to the cast for such a moving performance! “
Get all the deets right here, from Elena Park.
Oh, and don’t miss this update: ‘Fela!’ joint sends buzz through audience.
Sahr Ngaujah as Fela Kuti - Photo by: Monique Carboni
Paulette Ivory and Sahr Ngaujah - Photo by: Tristram Kenton
Ever more deets:
Motivated by his mother, a civil rights champion, he defied a corrupt and oppressive military government and devoted his life and music to the struggle for freedom and human dignity.
FELA! is a triumphant tale of courage, passion and love, featuring Fela Kuti’s captivating music and the visionary direction and choreography of Tony Award winner Bill T. Jones.
EVERYBODY SAY YEAH YEAH!
For more information on the show click here.
Time Out New York
The New York Post
Guidance for Parents - No Children under 5 allowed.
OMG, it’s HAIR at SHN‘s Golden Gate Theatre!
Click to expand
“WINNER! BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL 2009 TONY AWARD!
THE MOST EXCITING SHOW IN TOWN! HAIR FEELS UTTERLY OF THE MOMENT IN ITS POWER TO MOVE US. THERE’S NOTHING LIKE IT.” - Bloomberg News
The Public Theater’s new Tony-winning production of HAIR is an electric celebration on stage! This exuberant musical about a group of young Americans searching for peace and love in a turbulent time has struck a resonant chord with audiences young and old. HAIR features an extraordinary cast and unforgettable songs, including “Aquarius,” “Let the Sun Shine In,” “Good Morning, Starshine” and “Easy To Be Hard.” Its relevance is UNDENIABLE. Its energy is UNBRIDLED. Its truth is UNWAVERING. It’s HAIR, and IT’S TIME.
For more information about the show, click here.
NY Times
Broadway.comPlaybill
Broadwayworld.com
Guidance for Parents
For Mature Audiences.
While many find this show suitable for young adults (13 and older), parental discretion is advised. There is a dimly lit 20-second scene with nudity that is non-sexual in nature.
No children under 5 allowed.”
Straight outta Detroit comes Anthony F. Earley, Jr to helm troubled Pacific Gas & Electric.
September 13, 2011 is the changeover date.
All the deets below.
PG&E Corporation Names Anthony F. Earley, Jr., as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 8, 2011 — PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG) today announced that Anthony F. Earley, Jr., 62, will become the company’s new Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and President. Earley’s appointment – the first in PG&E’s history to come from outside the organization – puts the company under the leadership of one of the nation’s most experienced energy executives.
As head of Michigan-based DTE Energy for more than a decade, Earley built the company’s core businesses – Detroit Edison and Michigan Consolidated Gas Company – into two of the most highly respected electric and natural gas operating companies, with strong performance on many of the industry’s key safety and reliability measures.
“Tony is a highly respected and proven CEO who will provide fresh eyes and strong leadership as we focus on public safety and operations excellence,” said Lee Cox, interim Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President. “We looked across the industry and found the person best qualified to help us win back public confidence.”
Earley joined Detroit Edison in 1994 as President and Chief Operating Officer. He became CEO of DTE Energy in 1998 and served in that role through 2010. Most recently, he has been DTE’s Executive Chairman. DTE Energy is one of the nation’s largest diversified energy companies.
“PG&E has a proud legacy,” said Earley. “It’s a great privilege to help an iconic company recover from its recent challenges and reclaim its standing as the utility others admire and aspire to follow.”
Ever more deets after the jump.
You know all about Avenue Q, right? I didn’t tell you about it last week owing to its sold-out popularitiness. And now it’s leaving after just a short run.
Anyway, it’s:
“…an ‘autobiographical and biographical’ coming-of-age parable, addressing and satirizing the issues and anxieties associated with entering adulthood. Its characters lament that as children, they were assured by their parents, and by children’s television programs such as PBS‘s Sesame Street, that they were “special” and “could do anything”; but as adults, they have discovered to their surprise and dismay that in the real world their options are not unlimited, and they are no more ‘special’ than anyone else“
All right, here’s the review from Row R:
“Don’t let the Bad Idea Bears fool you, Avenue Q is way more fun than a Long Island Iced Tea. The cast is exuberantly musical and peevishly delightful. Puppets, porn & purpose — oh my!’”
And everybody else likes it too.
You will simply looooove these puppets. Find out just how much at SHN‘s Orpheum Theatre until February 27, 2011:
Kerri Brackin, Nicky, Rod, Brent Michael DiRoma - Photo by John Daughtry
All the deets:
WHO: AVENUE Q is the smash-hit Broadway musical about real life in New York City, as told by a cast of people and puppets through a hilariously irreverent, Tony-winning book and score. This Tony Award-winning show, returns to San Francisco as a special addition to the 2010-2011 Best of Broadway series.
WHAT : AVENUE Q tells the story of Princeton, a bright-eyed college grad who moves to NYC with big dreams and a tiny bank account. The only apartment he can afford is way out on Avenue Q, where everyone’s looking for the same things he is: a decent job, a stable relationship, and a “purpose.” Eventually, Princeton learns to embrace the ups and downs of city life and realizes that “the real world” isn’t so bad, after all!
WHEN: February 15 through February 27, 2011
WHERE: ORPHEUM THEATRE (1192 Market Street)
TICKETS: Tickets for AVENUE Q will range in price from $30 to $99 and go on sale Friday, December 3 at 10 AM through shnsf.com, by calling SHN Audience Services at 888 SHN 1799 (888 746 1799) or by visiting the Orpheum Theatre Box Office (1192 Market at 8th Street, Mon – Sat, Noon – 6 pm). Groups of 15 or more may order now by calling SHN Group Sales at 888 SHN 1799.
To learn more about AVENUE Q and other SHN shows, please visit www.shnsf.com
To experience what goes on backstage at SHN shows, go to http://shnsf.com/podcast/index.asp and listen to Backstage, the SHN podcast series, to hear interviews with members of the creative teams or actors for all SHN productions.
Follow SHN on Facebook and Twitter:
www.facebook.com/shnbroadwayinsf
www.twitter.com/shnsf
You know all about Avenue Q, right? It’s:
“…an ‘autobiographical and biographical’ coming-of-age parable, addressing and satirizing the issues and anxieties associated with entering adulthood. Its characters lament that as children, they were assured by their parents, and by children’s television programs such as PBS‘s Sesame Street, that they were “special” and “could do anything”; but as adults, they have discovered to their surprise and dismay that in the real world their options are not unlimited, and they are no more ‘special’ than anyone else“
You will simply looooove these puppets. Find out just how much at SHN‘s Orpheum Theatre from today until February 27, 2011:
Kerri Brackin, Nicky, Rod, Brent Michael DiRoma - Photo by John Daughtry
All the deets:
WHO: AVENUE Q is the smash-hit Broadway musical about real life in New York City, as told by a cast of people and puppets through a hilariously irreverent, Tony-winning book and score. This Tony Award-winning show, returns to San Francisco as a special addition to the 2010-2011 Best of Broadway series.
WHAT : AVENUE Q tells the story of Princeton, a bright-eyed college grad who moves to NYC with big dreams and a tiny bank account. The only apartment he can afford is way out on Avenue Q, where everyone’s looking for the same things he is: a decent job, a stable relationship, and a “purpose.” Eventually, Princeton learns to embrace the ups and downs of city life and realizes that “the real world” isn’t so bad, after all!
WHEN: February 15 through February 27, 2011
WHERE: ORPHEUM THEATRE (1192 Market Street)
TICKETS: Tickets for AVENUE Q will range in price from $30 to $99 and go on sale Friday, December 3 at 10 AM through shnsf.com, by calling SHN Audience Services at 888 SHN 1799 (888 746 1799) or by visiting the Orpheum Theatre Box Office (1192 Market at 8th Street, Mon – Sat, Noon – 6 pm). Groups of 15 or more may order now by calling SHN Group Sales at 888 SHN 1799.
To learn more about AVENUE Q and other SHN shows, please visit www.shnsf.com
To experience what goes on backstage at SHN shows, go to http://shnsf.com/podcast/index.asp and listen to Backstage, the SHN podcast series, to hear interviews with members of the creative teams or actors for all SHN productions.
Follow SHN on Facebook and Twitter:
www.facebook.com/shnbroadwayinsf
www.twitter.com/shnsf
[UPDATE: And here's The Review from Chronicle Theatre Critic Robert Hurwitt.]
Smash Broadway success next to normal started its run at SHN’s Curran Theatre yesterday.
From Orchestra Row M:
Next to Normal is intense … so is Alice Ripley’s performance. How does this chanteuse mash up singing with crying? The same confusing way you’ll endure at times uncomfortable emotional voyeurism of a family’s breakdown and rebirth. You might also want to seek therapy after the show … and that’s a good thing.
And the Twitter:
“Amazing night of theater: “Next to Normal” from @shnsf in SF. Intense, emotional, sometimes difficult, but the score, lyrics, & cast are WOW.”
This is the straightest-from-Broadway straight from Broadway show we’ve had in a long time, right?
Check out the deets, below.
It’s the role of a lifetime for star Alice Ripley, of course.
Bonus: The San Francisco affiliate of the non-profit National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is co-sponsoring NAMI Awareness Night on February 11th. See about that after the jump.
“The musical opened on Broadway in April 2009. It was nominated for eleven 2009 Tony Awards and won three, Best Original Score, Best Orchestration and Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for Alice Ripley. It also won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, becoming just the eighth musical in history to receive the honor. The previous musical to win the Pulitzer was Rent, in 1996, which was also directed by Michael Greif. In awarding the prize to Kitt and Yorkey, the Pulitzer Board called the show “a powerful rock musical that grapples with mental illness in a suburban family and expands the scope of subject matter for musicals.”
