I’ll say this for Scott Rudin: he knows how to sell tickets to theatergoers.
When they go sale later in October for next winter’s all star “Small Mouth Sounds” — starring Julia Roberts, Paul Rudd, and Sarah Paulson — prices will be so high they will spark an outcry from the press and regular fans.
But Rudin is also producing a play starting next month that isn’t so sexy. It’s called “Downatate,” and it takes place in a group home for four men convicted of sex crimes against minors. Cheery, right? “Downstate” features the great Lisa Colon-Zayas, from “The Bear,” and Thomas Sadoski.
Not exactly “Pretty Woman.”
So Rudin has worked out a deal. For two weeke beginning Thursday at noon, if you buy a ticket to “Downstate” for $150, you’ll get a code. With the code, you can buy a $250 ticket to “Small Mouth Sounds.” It won’t be fourth row center, but you’ll in the room where it happens. You can buy up to four of each, but no “Small Mouth Sounds” without “Downstate.”
Very clever. “Downstate” should sell out its limited run pretty fast. “Small Mouth Sounds” will fill up its balcony. Then, in a couple of weeks, the $700 tickets will kick in for the good seats.
And there’s one thing no one’s mentioned: “Small Mouth Sounds” features an actor — in this case it will be Isaac Powell — with brief full frontal nudity. It’s your judgment whether that’s worth an extra 500 clams.
PS No phones in the theater for “Small Mouth Sounds.” Yondr packs will be mandatory and you’ll get yours unlocked at the end of the show.
Here’s a link to the explanation of this unusual ticket situation. Total $400 for two plays, which will each be top notch. And you’ll have a few dollars left over for a Coke and M&Ms.
