I don't get this rubbish negativity about 'previews' we get to see the show develop. I saw all the songs performed on opening night that possibly may not make it to the Coliseum. You don't have to buy a £65 ticket. You can buy a £20 ticket and have the most AWESOME night out.

A piece of theatre is never finished. It's always developing. There is an incorrect assumption here that a show is 'set', 'done', 'ready for an audience' - after 7 years of professional directing, and 15 years of performing in the UK, I can tell you that this is NEVER THE CASE. A show lives in the moment and an audience has to be ready. On Friday, in Manchester, the audience was READY!

This musical is a maverick, it's still developing, already it has changed musical theatre FOREVER. It is at the same time cinematic and theatrical.

I hope that in development, they put in The Future Aint What it Used to Be. It would be perfect as one of the encores, as *Spoiler Alert* singing a chorus of Bat again at the end just isn't enough. But then again, I always want MORE.

Ps. Andrew Polec is the best musical theatre singer I have ever seen - I mean - he is OUT OF THIS WORLD (And I've seen ALL the modern greats from Patti Lupone to Ramin Karimloo). To see his performance is worth the ticket price alone, he's a once in a generation find -honestly.

I'm there on a Thursday, but it meant having to take time off work for both me and my dad. Plus there were travel costs to consider so for me, the mid-week thing is what it is. Even lower prices wouldn't mean more people going. There are only so many people in Manchester itself that will want to see the musical, and there aren't as many random tourists there to add numbers. In London, people are there for reasons other than just going exclusively to see a show, so there are people who will likely arrive, see it advertised locally and purchase tickets on the day.

It is a lot of money, but so it anything in theatre. If you want cheap, go in the gods. For me, "previews" have always been for ironing out the things that happen to go wrong that weren't expected but can be avoided, and for making changes IF some aspects of the show doesn't work or isn't received well. From the opening night comments, I see a total of nothing that is of immediate concern for change so Manchester will be every bit as good as London, Broadway or anywhere else it goes to afterwards. It could naturally progress and change from production to production over years if it really becomes a long standing musical, just like We Will Rock You and such have seen changes from the original versions.

In the end you are buying a ticket for a few hours of escapism which is exactly the same as if you are booking Wicked, The Lion King, Phantom or any other established and long running show. The cast don't work any less, the production is no less impressive and professional and the running costs of the venue and wage are no lower, so why should the ticket prices be any different.

Oh and news features like this will be what builds it up along with word of mouth to turn this into exactly the same beast as the album. Ticket sales in Manchester will increase as more is put out there about it. (No massive spoilers other than a couple of set pieces)

http://www.itv.com/news/granada/upda...source=dlvr.it

For a full merch list, photos, and prices, check out a post from last night on Jim's FB page :cool:

Is Jim planning to come to Manchester or London?

It's a safe bet that he probably won't. He made his contributions in rehearsal via Skype, as witnessed in many of the production shots on Facebook and from the creative team's word in early promo videos, which suggests to at least this poster that if he couldn't physically be there for rehearsals (which, of any time in a show's development, is key for him to be there, as someone with experience like proctorloaf, TWG, or myself would be the first to tell you), he probably won't make it for the real deal until it reaches his shore. I don't wish to expose anyone's private business publicly (though occasionally in fits of pique I have unintentionally stirred drama), but clearly Jim is not as well as could be hoped, which is all the more reason the show goes well, if it means his legacy is cemented.

From Jacqueline on the Rockman Record (Jim Site) - see knows Jim.

"first show is the "opening" he may be back in March and I think he will be in London in June for sure".

Last I heard, directly from Jim, is that he was hoping to make some though not all of London. :cool:

Great that he is coming to see his work in action. Hopefully Meat will be able to see it at some stage as well.

I think 5th june maybe the one

Opening night London, on my birthday, would be the icing on the birthday cake lol

Might have to be a drink or two factored in to that day then!

my gf birthday also that night so that makes it double drinks right?

I should let you know that Guy wanted to buy us all drinks on the night as he is feeling emotional about the whole thing.

How random that cake was mentioned and we had a moment from my King ;)

So looking forward to this, so excited, so nervous, I can't wait! Going this Saturday for the afternoon matinee. Does anyone know how long the show is, including interval? Making dinner plans for afterwards... thanks!

Three hours, give or take :)

just realised that my auto txt messed up my last post lol oh well Andy still knew about the cake

Hi what time does the show start? The ticket says 7.30 is that the starting time or doors open? Thanks

Start of the show :-)

Posted setlist in other thread for those interested

Wow that's early!

It's a bit longer than most other shows though...most of them run about 2 hours 30 with interval. From what I've heard...as in about four posts up...you're looking at about half an hour longer hence the early start. I'm guessing.

They're looking at cutting down

the shows in manchester are advertised as previews yes but atg theaters have a pilot scheme called manchester gets it first and the plan is that its for new shows like bat out of hell and ghost the musical 9 till 5 uk tour so they can try out in front of an audience and the part of the plan is if it works in manchester it will work anywhere and as for prices tickets start from £17.50 -£55.00 thats for standard ticket prices at all atg theaters its only when you and the vip extra package when the price goes up witch is optional also the tickets are the same price as a ticket for a meat loaf gig i think but you are getting a comfy seat to and in a nice atmosphere http://www.broadwayworld.com/uk-regi...First-20110516

https://dannylavery9.wordpress.com/2...manchester-uk/

HERE is my spoilerific review of the show!!

Ah, you lucky Canadians!

October, 2017 - with the London cast. That's all I know for now.

:cool: