Little House Musical - Advance Tickets are Hottest-Ever for Guthrie
In case you haven’t heard tickets for the Little House on the Prairie musical went on sale last Friday. Here is the release that followed a big day of ticket sales: PRAIRIE SETS GUTHRIE BOX OFFICE ON FIRE!
LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE
BREAKS BOX OFFICE RECORDS!
(Minneapolis/St. Paul) The world premiere production of Little House on the Prairie broke box office records at the Guthrie Theater this past Friday by selling more tickets on a single day than any other show in the venue’s history. Day-of-sale box office receipts reported that 5,461 tickets for the world premiere musical were sold on Friday. The previous one day box office record for a Guthrie production was set in 2006 when 1,363 tickets were sold for the annual holiday show, A Christmas Carol. The box office record for a presentation at the Guthrie was set in 2007, when 3,639 tickets were sold in one day for the Guthrie WorldStage presentation of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of King Lear, starring Ian McKellen.
The Prairie fire in the box office remained strong over the weekend, resulting in a three day total of 8,408 tickets sold. Friday’s ticket sales were conducted by phone and in person only, and reports indicate that tickets were sold to residents of more than 25 American states and several Canadian provinces. Of the more than 5,000 people who purchased tickets on Friday, a stunning 58% have never before attended a show at the Guthrie.
“The numbers from Friday’s sales clearly indicate the wide appeal of this material,” Guthrie Artistic Director Joe Dowling said, “We knew that the Little House stories resonate in this region in a profound way, and now we know that Little House on the Prairie as a musical – a truly American art form –speaks to people across the nation in a powerful way.”
The new musical based on the classic tales penned by Laura Ingalls Wilder will be directed by Francesca Zambello, and feature a book by Tony Award-winning writer Rachel Portman, lyrics by Donna di Novelli and music by Academy Award-winning film composer Rachel Sheinkin.
Broadway veteran Steve Blanchard (eight years as the “Beast” in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast) leads the Ingalls family through the joys and hardship of pioneer life as Charles “Pa” Ingalls. Melissa Gilbert, best known for her work in the 1970s television series, returns to her Little House roots to play Caroline “Ma” Ingalls, with her signature character Laura coming to life on the musical stage through the talents of Kara Lindsay, a 2007 graduate of Carnegie Mellon University. Jenn Gambatese (Broadway’s All Shook Up and Disney’s Tarzan) plays the role of eldest daughter Mary, a character who struggles with scarlet fever and its resulting blindness. Rounding out the Ingalls family as Carrie, 14-year-old Twin Cities native Maeve Moynihan (A Christmas Carol, 2003-2005) returns to the Guthrie stage following numerous roles at the Tony Award-winning Children’s Theatre Company. The cast also features Sara Jean Ford (Christine in the Broadway National Tour of Phantom of the Opera) as the prissy, spoiled and manipulative Nellie Oleson, and Kevin Massey (Broadway’s Tarzan and Big River), who brings romance to the prairie as Almanzo Wilder.
Previews begin July 26, with opening night set for August 15 and performances continuing through October 5. Season ticket packages, which include Little House on the Prairie, are still available. Single tickets are priced from $29 to $65, with opening night prices ranging from $54 to $75. Little House on the Prairie is being produced at the Guthrie by special arrangement with Global Prairie Productions, Inc.
About the Guthrie
The Guthrie Theater, founded in 1963, is an American center for theater performance, production, education and professional training. The Guthrie is dedicated to producing the great works of dramatic literature, developing the work of contemporary playwrights and cultivating the next generation of theater artists. Led by Director Joe Dowling since 1995, the Guthrie opened their new three-theater home on the banks of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis in June 2006. The Guthrie is located at 818 South 2nd Street (at Chicago Avenue), in downtown Minneapolis. To purchase tickets or season subscriptions call the Guthrie Box Office between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily at 612.377.2224 or toll-free 877.44.STAGE. For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit www.guthrietheater.org.
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:37 am
That’s amazing. I am not surprized that Little House has broken sales records. It the best story. If I didn’t live so far away, I’d be there too.
One question, is no one playing Grace? Poor Grace, she isn’t mentioned here and didn’t get a voice in Disney’s Little House movie either.
I wish Melissa all the best.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Hi Dean,
I have just found this website and am very excited to hear about all the work you have been doing..I was lucky enough to meet you on Rocky Ridge Day in Mansfield,MO back in 1997…We had a good laugh on the fact that I tried to make cinnamon chicken for my family…My brother still enjoys telling the horrible story at family dinners…It was quite awful…
My husband and I spent our honeymoon back in 1996 traveling to all the Laura sites in South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin and we talked about someday going to the Wilder homestead in New York..I look forward to the DVD release because time just hasn’t allowed us to make it that far..Thanks so much for all you do and God Bless…LeAnna
July 6th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Sounds awesome!
Cheryl
July 27th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
I heard today that the Guthrie Theater is extending the Little House on the Prairie musical for two more weeks. Their last performance date is now scheduled for October 19th. It looks like Melissa and the crew are bringing in great sales numbers, I guess that proves America still loves Little House.
July 30th, 2008 at 11:30 am
I must say that reading the first articles, and seeing the first photos, makes me very anxious to see the show !!
But I’m afraid it won’t be possible… Plane tickets are so expensive…
Lorrie… Living in Wisconsin… Will you jump in your car and drive to Minneapolis ??? You could tell us all about the show !
Eric (Montreal)
August 6th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
I’m off to see Melissa, the wonderful LHOP Musical, and I’m SOOO excited. If only I can get to meet her…..but probably it won’t happen. But believe me, I WILL try! I’ll give you a report after October 17th.
August 19th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
I just saw the play and all I can say is that it is awesome! I travelled from Seattle to see it and I wasn’t disappointed. I even got to meet Melissa after the show and get her autograph. I’m still in shock after following the show for years and never meeting any of the stars in person.
They had a meet and greet after the matinee and Melissa came out with other cast members to answer questions. One question asked was if any of the tv cast had come to see her perform. She said that Alison Arngrim came opening night and Katherine MacGregor surprised her by flying in for one of the performances. She mentioned you, too, Dean. She said, “My Almanzo” plans to come at a later date. It was very cute.
I hope they do make it to Broadway, it was a wonderful performance by all! I loved the theatre, too.