Ticket sales for Katie Holmes’ Broadway debut are still lower than expected


About six weeks ago there was a story that ticket sales for Katie Holmes’ Broadway debut in Arthur Miller’s All My Sons were lower than expected. You would think that all photos out of Katie grinning maniacally while taking her daughter out past a two year old’s bedtime would help generate publicity and advance sales for the play, but it hasn’t helped. Katie Homes does not seem to be a big box office draw and sales are still low for the play. The economy isn’t the reason, according to MSNBC, because other celebrities have managed to sell out shows recently. The play also features seasoned stars John Lithgow, Dianne Wiest and Patrick Wilson.

One needs to look no further than the successes of “A Chorus Line” and “Spamalot” for proof that celebrities sell Broadway tickets, but in the case of “All My Sons,” that rule might not necessarily apply.

Ticket sales for the show, which stars Katie Holmes and Patrick Wilson, are thus far “definitely off from what the production hoped,” according to a source close to “Sons.” It’s hard to know what exactly is to blame.

“You can’t say it’s the economy,” says the source, “because there are shows, like ‘Mamma Mia’ that are selling out.” One possibility bandied about is that audiences are too nostalgic for Holmes’ “Dawson’s Creek” persona to clamor for tickets. “It’s not that Katie’s bad in the part. She’s good enough. The producers are just getting the feeling people still want to view Katie as sweet little Joey Potter.”

That said, Jackie Green, a publicist for “All My Sons,” says that chatter about tepid ticket sales and rumors of a shorter-than-expected run are entirely untrue. “That information is totally false. There is a healthy advance for the show, and there is no chance of the run being shortened,” says Green. “Sons” opens Oct. 16 and runs through Jan. 11.

[From MSNBC’s The Scoop]
All My Sons is a drama, and those type of more serious plays may not be as easy to sell out as fun musicals. Julia Roberts Spring 2006 turn on Broadway in the drama Three Days of Rain was a huge success, with all 16 performances selling out and over $2 million in ticket sales. Roberts was the highest paid woman in show business from 2001 to 2005, and it might not be fair to compare her to Holmes, who is now best known for being Tom Cruise’s wife. Holmes’ last feature film, Mad Money, was a commercial and critical flop and only managed to take in $24 million, enough to barely break even.

The play opens October 16 and has a nearly three month run. We’ll have to see if sales pick up next month and if Katie’s performance is well received. I liked her in Pieces of April, and she could manage to pull this off to acceptable acclaim. I wouldn’t bet on it, though.

Katie Holmes is shown outside rehearsals on 8/19 and 8/20, and out with Suri on 8/20. Credit: WENN

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26 Responses to “Ticket sales for Katie Holmes’ Broadway debut are still lower than expected”

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  1. geronimo says:

    Much as I don’t rate Katie as an actress, odd that the blame/focus is on her re low ticket sales when experienced, talented actors like Lithgow, Wiest and Wilson are involved in the production? If they can’t bring people in, hard to see how any negativity towards Katie would have much effect on ticket sales either way.

  2. daisy424 says:

    I hope the ticket sales go up for the sake of the rest of the cast. I like Dianne Wiest. Funny, she was in Practical Magic with Tom’s ex Nicole.

    Why does she keep subjecting that child to the paps at night? (I am in the same time zone as NY, EDT. Suri should be in bed or getting ready for bed if it’s dark out). Is she totally out of touch with her daughters angst? πŸ˜•

  3. geronimo says:

    ” Is she totally out of touch with her daughters angst?”

    I think you’ve answered your own Q, Daisy.
    I have a pair of shoes identical in colour and style to Suri’s ‘cept mine have a 3 inch heel. Just thought I’d share.

  4. photo jojo says:

    I think that Katie Holmes is just not a good actress, honestly. She was absolutely terrible in Batman Begins: dead eyes and all. I wouldn’t pay to see her read a grocery list.

  5. Tia says:

    You would think that someone writing this story and spreading this propaganda would at least quote the company and site selling the tickets. I am also ashamed of celebitchy for not doing more research. I know you don’t like this girl but why spread negative propaganda without finding out the truth?

    This is the new internet era, get yourself informed and save yourself from looking…….

    http://www.tomkatcrazy.com/the-all-my-sons-ticket-circus/

  6. Bodhi says:

    Personally, I think she is a truely terrible actress & I’d never subject myself to her performance. But thats niether here nor there. Geronimo is right, she can’t be 100% responsible for slow ticket sales. Lithgow & Wiest have been bankable actors for years.

    Edit: Tia, I’m fairly sure CB is aware of the internet…

  7. Tia says:

    Good point geronimo, why focus the alleged lack of sales on Katie? Is there any one refusing to buy tickets because Katie is involved or is there someone trying to spread negativity about her. People should stop being cheap. And Mama Mia is still selling tickets for the opening night! Go to Broadway.com for all the details.

  8. Goober says:

    Here’s my prediction: sometime after the run of All My Sons ends, either Lithgow or Weist will come out and say the sales were bad because of Holmes.

  9. pissoff says:

    Its because she has no acting talent, you stupid cow.

  10. Celebitchy says:

    A quick IP check reveals that Tia is “Lola,” remember her? She’s also going by “Carla” on another thread.

  11. Bodhi says:

    Well, color me surprised!

  12. geronimo says:

    lol CB, are you serious?! Oh dear, Lola, how very not astute of you.

  13. daisy424 says:

    Different nicknames, hmmmm. I doubt if those are the only pseudonyms she is using. Didn’t know about Tia though. This is clearly the sign of a very disturbed person.
    Thanks for the tip CB
    Is she Clover also?

  14. daisy424 says:

    “…spreading this propaganda would at least quote the company and site selling the tickets. I am also ashamed of celebitchy for not doing more research. I know you don’t like this girl but why spread negative propaganda without finding out the truth?”

    Pot calling the kettle black?

  15. Holly says:

    Interestingly enough I don’t consider Katie Holmes a celebrity the caliber of one being able to draw crowds to a stage show. I don’t hold any ill will due to her husband and how wierd he has become – I just don’t think she’s that great. Obviously I’m not alone.

  16. JoGirl says:

    Will they never take that cursed bottle away from the child? I could understand if she were still using it once or twice a day strictly at home, but carrying it around as a 24/7 comfort object at age 2 is just weird.

  17. Ethan says:

    No surprise there.

    Why do producers mistake gossip interest with respect of audience?

    I assume she is driving audiences away, since it’s a signal for bad judgement on part of the director and producers.

    The same goes for movies with Brangelina, L. Lohan and Paris Hilton that their casting actually hurt ticket sales.

  18. MSat says:

    It’s too bad- the play is one of Arthur Miller’s best and the subject matter is very timely today. I actually played the role of Ann that Katie is playing when I was in college. It’s not an easy role but I think she can pull it off if she works hard. I don’t think it’s fair to judge the production without even seeing it- the rest of the cast is amazing.

  19. Shane says:

    The general public caught on to the fact she’s turned into royal diva witch. No thanks, I’ll pass.

  20. hello says:

    I love her scarf in the first picture.

    That aside, I was always annoyed with her as Joey Potter, but that was because I thought Joey was annoying playing Dawson and Pacey. So not her fault. She annoyed me in Batman Begins too, but I think Tommy had entered her life by then. She’s kinda dead behind the eyes since him. She looks so sad, especially if she doesn’t have Suri around.

  21. Kat says:

    Never Fear !! Tom will buy up, all the leftover tickets and it will be a sell-out. End of story.

  22. vdantev says:

    Poor Katie-bot. πŸ™

  23. Anne says:

    I think Katie has bitten too much than she can chew. She is a poor actress, she has no style of her own, always trying to resemble somebody else (Victoria Beckham, Suri, or Tom with shorter and shorter haircuts and wearing his (?!) pants).
    So stupid. I think she is pathetic, and not good of a mother either.

  24. Anne says:

    I think Katie has bitten too much than she can chew. She is a poor actress, she has no style of her own, always trying to resemble somebody else (Victoria Beckham, Suri, or Tom with shorter and shorter haircuts and wearing his (?!) pants).
    So stupid. I think she is pathetic, and not good of a mother either.

  25. Jeanne Clark says:

    Katie Holmes has about as much appeal as one of her black flats. Why doesn’t she and her weirded out, washed up hubby emigrate or live overseas like a lot of other celebs? No such luck, they continue to inflict themselves on the public as if they haven’t already made enough $$$.