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Park Square scores big with "Ragtime"
Posted by: Graydon Royce under Theater, Behind the scenes Updated: February 22, 2012 - 11:02 AM
Park Square Theatre exceeded its lofty goals for"Ragtime," the big musical that closed last weekend.
According to initial figures, the show grossed $268,673 — roughly $78,000 (or 41 percent) over the target.
Including general audience and school shows, "Ragtime" played to 8,795 people or 88 percent capacity for the 29 performances. The theater reported an average general ticket price of $34 and an average student price of $14.85.
"‘Ragtime’ was a rarity on every level," said artistic director Richard Cook, who cited the financial risk and the expectations placed on artists and staff.
Variables always make straight-line comparisons an apples-and-oranges kind of thing. With that caveat, "Ragtime" total attendance was the highest in Park Square history other than "Grey Gardens" which was a co-production with the Ordway and ran for nine weeks in 2009. In financial terms, "Ragtime" also bested everything other than "Grey Gardens and long-running student productions, Cook reported.
In terms of capacity, 87 percent of the seats were filled for the 24 general performances. Student matinees sold at 95 percent.
Gary Gisselman directed the epic show, which looks at the wrenching transitions America went through at the beginning of the 20th century. The cast included Harry Waters Jr., Christina Baldwin, Lee Mark Nelson and Dieter Bierbrauer.
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