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Gustav blows Waco’s “Tuna” into January
Hurricane Gustav did collateral damage to the Waco Hippodrome Theatre’s first fall production by causing postponement of the comedy “Tuna Does Vegas!” from Sept. 12-14 to January, 2009.
The tour’s five Waco performances were the only ones unaffected by Gustav’s approach and landfall, which meant the company producing the tour would have only the revenue of Waco to recoup the tour’s cost and lost shows. The Hippodrome could have demanded the company, led by Tuna creators and actors Joe Sears and Jaston Williams, fulfill its contract, said Scott Baker, executive director of the Waco Performing Arts Company. That, however, could have meant a huge financial hit for the Tuna company.
“I think Waco would not want to be known as the town that killed Tuna,” Baker said Tuesday, hours after agreeing to a postponement of “Tuna Does Vegas!” to January 2009.
The Waco Hippodrome Theatre had already sold almost 1,900 tickets with sales accelerating as the shows approached; Hippodrome office staff sold about 40 tickets on Tuesday before official word of the postponement came. Baker and the Tuna company will set the January 2009 performances Wednesday morning and determine the manner of refunding those ticket holders who want their money back.
Since “Vegas” wasn’t a part of the Hippodrome’s regular season, season ticket holders who did not buy “Vegas” tickets separately are not affected by the change in date. Baker, however, had counted heavily on the excitement of “Vegas” to start the fall with positive buzz about the Waco theater and stimulate a late round of season ticket buying. The Hippodrome is approaching 600 season tickets sold and Baker planned on using “Vegas” as “a big slingshot” to reach his goal of 800 for the year.
Baker intends to reschedule “Vegas” with the same performance set-up as originally planned: Friday, Saturday and Sunday night performances with matinees on Saturday and Sunday. Those holding tickets will be able to retain those seats and performance time if they wish, Baker added. For information on rescheduling and refunds, call the box office at (254) 752-9797 or email at boxoffice@wacoperformingarts.org
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By Melissa
September 3, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this
Hey there.
I didn’t know where to submit these type of thing but our new bar downtown, Austin’s on the Avenue, will being it Texas Country Music Series this Thursday with Tommy Alverson. It all begins at 6 on teh patio. 719 Austin Ave, across from teh Hippadrome. 104.9 Q Country will be doing their live broadcasts from there. If you have any other questions, just let me know.