
'The Play That Goes Wrong' Producer J.J. Abrams
What do Mission Impossible, Armageddon, Alias, Westworld, and The Play That Goes Wrong have in common? They were all produced or directed by J.J. Abrams! We sat down with the incredible director, screenwriter, producer, composer, and actor (just to name a few of his expertise) to discuss what audiences can expect when coming to see The Play That Goes Wrong here at TPAC October 9-14.
J.J.: I was shooting The Force Awakens in London, and I had a free night. I checked out what was playing in the West End, and I saw something called The Play That Goes Wrong. It sounded like a funny premise so I bought a ticket. When I went to see the play, I was amazed by the whole construction of it. The way it was put together. The rhythm of it. The cleverness. The brilliance of the performers. And I met one of the producers — Mark Bentley — at intermission. He was an incredibly nice guy, and I found myself asking if there were plans to take this comedy to the States. He said they were considering it but had no definitive plans so I said if I could be of any help, I’d like to be. And that’s how it started. From there I talked to my agents about getting involved, and they put me in touch with a veteran Broadway producer named Kevin McCollum who did much of the heavy lifting in negotiating terms and figuring out how to do it since I had never done anything like it before. And together we brought the play to Broadway with the original cast.
J.J.: I became involved with this play when it was already fully formed. Besides the financial investment, my only real contribution was giving some suggestions for the American audience. It was the least I could do and my pleasure to help promote the play. One of the things we did was go on my friend Stephen Colbert’s show which was an incredible thrill because we did something insane in surprising the audience by inviting them to the performance immediately after the taping. We walked hundreds of people — I think it was over 400 people — through Times Square to the Theatre where they got to see the play. It was an unforgettable night.
J.J.: It’s too easy to find reasons to be depressed and terrified and unsure and disheartened in this moment. And finding something that is such a pure, unadulterated, hysterically funny and big- hearted piece of entertainment is no small thing. I think one of the reasons that people are laughing as hard as they are at this show is not just that it is so funny, but that people are so desperate to have a good time. It’s not just about being distracted by the world, it’s about remembering that one of the great reasons we are alive is to come together and to laugh. And The Play That Goes Wrong does that.
The Play That Goes Wrong is coming to TPAC October 9-14 with tickets available now at TPAC.org.
Ascend Amphitheater is located at 310 First Ave. S. Click here for directions and parking.
All performances are rain-or-shine. In the event of severe weather, click here for updates.
All bags will be searched upon entry.
Lawn chairs higher than 9″ off the ground will not be allowed into the amphitheater. Low-back lawn chairs, blankets and stadium seating cushions are allowed.
Click here for a complete list of items allowed into the amphitheater.
Click here to view seating and accessibility information.
Visit Ascend Amphitheater’s FAQ page for additional information, including concessions, camera policy, and box office info.
Preview the content of this show at the links below. If you have questions, please call TPAC Box Office at 615-782-4040.
Contains adult themes
Review: Big-Hair Rockers Return in a New Arena: Broadway
Rock of Ages on Broadway Review
Preview the content of this show at the links below. If you have questions, please call TPAC Box Office at 615-782-4040.
BWW Review: Irving Berlin’s White Christmas National Tour
In ‘White Christmas,’ the lights of a holiday in are all alglow
Preview the content of this show at the links below. If you have questions, please call TPAC Box Office at 615-782-4040.
Review: ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ Retains Its Luster
Review: The Phantom of the Opera
Preview the content of this show at the links below. If you have questions, please call TPAC Box Office at 615-782-4040.
Contains explicit language
Review: ‘The Book of Mormon’ on Broadway Retains Its Charms
Preview the content of this show at the links below. If you have questions, please call TPAC Box Office at 615-782-4040.
Review: A ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ Revival With an Echo of Modernity
Fiddler On The Roof
Fiddler On The Roof on Broadway Reviews
Preview the content of this show at the links below. If you have questions, please call TPAC Box Office at 615-782-4040.
Contains adult themes
Review: Return of the Little Copter That Wowed in ‘Miss Saigon’
Miss Saigon
Miss Saigon: The popular musical about doomed love in the last days of South Vietnam returns to Broadway.
Preview the content of this show at the links below. If you have questions, please call TPAC Box Office at 615-782-4040.
Review: ‘Hello, Dolly!’ Is Bright, Brassy and All Bette
Should I bring my kids to see HELLO DOLLY on Broadway?
Preview the content of this show at the links below. If you have questions, please call TPAC Box Office at 615-782-4040.
Contains gunshot effects and strobe lights
Review: ‘Anastasia,’ a Russian Princess With an Identity Crisis
Broadway Review: ‘Anastasia,’ The Muscial
Anastasia on Broadway Reviews
Anastasia
Preview the content of this show at the links below. If you have questions, please call TPAC Box Office at 615-782-4040.
Contains strong language and gun violence
Review: ‘A Bronx Tale’ Explores the Struggle for a Boy’s Soul
A Bronx Tale: The Musical on Broadway Reviews
A Bronx Tale: The Musical
Preview the content of this show at the links below. If you have questions, please call TPAC Box Office at 615-782-4040.
Review: ‘On Your Feet!’ Rides the Rhythm of the Estefans
On Your Feet on Broadway Reviews
Preview the content of this show at the links below. If you have questions, please call TPAC Box Office at 615-782-4040.
Review: ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ Upends a Whodunit
Review: Is The Play That Goes Wrong Appropriate for Kids?
The Play That Goes Wrong
Stage review: Laughing at ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ is all that’s right with comedy
‘The Play That Goes Wrong’: A Brilliant, Bang-Up Comedy At The Bushnell
Preview the content of this show at the links below. If you have questions, please call TPAC Box Office at 615-782-4040.
Review: ‘School of Rock’ Teaches the ABCs of Power Chords
Trip Advisor Audience Reviews
School of Rock on Broadway Reviews
School of Rock – The Musical
It means you’ll be unable to see the entire stage from those seats.
We sell these seats because for many fans the limited view is not a problem, and the tickets are clearly labeled at time of purchase (see photo below). Limited view seating varies event to event and could be something as small as a tiny corner of the stage being blocked from view. Please call our box office at 615-782-4040 for additional information on limited view seating.
Seats marked with “Limited View” during purchase path
Many shows impose ticket limits to allow as many people as possible to have equal access to seats. This is done as a deterrent to third party vendors, i.e. scalpers, who may purchase large blocks of seats and then resell them online at an inflated cost. The term “household” refers to any shared information on one or more accounts. This includes, but may not be limited to matching names, mailing and billing addresses, email addresses, phone numbers and credit card numbers. Any households that purchase more than the allowed number of tickets may have their order(s) refunded without notice.
Will The Price Is Right LIVE be a future episode of the TV Game Show?
No, this show will not be recorded for television.
Who will be the host?
There are a number of different hosts for The Price is Right Live! Tour. A host has not been confirmed at this time.
Is there a prize list available?
Prizes vary from show to show so no prize list is available, however the type of prizes are very similar to what you see on television.
How will the registration process work?
Registration takes place day of show, prior to each performance. Beginning 3 hours before showtime, each eligible person who would like the opportunity to be selected to play will provide their first and last name and day of birth (0-31) to producers via registration cards which are given to eligible patrons by Venue staff. There is no ticket purchase required to register to be a contestant, and will not be considered a factor in determining eligible contestants or in the contestant selection process. Registration closes precisely at the scheduled showtime.
Will I be able to register before the night of the show?
Unfortunately not. All registration will open 3 hours prior to each show. Guests are encouraged to get there early to avoid lineups. Registration will remain open until the posted showtime.
Will guests be able to register more than one person at a time?
All contestants must register themselves. Guests will not be permitted to register additional people.
What is the procedure for someone who shows up to register but does not have a ticket?
By law, everyone who shows up and wants to register must be allowed to do so and have equal opportunity to be called down to be a contestant. If an individual registers and DOES NOT have a ticket to watch the show, they will be directed to a pre-determined location. All of the contestants for the show are chosen at random as soon as registration closes. The names of all eligible registrants will be weighted equally, that is, no advantage shall be given to individuals who purchased a ticket over individuals that did not. If an individual who did not purchase a ticket is selected as a contestant, that person will be escorted to an open seat in the venue. Individuals who did not purchase a ticket and were not selected may leave the theater after the random drawing.
Do I need to be there 3 hours before the show in order to register?
It is ideal to arrive early, up to 3 hours, to avoid lineups, but registration will stay open until the posted showtime. People may leave the theater after they have registered, but they must be present at the time of the drawing in order to be eligible.
When does the drawing take place?
The random drawing to determine show contestants will take place backstage during a 20 minute time period beginning at the posted show time. All eligible contestants must be present at the time their name is called or they will be disqualified and another randomly selected name will be called. Eligible contestants who registered, but did not purchase a ticket will be informed in the waiting area in the first 20 minutes after the posted show time if they have been selected.
How do people collect their prizes if they win?
After someone wins a prize a producer will ask them to return to the front of the stage after the show where all the necessary paperwork will be done for the prizing. This takes place immediately following the show. The amount of time it takes depends entirely on the number of winners in a show.
How are contestants selected for each show?
All contestants are selected entirely at random from the pool of registered contestants.
How old do you have to be to register?
You must be 18 years of age or older to be eligible to register to become a contestant.
Can you still go to the show if you are under age?
Absolutely. Anyone can buy tickets and watch the show. It’s often a family affair, however only those 18 years of age or older can be eligible to be a contestant.