Writing Shotgun

“OFFERING OPTIONS TO A BROADER AUDIENCE”

Kevin FergusonTue. January 22
 

Thursday evening, Midnight Insanity, the local Rocky Horror Picture Show cast was given 30 days notice to leave the Queen Mary. The order will make their last show February 16th. Last night we ran a blog on the decision by QM to throw out Midnight Insanity. With no word from management, we were left scratching our heads as to why the Queen Mary would want to end their one and a half year relationship? Queen Mary General Manager Jay Primavera has apparently answered our question with this:

The management of the Queen Mary would like to thank Mark Tomaino, the performers and loyal fans of the Midnight Insanity production during their term on The Queen Mary. The decision to not renew the performance schedule is due solely to changes in overall venue programming and offering options to a broader audience.

The Queen Mary will continue to be a strong supporter of the local community through its foundation and by sponsoring and hosting events, exhibits and performance artists in all ship venues.

Jay Primavera is new to the Queen Mary, he took over as GM in October of 2007, but he isn’t new to the hotel care industry. He’s with Hostmark Hospitality Group, a large hotel property management chain with offices in Cairo and Illinois, and hotels all over planet earth. Maybe he’s new to the area?

Also, on the “broader audiences” part: last Saturday’s Midnight Insanity shows sold out the Queen Mary’s Royal Theater. Twice. Probably new to the area. Welcome, Mr. Primavera.

  • QM_former_fan
    I think this new GM Jay Primavera is a douche bag. He has not only ended this wonderful show, he's replacing this and other shows/events with anything to get his grubby hands on more money. He doesn't care about tradition or culture, he's greedy and has destroyed the hard work and dreams of many of his employees who were loyal to the Queen Mary for over a decade or longer.

    I hope he rots in hell.
  • Kevin Ferguson
    john,

    of course i wanted them to find a place (they did, by the way, publishing this story online might've helped, i don't know), and qm was probably within their legal rights to throw m/i off the ship. but having the law on your side doesn't give you automatic moral authority. it's not right to without notice, reason, or apparent concern, abruptly end a 1.5 year relationship w/ mi. but, like i said, they found a place, i'll be posting a new thing about it soon. and inevitably qm is going to suffer for their new 4-star/regentrification overhaul the same way east village and downtown will.
  • Nikkie
    I've always known the Queen mary for the Ghost tours and the history...but it was nice to have somthing out of the ordenary there....I when Midnight Insanty moved there I loved it because I can take a tour go to eat and then go to the show....It was a fun day and night for my friends and I to go and be safe
  • Hey Kevin, I like Rocky Horror as much as the next guy but, really, let's get real for a minute. Does or does not the QM have every right to book or to not book whatever sort of entertainment they like in the Royal Theater? Instead of throwing the journalistic equivalent of a tantrum, why not just help Midnight Insanity find another venue?
  • Chris Ziegler
    'the change in the programming is due to us changing the programming.'
  • Long Beach wouldn't know unique/cultural/historical if it dressed up in drag put on make-up and bit it in the ass.
  • Jay Primavera sounds like just another corporate shill.

    "The Queen Mary will continue to be a strong supporter of the local community through its foundation and by sponsoring and hosting events, exhibits and performance artists in all ship venues."

    Sure they will.

    After Feb 2., I'll never spend another dime at QM or any Hostmark Hospitality Group affiliate. Hope their happy with their decision.

    We can only hope that MI can find a new home.
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