Norm! column

March 1, 2006

Sir Slams A Lot
[hear the full Wynn interview by clicking here]

Steve Wynn continues to get grief for bad-mouthing his competition after the demise of "Avenue Q." Broadway columnist Michael Riedel of the New York Post took issue with Wynn's claim that "Mamma Mia!" is struggling at Mandalay Bay.

Riedel pointed out that the show's weekly capacity is around 90 percent, with the weekly gross hovering around $650,000. "If 'Q' were in as bad a shape as 'Mamma Mia!' is, it wouldn't be packing up in May," wrote Riedel, referring to the short-lived run "Avenue Q" at Wynn Las Vegas.

After pulling the plug on "Avenue Q," Wynn belittled the other Broadway shows in Las Vegas, while predicting big things for his "Spamalot," which arrives next year. His comments came during an interview with freelancer Steve Friess for Newsweek.com.

"People involved in 'Mamma Mia!' think Wynn is trashing their show because he tried -- and failed -- to get it himself," Riedel wrote.  

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