Interest in Charlie Sheen’s live show fading?
Last Modified: Mar 29, 2011 12:06AM
While it’s clear Charlie Sheen is still making headlines, could the intense interest in the outspoken actor be waning a bit?
After initially strong ticket sales in Chicago and Detroit — the first announced venues for Sheen’s “My Violent Torpedo of Truth/Defeat Is Not an Option” tour — there seems to be a dropoff in interest.
While most of the best seats in the Chicago Theatre have been snapped up for Sheen’s gig here Sunday, some tickets still are available. In places like Tampa and Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Columbus and Seattle, ticket sales reportedly have been even weaker.
Nonetheless, Sheen supposedly has been guaranteed a minimum tour haul of $7 million — fueled by ticket sales, special “meet and greet” backstage opportunities (for $1,700-plus in Chicago) and a nice chunk of the tour merchandise being sold.
(You’ve got to admit, a #Winning! T-shirt or baseball cap will be hard to resist!)
† As ongoing snit-fits with Sheen’s ex-wives Denise Richards and Brooke Mueller continue to come up, a longtime Charlie chum told me Monday, “It’s never going to change. Charlie, Denise and Brooke — all in their own ways — love conflict. They love to fight! Peace is not an option for those guys. When they get bored, they have to stir things up and start a fight.
“Peace is never spelled ‘p-e-a-c-e’ in Charlie’s world. … The only time you hear that word, it’s spelled p-i-e-c-e, as in piece of a--,” added the source with a less than flattering crack about Sheen’s “goddesses.”
† As for the tour, it will include a 70-minute rant by Sheen, reportedly changed as he goes from town to town. There will be multimedia features, audience interaction and a couple of the “goddesses” present at each venue.
† After Sheen does his thing Sunday at the Chicago Theatre, he promises to put in a #Winning! appearance at Enclave nightclub — the site of his official afterparty Sunday night. Tickets start at $30, but the $60 ones include express entry, a 9 to 10:30 p.m. cocktail reception and one of 10 chances to win a meet and greet with the man himself.
For more info, go to enclacvechi cago.com/winning.
HOT STUFF: The romance between Drew Barrymore and Will Kopelman — the art dealer son of ex-Chanel CEO Arie Kopelman — has pals buzzing about an engagement. … Even though Cameron Diaz has long said marriage wasn’t on her radar, the actress’ head-over-heels love for Yankees stud Alex Rodriguez has her friends wondering if Diaz might not be altar-bound.
TV TALK: There is strong buzz that Will Ferrell’s upcoming four-episode arc on “The Office” (as an incompetent Dunder Mifflin branch manager) may become a recurring character — another way to give the show a boost with the pending departure of Steve Carell.
ROYAL ROMP: Despite intense media scrutiny, Prince William pulled off his bachelor/stag party over the weekend in relative privacy. The fete for the future king’s 20 closest chums took place at the country estate owned by a friend of Prince Charles, organized by top London nightclub owner Guy Pelly.
While reportedly fairly low-key — for a bachelor bash — it did supposedly include William and Kate Middleton look-alikes and, yes, there were strippers who put on a show for the boys.
TUNE TIME: It will be “Monday Night Live” at Petterino’s on April 11 as select cast members from the musical “Working” — including Emjoy Gavino, Michael Mahler, Barbara Robertson and Gabriel Ruiz — perform at the restaurant’s regular Monday “open mike” cabaret-style showcase.
† Tony winner Alice Norby (“Next to Normal”) will make her Midwest concert debut at the newly revamped Stage 773 Theatre on West Belmont — in a one-night-only gig May 2 titled “Daily Practice: The Acoustic Sessions,” an evening featuring such songs as Bruce Springsteen’s “Thunder Road” and Carole King’s “It’s Too Late.”
SEEN ON THE SCENE: Amber Heard — here filming the “Playboy” TV pilot — was spied dining at Paris Club. … Rachael Ray made some Chicago-themed moves while at the recent SXSW fest in Austin — raving about both the Chicago-based Maps & Atlases band, while chugging a Hornitos tequila Paloma drink from Deerfield’s Beam Global Spirits.
DOWN UNDER: Cast members of Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s hip-hoptation “Funk It Up About Nothin’ ” — now on tour in Sydney, Australia — have recorded a hip-hop anthem for the country’s beloved Aussie football team, the Sydney Swans.
“Swan Song (Cheer, Cheer)” has become quite the hit — and already has gone viral.
Copyright © 2011 — Sun-Times Media, LLC
