Do any Broadway Plays such as the 39 steps ever go on to do national tours or no? Sorry I was just wondering because you alway hear of musicals going on tour but never plays at least for me that is lol.
Do any Broadway Plays such as the 39 steps ever go on to do national tours or no?
"The 39 Steps" did do a tour. It launched a 19-city USA tour at the La Jolla Playhouse in La Jolla, CA in August of 2009 and then continued through June 13, 2010. Tour stops here: http://www.39stepsny.com/tour.html I was lucky enough to see it at the Ahmanson Theatre in L.A. I loved it! If it does a regional production near you be sure and see it.
"If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it." -Stephen Colbert
Carrie Fisher did a tour of "Wishful Drinking" before it hit Broadway, but she only hit regional theaters (vs performing arts centers). Also, it was a while ago, but "The Graduate" toured. And "Vagina Monologues." FWIW I saw "The 39 Steps" at the Ahmanson from the back of the balcony and thought it was terrible. The show most definitely wasn't meant to play a barn like the Ahmanson. Saw it again a month ago at New World Stages and it was night and day -- amazing!
"August, Osage County" opened its tour in Denver and I was there opening night. "A Bronx Tale" was also in Denver in June of 2009. We didn't get "The 39 Steps" but the Denver Center Theatre Company mounted a great production of it over the summer that extended its run.
I know the Ahmanson in LA is mouting a production of GOD OF CARNAGE - no director has been announced, at least that I'm aware of...if Michael Warchus does in fact direct, I guess that would make it a tour, of sorts..
Jane Fonda in 33 Variations is also playing the Ahmanson after playing Broadway a year or so ago - although technically not sure if that would qualify as a tour...
Recent touring plays that I can recall August: Osage County Doubt Twelve Angry Men Whose Afraid of Virgina Wolfe
I guess the lesson learned is this - support your regional theaters as getting proper broadway tours are being more and more infrequent -- go see plays at The Stepenwolf, The Goodmen, The Mark Taper (Center Theater Group) ART, Berkley Rep, South Coast Rep, Huntington Theater etc to see exceptional playwrighting
Joey- I forgot about the Graduate touring! I was a subscriber to our local season that year and a little disappointed that all the shows weren't musicals- until I got to see Linda Gray nude!
Plays are substantially less expensive to mount than musicals, so it is often more profitable for producers and writers to license plays to regional houses. More high-profile plays, which can attract name-actors, are more likely to tour because it would be profitable. Hamlet, starring no one anyone has ever heard of, isn't going to make a profit touring on the road. Stick Daniel Radcliife in a tour of it and it will.