9 to 5 Tour plus upcoming tours of other shows...

[vtalum05]

Posted: 7/7/11 at 9:57pm

I know that 9 to 5 toured last season but I was wondering if it was going to hit some of the smaller venues?? I live in Virginia and its not always that easy to make it to NYC or a bigger city to see a show so I rely on seeing 2nd string tours, non equity, etc. Also heard announcements that several shows have tours planned....Wonderland (really want to see it even though the reviews were bad) and Warhorse. Was wondering if Catch Me If You Can will tour??

[Wicked Fanatic]

Posted: 7/8/11 at 2:52am

Unless 9 to 5 is going to become a non-equity production it's closing with its equity run ending in Ft. Worth, TX on July 31st.

[Aurelia2]

Posted: 7/8/11 at 11:01am

I'm surprised! I would have thought 9-5 would be successful cross country. Guess they all decided to rent the movie.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/8/11 at 11:03am

http://actorsequity.org/newsmedia/touring_main.asp

Not sure how up-to-date this is.

[crewdude]

Posted: 7/8/11 at 11:35am

"I'm surprised! I would have thought 9-5 would be successful cross country."

Closing dates for tours are no longer a reflection of how successful the tour has been. When a tour goes out on the new "Short Engagement Tour Contract" the closing date is set in the contract. If the tour goes beyond an exact time period the tour no longer qualifies for the lower salaries of the contract. To extend a tour beyond the expiration of the contracts would require backpay for the higher salaries and benefits they should have been paying in the first place.

Producers would rather have a full union production originate a tour and make that profit and press based off the sweat and talent of union members. Then they start to organize the non-union tour trading off the press and publicity given the show based on the talent of the original union company. They pay the new non-union company less in wages and salary, yet they sell the tickets at the same prices. They reduce the set and costumes to fit in less trucks to reduce the overhead even further. They count on the public being none the wiser to reduction in quality.

Check out the upcoming non-union Rock of Ages tour or even the ongoing non-union blowup set of Cats and see what I mean. Lower quality, lower salaries and benefits, and the same high ticket price. Yet, the media and general public think it's the same show that got all the attention and press and praise as the original union "Broadway" production.

In the old days, Broadway was a standard of quality, not a generic description of any theatrical production.

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 7/8/11 at 11:43am

I saw the tour and really enjoyed it. The cast was also very nice at the stage door. I wish it had a longer run.

[broadwaybabe1234]

Posted: 7/8/11 at 12:13pm

Compared to the Broadway show, the touring show was awful. I felt what worked on Broadway was completely gone. Its a great show but i felt it was incredibly boring when i saw it on tour...It was the first show i have ever left at intermission from.

Posted: 7/8/11 at 10:26pm

Crewdude, what you say is spot on, but I feel I should point out that the non union, smaller tours, often can play in cities which just can't host the first tours. Having grown up in a few of those, sometimes you're happy to get what you can, as cynical as that sounds. (and non-union tours do sometimes give great experience to actors trying to break in)

[misto625]

Posted: 7/8/11 at 10:33pm

Personally I don't have a problem with non-Equity tours playing smaller cities that can't host an Equity tour because it allows people to see the show and gives actors a chance to work. But I do have a problem with non-Equity tours playing in larger cities such as Boston, St. Louis, Ft. Lauderdale etc. as part of a season with Equity productions.

Posted: 7/8/11 at 10:35pm

Yea, I think that makes sense. Although (I think) I prefered the cast and production I saw for the non Equity Chorus Line to the Equity one. By a fair margin actually.

[ABoyLikeThat]

Posted: 7/9/11 at 2:51pm

I saw the 9 to 5 tour this week and it was a ton of fun. The three ladies (Dee Hoty, Mamie Parris and Diana DeGarmo) are a great combination and were perfect for their roles.

[Marie2]

Posted: 7/9/11 at 4:45pm

I enjoyed the cast tremendously. They were Broadway caliber all the way.

My guess is there will be a non-equity tour with a new cast, it just hasn't been announced yet.

[broadwaydanwi]

Posted: 7/9/11 at 7:40pm

I noticed the Fireside Dinner Theatre in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin will be doing 9 TO 5 next spring. Maybe the musical will not have a smaller tour. I know the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, Illinois was also considering it for their 2012 season.

By the way, I saw Tari Kelly (Sutton Foster's understudy in Broadway's ANYTHING GOES) do a magnificent Princess Winnifred in ONCE UPON A MATTRESS at the Fireside years ago. If I had several million dollars to spend, I would produce a revival of MATTRESS with Tari. She's more than ready for a big, Broadway leading role!

[americanboy99]

Posted: 7/9/11 at 10:59pm

Threadjack.. but Lord, I love me some Tari Kelly. Phenomenal talent.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/10/11 at 12:14am

The 9 to 5 tour was several notches below the Broadway production and from what I have heard it did not sell well in many markets.

I know many felt the production was poorly produced and the Dolly narration felt tacky, dumbed downed and theme parky.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 7/10/11 at 12:33am

I saw the tour. It was boring. Diana Degarmo was terrible. Mamie Paris and Dee carried the show. The physical production looked and felt cheap. It did not sell well in my city.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/10/11 at 12:57am

Diana was miscast. Way too young and played the part of Doralee really campy and tacky, like a caricature. She had none of the heart of Meg Hilty. I think she was brought on to be a "name" and braw younger crowds but she did neither.

Right now in Toronto they are selling all seats for $29. The show is bleeding money.

[jbm2]

Posted: 7/10/11 at 1:06am

sad!
I saw 9 to 5 in LA (pre-broadway) and LOVVVVVVED it

[NPHCreel]

Posted: 7/10/11 at 2:48am

Different strokes. I found Diana to be a wonderful Doralee, much to my pleasant surprise. Dee and Mamie were wonderful as well. I'm anxious to see what Diana and Mamie do next.

I have no idea whether or not the tour is bleeding money but the attendance was very good at the show I attended and the audience seemed to have a great time.

[Wicked Fanatic]

Posted: 7/10/11 at 3:14am

I'm anxious to see what Diana and Mamie do next.

When I saw 9 to 5 at OCPAC in May one of the ladies who works with the show told me that Mamie's next acting gig was going to be as Elphaba in "Wicked". I'm expecting this to happen when the tour closes on July 31st. The only question is which production and when?

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 7/10/11 at 3:17am

As much as I despise Wicked, I would see it for Mamie Paris.

[ABoyLikeThat]

Posted: 7/10/11 at 9:56am

I saw the show this last week and completely disagree about Diana. I found her to be very funny and engaging as Doralee. She did play her younger than Megan, but I thought it worked. I found that the 3 leads really elevated the material. They did a great job casting the tour.

Mamie would be perfect for Wicked.

Updated On: 7/10/11 at 09:56 AM