Big Names Touring

Does anyone know when the last time a tour was sent out with a "star" in the lead? I was thinking about Chita going on tour with Spider Woman when Vanessa replaced her. I can't think of anything like that happening since then. Not with a name of that caliber.

Not a Star outside of Broadway really, but Adam Pascal is out with PRETTY WOMAN.

Carole Carmello played Dolly at the shutdown. A name in the theatre world.

Topol did Fiddler through 2009.

Wayne Brady did Hamilton? Missed that.

Sally Struthers did Hello Dolly. (A name to some)

Anthony Rapp toured with If/Then.

Sting going out on the tour for The Last Ship has to be the biggest recently.

PHANTOM and the other megamusicals changed touring forever: the focus is now on the title, not the performer. Now with the subscription touring model, a good chunk of the seats can be pre-sold regardless of who's in the show (and sometimes without even knowing all the titles in advance).

It can be a hassle for stars to tour –– they cost a lot of money, which the presenters often aren't willing to pay unless there's a BIG name. Can also add headaches around accommodations...if the star comes with an assistant, a spouse, and a lengthy rider, all those ancillary expenses (on top of salary) add up quick. You also have a long history of stars who just aren't very good onstage, George Hamilton in LA CAGE being perhaps the most classic recent example.

The rise of the non-equity tour has also been a factor. Instead of throwing a star in for the second leg of a title, you can go for the cheap and earn more money. That's "can" not "should."

It's different for plays, which still pretty much require a semi-star (like Richard Thomas & Mary Badham in TKAM) who can at least do a run of local press and generate more interest than a stage actor who nobody has heard of.

Updated On: 3/20/22 at 07:11 PM

The Wayne Brady in HAMILTON situation is unique because the show was so hot. I have heard on good authority that after his great run in KINKY BOOTS in 2015/16, his team was pushing HARD to get him considered for Burr or Washington. He auditioned, and they probably didn't have to pay him a dime more than they paid Josh Henry since the run was basically sold out by the time Brady joined.

(Side note, in Harvey Fierstein's new memoir, he affectionately speaks about Wayne Brady's performance in KB being the version he envisioned in his head while writing it –– while also acknowledging Billy Porter's crucial contributions shaping the role –– since he had written Lola as a heterosexual drag performer.)

Updated On: 3/20/22 at 08:12 PM

Bettyboy72 said: "Many of the names listed here would not be considered "big." They would considered "semi-celebrity." These are typically people who can be gotten on the cheaper and side and many of the audience won't know who they are.

Back in the day people became "stars" from the vaudeville houses. Broadway stage and television appearances. They were household names with the talent and chops to back it up. Hit songs came from Broadway musicals. It was a much more integrated trajectory.

Now "stars" on tour are second run reality stars and often faded film or TV stars. I still haven't recovered from Molly Ringwald shuffling offstage during "Im A Brass Band" at the start of the dance break and shuffling back on at the end. Horrifying she got paid for that.

Richard Thomas is a remarkable actor with a distinguished pedigree outside of the Waltons, so I view him as a solid "big" name.

I typically base my feeling about how "big" the star is based on their ability to perform the role as written (all the singing, all the dancing, all the drama, all the comedy.)"

with respect, what you are describing is a performer’s calibre. A ‘name’ is recognisable to some of the general public, a big name is recognisable to lots of the general public, a household name is known to almost all across the board (ie known in every household)

Name means someone has name recognition. It has nothing to do with talent



Mm