By chance, anyone catch Newsies on tour?

[Dave13]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 11:01pm

Newsies is coming to SLC next week. It is an Equity Tour, so I am excited about that. I know the show has its flaws, just wondering how it compares to the original Broadway Production. 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 11:04pm

Old, but: https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1066524&page=3

[Dave13]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 11:14pm

Thanks. Should have searched.  Hopefully the show is still going strong.  

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 11:37pm

I'm seeing it this week. I'll try and report back. Is there anything specific you want to know or just how it is in general?

[KnewItWhenIWasInFron]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 11:45pm

I don't love the show but I do think it's significantly better on the road than it was on Broadway.

[morosco]

Posted: 5/30/16 at 11:47pm

It's a first rate production. Nearly identical to the Broadway production. The movement of the towers was amazing.  I work in a venue that had the tour and folks at Disney Theatricals confirmed with me that although it's not the set from the Broadway production (which I didn't see) it's nearly impossible to see any differences.  Official Disney Theatricals tours don't compromise their production's quality on the road.

[Dave13]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 12:07am

CATSNYrevival said: "I'm seeing it this week. I'll try and report back. Is there anything specific you want to know or just how it is in general?"

Nothing specific.  Mostly interested in the quality of the performance overall.  

[Dave13]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 12:09am

morosco said: "It's a first rate production. Nearly identical to the Broadway production. The movement of the towers was amazing.  I work in a venue that had the tour and folks at Disney Theatricals confirmed with me that although it's not the set from the Broadway production (which I didn't see) it's nearly impossible to see any differences.  Official Disney Theatricals tours don't compromise their production's quality on the road.

 

"

Great to hear.  I have seen the Beauty and the Beast non equity tour.  I did think it was a great production, but certainly you could tell a few corners were cut. 

[asmith0307]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 12:48am

The Beauty and the Beast tour is no longer put out officially by Disney. If I remember correctly, it is with NETworks. That being said, not all non-eq NETWorks have "cut corners". The new Once tour was almost identical to previous incarnations when I saw it a few months back. So, it may just be due to the fact that the tour is so old, that over the years they have scaled down a bit. 

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 12:56am

saw newsies last week in san jose

very talented and energetic dancers. Dancers were on par with the OBC, which I saw.  I love Jeremy Jordan, so its a tough comparison, but the current touring Jack delivered a fine performance. I saw the understudy for the female lead, so no feedback on the current lady lead. the tour set is very close to the broadway version.

This is a fun show with a very solid tour cast...enjoy!

 

Im glad i went again (my fourth time seeing the show 2x bway, 2x tour)

[theatreguy12]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 1:16am

I didn't see the OBC but caught it on tour in Hollywood.  Thought the show was good but not great.  Super choreography and performances, but the story tended to drag at places.  Found myself drifting.  Comparing notes with my friend at intermission and she had much the same feeling.  I guess I set my expectations way high and it was a bit of a letdown.  Even though I will admit the dancing was fantastic.  I know it had a very healthy run on Broadway and most don't share my opinion, but for me it was a one-timer.

[Dave13]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 1:33am

theatreguy12 said: "I didn't see the OBC but caught it on tour in Hollywood.  Thought the show was good but not great.  Super choreography and performances, but the story tended to drag at places.  Found myself drifting.  Comparing notes with my friend at intermission and she had much the same feeling.  I guess I set my expectations way high and it was a bit of a letdown.  Even though I will admit the dancing was fantastic.  I know it had a very healthy run on Broadway and most don't share my opinion, but for me it was a one-timer.

 

"

Actually that's about what many have described.  I did enjoy the Broadway production, but the show does have its flaws.  The show is entertaining. It's the performance of the actors and a few of the numbers that makes this show. 

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 5:13am

also you get the bonus of an additional song that wasnt in the Broadway run, Greetings from The Refuge sung by Crutchie is in the second act. 

[KnewItWhenIWasInFron]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 12:49pm

Oh, but if the youngest actor in the cast -- I forget the character's name -- is the same as in Minneapolis a few months ago, he's dreadful. Shouts every line with a near-total lack of affect.

[acekatherineplumber2]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 12:52pm

The tour is fantastic. I've been five times.

[Adair Haywind]

Posted: 5/31/16 at 12:55pm

I enjoyed the show more on Broadway than on tour, mainly because of the cast. On the whole they just weren't as strong as the OBC. However, I saw the tour last year and to my understanding most of the cast has changed since then, so it could be a totally different experience. The set and staging are nearly identical to the Broadway production.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 6/4/16 at 1:21pm

I saw it last night and I'd say the tour is in pretty good shape. I didn't see it on Broadway, but I think this cast is pretty strong. Joey Barreiro is great as Jack and his voice has a bit of a pop/rock edge at times which I enjoyed. He doesn't over do it, but there are a few moments where it sounds like maybe he's dipping into a more pop inspired technique to hit some notes and it's a fun variant to Jeremy Jordan's performance on the cast album. I thought Steve Blanchard was a stand out as Pulitzer in what could be a thankless role and I also really enjoyed Crutchie's new song. The set is a little wobbly at times when the actors are running on it and at least here in San Diego it does seem like they could have done with a few more feet of stage for the dance numbers as they looked a little cramped for space up there, but overall I'd say it's one of the better tours I've seen this season.

[Dave13]

Posted: 6/5/16 at 2:40am

CATSNYrevival said: "I saw it last night and I'd say the tour is in pretty good shape. I didn't see it on Broadway, but I think this cast is pretty strong. Joey Barreiro is great as Jack and his voice has a bit of a pop/rock edge at times which I enjoyed. He doesn't over do it, but there are a few moments where it sounds like maybe he's dipping into a more pop inspired technique to hit some notes and it's a fun variant to Jeremy Jordan's performance on the cast album. I thought Steve Blanchard was a stand out as Pulitzer in what could be a thankless role and I also really enjoyed Crutchie's new song. The set is a little wobbly at times when the actors are running on it and at least here in San Diego it does seem like they could have done with a few more feet of stage for the dance numbers as they looked a little cramped for space up there, but overall I'd say it's one of the better tours I've seen this season."

Thanks for the feedback. I have tickets on Tursday and Friday this week. Let's hope it stays the same this week.  

[Dave13]

Posted: 6/8/16 at 2:00am

Saw it tonight. I say it is about as good as I remember on Broadway.  Thought Joey Barriero did a great job as Jack. I also agree that Steve Blanchard is a highlight of the show. Very strong performance.  The stage in SLC was a little cramped. Would love to see the choreography on a bigger stage. 

[trpguyy]

Posted: 6/8/16 at 2:08am

Interesting that a few people mentioned the stage looking cramped. The show deck is the exact same size everywhere, and the same size as the Broadway production.