Can an international company do a Broadway run?

[blaxx]

Posted: 5/19/14 at 7:10pm

I recently listened to a theater podcast claiming that companies from Philippines, Mexico and South Korea were negotiating a limited run of local hits shows to have the claim their show was "on Broadway".

They were "negotiating" to have limited runs in the original language of their shows when theaters were dark and aim to attract the audience of each nationality or ethnicity.

Has this been done before or is it even possible under Equity or Broadway League terms?

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 5/19/14 at 7:25pm

The Australian production of Nine was all set to open on Broadway in 1988, and fell thru at the last moment do to an issue with the theatre requesting more money. Visas where in place for a 26 week run

[blaxx]

Posted: 5/19/14 at 7:36pm

I just think this is interesting. The cost would be huge for an international company but it would be nice to see limited engagements of shows we are familiar with and with an international cast.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/19/14 at 8:30pm

"They were "negotiating" to have limited runs in the original language of their shows when theaters were dark"

Do you mean their show would only play Monday night while a regular Broadway show played Tues-Sunday or did you mean that when a theater was free they would come in and do a limited full week run?

There have certainly been several international companies that have played Broadway over the years. The Royal Shakespeare Company has brought a few productions to Broadway in the past.

[After Eight]

Posted: 5/19/14 at 8:55pm

The Comédie Française played an engagement at the Broadway Theatre in 1955.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 5/19/14 at 9:19pm

^ The last time After Eight ever attended a show he liked.

[blaxx]

Posted: 5/19/14 at 9:31pm

Do you mean their show would only play Monday night while a regular Broadway show played Tues-Sunday or did you mean that when a theater was free they would come in and do a limited full week run?

I mean when the theater was free between open-ended runs.

Seems like it has been years since an all-foreign (including a language other than English) production has played Broadway, however.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/19/14 at 9:58pm

"Seems like it has been years since an all-foreign (including a language other than English) production has played Broadway, however."

I think it's cheaper to go to other venues. Plus probably easier if an organization like Lincoln Center invites the company to the US. I'm surprised the Roundabout hasn't made use of this.

[david_fick]

Posted: 5/19/14 at 11:43pm

The cast of KAT AND THE KINGS (1999) was South African, although I think the understudies were US actors. The production was basically the same one seen in the West End and in South Africa, with the many of the cast members having been associated with the show since its inception earlier in the 1990s, when the show was slightly different in its format and did not yet feature the character of Lucy Dixon.

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 5/20/14 at 12:36am

Their brilliant revival of The Chairs was nominated for 6 Tonys and 6 Drama Desks so, yes.

[blaxx]

Posted: 5/20/14 at 2:29am

Again, I was talking of non-English language productions. It's obvious we've had a lot of imports throughout the years, but those were in English.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 5/20/14 at 8:38am

International companies, such as the Globe, the National Theatre of Great Britain, and the RSC to be international companies, appear on Broadway often.

Broadway doesn't discriminate against international theatre companies that perform in languages other than English. Though, because Americans are less likely to buy tickets for performances not in English, that rarely happens. But it has happened.

[After Eight]

Posted: 5/20/14 at 8:47am

A production of Marguerite Duras's Days in the Trees was presented on Broadway in French at the Ambassador Theatre in 1976.