Does Every Show Have Some Sort of Pre-Broadway Engagement

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 3:31pm

I had no idea, Liza had a pre-broadway engagement till I read Jay's review, I searched through all of his reviews and found one for 13!!! I googled those shows and couldn't find any information of a pre-broadway tryout, does every show have some sort of pre-broadway engagement.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 3:33pm

No, not every show has a pre-broadway engagement, but it would be smart for all producers to have one...some of the shows that come to mind that did not have out-of-town tryouts before Broadway were huge flops. Some of these examples include: Bring Back Birdie, Legs Diamond, In My Life and Tarzan.

[BenKaye]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 3:33pm

Xanadu didn't.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 3:45pm

Most of the time.

13 & Story of My Life had pre-broadway try-out at Goodspeed Theater in CT. Some shows will tour before opening on Broadway like DIRTY DANCING ( tour in Chicago and Boston before the Broadway bow) and as you know most of the New Musicals started off-broadway which we can consider also as Pre-Broadway or a try-out. Liza's at the Palace show being a musical revue had pre-broadway 4 shows at Stadium Theater prior Broadway-I think this was decided just few months ago because I saw Stadium Theater's repertoire and Liza's show was not listed. Also someone mentioned last night that the Director was affiliated with the theater. Her show was the same show she was showing for the past few years and in Italy recently (from my understanding) but I think she wants to finalize and made all the changes to a city near NYC before she open in NYC . I am guessing this was just decided for the last few months. The Director of her coming show at the Palace was there last night and liza thanked him and she mentioned that this show will go to Broadway (before the New York New York number) - with the same band, same songs, same back-up dancers/ singers and same director.

I know for a fact that MAURITIUS, RADIO GOLF was premiered at Boston's Huntington Theater. Also last year- I did a report on STREAMERS (from huntington) which is now on off-broadway's Laura Pels Theater. Same director, Same cast and same creative team.

I think an out of town try-out is most likely VERY IMPORTANT to new musicals or new shows before they hit Broadway. Can you imagine if they opened on Broadway unprepared?

J*

Updated On: 11/23/08 at 03:45 PM

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 3:48pm

Thanks Jay!!!! That was extremely helpful!!!! I think you are my new favorite user :)

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 6:28pm

Actually, WAT, there WAS a pre-Broadway for "Bring Back Birdie" in Philadelphia. Strouse gave a speech telling the audience to "let the show do it's thing"

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 6:39pm

Wow. I had no idea. Ken Mandelbaum got that wrong in his book then. He wrote "Probably because of the elaborate (and hideous) design concept, which featured dozens of working television monitors, the show had no tryout, just a series of chaotic New York previews during which it became obvious to all that there was no hope"

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 6:40pm

It is simply too costly for most shows to do a pre broadway tryout

I do not think they should charge full price for a work in progress.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 6:42pm

In a time long past it was the done thing, a few weeks (sometimes months!) in Philly , Boston or Baltimore.
* There's a song there somewhere lol

[sondhead]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 7:32pm

"It is simply too costly for most shows to do a pre broadway tryout"

Well, I mean most shows do have one, though. I think "most" in the above statement is a little hyperbolical.

The original Sweeney Todd didn't have one, and it was pretty awesome.

[philly03]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 9:55pm

"I think an out of town try-out is most likely VERY IMPORTANT to new musicals or new shows before they hit Broadway. Can you imagine if they opened on Broadway unprepared?

J* "

THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL opened on Broadway entirely unprepared, in November of 1997 hoping for the best; there had been the concept album released 5 years prior, which sparked a Top 40 hit: "You Are My Home." When people came to see the show on Broadway, they were not only bored, but disappointed with the actors, with the exception of Douglas Sills. It even confused some people whose only knowledge of the show was that song, and also that a brother & sister were singing a love duet. The show was doomed to close after the Tony Awards in 1998, coming up 0 for 3 (Book, Musical & Sills).

The fans ("The League") alledgedly pleaded with the producers to keep it open for the summer, in which that time they found a new director, of the late SideShow. The creative team (some new) got together to decide what to change, and the show was changed for the extreme better. It went from a "play with music" to an actual musical as described by them, managed to keep Sills and gain Rachel York, tightened loose hinges, but managed to loose a lot of money. The show closed for 10 days (partially due to a Sill's cold), and re-opened. By March, the producers pleaded with the Tony comittee to re-nominate the "NEW" musical (SP 2), but it failed to happen. Nan Knighton, the book & lyric writer for the musical's new show SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER's team were eyeing up the Minskoff, in which Wildhorn & Co. found an oppurtunity to re-write again.

The 3rd time, the team thought they could outsmart the Tony people. SP3: Starring a new Percy (Ron Bohmer) and two of best thought actors in the other roles in Carolee Carmello and Marc Kudisch. The show opened with a hugely scale version, which had a pre-Broadway engagement this time. They had some tweaks involved, but arrived on Broadway to little advance. SP3 managed to survive for 3 months on Broadway, and opened once more with SP4 for the national tour, which yes, still had many other changes.

Just a great example at how Pimpy could have had a bigger/better run on Broadway if they had an out of town tryout!

[fanadu1996]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 10:16pm

xanadu was meant for off-bway

[withoutyou08]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 11:43pm

i personally think that out of town tryouts are good but if your show doesn't have the budget i think it would be much simpler to extend previews on broadway. this way, there's no traveling involved. plus, the out of town tryout is exactly what it says...out of town. even though broadway shows generate alot of income from tourists, i think it would help them get a better idea of what they need to change from more avid theater-goers, and tourists in new york. people going to san fransisco aren't the same people that go to new york especially the tourists.

just my 2 cents.

[BigFatBlonde]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 11:45pm

The original MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG didn't have one.. and we all know how that turned out!

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 11:47pm

I don't think every Broadway bound show requires an out-of-town tryout. Certain problems can easily be solved with a few workshops in front of honest, smart invited guests.

[BigFatBlonde]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 11:50pm

From what I've read, these days changing/fixing/adjusting a show while out of town is A LOT harder to do.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 11:53pm

I also think the town you choose to tryout in is quite important. The audience reception for Shrek in Seattle was great. In NYC, not so much. Having lived in Seattle and NYC, the two cities couldn't be any more different in terms of audiences.