Equity / Non-Equity tour prices

I'm sure this has been discussed before, but...

What is the general sentiment about Broadway Series around the country charging the same or more for non-Equity vs. Equity tours?

I have to assume they're *paying* less for Non-Equity (otherwise, why would producers be so keen to see these tours proliferate?) I know that producers of the arts need all the money they can get now. But I can't shake my general irritation about money going into the pockets of companies, while artists and consumers don't see the savings passed on.

I saw My Fair Lady yesterday in Pittsburgh. Packed house, and I'm sure 99% of the people had no idea they were watching a non-Equity company and paying the same. (To the credit of the show, I thought it was a terrific production. There were a few hints to me that it was N-E while watching, but overall I was impressed).

Ticket prices for the upcoming N-E Book of Mormon are $150 and $135 for the orchestra, vs. about $40 less for Company. I get that it's a demand thing -- Equity or not, BOM will sell. I just don't know how to feel about it.

I grumbled about this very thing in a recent thread…I think it varies venue to venue, but my understanding is that most touring houses generally charge the same prices regardless of the tour’s union status (read: how much the cast and crew is getting paid). That is the main incentive for producers: a larger profit.

I find it very annoying when the term “Broadway tour” is used for non-Equity tours, especially when the production itself was never a Broadway production - i.e. the current JCS, Peter Pan, and Shrek tours. These are not Broadway tours, and to suggest otherwise in ads and press materials is false advertising.

The current MFL tour has 10 people in the pit. Larry Blank did the reduced orchestration, based on Josh Clayton´s already reduced 18-piece charts.