Foreign Tourists Visiting Broadway.... Just Wonderin'

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 9:02am

Hello. I find myself wracking my brain trying to think of a new subject. (And if this has been mentioned before, it bears repeating.) Well, in previous posts, there have been numerous mentions of American tourists who do this... and do that in Broadway theatres: good and bad. Now, I'm curious about what kinds of interactions that foreign tourists bring when visiting the Great White Way... especially with musical theatre fans from the UK and Australia (two countries with a strong foundation in the theatre arts). Also, would our British and Australian friends also lend their opinions of Americans who go see their theatrical productions? By the way, NYC has "Broadway" and London has the "West End". What is the Australian version called... in Sydney or Melbourne? I don't mean to start a cultural war, but I'm..... "just wonderin".... from Roman in Austin, Texas

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 9:05am

Most foreigners (and I'm talking non-English speakers) go for Phantom or Lion King.

I know Fiddler on the Roof was a great tourist show - it's huge in Japan.

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 9:16am

Most, but not all, hehehehe

[Tom148502]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 9:50am

As Oscar Hamemrstein wrote for ME AND JULIEt, the audience is a "Big Black Giant" and it's really irrelevant as to an audience member's travel status or nationality. What's the point?

[musicalmaster703]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 10:08am

I sat next to a japanese man in south pacific, he didn't seem to understand what was going on.

[yeslets]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 10:13am

But without asking him, you can't really be sure, right?

You don't have to speak the language to enjoy a performance.

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 10:21am

Xanadu is a lot of fun! Have a great time!

[Elphaba]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 11:15am

"You don't have to speak the language to enjoy a performance."

well said, yes.

We are one of the only countries who do not require students take a foreign language in school as a national requirement, which truly is sad.

This is one reason why all airline talk between ground and flights are in English.

My partner speaks maybe 5 words of German (I am relatively fluent), but he will have no problem understanding Elisabeth in Berlin next month as he knows her story.

This thread bothers me, it almost is insulting to foreign nationals.....and for the originator of the post to especially pick out only England and Australia bugs me. There is a long history of musical theater in Germany, Holland, Japan, etc.

There is no reason for this thread to exist, and if it's merely because no one has ever thought of it....well perhaps it's because it's almost insulting.

This line inparticular:

"I sat next to a japanese man in south pacific, he didn't seem to understand what was going on."

it ranks right up there with :some of by best friends are ______"

unless you speak Japanese, or the man next to you speaks english you would have absolutely no way of knowing.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 12:28pm

I don't believe this thread is insulting, far from it. If someone perceives that, then that is beyond my control. I happen to be fairly knowledgeable about current world events and the histories of various countries. I'm fascinated by a country's individual quirks and eccentricities. (Goodness knows we Americans have plenty of quirks and eccentricities.) I'm curious about how people interact and was just looking at it from a sociological point of view. Wherever people travel, they take along their own cultural identity and views. And within this thread, I'm curious about how people from other countries perceive the different shows they see, NYC in particular and the U.S. in general. That's basically it. Someone felt left out that I did not mention their particular country. I only pointed out the UK and Australia..simply because those are the two countries I'm most familiar with, in terms of musical theatre. I also like performers from other countries. For example, I love my Sunset Boulevard German cast recording with Helen Schneider. She is an incredible talent, along with Uwe Kroger. I have not had the opportunity to travel outside of the U.S. I would LOVE the chance. The term "when in Rome, do as the Romans do" is something that I would prolly follow if I ever went to some exotic locale (the most exotic American locale I've ever been to is San Francisco...four times.) By the way, what is the Australian version of "Broadway" or "the West End"? In conclusion, I would like to offer this: As Eve Harrington mentioned to Bill Sampson in "All About Eve"... "All I asked was a simple question." (or something to that effect)
from R.C. in Austin, Texas...

[Little-Lotte]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 12:37pm

I remember when Lea Salonga returned to Les Mis as Fantine last year, her Filipino fans could be a little out of hand. They often recorded video and took pictures during the show. I don't know if that's something that's okay to do in the Phillipnes, what I gathered from Lea's blog postings it's not, and it was just as rude and distracting for the audience as it probably was for the actors.

[jo]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 12:44pm

I am a foreign national who lives in Asia ( the Philippines) - when I see a show ( and I have seen countless musicals and non-musicals on Broadway and London over the years - I even saw Ingrid Bergman perform in a play on Broadway - and I have also been to Australia to see one particular show), I never associate my being a tourist for being there ( as if theatre-going is simply a touristy thing to do :rolleyes:). As a matter of fact, I accidentally saw the unknown Hugh Jackman in the London OKLAHOMA! not because I knew him and admired his work but because I was a Rodgers and Hammerstein fan and wanted to see the revival of their first success! I see a show because I am a theatre fan. Period.

I fell in love with the theatre ( Broadway) while studying and working in America. The first theatre show I had seen on Broadway was FUNNY GIRL with Barbra and I was also lucky to see Richard Kiley's incredible performance as THE MAN OF LA MANCHA.

I saw Phantom and Lion King when they practically opened. As for Les Miserables, I have seen it a number of times at the West End ( where it originated), on Broadway, in Paris ( at the Theatre Mogador) and even here in Manila where I live. I am going to London to see the newly-triumphant Hairspray ( which I had seen with Harvey Fierstein on Broadway), a new Trevor Nunn show called Gone With The Wind, plus maybe one or two more which I haven't gotten tickets for ( maybe Speed the Plow, etc).

I went to see the 2005 TONYs not because it was the touristy thing to do but because I wanted to experience the great sense of community of theatre fans celebrating the end of a theatre season!

We do have a small but fairly thriving theatre community here in Manila. We did give you Lea Salonga ( one of the rare Olivier and Tony winners for the same role). The last Broadway show that was staged here was Avenue Q.

One profile of one "foreign" theatre fan.






Updated On: 3/16/08 at 12:44 PM

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 1:23pm

Hello Jo. Thanks for your thoughtful insight. Lea Salonga is an awesome talent. Aside from the roles she has already played, in what other roles would you like to see her perform on Broadway or elsewhere? By the way, I admire your esteemed leader... GMA. from RC in Austin, Texas...

P.S. For those who might not know, GMA stands for Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the President of the Philippines.

Updated On: 3/16/08 at 01:23 PM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 1:32pm

If I visited a foreign country and saw XANADU, I don't think I would ever return to that country.


I don't think this thread is offensive or questionable. The question and the following responses were posted honestly and with integrity. There's nothing wrong with what. What's wrong is someone thinking "I sat next to a Japanese man and I don't if he understood it" and NOT saying it. Elphaba, I appreciate your posts, but you're always so offended.

[Jade]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 2:43pm

I'm a Londoner who's been to NY a few times and is planning to go back in the summer. When I'm in NY I see a Broadway show every night. When pre-booking shows (i.e. paying full price for the ticket) I do find out what the "buzz" is by reading the message boards etc, but mostly I try to decide for myself by checking out the show's website. (For example, I saw Lestat and really enjoyed it even though most people on the boards hated it, and I'm not planning to see Spring Awakening because I only liked 2 out of about 20 of the song clips on its site). Sometimes what I see depends on availability at the TKTS booth, though.

My one rule is that I don't see shows in NY that I've already seen in London (the exception being Rent) as I think it's a waste of time, which means I usually avoid the tourist traps like Phantom and Lion King. I will, however, do it the other way round (i.e. see Broadway shows that have transferred to London) - I enjoy making comparisons between the productions.

This will probably sound a bit silly, but I love the fact that the Broadway theatres are all in one area and are so easy to find - when I'm seeing a show in the West End, I usually get very stressed out trying to find the theatre.

[sondheimgeek]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 3:05pm

"We are one of the only countries who do not require students take a foreign language in school as a national requirement, which truly is sad."

Even though it's not national, there are states who do require it.

[matty159]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 3:38pm

More states should require it! Though truly, I took 3 different languages (throughout college and high school) and can honestly only manage a serviceable French at times...or when drunk, which is odd!

[Elphaba]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 3:52pm

it shoulkd be a national requirement....and thank God there are state who do require it, mine included.

It is not uncommon for Europeans to speak 3 languages and often more.

Just being able to communicate with people in their own tongue while traveling makes all the difference in the world.

I have a German friend, and he only speaks english to me, and I only speak German to him as we help each other that way.

Matty, french sounds so sexy when one is drunk......I remember when I was in the Army I dated a French MP, and damn did he sound sexy when drunk....lol

[shh282]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 3:55pm

I've met plenty of tourist from other countries at Legally Blonde and Wicked

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 4:25pm

Not only should foreign languages be mandatory in all high schools, but other languages should be introduced to children as early as possible.

I wish to god that I had been exposed to other languages as a child. My grandmother spoke (and speaks) German occasionally when she doesn't want us to know what she's saying, but not enough to pick it up. As one gets older, it becomes more and more difficult - regardless of the hours spent trying to memorize and practice.

I took Spanish for 6 years and Italian for 3. I'm better at Spanish than I am Italian - but I'm hardly mediocre at that. And I can't speak Italian to save my life. It seems as if there is a mental block, prohibiting me from effectively learning a language and speaking it. Even now, I can read spanish, but can't speak it. So sad.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 4:35pm

Well, there are quite a few interesting responses. But would someone mention the term used for the Australian version of "Broadway" or the "West End"? Inquiring minds want to know. Thanks.... RC in Austin, Texas...

[Scripps2]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 6:51pm

I'm a Brit and I don't find this thread in the least bit insulting. I would also love to know more about musical theatre in Australia as it seems to be an emerging force.

[gettinhep]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 7:18pm

We don't have a particular name here in Melbourne as our theatres are dotted through the city. The older theatres - Princess, Her Majesty's, Regent, Athaeneum and Comedy - can be found within a six block radius, However, large theatres are also located across the river at the Arts Centre. There are small theatres to be found in old Town Hall buildings, in Trade Union buildings, in old movie houses, etc. So, there is no one theatre district, thus no particular name.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 7:30pm

Do large-scale musicals have open-ended runs or do they tend to do tours with limited engagements? I guess the population density will make a considerable difference to the economics of producing a musical in Australia.

[mikkix]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 10:03pm

I sat next to a japanese man in south pacific, he didn't seem to understand what was going on.

I'm just wondering how did you know he was Japanese.