Hairspray Tour Question

[jg4892]

Posted: 4/14/07 at 10:49pm

Does anybody know why they cut out random lines here and there? They really make no sense. Especially the zippo lighter line, Link just says he has hairspray and a lighter without getting the idea from Tracy. I think it really takes away from the show, for me, and doesn't make it too much shorter. So why did they cut so many lines?

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 12:34am

Everyone just wanted to go home early.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 11:48am

okay.. I will explain it the best that I can.


For the first six weeks of this tour, the cast was doing a sit-down in Atlantic City, where they performed the 90 minute 'casino' version of Hairspray. Upon the leaving A.C., they went to this alter 'full version' of the show, where they basically took the 90 minute version with all of the cut lines, verses, and songs, and plugged in the missing scenes and songs, while leaving the 'edited' version of the pre-existing scenes and songs in place.. that way keeping the change as easy as possible for everyone involved. Please remember, it isn't just about plugging in lines. True, the show deck has no automation for this tour, but you must reprogram all of the automated lights, Lite Brite wall, and the orchestra keyboards, atc....

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 11:51am

God!

Do you have to know EVERY LITTLE THING about this show?!

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 11:54am

I try. Though this answer came from exposure to the cut version, the full version on the NETworks tour, AND some good ole fashioned common theatrical sense.



xoxoxoxox

[willact4food]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 12:02pm

Ok. But there isn't a huge difference between the tour and the Broadway show, is there? Just a few lines?

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 12:12pm

I won't make a bullet point list, but a few songs have a verse missing (Mama, Nicest Kids, Beat), a few songs have shortened dialogue breaks (60s, Love), and a few lines have been shortened or altered. The list is extensive, but not major. Most cuts made for the 90 minute version in those regards are still intact.

[parislover87]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 12:16pm

what about the line in Timeless to me about being able to tell if Wilbur was Jewish through his pants? was that added... I saw it yesterday here in Knoxville and they stopped the show for like 3 minutes laughing on stage...

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 1:03pm

that's scripted in the show... just about always there..

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 5:50pm

Having caught show on the last leg of the Equity tour and having seen the non-Equity tour too, I can't recall telling a difference. I enjoyed both versions.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 2:59am

Is the set majorly scaled back for this tour?

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 2:56pm

Scaled back in compared to what? The Broadway version? The First National Tour?

The first national was scaled down a bit, as any show is, for a tour, and several more cuts were made part way through the tour in order to svae monney and load in times. I could get into a list of those is you wanted....

The current Non-equity tour used a revised version of the design with some scenic units taken directly from the First National, a drop used in the Toronto production, and some pieces built specifically for this tour but based off of the original design. There is no automated show deck on this tour, but there ARE some places where this tour has more than what was on the first national. It's a definate give and take that balances out.....

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 5/23/07 at 9:33pm

What was taken out?

Is the giant wall of lights in the back still there?

[jg4892]

Posted: 5/23/07 at 9:36pm

It's more like a curtain with lights. It works a lot better cause they can do some amazing effects with the light curtain,

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 5/23/07 at 9:56pm

LOL. They still have the Lite Brite wall, but as said, instead of a giant hard wall, it is an LED curtain that does the exact same thing, but loads in and travels quicker....

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 12:15am

Is there a visable difference in it? Would I be able to tell that it is different (and I mean this for the tour in general)?

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 1:12am

neddy, it also depends on where you see it. if you see it in a place thats just visiting for one night, they didnt have the silhouettes in GMB or W/out love. thats the only difference(depending on whre you see it. the set is scaled down a bit, but the only really noticably different thing is the colored curtain backdrop at WZZT. its a curtain instead of a hard drop. also, if you see it when they re only visiting for one"this ones for....." prudy line is cut, no matter where you see the tour. best i can do right now...

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 3:42pm

I am seeing it in a place where it is playing for about a week.

[Candleshoe2]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 4:03pm

I don't understand why they can't do the silhouette effect if the show is visiting for just one performance? I'll be seeing this tour in December, and can't wait to see all of the changes made to the show!

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 4:13pm

If they are only doing one night, then the load in/load out time is reduced. Therefore they need to load in less items, and since the sillouette drop is only used for two bits, it's not considered vital to the production.

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 5:20pm

exactly

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 5:51pm

also, several houses they have stopped at have not had room or a big enough load door for the dance towers.

the pegs on the wall look are the same, but made up of smaller dots, like an led traffic light.

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 5:54pm

you really shouldnt be worrying about the set! the cast......is GORGEOUS!!!

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 5:56pm

brooklynn and alyssa are amazing.

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 6:10pm

yes they are!!!! they were both terrific and had great chemistry. constantine was also pretty good. i couldnt stand jarret mallon.....oh and chrsitian white is GREAT as seaweed, yvette, she is great in person, but is a tad dull.