Here's why the touring shows WERE NEEDED at the Tony's

It seems as if in every thread re: the Tony's, someone is bashing the tours. Asking, "why were they there"?

I'll tell you why.

There are many of us Theatre Fans who rarely get to NYC; once a year if we are lucky. But we do take in regional theatre all the time. Case in point:

A few months ago we took 2 school busses of HS english students to see Legally Blonde in Des Moines. Kids had a great time; had a talk back with the talented Becky Gulsvig after the show, etc.

Last week one of honor's english students comes into class and says, "OMG Becky Gulsvig going to be singing on the Tony's!" So we had a big Tony party in the high school choir room etc. Kids/parents/siblings etc. The parents got a kick out of Rock of Ages, others loved the Liza/Judy Garland story, the three Billys, etc.

Later this week the juniors have to vote on where they want to go for their senior trip next March. After last night, I guarantee we will be bringing about 52 seniors to your mecca to see Spiderman, the Adam's Family, etc.

If Becky Gulsvig hadn't been singing on the Tonys last night there is no way in hell any people in this little cow town would have been watching the Tonys.

I love live theatre, but it doesn't it just happen in NYC.

SGV:

Thanks for validating my comments - a rarity on this board!

It doesn't matter where you live, there are some of us everywhere in the country who keep current with every detail about every Broadway show, and everything that's out-of-town, and everything in development...

But most people specialize in other things, and their lives don't revolve around theater. I supported the decision to "market" touring shows with musical numbers on the broadcast, because most people haven't memorized all the words and choreography to those songs like many of us have.

There was a possibility those people might be intrigued by what they saw and chance buying a ticket to a show on tour.

Bwaybri, I support your point, and I love your story -- it's a great example of how people who have little exposure to theater get sucked in.

But YiKeSaroonies! The quality of the performances, especially Mamma Mia -- was teeth shattering. Ouch.

Great story, but I am not 100% sure about the whole tour inclusion. Since the Tony Awards sadly are drawing less and less of a TV viewers it seems that the audience make up would be largely theater fans, who would know and seek out tours regardless. I would much rather have seen regional theater productions or something new. And, I think the main argument is that it took time away from things like a bigger 9 to 5 presence, or a better salute to Jerry Herman.

Actually, I believe the reports are that the Tonys had better ratings than they have had since 2003?

Unlike movies, which anyone with under $20 can see around the country and thus have some investment in the Oscars, new musicals are not that accessible. I thought it was nice that they were reaching out to the legions of viewers not in New York. If it gets people interested in seeing a show coming through their area, it's all for the good.

I don't think everything that people wanted to be included would have been, regardless if the touring shows hadn't been shown. I'm sure it wasn't an exact either/or situation.

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Updated On: 6/8/09 at 08:37 PM

The Mamma Mia performance was really unfortunate, but honestly, I don't think it could possibly do any serious damage to the ABBA juggernaut.

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I dunno, I think he could have brought some sorely needed depth to the role.

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My 5 year old daughter LOVES the Mama Mia movie and watched the song on the Tonys and said she didn't want to go to the show when it comes through KC this summer.
She did however like the Legally Blonde and wants to see that tour show and even wants me to fly her to NYC to see Hair.... not going to happen.

But when 5 year olds can see that Mama Mia tour is bad... they should have been scrapped for touring Chorus Line or just added 9 to 5.

Updated On: 6/8/09 at 08:49 PM

The problem was that MAMMA MIA was present lamely (and LEGALLY BLONDE semi-lamley). But I agree--this draws in those of us who don't get to see the New York casts. I'd love to see more of this next year. It's certainly better than having Aretha Franklin sing . . .
Broadway Mouth: Legally Blonde: Omigod, That Music (Part 2)

Cleveland is a big theater town. During the Tonys, on the half hour local break, commercials were shown for the Cleveland Playhouse Square Broadway Series.

I think it does a lot for local people to see these shows on tour.

um, maybe not that Mama Mia tour, though. yikes

We have Young Frankenstein, Chicago, In The Heights, Xanadu, August: Osage County, Grease, or Fiddler on the Roof coming this year.

I think seeing the Tonys does help these tours.

I'm planning on going to a number of these.

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MAMA MIA was a disaster. There was no energy in the number. The three ladies were worse than high school students (I don't mean to degrade high schools as many and excellent). After seeing that segment, I would not see the show again on tour.

As someone who lives in BFE part of the year, I agree that the touring shows are important and deserve promotion. The Legally Blonde performance was fine (and the tour production itself is fantastic), but Mamma Mia was, as others have noted, a tragedy and how many years in a row do we need to see a performance from the Jersey Boys. We GET it, already.

I do hope that the Tonys continue to acknowledge that theatre takes place beyond NYC. I also think, though I know this will never happen, that it would be nice for the non eq tours to get some love or acknowledgment at the Tonys. Most of the tours we get up here in No Man's Land are non equity. This year we had Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Footloose, and Oliver and DRS in particular, was phenomenal. I support equity wholeheartedly, but communities like the one where I teach simply can't afford to bring in those tours.

I'm not just basing it on that. I was having doubts about seeing it before the Tonys and I heard from people who saw the current tour cast and they all said it's not worth it. I'll probably give the tickets to some friends who aren't as picky as I am.