Interesting Occurences With Touring Companies- Page 2

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/29/11 at 12:52pm

It will totally mess with you if you aren't careful. I was impressed with Norm Lewis when he was there for the pre-Broadway run of The Little Mermaid. He rode his bike everywhere. But then, the man is in shape! I have talked to a lot of touring cast members there and they all said they were not ready for the altitude.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 6/29/11 at 1:37pm

^ A car crash? Yikes! I'm surprised they only missed one show.

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 7/1/11 at 6:34pm

In the mid-70s, there was a Florida tour of "The Student Prince", starring Allan Jones (father of Jack) and Harry Danner (brother of Blythe). I was a PA for one of the theaters where it played.

Harry arranged for the entire cast to sail to the Bahamas during the 2-day break between weeks 1 and 2. I was appointed the local "rep" and sent along to make sure everybody made it back on the yacht.

Except we only got about 3 miles offshore from Miami when the entire boat sank in a matter of minutes. The captain and crew disappeared in the only lifeboat and we discovered there were enough life jackets for only about half the 40 member cast.

Fortunately a garbage barge happened along and rescued us just before the yacht rolled over and sank like a stone. The only injury was a hamstring torn when one of the chorus kids jumped from one boat to the other.

BTW, despite all the stereotypes about hysterical actors, everyone stayed perfectly calm throughout the crisis, even those who couldn't swim.
Updated On: 7/1/11 at 06:34 PM

[singtopher]

Posted: 7/1/11 at 8:10pm

That is horrifying!

Regarding who is in charge of tour arrangements, Company Managers are typically "in charge" and equity has rules about per diem rates in each city and ensuring transportation in each city if the hotel is out of walking distance. I can't remember specifics, but I seem to remember something they need to provide two options, one within walking distance, and one under a certain price point. Most actors (particularly those who are on tours with the luxury of multiple week runs in each city) rent places through various websites. It seems to be the best overall option. I know several folks who bought cars (new, or lightly used) and drove around the country so that they always had a mode of transportation in each city.

[Matteo]

Posted: 7/1/11 at 8:32pm

Im from the Detroit area, and I know that whenever a tour comes to Detroit, the company stays far from the city. There is a city (Troy) about 30 minutes away that casts usually stay in, with lots of shopping areas and a huge mall (that KCheno has mentioned is her favorite mall in the US). When shows comes here, they almost always have a greyhound bus that takes them to and fro the theatre for each performance. The only show that I have found that differed from this was Legally Blonde, however I heard many cast members complaining about this situation.

[basketcase]

Posted: 7/2/11 at 2:39am

In 2002 the non-equity tour of Rent was booked to play Arcata, CA which is a nowhere town near the Oregon border that is accessible from the rest of California via windy, narrow roads in the middle of California's redwood forests. The trucks carrying the set and equipment couldn't get through on the roads and the show was forced to perform the following night with no set. They were able to get costumes and props and some smaller items (tables, chairs, the moon), but Mimi essentially did "Out Tonight" on a small platform that was about a foot off the stage. And since there was no band platform, the band was actually piped in from another room.

[Goggles]

Posted: 7/2/11 at 4:26am

too funny, i was at Humboldt when this happened! i was so stressed out about my senior thesis i didnt know about the sets not getting there ontime.
the night i saw it, everything seemed to be there. i literally ran from the lab to see the show 5 mins before it started and then ran back to the lab to work thru the rest of the night.

[singtopher]

Posted: 7/2/11 at 8:27am

Matteo- I played the Fox with a show on time and we stayed in Dearborn. There aren't great accommodations in Detroit itself, so it is much better to stay in the 'burbs.

I just remembered a story about Les Mis several years back playing a large city in Canada (I want to say Toronto) and the house crew of the venue they were supposed to play went on strike. As a result, they changed the venue to a local hockey rink.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 7/2/11 at 8:40am

I think UK tours are probably much different from the US ones, i always enjoyed my time on tour (living out of a suitcase was not the best but hey), however it did pretty much end my relationship at the time.