Jersey Boys - Toronto- Page 3

[Den]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 10:17am

It's official... They got the TCA Mainstage so the run will start next summer instead of January 2009 at the Elgin. It also looks more and more like Dancap will be allowed to take over management of the facility.

The Star's article on it today makes no mention of the possibility of running more than six months which suggests it's a tour.

But Ouzounian also quotes McAnuff as saying that although it's not definite yet, "there is a very strong possibility that the production which opened here could be an all-Canadian company." That suggests sit-down.

I wonder if it might not actually be the launch of a Canadian touring company?

[Fosse76]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 10:24am

"But Ouzounian also quotes McAnuff as saying that although it's not definite yet, "there is a very strong possibility that the production which opened here could be an all-Canadian company." That suggests sit-down."

Could it be that they are waiting to see what happens in Chicago before making a decision? i.e., if Chicago turns into a sit-down, then Toronto will be an extended tour, but if it closes in Chicago as expected in the Spring, it will free up the production so it can be a sit-down while they still have a tour elsewhere.

[antonijan]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 3:02pm

ask the experts:
here

[antonijan]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 3:26pm

see the show in SF for $20 off using the code "thanks" thru ticketmaster.
Updated On: 5/16/07 at 03:26 PM

[Tag]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 6:04pm

It seems as though everyone involved is being very cautious in verifying whether it is the tour or a sitdown, or some combination of both.
Dancap says they will confirm dates on May 30th, so maybe by then we will know forsure...or not.

[jerseyboyslover]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 6:11pm

http://www.thestar.com/columnists/article/214260

http://www.myspace.com/jerseyboystoronto

[antonijan]

Posted: 6/7/07 at 1:20am

it is past 5/30 now...

so is it a sit-down or a tour?

[JRTO]

Posted: 7/31/08 at 11:59am

AND..........????????

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/31/08 at 12:03pm

It's the Sherry tour.

But Jeremy Kushnier will be leaving the Las Vegas production in a couple of weeks and joining the tour in Toronto.

[JRTO]

Posted: 7/31/08 at 12:29pm

It will be the Sherry tour for the time that is open on the tour schedule (Aug 31- Dec 7). But is there any news about it extending past Dec 7 with a new company?

[dented146]

Posted: 7/31/08 at 1:56pm

I mentioned before that I thought that the producers had promised at least a six month run in order to secure the theatre. Since that time others on this board who a pretty knowledgeable about the Toronto theatre scene such as Tag have mentioned that it didn't appear to be six months and they might be correct.

But I remember that it was a very big political coup to get that theatre for Jersey Boys so that agreement might still be in place.

[JRTO]

Posted: 8/1/08 at 12:40pm

TAG? No update?

Maybe he's on vacation...

[Tag]

Posted: 8/1/08 at 5:33pm

I don't have much of an update because I don't know what is happening!
CAEA did post JB auditions that are happening in Toronto in September but it looks like the tour is just holding auditions in Toronto for any JB company. BUT they are being held by a Toronto casting company and resumes/headshots are to be sent to Dancap...so that seems a little strange to me.

[JRTO]

Posted: 8/2/08 at 12:27am

Ya, just looked at those two e-drive notices
1) 'Future Replacements' casting in Vancouver and
2) 'Future Replacements' casting for all companies in Toronto

with Dayton Walters casting, who cast the Toronto productions of The Producers and Hairspray, among others.

The intersting tie-in is the number of producers who are attached to all three (Producers, Hairspray and Jersey Boys).

It makes me think that after casting two of their Toronto shows with Dayton Walters, they may be doing the same for Jersey Boys. To hold auditions in Toronto to find replacements for the tour and broadway (with a Toronto casting company and a Toronto production company) seems odd indeed. Spring Awakening, when doing an open call here, used the New York casting directors.

My gut feeling is that it will be extended past Dec 5th (or whatever the date is) because of Dan's ego and desire to have a long running production in Toronto. I suspect that if the house is at 30%, he'll try to keep it running...

Which, of course, means a new cast. Most of the production aspects (set, lights, sound) are recycled from another production (San Fran I believe), so the foundation for a sit down is there.

I imagine that they are waiting for the show to open to announce that it is a huge success and will be an open run.

Hopefully, they will be wise and only market it as 'a new block of tickets' each time. Mirvish has finally learned that this is the way to keep a show going in Toronto. Open runs give people no incentive to see it soon, which results in slow sales. Before you know it, the show closes. It's a different attitude than in New York, where people rush to see the latest thing.

So far though, all marketing says "Starts August 21".

Playing around with the ticketmaster site, i'd say the show is about 55-60% sold for the 54 shows they are selling 21 Aug- 3 Oct.

I bet it would be selling better with Aug 21- Oct 3 in all marketing...

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/2/08 at 12:37am

Well, three casts started in San Francisco, but the set and props from SF are now in Las Vegas. As far as the physical aspects, they'd have to start completely fresh in Toronto unless one of the existing productions closes.

[Tag]

Posted: 8/2/08 at 1:02am

I think we all just have false hope...but we can hope for the best!

[JRTO]

Posted: 8/2/08 at 1:11am

They are using a re-configured set from somewhere- the crews and set have been at the theatre for a week now.

[mll85]

Posted: 8/2/08 at 1:18am

They are using a re-configured set from somewhere- the crews and set have been at the theatre for a week now.

Really? It's the whole set? They must have built a new one because all pre-existing sets that I knew of are being used. As Lizzie said before the one used in SF is now in Las Vegas. The LA set is now in Chicago. And the Tour has their own. I'm a litte more inclined to think that they're going to just bring in another company after the tour leaves. If I remember correctly it didn't take them long to put together the second company that played in SF and have them rehearsed and ready to perform the day after the first company left.

Updated On: 8/2/08 at 01:18 AM

[Tag]

Posted: 8/2/08 at 1:24am

Some tours (like Phantom) have duplicate sets that load in while the actual show is still in another town.
It's fairly early though for a tour to load in when it doesn't start for another 20 days or so. Why would Dancap pay for the theatre rental so many weeks beforehand?
Very VERY strange. Updated On: 8/2/08 at 01:24 AM

[mll85]

Posted: 8/2/08 at 1:42am

I realize that some tours use duplicates sets but it doesn't seem like Jersey Boys would need to use one because it's pretty minimal. Of course I could be wrong about that.

I'm guessing since the tour is going to be in Toronto longer then their other stops, maybe they need more time for load in because they're going to be using the lift again. But still, 20 days seems like way more time then they might need.

Updated On: 8/2/08 at 01:42 AM

[flainers]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 11:44am

The crew has been in Toronto setting up since mid-July. The cast and management will be arriving on Monday.

I spoke with one of the managers at the TCA and she said that they were getting the full set since it's a sit-down (don't know if she means it's because the show is staying in Toronto a few months, rather than just a month in other cities, or if it's an actual sit-down). She also mentioned that, from what she understands, DanCap is trying for an open-ended run...

[Fosse76]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 12:26pm

"Some tours (like Phantom) have duplicate sets that load in while the actual show is still in another town.
It's fairly early though for a tour to load in when it doesn't start for another 20 days or so. Why would Dancap pay for the theatre rental so many weeks beforehand?
Very VERY strange."

I don't know of any tours with duplicate sets. They often have two stage decks and duplicate equipment (lighting, sound, etc.), but not sets.

[Tag]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 1:03pm

Well I consider the deck to be part of the set...because it is.
But I vaguely remember being told by the tour ASM that a large portion of the Phantom sets are in duplicate. Including the proscenium, chandelier and maybe the graveyard. LizzyCurry would know.

Back to Jersey Boys...thanks for the info Flainers. It seems as though Dancap hasn't been selling their other shows well. I wonder what the advance is on JB?

[Fosse76]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 2:08pm

Well if Phantom has a duplicate chandelier and proscenium, its a fairly new addition. It was only a few years ago that one of the tour stops had to do without the proscenium because the transfer truck it was in was stolen (and later recovered). If they had had a duplicate, they would have been able to set it up.

[Tag]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 6:26pm

Ok I don't remember exactly what set pieces they have duplicate of. But there definitely were some.