National Tours-Plays

[wrightstateboy45]

Posted: 1/9/11 at 5:44pm

Do any Broadway Plays such as the 39 steps ever go on to do national tours or no? Sorry I was just wondering because you alway hear of musicals going on tour but never plays at least for me that is lol.

[philly03]

Posted: 1/9/11 at 5:48pm

"Doubt" and "Twelve Angry Men" both toured nationally.

I think most plays get good regional productions - such as Walnut Street Theatre will be doing it in March in Philadelphia.

[Wicked Fanatic]

Posted: 1/9/11 at 6:06pm

Do any Broadway Plays such as the 39 steps ever go on to do national tours or no?

"The 39 Steps" did do a tour. It launched a 19-city USA tour at the La Jolla Playhouse in La Jolla, CA in August of 2009 and then continued through June 13, 2010. Tour stops here: http://www.39stepsny.com/tour.html
I was lucky enough to see it at the Ahmanson Theatre in L.A. I loved it! If it does a regional production near you be sure and see it.

[singtopher]

Posted: 1/9/11 at 6:36pm

August: Osage County also did a tour.

[IAMmyownMUSICAL]

Posted: 1/9/11 at 6:38pm

Most recently I've seen tours of:

doubt
twelve angry men
39 steps
august osage
ruined
who's afraid of virgina wolf?

[joeyvalcort]

Posted: 1/9/11 at 9:13pm

Carrie Fisher did a tour of "Wishful Drinking" before it hit Broadway, but she only hit regional theaters (vs performing arts centers). Also, it was a while ago, but "The Graduate" toured. And "Vagina Monologues." FWIW I saw "The 39 Steps" at the Ahmanson from the back of the balcony and thought it was terrible. The show most definitely wasn't meant to play a barn like the Ahmanson. Saw it again a month ago at New World Stages and it was night and day -- amazing!

[uncageg]

Posted: 1/9/11 at 9:42pm

"August, Osage County" opened its tour in Denver and I was there opening night. "A Bronx Tale" was also in Denver in June of 2009. We didn't get "The 39 Steps" but the Denver Center Theatre Company mounted a great production of it over the summer that extended its run.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 1/9/11 at 10:04pm

Frost/Nixon was another play that recently toured.

[VernonGersch]

Posted: 1/9/11 at 10:08pm

I know the Ahmanson in LA is mouting a production of GOD OF CARNAGE - no director has been announced, at least that I'm aware of...if Michael Warchus does in fact direct, I guess that would make it a tour, of sorts..

Jane Fonda in 33 Variations is also playing the Ahmanson after playing Broadway a year or so ago - although technically not sure if that would qualify as a tour...

Recent touring plays that I can recall
August: Osage County
Doubt
Twelve Angry Men
Whose Afraid of Virgina Wolfe

I guess the lesson learned is this - support your regional theaters as getting proper broadway tours are being more and more infrequent -- go see plays at The Stepenwolf, The Goodmen, The Mark Taper (Center Theater Group) ART, Berkley Rep, South Coast Rep, Huntington Theater etc to see exceptional playwrighting

[sally1112]

Posted: 1/9/11 at 10:14pm

Joey- I forgot about the Graduate touring! I was a subscriber to our local season that year and a little disappointed that all the shows weren't musicals- until I got to see Linda Gray nude!

[Fosse76]

Posted: 1/10/11 at 12:40pm

Plays are substantially less expensive to mount than musicals, so it is often more profitable for producers and writers to license plays to regional houses. More high-profile plays, which can attract name-actors, are more likely to tour because it would be profitable. Hamlet, starring no one anyone has ever heard of, isn't going to make a profit touring on the road. Stick Daniel Radcliife in a tour of it and it will.