National Tours Vs Regional Productions

[BwayLB]

Posted: 4/6/25 at 3:48pm

In almost 2 decades of attending theatre I’ve seen spare amounts of national tours and regional productions. Which do you prefer?

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 4/6/25 at 4:02pm

Generalizing here: tours often have great talent but that talent can often be tired and unfamiliar with the space they’re performing in, depending on how long a run is or how long they’ve been in the venue, which can mean a performance isn’t quite centered. The tech elements can also feel like they don’t fit well, especially sound. Not their fault at all, just the economy of it. 

Regional productions will often be much more calm all round, as there isn’t the time crunch that tours can have and there’s the benefit of a week or more in the space. 

I think I always feel better “communicated-with” at a regional production of something, but have seen great tours as well (usually in the case of several-week runs).

[BwayLB]

Posted: 4/6/25 at 7:44pm

I’ve seen more regional than national tours since COVID hit. Beforehand it was the reverse

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/6/25 at 7:54pm

Since I go to NY frequently, I seldom see tours.  In the last 5 years I think I've gone to exactly one.  (Hadestown)

 

Regional theater I go to often. I get to see new work, unusual and off beat work, as well as new interpretations of known work.

Is it all good? Nope. And that's ok. I consider myself lucky to have so many vibrant theaters in Boston.