Out of Town Tryouts

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 11:57pm

Do you think the city that the producers pick to try things out of town is important? Chicago, San Francisco, and Seattle I can see because they're pretty theater savy, but like Little Shop opening in Ft. Lauderdale or Lion King opening in Minn.? Just wondering if you think it matters. Color Purple tried out in Atlanta. Just wondering if the city that they pick is important. Why would someone pick Ft. Lauderdale over Chicago or vice versa?

[ALWrules]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 1:03am

Location probably has something to do with it; certain cities are favored because they have a reputation for being more generous to audiences. I also think that people tend to pick cities where there is a theater that they can use flexibly, as shows change a lot during previews. I don't know the specifics, but I think that certain cities are picked because of the musical as well. Sunset was in LA because it was about Hollywood. Color Purple was in Atlanta because of the story in the deep south. I would guess people go where they think they will get the best reaction.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 1:25am

Didn't the Jane Eyre producers choose Wichita because of its relative isolation?

[timote316]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 1:43am

After last year's Sweet Charity debacle, I'd doubt Boston will be getting any out of town tryouts in the near future. At least, not this season.