Shows that had their out of town try-out in DC
Shows that had their out of town try-out in DC
#1Shows that had their out of town try-out in DC
Posted: 8/7/08 at 8:19pmHas anyone else ever been bummed to find out that a show you are really excited about gets an out of town try-out in your hometown, after you move away? I lived in DC for 16 years. Prior to me moving there, they had the pre-broadway North Americain premiere of "Les Miserables". Now, they are getting the premiere of "West Side Story". Of course, when I lived there...we had "Footloose". Oh yeah...we also got "Whistle Down the Wind". We also had "Martin Guerre"....although this was not a world premiere. The best thing we got prior to its move to Broadway was "Crazy for You". Very similar to the 4th of July Concert on the mall. The whole time I lived there I rarely would have gone to the concert on the 4th. Now, I no longer live there...and they get Idina Menzel and Sarah Brightman. Oh well....guess I'll be visiting DC next February!
"The price of love is loss, but still we pay; We love anyway."
#2re: Shows that had their out of town try-out in DC
Posted: 8/7/08 at 9:16pmOh yeah...I forgot "Bounce".
"The price of love is loss, but still we pay; We love anyway."
#3re: Shows that had their out of town try-out in DC
Posted: 8/7/08 at 9:23pm
I would like to visit Signature someday!
J*
#4re: Shows that had their out of town try-out in DC
Posted: 8/7/08 at 9:27pm
I'm glad I saw Glory Days at Signature before it tried to move to Broadway. The show worked well in the smaller space.
Years ago I saw Little Johnny Jones with Donny Osmond at the Kennedy Center in DC before it went to Broadway. Didn't that also shut down practically the moment it opened on Broadway? Maybe I'm a jinx for pre-Broadway tryouts.
#5re: Shows that had their out of town try-out in DC
Posted: 8/7/08 at 10:13pmAlso from the DC area originally, I'm sure I will be making a trip home for this premiere. It'll be something to lord over New York folks for at least a little while :)
FeelingElectric
Broadway Star Joined: 9/28/05
#6re: Shows that had their out of town try-out in DC
Posted: 8/8/08 at 3:04amDon't forget about that huge Broadway smash Hot Feet!
Drench yourself in words unspoken. Live your life with arms wide open. Today is where your book begins. The rest is still unwritten.
"Unwritten" Natasha Bedingfield
philcrosby
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/17/04
#7re: Shows that had their out of town try-out in DC
Posted: 8/8/08 at 8:30am
Some of the shows I have seen at the Kennedy Center, prior to Broadway:
Les Miserables
Carmelina
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Gypsy (Lansbury)
You take the good with bad!
Mamie
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/26/04
#8re: Shows that had their out of town try-out in DC
Posted: 8/8/08 at 11:14amYou used to see lots of shows previewing in DC. The one I remember most was "Chicago" - the ORIGINAL one! Gwen, Chita, Jerry....
www.thebreastcancersite.com
A click for life.
mamie4 5/14/03
A click for life.
mamie4 5/14/03
morosco
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/10/04
#9re: Shows that had their out of town try-out in DC
Posted: 8/8/08 at 11:23am
Some others I just though of.
42nd Street (the original production)
Platinum w/Alexis Smith
Annie 2
winston89
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/18/06
#10re: Shows that had their out of town try-out in DC
Posted: 8/8/08 at 11:25amDidn't Show Boat have its first performance at The National in DC?
"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear"
Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll
#11re: Shows that had their out of town try-out in DC
Posted: 8/8/08 at 11:31amHow could I forget "Hot Feet"? Oh wait, it makes sense that I forgot "Hot Feet". My parents were visiting from out of town and although they were very gracious, I know that they were secretly wanting to push me into traffic out on Pennsylvania Ave! I was taking an audition workshop at the time and I can't believe that I skipped a class to see that!
"The price of love is loss, but still we pay; We love anyway."
jordangirl
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/1/06
#12re: Shows that had their out of town try-out in DC
Posted: 8/8/08 at 1:08pmI didn't see either, but Hot Feet did last longer than Glory Days.
Experience live theater. Experience paintings. Experience books. Live, look and listen like artists! ~ imaginethis
LIVE THAT LESSON!!!!!!
LIVE THAT LESSON!!!!!!
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#13re: Shows that had their out of town try-out in DC
Posted: 8/8/08 at 7:03pmMata Hari did & never made it out of town.
Poster Emeritus
Chuck012
Chorus Member Joined: 4/9/08
#14re: Shows that had their out of town try-out in DC
Posted: 8/8/08 at 7:41pm
In 1959 & 1960 I was stationed in Washington at Andrews AFB. I saw numerous shows at the National and among them were the pre-Broadway tryouts of Irma La Douce, Cheri, Little Moon of Alban and The Good Soup.
I spent most of my theatre money at The Arena Stage when they played at the Old Vat (former brewery). Every month I saw a wide variety of classic and modern plays performed by a resident company of actors that then included Philip Bosco, Alan Openheimer, Joyce Ebert, etc. It was exciting, highly professional and among my most cherished theatre going experiences.
ggersten
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
#15re: Shows that had their out of town try-out in DC
Posted: 8/9/08 at 12:25am
Good with the bad was our 1989? weekend in DC. Pre Broadway Gypsy with Tyne Daly (in a box seat!) - So So So So So very good.
Pre Broadway Three Penny Opera with Sting as Mac Heath. So So So So So So So So very very very bad.
And we paid more for Three Penny Opera than we did for Gypsy.
#16re: Shows that had their out of town try-out in DC
Posted: 8/9/08 at 11:28amI remember seeing a show that may not have played outside the DC area called "The Gospel According to Fishman' which I loved, and thought that it could have transferred to NY. Recently, there was a show called "Nevermore" that I heard was very good...but never got tickets to see it. Back in the mid nineties I saw "Elmer Gantry" and the Ford Theater...and thought it had a lot of potential. However, I think that Elmer Gantry had been performed elsewhere prior to is run at the Ford Theater.
"The price of love is loss, but still we pay; We love anyway."
Trekkie2
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/7/06
#17re: Shows that had their out of town try-out in DC
Posted: 8/9/08 at 12:51pmWasn't the Kennedy Center production of Mame a few years ago supposed to go to Broadway?
"I think of avant-garde as downtown shows where you rub waffles and chocolate on yourself."- Hunter Bell
#18re: Shows that had their out of town try-out in DC
Posted: 8/9/08 at 1:16pm
The Little Foxes (Elizabeth Taylor)
Peter Pan (Sandy Duncan)
#19re: Shows that had their out of town try-out in DC
Posted: 8/9/08 at 6:15pm
I remember that production of Elmer Gantry at Ford's Theater that was supposed to go to Broadway but I'm not sure it ever made it. Casey Biggs, who was part of Arena's resident company (which I sorely miss) around that time was in it, so I'd always thought it had originated in DC.
I didn't realize The Little Foxes started in DC before it went to Broadway. I didn't see it, but I did see Elizabeth Taylor at Dominique's restaurant near the Kennedy Center during her run. I remember being amazed that her eyes really were violet.
morosco
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/10/04
#20re: Shows that had their out of town try-out in DC
Posted: 8/9/08 at 8:33pm
Wasn't the Kennedy Center production of Mame a few years ago supposed to go to Broadway?
During the run there was talk that it should consider going to Broadway but that wasn't the production's original intent when the show was produced. It's possible that the transfer buzz was just hopeful fans speculating and not anyone associated with the production or in any power to make serious considerations.
Videos