Sweeney Todd tour

[My Strongest Suit]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 12:14am

I was just wondering if anyone knew if there were any plans for a US National Tour of the current revival production of Sweeney Todd. Thank you so much.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 12:17am

I haven't heard anything, though I'd sya it would be likely.

[jam_man]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 12:21am

As far as I know, there aren't any plans yet. And I like to think if there were I'd be quick to know (though that may not be entirely true).

In any case, it doesn't seem like a show that would tour. A practical opera without any sets, one that probably needs an intimate setting to work well in, and let's not even mention finding 10 more people who can play these roles AND these instruments not just great, but great together. And though it probably wouldn't be all that expensive to tour, I couldn't see it doing too well, financially. So unless when Tony time comes, the awards it will (hopefully) win and more word of mouth sink in, I couldn't see it touring. And even then, they might only do it if they can get at least a couple of the Broadway performers to do it.

All that aside, I would do practically ANYTHING for Sweeney to tour (or me get to NY sometime soon or it still be running with preferably the same cast next summer).

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 12:34am

Isn't it going to tour in UK?

[jam_man]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 12:36am

I think it already did.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 12:48am

how big of houses would you think it would play in? We have a huge concert hall here with like 3,000 seats, which plays to like Lion King and stuff, but we also have a little theater that has about 1,000 seats in it and then another theater that has about 300 seats in it. do you think it would ever play a really small theater like that? or no?

[jam_man]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 1:00am

Well, in most cases, touring companies (the big ones, anyway, i.e. Wicked, Lion King, etc.) have to play the huge houses of 2-5 thousand seats, or the tremendous costs of the production plus the traveling would never let a tour be profitable. That's why the big theatres in cites other than New York have many MANY more seats than Broadway theatres. Par example, the Fox Theatre here in St. Louis has approx. 4,500 seats, where the Gershwin on Broadway (Wicked) has 1800 - I believe the largest house on Broadway (New Amsterdam is close, though).

Sweeney may be different, seeing as it doesn't have to pay for any ensemble actors, musicains, turntables, chandeliers, dragons, etc. However, I don't see there being enough commercial demand for Sweeney Todd, especially this one. That said, some of the smaller venues might be interested in booking a show like Sweeney, but I wouldn't think there'd be enough to warrant a tour.

Again, I still hope I have to eat my words (and hopefully some pies, too )

[My Strongest Suit]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 2:12am

Thank you so much guys. I really do hope it does a tour, or a mini-tour at least. *fingers crossed*

[hen88]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 10:59am

Perhaps, they will decide to do a limited tour like the one that Caroline, or Change did in LA and San Francisco. Or maybe they could just open sit-down productions in Chicago, San Francisco & LA like Wicked and Spelling Bee. Maybe Ana Gasteyer could do Mrs. Lovett...

Just a thought...

[Magdalene]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 12:13pm

I would love to see it tour, but (even though it is cleverly written and a hoot to boot) it doesn't have the drawing power that a Wicked or Spamalot does. (or POTO or Cats or Les Mis...you get the drift) It is a remarkable show, and it's the one I'm still talking about!

[SweeneyPhanatic]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 12:37pm

If it does tour, I don't want it to come anywhere near the Fox Theatre (ATL). The Fox is a wonderful place for shows like Phantom, Evita, Movin' Out, and Wicked, but Sweeney is perhaps the only show (that I can think of) that the Fox would ruin unless you sat on the Orchestra level, and then only very close to the stage.

Now, a friend of mine who saw Spamalot in NY tells me that the Fox will ruin the touring version of it, but I havn't seen it so I don't really know. Can anyone confirm that?