Tour Cast Vs. Broadway Cast

[TheatreDiva612]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 1:21pm

My friend and I were talking and she said something that kind of annoyed me. She was trying to tell me that every single person that is in a tour of a show is not nearly as talented as the people in the Broadway production. I think this is not necessarily true. I have seen many tour people that I KNOW would do a fabulous job on Broadway... Even people from Broadway shows go and do the tours... She has only seen like 2 Broadway Shows, so I'm trying to soothe myself by saying she doesn't completely know what she is talking about. It was just sad she made this generalization about touring casts... I don't know... What do you guys think?

[sweeneyfan]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 1:43pm

You are right, she is wrong.

I've seen people on tour that I thought were better than their Broadway counterparts...

I enjoyed the entire Mamma Mia Touring cast (about 1.5 years ago) than the Original Broadway Cast for example.

[hak]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 1:48pm

chalk it up to her naivette [spelling?]
many performers do both

[OasisBroadway]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 1:53pm

Yeah she is definitely wrong. You can't say that across the board. In general I think they try to push the more talented performers towards Broadway but there are still always some better performers on tour. Even logistically it doesn't make sense. If someone is contracted in a Broadway show for a year say, there could be someone who is much more talented who gets the role but has to go to the tour since that particular role is not open on Broadway.

[TheatreDiva612]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 2:07pm

I'm so glad you guys agree with me. I finally quit arguing with her about it. It drives me crazy because she thinks she knows everything about Musical Theatre.

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 2:07pm

A friend and I went to see "Wicked" on tour in St. Louis and he felt as though Stephanie was a better Elphaba. He saw Idina in the role twice. I guess you get good AND bad performers on tour and on Broadway. The quality of the performance has nothing to do with the location (be it NYC or on the road).

[stylinbohemian]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 2:08pm

Ya come on I mean Stephenie was lined up to be the original Elphaba on Broadway for Oz sakes, and half those people have been on broadway, etc. They're vry talented and I think some even better then bway.

[TheatreDiva612]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 2:10pm

And she was all like, "There's just something about the performers on broadway that makes you want to watch them more than the people on the tours."

[Fantabulous428]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 2:13pm

also - a lot of people are taken out of their tours and brought into the broadway casts. so, saying b'way casts are better than tour doesn't make much sense since they could essentially be the same people. look at the current rent cast, the majority of them have been a part of some tour at one point.

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 2:13pm

I agree that it is extremely variable, but in general there's no reason to assume that the tour cast will be sub-par when compared to the Broadway cast. Particularly national tours vs. Broadway replacement casts.

I HAVE noticed, though, that there seem to be more weak links on tour casts of some shows that I've seen than I would expect on Broadway. Singers that aren't strong enough, that sort of thing. Sometimes you'll have a performer on a tour who just blows you away, but then the supporting cast isn't up to par.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 2:21pm

And she was all like, "There's just something about the performers on broadway that makes you want to watch them more than the people on the tours." --- TheatreDiva612

That is her perception. She's all excited because she's seeing a "Broadway show." She's brought her own agenda and relevance to it.

Tour performers can easily be better... I've even seen a few community theatre performers and college performers that were better than their Broadway counterparts.

I would tell your friend to try to see things for what they are, and quit looking for the "designer label tag."

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 2:26pm

I liked Darcie Roberts' tour Millie more than Foster's Broadway performance.
Updated On: 12/10/05 at 02:26 PM

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 2:39pm

Though I didn't see Sutton, I though Darcie was outstanding.

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 2:45pm

I disagree with your friend, I've seen many tour casts with people who I thought were better then the broadway casts. For example, Tari Kelly in LSoH and Stephanie J Block from Wicked. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Kerry, Jessica and the numerous Elphabas on Broadway for the most part but for those particular shows, I found the tour casts to be more enjoyable.

[BroadwayRandy0711]

Posted: 12/10/05 at 3:57pm

I think that your friend has this pre-conceived idea that just because a play is on Broadway that all the performers are going to be outstanding. You are going to have your mix of good and bad in both areas. For example I feel as though Derrick Williams is a far stronger Fiyero than David Ayers. I also believe that the touring cast you get a different spin on the show and that it is not identical to what the OBC performed. Your friend is wrong for saying that.