Touring broadway shows in the D.C. area question

[vtalum05]

Posted: 2/20/11 at 5:35pm

I am just curious as to why the Washington D.C. area struggles to get many if any touring broadway shows? I would think that it being the nation's capital that they would not have an issue. I haven't really seen many good shows come through in a while. The Kennedy Center gets a few and the National Theater doesn't seem to get the number of shows that they used to. I don't even think that the Warner Theater had a broadway series this year. I wish that they could pull in a series like Baltimore. Any thoughts?

[Katurian2]

Posted: 2/20/11 at 5:40pm

I live in DC one half of the year and NYC the other, and it seems to me that DC's theatre scene is, with a few exceptions very polar. Either it's something so avant garde that it's almost ridiculous or it's strictly for the white hair crowd. Also, the people who live 'in' DC are for the most part either the politician-related crowd who don't care for theatre, or else very poor. The commuters who would be the theatre-going audience seem to live largely in Maryland, or are rich enough (and there are an absurd amount of trust fund millions in MD) that they will just fly up to NYC. This is all speculation, but it's just what I've noticed in my time there.

[CandiceElyse]

Posted: 2/20/11 at 5:48pm

vtalum, i couldnt agree more. i, too, live in the DC area and it seems like we get left out of a lot. The KenCen's season is pretty awesome this year, but as you said, all of the other stages are particularly lacking. Don't count out places like Signature and especially Arena though, they put on FABULOUS productions. i STILL can't get over how amazing Arena's Oklahoma! was.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/20/11 at 7:23pm

I've lived in DC for 10 and a half years (used to live in NYC) and I will say I am baffled as to why we don't get some tours. I have been expanding my horizons and seeing plays and/or musicals being presented at Ford's Theatre, Arena Stage and Signature Theatre. I have been very happy with the things I have seen as of late. I also attended Terrence McNally's trilogy of plays at The Kennedy Center last spring.

I work near the National Theatre and it seems to be more dark now that it was when I first moved here.

I saw the non-equity tour of Hairspray (excellent) and the recent Evita tour (dreadful) at the Warner Theatre a few years ago.

On a side note, the audiences here are a fickle bunch. American Ballet Theatre was here a few weeks ago and all of their performances were deeply discounted. I paid an average of $35 for 3 performances and had great seats. Whereas, the Miriinsky and Alvin Ailey companies were completely sold out.

Updated On: 2/20/11 at 07:23 PM

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 2/20/11 at 7:51pm

National tours are booked by local presenters, the producers have very little to say, or care to, about where their shows go (with an exception being the city they choose to tech and open the tour). If the local presenters are "struggling" to get these tour then that suggests that they don't feel there is an audience for them and are either not willing or can't afford to bring these tours in.

[morosco]

Posted: 2/20/11 at 8:56pm

I had great seats for DREAMGIRLS when it was to play The National in November and then it got canceled due to low ticket sales.

[uncageg]

Posted: 2/20/11 at 9:14pm

I have actually been watching this this evening. It is all about touring shows and how they decide what to bring in to theaters across the country. Good discussion about touring plays also. I am halfway through. It is a really good discussion overall and gives you some insight into touring productions. Check it out:

http://americantheatrewing.org/wit/detail/tours_12_10

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 2/21/11 at 1:37pm

Sure, DC doesn't get a lot of tours but I see a show almost every week and I'm never short on options. Don't sell the DC theatre scene short; we have a lot of it and most of it is very good. There's something for everyone in all price ranges and in most cases, better than what you'd find in NY in the commercial houses. You just can't limit yourself to the Kennedy Center or even Arena. I don't think every show falls into the two bins: catering to the elderly or those who like experimental theatre. If you think that, you clearly don't go to much theatre around here. Sure there is Arena and Signature, but there is also Woolly, Studio, Theatre J, Forum, Constellation, Olney, Roundhouse and the list goes on and on.

I for one am glad we have a lot of regional/local theatre so I don't have to limit myself to the tours to get a theatre fix. They are likely to be watered down and tired. If I want to see a big Broadway show that appeals to the masses, I go to NY, and I do so at least once a month.