US Tours playing in other countries?
US Tours playing in other countries?
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#1US Tours playing in other countries?
Posted: 7/23/13 at 12:41pm
Is it common for National Tours of Broadway shows to play outside the USA??
I don't know if that's a stupid question but the US National Tour of Billy Elliot will be performing over here in São Paulo, Brazil during the entire month of August and it got me curious. I know there are international tours, but never heard of National tours traveling abroad. Does this happen often?
#2US Tours playing in other countries?
Posted: 7/23/13 at 12:46pm
I assume you forgot about Canada. THAT is common. 
But outside North American, no -- it's not super common, but it has happened. The Deaf West tour of Big River went to Japan, and the 3rd national Les Miz tour went to Shanghai and Seoul. (And Singapore in the '90s.)
#2US Tours playing in other countries?
Posted: 7/23/13 at 12:48pmThe Non-Equity tours of RENT went to Canada and Japan frequently.
rorschach37
Broadway Star Joined: 4/3/10
#3US Tours playing in other countries?
Posted: 7/23/13 at 12:53pmThe current Non-Equity tour of American Idiot went to the U.K. for awhile after having a few stops here in the U.S. and will be going to Tokyo and Seoul later this year.
#4US Tours playing in other countries?
Posted: 7/23/13 at 12:58pm
You're right, LizzieCurry, I completely forgot about Canada! =S
Asking about shows playing outside of North America would've been more appropriate...
#5US Tours playing in other countries?
Posted: 7/23/13 at 1:00pm
What's the difference between equity and non-equity tours??(I think I know the answer to that, but I just want to be sure)
Which one would apply to this National Tour of Billy Elliot?
rorschach37
Broadway Star Joined: 4/3/10
#6US Tours playing in other countries?
Posted: 7/23/13 at 1:10pmOne is union sponsored and the other isn't.
Cupid Boy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/5/13
#7US Tours playing in other countries?
Posted: 7/23/13 at 1:12pmIf I remember correctly, the national tour of Xanadu played for a month in Japan.
willep
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/08
#8US Tours playing in other countries?
Posted: 7/23/13 at 1:24pmThe non-eq Shrek tour went to Kuala Lumpur and Shanghai.
Tsao5
Stand-by Joined: 2/7/06
#9US Tours playing in other countries?
Posted: 7/23/13 at 1:29pm
It's not uncommon. Both union and non-union tours somewhat regularly go to Singapore, China and other Asian countries.
I think the Addams family is headed to Singapore.
Aida was in China a few years back as was Rent and a couple of others.
The large large tours of Andrew L. Webber shows that tour Asia (Taiwan/Singapore/Hong Kong and a few other places) come from Australia or South Africa (Cats and Phantom for example).
The North American tour of Cats went to Costa Rica and South America a few years ago.
West Side Story did for years a great world tour (lucky actors). They still might be doing it.
ElphabaGoodman
Broadway Star Joined: 4/2/10
#10US Tours playing in other countries?
Posted: 7/23/13 at 1:31pmThe equity tour of In the Heights played Tokyo. I believe the non-equity tour of Hairspray played Japan and South Korea.
#11US Tours playing in other countries?
Posted: 7/23/13 at 1:46pm
Thanks for all the replies!
I guess, seeing that most of them go to Asia, my lack of knowledge about national tours traveling abroad is justified.
theaternut
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/4/03
#12US Tours playing in other countries?
Posted: 7/23/13 at 1:52pm
"In The Heights" played San Juan. And while PR is a Commonwealth of the United States ; it was the first time a US tour played there since Chorus Line and Ain't Misbehavin were brought in back to back in the early 80's.
Updated On: 7/23/13 at 01:52 PM
millie_dillmount
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/04
#13US Tours playing in other countries?
Posted: 7/23/13 at 1:57pm42nd Street did some performances in Japan as well years ago - was this the US tour?
Visceral_Fella
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/18/12
#14US Tours playing in other countries?
Posted: 7/23/13 at 5:28pm
The 2009 equity tour of Dreamgirls went out of the country I believe.
I know that the no equity Dreamgirsl tour is in Asia right now.
Fosse76
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/21/05
#15US Tours playing in other countries?
Posted: 7/23/13 at 10:36pmThe national tour of Chicago was in Japan last year.
#16US Tours playing in other countries?
Posted: 7/24/13 at 2:03am
Two oldies:
In the early 1950's, there was an acclaimed national tour of Porgy and Bess. It made major stars of Leontyne Price and William Warfield, who met and married while doing the show, and confirmed the show's status as an American classic. This production was the first to restore much of the music that had been cut from earlier productions. This tour eventually played not only Broadway (at the Ziegfeld) but much of Europe, Moscow, and Latin America under the auspices of the State Department.
The first national tour of Hello, Dolly!, starring Mary Martin, played across the U.S. and then had stops in Japan, Korea and for our troops in Vietnam before settling in at the Drury Lane as the first London production of the show. NBC made a 50 minute documentary about that production, which includes some wonderful production footage, and it's on youtube.
Updated On: 7/24/13 at 02:03 AM
JohnBalton
Swing Joined: 7/24/13
#17US Tours playing in other countries?
Posted: 7/24/13 at 7:31amIn Australia we had Mary Poppins and Legally Blonde I am still waiting for American Idiot
fiesta1
Stand-by Joined: 11/20/03
#18US Tours playing in other countries?
Posted: 7/24/13 at 8:42amA buddy was on an international tour of Phantom. It played Anchorage, Honolulu, Seoul, Toyko, Singapore, Tel Aviv and then Stockholm. He dropped out of the tour after that time -- 12 months was enough of hotels.
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