Posted: 6/19/17 at 2:56pm
Please see Post #5 for revised question.
I apologize for my original post.
Updated On: 6/19/17 at 02:56 PM
Posted: 6/19/17 at 3:05pm
I'm not sure how a show like this would play in flyover country.
Because touring markets like LA, San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Denver, DC, Miami, Dallas, Baltimore, etc. are "flyover country".
Posted: 6/19/17 at 3:12pm
Besides LA, the cities you mentioned ARE flyover country. It seems you were trying to cleverly say that there are many cities in flyover country that are important touring markets, but that still does not answer the question if this show would do well in them.....it simply reminded us of only some of the cities included in flyover country. I don't think War Paint would do well without bankable stars so perhaps this show is best left to the amateur market.
Posted: 6/19/17 at 3:22pm
Umm...Philly, Boston, Miami, SF--by the most technical definition, NOT "flyover country".
"Flyover country" is an insulting phrase meant to suggest that any place other than New York or LA is devoid of culture and intelligence. Spend any time in the cities I mentioned and you'll quickly find out that neither coast has exclusive rights to culture. Suggesting that a show like WAR PAINT--which isn't particularly sophisticated to begin with--won't play outside of New York makes little sense, especially since FUN HOME (albeit a much better show) just recouped on the road.
Updated On: 6/19/17 at 03:22 PM
Posted: 6/19/17 at 3:26pm
I'm reading back my post and realizing it was quite ill advised and elitist...I really didn't think that through and I apologize.
I was curious to see if there would have been a market for this show outside of New York City without the two names and, if so, who could fill those two roles.
Posted: 6/19/17 at 3:55pm
Phantom4ever said: "Besides LA, the cities you mentioned ARE flyover country.
"
AC126748 mentioned Philly, Boston, San Fran, and DC. In what universe are those cities "flyover country"? Denver and Dallas sure. But not those other big coastal cities.
Posted: 6/19/17 at 4:28pm
I, too, take issue to that initial wording, so thanks for the edited version.
I can't imagine this show touring, mostly because I can't imagine this (iffy) show being any good at all without the women starring in it now. They'd need a pair of pretty big personalities/voices/names to star in the show on the road and I don't think that's gonna happen.
Posted: 6/19/17 at 4:32pm
Caught Fun Home in Philly on Sunday, and I am always surprised how people wait for the touring productions if they are 90 minutes outside of NYC?! I mean, I'll revisit a show on tour, but why wait for it to come here? There's a train, NJTransit, driving... just seems strange.
Posted: 6/19/17 at 4:51pm
Without two dynamite leads I can't see it selling well- and I don't know who they could convince to do it on the road who are also good fits for the part. If the show has any life beyond LuPone and Ebersole, my bet is that they try to recast the Broadway company before looking to tour it.
Posted: 6/19/17 at 4:59pm
I think to a lot of people the combination of not-great reviews and random subject matter would fail to pique interest, as it already has even with Broadway legends Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole. Without them, I don't think this show would have even made it out of Chicago, let alone tour the country.
Posted: 6/19/17 at 5:13pm
What about the subject matter is "random?" The musical is based on a major book and documentary. It's not like this was the first team interested in exploring the lives and rivalry of the two women. I don't find it random at all.
Updated On: 6/19/17 at 05:13 PM
Posted: 6/19/17 at 5:33pm
Mr. Nowack said: "I think to a lot of people the combination of not-great reviews and random subject matter would fail to pique interest, as it already has even with Broadway legends Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole. Without them, I don't think this show would have even made it out of Chicago, let alone tour the country.
"
I agree. Maybe some regional productions. But I can't imagine any touring houses wanting this.
Posted: 6/19/17 at 7:22pm
It's doing far better on Broadway than most people expected! I'd say it has potential. I think the parts could attract some strong women. And it's not like it would be a difficult show to tour.
Posted: 6/19/17 at 7:26pm
Betty Buckley and Rachel York. Oh.. wait a minute... they played to empty houses when they did Grey Gardens.
Posted: 6/19/17 at 10:17pm
Compared to the standard fare typically adapted into musicals, I think that the story of two feuding cosmetics titans is pretty random. Even amongst us here on BWW a lot of people were like "What? Who?? Why???" Don't get me wrong I think it's an interesting choice, but definitely not typical. I also think calling either the book or documentary "major" is being generous.
As a side note, how elaborate is the physical production? Could it tour as it is, or would it have to be reduced? I know a lot of effort went into the Patti specific recreations of the Rubinstein portraits.
Posted: 6/19/17 at 10:22pm
Patti said on Show People that those are the real Rubinstein images in the portraits, not based on her. The similarities are uncanny, though.
Posted: 6/19/17 at 10:25pm
Hmm odd she would say that, I was basing my comment on this video:
About 3:27-4:10 he talks about it.
Posted: 6/19/17 at 10:45pm
The subject matter appeals to an older female demographic. The highest sold show is typically the Wednesday matinee, which seems pretty unusual to me. If they can tap into this market well I think it could tour regardless of stars. If not, it's done.
Not sure how a show that has sold almost 90% of its tickets (over 100,000) and grossed over $13 million can be described as a show that has not piqued any interest.
Posted: 6/19/17 at 11:51pm
Mr. Nowack said: "Hmm odd she would say that, I was basing my comment on this video:
About 3:27-4:10 he talks about it.
"
Oh, wow that really is bizarre. I thought they did seem too Patti. Maybe she really didn't know she enhanced them with her face, lol?
She says it here at 16:30.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn_qzIKdv2U
Updated On: 6/19/17 at 11:51 PM
Posted: 6/20/17 at 12:09am
I think, as I've said before, and as past seasons have proved, that audiences are looking for new stories. So, to me, this was not something I knew, but I was engaged and interested. I think it is a good show, despite its flaws. Sure it's very back and forth, but that's the nature of the show. I think it would do well on the road.
Posted: 6/20/17 at 12:16am
Caught Fun Home in Philly on Sunday, and I am always surprised how people wait for the touring productions if they are 90 minutes outside of NYC?! I mean, I'll revisit a show on tour, but why wait for it to come here? There's a train, NJTransit, driving... just seems strange
It's so funny you mention this, because a coworker and I were just discussing this the other day. I work in ticketing in Philly and we were just talking about how it's crazy how long people have waited for single tickets to Wicked to go on sale when they could just hop on a train/bus/etc and go see it on Broadway. I do have patrons who mention having seen a certain show on Broadway in conversations with them, but a lot of the patrons we get are families or older people who I think would rather cut out all the middle man involved with certain aspects of going to New York and stay "close to home". But, I do agree, it is rather odd that more people who live in areas like Philly wouldn't just go to New York, but I can see aspects of why it might be a bit harder on the wallet. That being said, I personally have no problem with hopping my usual Greyhound and getting up to the city but I definitely do love when a good tour comes through town.
Back on the topic of War Paint, based on what little I know about it, I could see our subscriber base being interested in having it in Philly. I've learned quite a bit about the difference between what pleases subscriber audiences as opposed to the New York/Broadway crowd - where a show like Curious Incident will be a hit on Broadway, but will play much differently to a subscriber base favored toward big musicals.
Updated On: 6/20/17 at 12:16 AM
Posted: 6/20/17 at 12:46am
I think anybody who feels righteous indignation over the term "flyover country" should take another look at the Electoral College map for 2016. Yeah, Chicago is an exception, but the term was never intended to refer to Chicago anyway.
And though it's true the term was originally a hipster putdown, I hear it used now in a matter-of-fact tone.
Posted: 6/20/17 at 12:47am
I could see Marin Mazzie as Helena. And pay Bernadette Peters a small fortune to play Arden, and a tour could do well.
Posted: 6/20/17 at 12:51am
Of course Patti and Bernadette would be amazing!
