Why the National Tours on the TONYs?

[salutz1031]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 6:37pm

What were they thinking? I think it would be a better idea to give some sneak previews of shows that will opening in the up-coming season? Create some buzz for the new season!!!

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 6:40pm

To attract more viewers to the show. More performances may draw more viewers. There have been numerous threads about the Tonys discussing this...

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 6:41pm

Seems to me like the kind of idea that sounded good on paper. MAMMA MIA and LEGALLY BLONDE were simply awful (nothing against the actual shows, just the awkward atrocious Tony performances).
I agree it might have been a better idea to have performances from upcoming shows, or at least have other tours perform (good ones?).
I thought JERSEY BOYS was very creative in the way they set up their performance, unlike the other two touring shows.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 6:41pm

How would you do that?

Also, it gives the folks outside New York in the tour belt (meaning everyone outside the tri-state area who doesn't regularly go to NY) a little something to cheer about.

[hmpeterson]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 6:51pm

I thought it was a good idea to include the tours (the performances however are another story!!) But I think it was smart. They realize there are more than just New Yorkers who watch the Tony's so why not use it to promote the tours to draw more people to the shows in other cities.

Now the performances, yikes. Mamma Mia was so bad. I don't think that helped the tour at all. Legally Blonde was fine. And Jersey Boys was a neat idea but some Frankie's were ok while others were pretty bad IMO. But when the entire cast was on, it was great.

[Shawk]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 7:01pm

Strangely enough, there are many, many people who don't live in New York and see touring shows, and also watch the Tonys.

Too bad some of the tour performances were not so great, though.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 7:04pm

Right. There's also the issue of timing -- the casual theatre fan 6 or 7 states away may not remember the Tonys from a few years ago when Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia or Legally Blonde performed, if they even saw it. This was a nice reminder, and good PR.

Sure, the Tonys are about Broadway, but they're also about theatre. I understand the Tonys are New York-centric, as they should be, but they're not New York-exclusive.

[bwaybri2]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 7:19pm

Why?

I'll tell you why.

There are many of us Theatre Fans who rarely get to NYC; once a year if we are lucky. But we do take in regional theatre all the time. Case in point:

A few months ago we took 2 school busses of HS english students to see Legally Blonde in Des Moines. Kids had a great time; had a talk back with the talented Becky Gulsvig after the show, etc.

Last week one of honor's english students comes into class and says, "OMG Becky Gulsvig going to be singing on the Tony's!" So we had a big Tony party in the high school choir room etc. Kids/parents/siblings etc. The parents got a kick out of Rock of Ages, others loved the Liza/Judy Garland story, the three Billys, etc.

Later this week the juniors have to vote on where they want to go for their senior trip next March. After last night, I guarantee we will be bringing about 52 seniors to your mecca to see Spiderman, the Adam's Family, etc.

If Becky Gulsvig hadn't been singing on the Tonys last night there is no way in hell any people in this little cow town would have been watching the Tonys.

I love live theatre, but it doesn't it just happen in NYC.

[LadyDramaturg2]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 7:59pm

Bwaybri2 has it right.

It's a great example of "How It Works" out there between the Hudson River and the city limits of LA.

But oh, man! Mamma Mia -- that one hurt.