ONCE Announces National Tour to Kick Off Summer 2013

[bdn223]

Not to sound like an ass, but clearly the producers are trying to get Road Tony Voters before Disney, and I would bet most road voters are thinking... "I don't know if my audience conservative audience will like this show..especially in my 2000+ seat theater."
I expect Once's tour to play well in Major metropolitan areas like LA, SF, Chicago, Boston, but it will certainly get lost in the Midwest.

[FindingNamo]

You've certainly got it all figured out.

[Wynbish]

The Once producers should try to sell the road voters Nice Work?

"Hey guys! Check out this other show!"

Best marketing plan ever.

[bdn223]

omit

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Chicago is in the Midwest, you know.

[bdn223]

yes Chicago is in the Midwest, but it is also the 3rd or 2nd largest Metropolitan area in the US, there is always an exception to the rule,

[ChildrenwillListen]

I'm glad they're doing a tour of it.

[bjh2114]

You really shouldn't talk about things you have no knowledge about. It sounds really unintelligent.

[ACL2006]

figured this would tour at some point. I would guess it'll play the smaller sized theaters in cities like LA, Toronto, Dallas, etc. all the best.

[CurtainPullDowner]

How many "tour voters" are there?
Anyone really know?

ONCE seems to be doing everything right, they are up against the MOUSE.

[scott1120]

great move by the ONCE producers. tony voters already know NEWSIES will sell wherever it goes. ONCE is more of a toss-up, so a Best Musical win will help it sell too. it smells like an AVENUE Q/WICKED kinda year. NEWSIES will win lead actor (ala idina's win) and ONCE will win Best Musical.

[aasjb4ever]

Are you kidding me? Danny Burstein has it in the bag.

Jan Maxwell’s bag.

Uh oh.

[scott1120]

voters can barely remember FOLLIES let alone Danny's performance. the best hope FOLLIES has at any recognition is if it wins Best Score for making the score FEEL new, which i've been campaigning for on its behalf.

[bdn223]

Follies isnt nominated for best score or even orchestrations because it was inelligible since it is a revival using its original orchestrations

[HeyMrMusic]

I think Steve Kazee has a better shot than most people think. They obviously loved the cast of Once with three of them getting nominated. Steve has the best chance at a win and it will be a nice way to honor the cast by giving him the Tony.

[qolbinau]

FOLLIES is playing right now and according to Riedel 1/3 of Tony voters live in LA, I assume they would be inviting them to refresh their memory..

[HeyMrMusic]

Voters who saw Follies would remember this production. It was pretty unforgettable.

[broadwaydevil]

Sounds like some people are serious about the Tony...

[scott1120]

True, I didn't see FOLLIES. I wasn't born when it first come out, and this current revival was just too expensive - the most expensive show in Broadway history, some had said. But though I didn't see it, I can tell you I wasn't impressed by it. Though the music did FEEL new, which is why I think it should be eligible for Best Score. I also thought the performance of Jan Maxwell, which I did not see, left much to be desired. Only Elaine Paige and Bernadette Peters truly captured the score. I'm surprised Queen Lupone didn't weasel her way into this revival so she could steal the spotlight a bit.

Anyway, I'm predicting an unprecedented write-in vote for the FOLLIES score. It has never happened before, but there's a first time for everything.

[HeyMrMusic]

Well, since the category you mention is Best ORIGINAL Score, there is a negative shot of Follies winning in a write-in. Follies should never even be considered for the category. This is the third time it's been on Broadway and there was no original material.

There is also no way to judge a stage performance without having seen it. At all. It's just not fair to give such strong opinions by only listening to a cast recording.

[bdn223]

IT IS A REVIVAL!!!!! IT CANNOT WIN SCORE!!!!!
IT ALREADY WON the TONY AWARD FOR BEST SCORE IN 1971!!!!!!!

[Jonwo]

It is a bit ambitious for Once to announce a tour already considering it hasn't even won anything yet but I think do okay touring but in smaller venues, I wouldnt be surprised if they have a West End transfer by late 2013/early 2014.

Newsies will a very easy sell on tour given its cult status from the film and its newfound popularity from the show and the show could tour with very few if any changes. Beyond North America is a bit of a question mark as Newsies isn't as well known compared to Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Mary Poppins etc

[JohnyBroadway]

When do you think will get an announcement for Newsies?

[scott1120]

I didn't listen to the cast recording either, hello... My thoughts are purely based on production photos and Youtube clips. What most of you seem to not "get" is that Stephen Sondheim is considered the greatest composer, ever. Denying him another well-deserved Tony because of the technicality of it not being an original score is reductive. I have been seeing and not seeing shows, and listening and not listening to cast recordings, for over 15 years.

This is distracting from this post though. ONCE is the most unforgettable theatrical performance that I have ever seen this season. And I'm speechless about it, much like Queen Lupone was speechless when Tony voters failed to award her the Tony for her performance in SWEENEY TODD. BTW, John Doyle's production of SWEENEY is the most unforgettable theatrical performance I have ever seen this decade.

[Jonwo]

I imagine they'll announce the Newsies National tour around the time of the Tonys or sometime after, the show is still only booking on Broadway until August but it will extend beyond that.

[HeyMrMusic]

I just think you're missing the point of that category. Sondheim has won the most Tonys for Best Score, and deservedly so. But by your logic, George and Ira Gershwin should be eligible for their score of Porgy and Bess. I think your praises are the exact reason the Tony Awards should reinstate the Tony for Best Musical Direction. It's not Sondheim who made the score sound fresh; it was the musical director. And it's true. Even Ben Brantley made mention of his expert work in his review of this production.