Pittsburgh Cancels

[sbflyfan]

3 weeks before it opens, due to "low ticket sales."

This is ridiculous. Pittsburgh was the ONLY city in the area getting this tour. Was really looking forward to it.

http://trustarts.culturaldistrict.org/production/34785/catch-me-if-you-can

[Idiot]

It's already with discounters here in Los Angeles. I admit that I have no plans to see it.

[Franciouqu]

Without Norbert Leo Butz would even be worth seeing, saw a clip of the guy in the role and he looks boring

[Huss417]

Really?

[Sinfonian4life]

Really sad as I was looking forward to see it with this new cast. I understand why they did it.

[bobs3]

Nowadays any show that runs a month or two on Broadway, they take out on tour with an inferior cast and low budget set design. Can't they just let sleeping dogs lie?

Now that a LEAP OF FAITH and CHAPLIN tour are being planned, what's next SCANDALOUS and GHOST: THE MUSICAL?

[aasjb4ever]

^Ghost actually announced a tour.

[Markecib]

It's because the PSO did not market this show. It was not part of the Broadway Series. It was also at an awful time of year. This falls on the Symphony for trying to start something and it not working.

[bk]

Market all you like - it wasn't a success on Broadway so what on Earth would lead them to believe it would be a success elsewhere?

[ClydeBarrow]

Just because something isn't a hit on Broadway doesn't mean it won't play well in other markets. Just sayin'...

[RippedMan]

Well, plus most road houses are 3x larger than an average Broadway house.

And i've heard the cast isn't so great. And it's def. a cheap version.

[Plum]

There have been times when a show that died on Broadway got more love in subsequent regional productions. But not every show is the likes of Caroline, or Change.

[TheatreFan4]

Market all you like - it wasn't a success on Broadway so what on Earth would lead them to believe it would be a success elsewhere?

Yeah! I mean like Legally Blonde! Or Frank Wildhorn shows!

[CHOOKA2]

The only clips I have seen of the show are on here and there was no way I would want to even accept a free ticket if Mr Norbert was in it--I had to close my eyes when he appeared,a hunched over,over active,over everything,in your face,sock-it-to-em FBI on speed performance.

[RippedMan]

It's just not a good show, and the songs aren't good. That's about it. At least Caroline, or Change is a good show. So it makes sense the the bigger regional theaters would do it. But I don't see the Guthrie doing their own production of "Catch Me" anytime soon.

[DAME]

This and Sister Act are not selling very well in Los Angeles.

[RippedMan]

I'm sure LA is a tough town to sell a bad version of a good movie.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Well Sister Act doesn't arrive to LA until July... I got tickets for both of them, as well as Jekyll and Priscilla.

[dramamama611]

Regional theater and touring companies have very different audiences.

There aren't too many shows that are unsuccessful on Bway that draw big audiences while touring: exceptions? of course.


I almost never go to see tours (Boston) I'm in NY often enough that I'd prefer to see shows in the city -- and I find I can see shows cheaper and (in the long run) more conveniently. Between more available dates, which lead to accessibilty closer to my chosen dates, makes NY the better choice for me.

[rosscoe(au)]

Plus the Pantages in LA is huge, they really do need another smaller house.

[emo_geek]

You can't sell anything in LA- we are closing our cirque du soleil (Iris) next month and that got great reviews. I saw it- it was brilliant!

[emo_geek]

/

[muscle23ftl]

The public in LA is used to the best entertainment, and this simply was a terrible show, it didn't even have the "train wreck" appeal. sflyfan, they did you a favor by saving you a drive to PA to see this mess. Trust me!!!
I saw the OBC and although the cast was very talented(they even had Kerry Butler, who is a fabulous singer) and she still couldn't make the songs sound good.

[bk]

Thank you dramamama for pointing out what should be more than obvious - regional and touring are two entirely different things. This show never had a chance for a successful tour, sorry. They're going to learn this lesson the hard way. All shows that close now immediately announce a tour. Some happen, some don't, most shouldn't.

[dramamama611]

I'm going to guess that the theory behind mounting a tour after an unsuccessful run on b'way, is to get the name "out there" to improve the licensing of shows for regional, community and local theater.

We can take Legally Blonde as an example: closed on Bway at a loss. The tour did quite well, and since the rights became available, they are making money hand over fist. Schools and communities are clamoring to do this: lots of female parts and audiences are eating it up.

Granted, lots of unsuccessful shows DON'T find that kind of financial success later -- but they sure are aiming for it!

[newintown]

Who knew Pittsburgh had such good taste?

I think promoters will put any old flop on the road because they believe out-of-towners will pay to see anything, not knowing the difference between good and bad theatre.

I'm glad to see them proved wrong.