American Theater vs. London
American Theater vs. London
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#1American Theater vs. London
Posted: 1/9/16 at 9:47pm
I saw King Charles III last night, and I was reading all the bios and numerous actors listed playing BAM on tour with a play or having previously played Broadway with another play that transferred from London. Why don't American plays ever do this? I mean, we have Hand to God going to London, but not a single American cast member transferred. But we have the entire company of King Charles III coming over. And at BAM we got Ghosts, etc, and at St. Ann's we've got all female Shakespeare and Streetcar Coming. Our American productions don't seem to ever tour around to other countries. Why is that?
Broadway Joe
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/15/10
#2American Theater vs. London
Posted: 1/9/16 at 10:00pm
Probably has a lot to do with actors wanting to come to Broadway and American actors not wanting to go out of the country.
#3American Theater vs. London
Posted: 1/10/16 at 6:10am
The National Theatre in London brought over August: Osage County and Fela. The entire cast of Hair transferred.
Updated On: 1/10/16 at 06:10 AM
candydog2
Featured Actor Joined: 8/11/07
#4American Theater vs. London
Posted: 1/10/16 at 7:52am
American casts come to London pretty frequently actually. The whole cast of The Elephant Man came over for example, and the two leading men of Book of Mormon in London have always been played by actors from various US casts. I actually find it highly surprising that Steven Boyer and Geneva Carr are not being brought to London to do Hand To God.
Equity been the UK and the US usually works on an "exchange" basis, meaning that they try to keep the numbers of actors working from each country as equal as possible.
#5American Theater vs. London
Posted: 1/10/16 at 8:03am
"Chicago" does go international from time to time: most recently in Abu Dhabi, South Korea, Japan. The show also has local productions as well (Germany, for example). In the UK, the show is beginning its own production and touring all over their country. That's one of the good things about the show: it has a well known international appeal.
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
NotTheComfyChair
Stand-by Joined: 3/19/13
#6American Theater vs. London
Posted: 1/10/16 at 9:48am
Broadway Joe said: "Probably has a lot to do with actors wanting to come to Broadway and American actors not wanting to go out of the country.
A lot of the American actors I work with would love to go to London with a show. If not a majority, then a sizable minority.
As with Hand to God going the other way, Curious Incident didn't bring over any British actors for the Broadway production.
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#7American Theater vs. London
Posted: 1/10/16 at 9:29pm
That's a good point re: Curious. But I wouldn't consider Chicago in the same vein of stuff I'm talking about as it's a phenomenon now, like The Lion King.
I just mean like smaller productions that get good reviews. Like Cate Blanchett touring with Streetcar or the Maids, etc. We don't send plays abroad or 'on tour' with the original casts like ever.
#8American Theater vs. London
Posted: 1/10/16 at 9:46pm
We don't send plays abroad or 'on tour' with the original casts like ever.
Except for all the numerous examples listed earlier in the thread?
Beyoncé is not an ally. Actions speak louder than words, Mrs. Carter. #Dubai #$$$
jawjuhh
Stand-by Joined: 5/29/11
#9American Theater vs. London
Posted: 1/10/16 at 11:42pm
If I remember correctly, everybody from The Scottsboro Boys was in the Broadway production, with the exception of Brandon Victor Dixon, but he was in the off broadway
