IF/THEN Will Launch National Tour!

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Always Starting Over...

[Pootie2]

And adding the other thread
https://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.php?thread=1079199&dt=28&mobile=on

[Claudia Draper]

IDINIA? JACKIE? Someone new ?

[haterobics]

Idina has her own tour to attend to, so I'd cross her off the list...

[steven22]

Maybe Idina will do one stop?

Hopefully Jackie and/or Jenn will get the chance to play the role on the tour!

[haterobics]

If she does one stop, that would be Los Angeles, since her ex and kid would be there, since she is planning to relocate there, no? not to mention, getting on Hollywood's radar more...

[Pootie2]

I wouldn't put that much stock in the Telegraph interview that got at least two major facts wrong ("Idina Menzel confirms Frozen 2!" "IF/THEN closes in February!").

[haterobics]

Is that where that info came from? Once I see something referenced on BWW, I assume it has been thoroughly vetted.

[Claudia Draper]

This start after her world tour.. Why not earn bank..what else can she do? I don't see her on a TV show.. her films have been forgettable. Another mega hit - doubtful. Since she doesn't DO revivals, a return to BWAY is way off. I don't know why I care..but there it is.

[Pootie2]

"Is that where that info came from? Once I see something referenced on BWW, I assume it has been thoroughly vetted."

You really shouldn't, haha! I remember reading that article, then the sh*t hit the fan concerning various bits from it, Menzel had to make corrections all through the rest of her December interviews, and at least one bit was quietly corrected in the online article. So according to that iffy article, supposedly Menzel was "thinking about" staying in Cali for "a couple months" for whatever reason that wasn't entirely explained besides ex was working there. I'd rather she stay close to Broadway, but whatever. In a different article, Menzel did say there were "a couple projects" in the works, but obviously during that secretive stage. Personally, I'd love to see her in a straight play.

[TFMH18]

Yeah exactly. She said she might spend the couple months between If/Then and her world tour in LA because Taye Diggs is shooting a show there or something, but pretty sure they both have significant others in nyc now so who knows where that plan stands.

I think, if she's going to do any of the touring stops, it'll just be the LA run which makes sense. Kick the role off on her own, get it great buzz then pass it off. I just don't see her touring the country with this show after having performed it for a year and a half already.

Last thing... I too would LOVE to see her in a straight play. I think it'd do wonders for her acting cred and would probably be much less physically strenuous.

[Auggie27]

I'm a fan of the show, particularly the score, but I don't see it selling tickets without Menzel. "Or the equivalent..." And who would that be? No, not Jackie Burns. I think it's presumptuous to assume this show will have legs without a star turn -- THE star turn that launched it. But I could be wrong. When Menzel had scheduled absences, not call outs, the show didn't really break even, or just. She is the event here, not my opinion pretty much a fact. If they producers believe in the show, that's great. But unless a major, say, recording star can be summoned, I don't understand how this will fill 1300 seat theaters anywhere, with seats over $100 a pop. People got out to be entertained and see events. This nice show with an ambitious premise and good songs doesn't spell event without Herself.

[Pootie2]

I'd check out the other thread. Someone towards the end mentioned that the tour subscription model would probably work fine for the show. I hope that's true.

And about a straight play: even an original play would be cheaper and faster to bring to stage, IIRC. So I'm hoping that might one day happen too.

What do tour schedules look like, anyway? Do they play on a typical Broadway schedule with two shows on Wed/Sat, or is it different?

[broadwayfan1995]

Tour schedules are **usually** Tuesday-Thursday at 7:30, Friday at 8, Saturday at 2 and 8 and then Sunday at 1:00 and 6:30.

Not every tour follows this schedule exactly, but it's pretty standard.

[Pootie2]

^Thanks. So it's usually a 5-show weekend. That sounds challenging for this, but maybe it'll work out...

[broadwayfan1995]

^It does sound like a challenge, but they've done a few 5 show weekends on Broadway before already!

[Call_me_jorge]

They could get a relatively famous elphaba like shoshana or eden.

[Pootie2]

Well, there's an idea. Both Shoshana Bean and Eden Espinosa have done Wicked on tour already, right? Maybe the tour audiences would connect with that recognition. And they're roughly the right age for the role.

Though really, we can't discount Jackie Burns since she's also already done the role and can carry it. But would she be game for that? Good career move? I don't know.

[rjm516]

Most people I know who see the shows on tours just go because shows are in their city. The tour crowd - middle-age, middle-class - could not care less about who's in it; they will still see what's coming.

[Pootie2]

That's good. In terms of casting, I think it really comes down to who can handle the meaty role, score, and is the right age, really.

Given what people are saying about the difference in tour audiences compared to Broadway, I'm guessing there were unsuccessful Broadway shows that did a lot better on tour, maybe recouping that way.

[RippedMan]

I don't think any of the Broadway cast will tour. They're all NYC mainstays, so why go on the road? Burns is great, but I'm sure she's got other things on the burner.

[Auggie27]

This discussion is within the rarefied air of a theater board. This show heading out without any must-see profile other than a Menzel vehicle has a tough time. It isn't with film name recognition ("Ghost" for example). It's a tough title, and it lasted a year on Broadway only because of one thing: the actress in the leading role. (Do check out the box office during her absences; it's not my opinion.) I stand by my supposition: audiences don't fork over $100 to see a (outside NYC) low-profile show without a star. I will be surprised if they don't find a star.

Comparing this launch with "Wicked" is rather off-point. "Wicked" has always been the star, the event, not the actresses attached (except on these boards). "If/Then" is not "Wicked" by any stretch, or "Rent" or "Footloose." It needs to be cast with someone that will sell tickets. Just filling the vocal demands isn't commercially viable.

[Pootie2]

Auggie27, do you regularly visit Broadway tour venues in other cities for comparison? *Or know people who regularly patronize tours who can share experience about the audiences.

Edit to add:
If you're in NYC already, then you're missing a huge piece of the puzzle. It's not just $100 for a ticket; the cost includes travel, food, hotel.

The cost to see a touring production thus, if it reaches a major city nearby, is still far, far cheaper.

[someone.else's.story2]

Oh my god, I hope they get Eden!!!!!

[haterobics]

Actually, most places that house Broadway tours have subscriptions. So, no one will technically decide to see If/Then, if they subscribe to the season, they will already have tickets to If/Then... only when a season has enough potential clunkers whereby people will alter their subscription level is there an issue.

Occasionally, you might get a show where a Alice Ripley tours N2N, but normally, you are seeing the show on tour, not a name.

I mean, people are seeing Nice Work If You Can Get It on tour now... without Kelli or Matthew. And to my taste, that was way less interesting than If/Then...