International Rollouts - Tootsie,Frozen and other early International Premieres

[BritCrit]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 6:22pm

Just a month after it opened on Broadway, Tootsie has already confirmed an international rollout...

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/TOOTSIE-to-Launch-National-Tour-in-2020-West-End-Australia-and-Japan-Productions-Announced-20190516

This is the second time in three months that a Broadway production has confirmed several international productions at once, but Frozen was celebrating a year on Broadway when it did this, and it is based on one of the biggest family franchises of the 2010s. It is no suprise that Tootsie is destined for the West End - it is perfect for the Savoy Theatre (which hosted Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and 9 to 5), but it IS a suprise to see it announce all these major productions so quickly. Yes it has 11 Tony Nominations, yes it has proven a big Box Office hit, but announcing these things a month after opening must be a new record...

[Clyde15]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 8:23pm

Not really, most shows do this after receiving Tony nominations as a form of publicity and try to receive the road votes at the Tonys. Granted the Japanese tour is a bit surprising

Updated On: 5/16/19 at 08:23 PM

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 9:17pm

I’m curious. Just like there’s the road block of tony voters, is there an international block?

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 9:56pm

International producers often invest in the Broadway production in exchange for rights in a certain territory (i.e. London, Australia, Asia). So these plans have probably been mostly-solid for the better part of a year, with the final details being ironed out after the strong Broadway reviews and sales.

Announcing them this week is a reminder that the show is a HIT that can play in many different territories, which is an extra incentive for road voters and others who "vote with their wallets."

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 10:10pm

Do you think “tourability” goes into account? Clearly Hadestown can’t tour without some significant changes in design, whereas Tootsie would be pretty easy.

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 10:16pm

RippedMan said: "Do you think “tourability” goes into account? Clearly Hadestown can’t tour without some significant changes in design, whereas Tootsie would be pretty easy."

In terms of voting? One could argue yes, but that didn't stop Fun Home, Once On This Island, Band's Visit, and other smaller/uniquely designed/esoteric shows from winning. But at the end of the day, I think voters are voting for the things they liked the best. (And the argument can be made that a less-commercial show like Hadestown can benefit more from a Tony than an adapted property like Tootsie.)

Hadestown is a pretty traditional proscenium setup that should have no trouble touring, from a design perspective. If anything, the set will have a little more square footage on the road, because the Kerr is so small.

Updated On: 5/16/19 at 10:16 PM

[brettarnett]

Posted: 5/16/19 at 10:54pm

I think they are referring to the deep lift in the center of the stage?