Tours with better casts than OBCs

[TobiasRagg]

Posted: 1/3/20 at 2:55pm

I dont know if this has ever been discussed on here, but has anyone ever came across a tour that you think has a better cast, or was a better show, than the original Broadway performance?

I thought of this when I watched the Frozen Tour’s performance at the Rose parade. I love our original Broadway Anna and Elsa, but Caroline Bowman and Caroline Innerbichler blew me away with how well they both embody the characters.

Updated On: 1/3/20 at 02:55 PM

[ChairinMain]

Posted: 1/3/20 at 3:34pm

SHREK wrote a new song for the tour called "Forever"  that was a vast improvement over the equivalent number in New York. 

[wish i were here2]

Posted: 1/3/20 at 3:39pm

ChairinMain said: "SHREK wrote a new song for the tour called "Forever"that was a vast improvement over the equivalent number in New York."

Agreed! Also, the dragon puppet on tour was also much better than that floating head they had on Broadway! 

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 1/3/20 at 3:53pm

I thought Martin Short in the LA production was better than Matthew Broderick in The Producers. He is funnier and a much better singer.

 

 

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 1/3/20 at 4:47pm

The recent EVITA tour with Caroline Bowman and Josh Young over Elena Roger and Ricky Martin. The new arrangements are great, I’d have loved to have the tour cast on the recording.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 1/3/20 at 6:22pm

The Chicago production of Harold Prince's Show Boat revival I felt had a superior cast in John McMartin (Captain Andy), Mark Jacoby (Ravenal), Michel Bell (Joe), Dorothy Loudon (Parthy), Gay Willis (Magnolia), Clare Leach (Ellie), Eddie Korbich (Frank), Jo Ann Hawkins White (Queenie) and  Marilynnn McCoo (Julie). I though they were better than the Broadway cast (though the first three above played their respective roles in New York).

I was also partial to the Chicago cast of Ragtime, which featured LaChanze as Sarah and Hinton Battle as Coalhouse. If not better, the cast as a whole was comparable to Broadway.

 

[BarnabyTucker]

Posted: 1/3/20 at 6:32pm

The original cast of the first leg of the SOMETHING ROTTEN! tour.  The Bottom brothers especially gelled more for me and had a more believable brotherly dynamic.

[RWPrincess]

Posted: 1/3/20 at 6:34pm

TobiasRagg said: "I dont know if this has ever been discussed on here, but has anyone ever came across a tour that you think has a better cast, or was a better show, than the original Broadway performance?

I thought of this when I watched the Frozen Tour’s performance at the Rose parade. I love our original Broadway Anna and Elsa, but Caroline Bowman and Caroline Innerbichler blew me away with how well they both embody the characters."

I'm seeing the Frozen Tour in a couple of weeks but this thought has crossed my mind as well. I have a feeling I may like it better than the Broadway version.

[LovesBway!]

Posted: 1/3/20 at 6:56pm

Recent tour of Falsettos

[markypoo]

Posted: 1/3/20 at 7:41pm

Fosse76 said: "The Chicago production of Harold Prince's Show Boat revival I felt had a superior cast in John McMartin (Captain Andy), Mark Jacoby (Ravenal),Michel Bell (Joe),Dorothy Loudon (Parthy), Gay Willis (Magnolia), Clare Leach (Ellie), Eddie Korbich (Frank), Jo Ann Hawkins White (Queenie) and Marilynnn McCoo (Julie). I though they were better than the Broadway cast (though the first three aboveplayed their respective roles in New York).

I was also partial to the Chicago cast of Ragtime, which featured LaChanze as Sarah and Hinton Battle as Coalhouse.If not better, the cast as a whole was comparable to Broadway.

Fosse76:

I'm happy you enjoyed the Chicago company of Ragtime.  Maybe you caught it early in the run.

Myself, I saw it at a Saturday matinee at the time Livent started to unravel; several understudies in that day - not necessarily to the benefit of the performance.  No firm hand on the reigns at that point.

However, I do have a full audio of the Chicago oc featuring Barbara Walsh as Mother.

Proof positive of what it was probably like when it first opened in my fair city.

​​​​​

"

 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 1/3/20 at 7:50pm

Fosse76 said: "The Chicago production of Harold Prince's Show Boat revival I felt had a superior cast in John McMartin (Captain Andy), Mark Jacoby (Ravenal),Michel Bell (Joe),Dorothy Loudon (Parthy), Gay Willis (Magnolia), Clare Leach (Ellie), Eddie Korbich (Frank), Jo Ann Hawkins White (Queenie) and Marilynnn McCoo (Julie). I though they were better than the Broadway cast (though the first three aboveplayed their respective roles in New York).

I was also partial to the Chicago cast of Ragtime, which featured LaChanze as Sarah and Hinton Battle as Coalhouse.If not better, the cast as a whole was comparable to Broadway.

"

I think there have been many Chicago sit down casts that have proved equal or better than their broadway counterparts. Add Wicked, Hamilton, and Book of Mormon to the list.

[Dionysus3]

Posted: 1/3/20 at 7:57pm

Euan Morton made a more dynamic and nuanced Hedwig than NPH.

[markypoo]

Posted: 1/3/20 at 8:00pm

Call_me_jorge said: "Fosse76 said: "The Chicago production of Harold Prince's Show Boat revival I felt had a superior cast in John McMartin (Captain Andy), Mark Jacoby (Ravenal),Michel Bell (Joe),Dorothy Loudon (Parthy), Gay Willis (Magnolia), Clare Leach (Ellie), Eddie Korbich (Frank), Jo Ann Hawkins White (Queenie) and Marilynnn McCoo (Julie). I though they were better than the Broadway cast (though the first three aboveplayed their respective roles in New York).

I was also partial to the Chicago cast of Ragtime, which featured LaChanze as Sarah and Hinton Battle as Coalhouse.If not better, the cast as a whole was comparable to Broadway.

"

I think there have been many Chicago sit down casts that have proved equal or better than their broadway counterparts. Add Wicked, Hamilton, and Book of Mormon to the list."

Add to that The Lion King in it's initial sit down in Chicago.

Fantastic.

[Hamilfan2]

Posted: 1/4/20 at 12:07am

Call_me_jorge said: "I think there have been many Chicago sit down casts that have proved equal or better than their broadway counterparts. Add Wicked, Hamilton, and Book of Mormon to the list."

Truth be told, I found the Hamilton Chicago to be massively underwhelming compared to the OBC.  Although in fairness I don’t think any cast has come close to capturing the magic of the OBC, including the Broadway replacements)  the closest imo being the recent Angelica tour cast.  

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 1/4/20 at 9:08am

The multiple casts I have seen of the CHICAGO national tour have always been 100 times better than any of the casts I have seen in the Broadway production.

[markypoo]

Posted: 1/4/20 at 9:23am

And going back fifty years, the sit down Chicago production of Hair in 1970 was an event.

[Wildcard]

Posted: 1/4/20 at 11:40am

I have to agree about the tour cast of Frozen. Caroline Bowman has that cold look down but is warm when she needs to be. Caissie, while amazing in the role, had more of a chill to her Elsa. 

[mailhandler777]

Posted: 1/4/20 at 11:54am

I liked the Waitress 1st national tour casts better than the OBC Broadway cast.

[Rosette3]

Posted: 1/4/20 at 1:25pm

Dionysus3 said: "Euan Morton made a more dynamic and nuanced Hedwig than NPH."

I got to see Euan Morton's Hedwig on tour and loved him. I keep going back to his rendition of Wicked Little Town. Hannah Corneau who played Yitzhak is also now Elphaba on Broadway. 

Is he still playing King George in Hamilton?

[helvizz]

Posted: 1/4/20 at 4:53pm

Spring Awakening, back in 2008. I have never been a big fan of Lea Michele's or Jonathan Groff's (but that has been changing over the past years). The tour featured Kyle Riabko (who had been Groff's replacement on Broadway) and Christy Altomare. I will say this, no Moritz has topped John Gallagher Jr's, though (in my opinion).

[helvizz]

Posted: 1/4/20 at 5:04pm

I also liked the new cast of the Newsies tour (Joey Barreiro) better than when I watched it on Broadway with Corey Cott. The whole cast seemed to have more energy as a whole. Neither of them were original casts, though.

There have also been a few times when the tour of Wicked has been better than the Broadway production, but then again, neither were original casts. And that isn't saying much: many times cast members of the Broadway production hit the road after performing in the Great Wite Way, and many other times actors performed in the Broadway production after performing on the tour.

Updated On: 1/4/20 at 05:04 PM

[Dionysus3]

Posted: 1/4/20 at 5:46pm

Rosette3 said: "Dionysus3 said: "Euan Morton made a more dynamic and nuanced Hedwig than NPH."

I got to seeEuan Morton's Hedwig on tour and loved him. I keep going back to his rendition of Wicked LittleTown. Hannah Corneau who played Yitzhak isalso now Elphaba on Broadway.

Is he still playing King George in Hamilton?"

I absolutely should have mentioned Hannah Corneau, who was exceptional as Yitzhak, although I am also a huge fan of Hall’s rendition. Corneau is a star. As far as I know, Morton is still with Hamilton. So glad both of them are enjoying success. 

[alex814]

Posted: 1/4/20 at 6:51pm

markypoo said: "And going back fifty years, the sit down Chicago production of Hair in 1970 was an event."

Would love to know more about this production, if you can recall any details. Especially in contrast to the Broadway production

[Almira]

Posted: 1/4/20 at 7:11pm

I agree that Martin Short made a superior Leo Bloom than Broderick.

Last year I saw the tour of Waitress in Costa Mesa. Superb cast as good if not better than original Broadway leads.

The Full Monty tour really impressed me as being as good as the originals.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/4/20 at 8:35pm

The Memphis tour with Bryan Finkart, Felicia Boswell, Quentin Earl Darrington & Julie Johnson was leagues better than the OBC cast of Memphis w/Chad Kimball & Montego Glover.

Updated On: 1/4/20 at 08:35 PM