"Jesus Christ Superstar" Tour: 22-Piece String Section Added For Cleveland

[sbflyfan]

Posted: 2/9/20 at 1:36pm

PlayhouseSquare, the local presenter of the "Jesus Christ Superstar" tour in Cleveland, is paying to 'enhance' the production with a 22-piece string section placed in the side boxes of the house for the Cleveland tour stop. 

Really Useful Group wrote new orchestrations, and the production's lighting, costume and sound team are coming in to help.

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2020/02/a-jesus-christ-superstar-like-no-other-for-cleveland-is-the-passion-of-playhouse-square-ceo-gina-vernaci.html

I've heard of presenters having 'options' on touring productions (I think Mary Poppins flying at the end of the show was an optional effect used in some cities near the end of its tour), but has an 'enhancement' paid for by the local presenter, and approved by the production's team, been done before?

Updated On: 2/9/20 at 01:36 PM

[tourboi]

Posted: 2/9/20 at 4:21pm

Yes... occasionally presenters will opt to hire more musicians than called for in the booking agreement. It's done in LA often, and occasionally in Dallas, and less so in other markets. 

This does seem a very random addition for Cleveland though and one has to wonder the reasoning - do they mean increasing the orchestra size to 22 or adding 22 strings specifically? Either way, that's a HUGE increase and out of no where. 

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 2/9/20 at 4:52pm

Per the article, 22 strings specifically.

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 2/9/20 at 6:35pm

“Now that you can see them, you’ve got to light them,” says Gabriel. And costume them. “It isn’t just about putting some strings in there — you have to actually make it part of the organic feel of the show.”
 

I’m almost half-tempted to buy a ticket just to see how they pull this off. Having already seen the show when it was in Pittsburgh last month, I wonder how they’re going to do this (lighting the boxes and adding more costumed people) without distracting from the action down on the stage. I’ve only been to the Connor Palace a few times, and there’s a single seat front row Mezzanine for $99 during a time frame I don’t already have something booked. I’ll have to seriously think on this one. 

Updated On: 2/9/20 at 06:35 PM

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 2/9/20 at 8:12pm

Sounds epic and amazing

[Broadway Bob*]

Posted: 2/9/20 at 8:15pm

I had no desire to see this tour. I love the show, but am a little "Superstar"red out these days. But this article actually piqued my curiosity. Hmm...

[sbflyfan]

Posted: 2/10/20 at 8:58am

tourboi said: "Yes... occasionally presenters will opt to hire more musicians than called for in the booking agreement. It's done in LA often, and occasionally in Dallas, and less so in other markets.” 

I’m aware of tours having options the presenters can pay to add on, but in this case it seems to be unique since PlayhouseSquare is undertaking this and costuming/lighting the additional musicians in the balcony boxes, with the involvement of the creative team and RUG, just for the Cleveland run. 

Updated On: 2/10/20 at 08:58 AM

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 2/10/20 at 9:55am

Broadway Bob* said: "I had no desire to see this tour. I love the show, but am a little "Superstar"red out these days. But this article actually piqued my curiosity. Hmm..."

You're not missing much, by most accounts; talented Judas, so-so Jesus, very concert-level staging that is a little confusing sometimes with the storytelling. Some good moments, lot of sameness.

(On an unrelated note, this is a terrific example of why a unique gimmicky sales pitch can backfire on you. Don't play someone an original album that can't be matched as a benchmark, compound your problem by inviting them to a production with way more resources, and expect them to still be impressed with your reduced touring package. At least she's paying for the strings. Imagine if she expected them to foot the bill.)

Updated On: 2/10/20 at 09:55 AM

[Tag]

Posted: 2/10/20 at 7:13pm

In the 90s I saw a leg of the Les Mis tour that had the local 40 piece orchestra playing.  I think the strings were almost half of that.  Can you even imagine!