Archive for Musicals.Net Musicals.Net |
| Pounce |
Is the North American Tour continuing?I saw Spamalot in Atlanta and included in the free program they gave out was a list of upcoming shows. And listed among them in January 2008 was...CATS. Now some of the shows they list now and in the past are a joint effort among producers in different cities. Sort of sharing the cost of the production. They hire talent from New York for the major roles and use local talent to fill out the remainder of the cast. But I'm pretty sure they would show the touring production of CATS if it were available. So what is the situation with the CATS tour and could this next show in Atlanta be essentially a regional CATS Lite? |
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| MsJellicle |
Troika, apparently has renewed it's contract. On Troika's website, they have marketing materials for 2007-2008. Also, in an article I found online, it mentions that "a touring company had just secured the rights through 2025".
~MsJ |
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| Pounce |
Wow, sort of good news/bad news. I'm glad that the show will be a Troika production rather than a regional production thrown together with what- and who-ever is available. But I'm not so thrilled to think Troika has it till 2025. I was sort of hoping that in the near future it would tour as a full production rather than this increasingly slimmed down version. The last time CATS was in Atlanta, I counted only 3 trailers. That's pretty compact for a major show. For major shows, I can count 12 or more.
And possibly, between now and 2025, CATS could go into revival and what would that mean for a possbile tour? If a revival means a new interpretation, I might not be able to get to New York or London to see it. And even if it is not a new interpretation, will the tour still be the 'slimmed down' CATS? |
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| Gwen |
Laahdee daaah!!...This made my day....though Pounce does have a point. Still, it'd be interesting to see....*saves meager $20.00 to help pay for ticket...*
BY full production, do you mean everything including both versus of Mungo and Rumple, and Peakes and Pollicles as well as Growltiger? When you think about it, Cats is almost pretty much a 3 hour show!-Though I wouldn't mind. 
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| Pounce |
I've never seen a full production so I'm not sure of everything. * Has the US production ever used a staircase like in the video or has it always been a platform? * Obviously, I'd like to see P&P put back in. * For Growltiger, they use as simple backdrop and ship's wheel but on Broadway they had a ship set. * Prefer Misto having pyrotechnics rather than streamers * Prefer Misto descending by rope rather than from the back * Video has Bustopher sing an additional verse (makes the whole song better). * Tour reduces the cast size * Tour reduces the orchestra size * Tour has an inflatable set * No trapeze swing * They are cutting back on audience interaction * Is the Tour Equity or not? If not, they might not be getting the best available for the cast. I'll never forgive Troika for using a very heavyset Misto (totally out of character). Did I forget anything? |
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| darkmage |
The ship set was built into the floor of the Winter Garden. The touring set has *always* used a backdrop during Growltiger. The Winter Garden also had the platform instead of the staircase as well, and the touring companies have always used the 'cherry picker' also.
To the best of my knowledge, the only two parts that were never in the touring cast were Tantomile and Coricopat as they're basically chorus members. Most of their lines are taken over by M&R, and I *think* a couple others by Victoria and Mistoffelees. The orchestra has also always been a bit smaller for travel reasons. Then again, synthesisers and DAT are your friends, so most people never notice. I think the streamers were also done in addition to the pyrotechnics in the Equity tour, but don't quote me on that as I could be wrong. The trapeze, to the best of my knowledge, has also never been in the US tour version--at least for the last 20 years or so. Bustopher Jones has NEVER had that extra verse in the US version. It's not in the original Hamburg, either. I like it, but it was added back in (or never taken out of the UK version) for the film. The set is inflatable for the most part. They should go back to using the 'hard' (full) set. It looks better, is slightly larger, and there are plenty of auditoriums they can find that are big enough to accommodate it. I don't like the inflatable set. To me it looks cheap. 
This tour is non-Equity which I think is a lot of the problem. Some of these kids in it are acting out a childhood dream, others are simply padding their resume. You can generally tell which group is which by their performances during the show. |
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| Carbucketty |
I loved the staging and choreography of the old CATS IV Equity tour. They did things a bit differently than the Broadway and it was nice to see a bit of difference. I think they brought in two Broadway vets to update the choreography and found myself missing the IV way of doing things. (And these are all nit-picky fan things. Nothing major.) The IV Tour did not have streamers. Misto used flash pots and he came down from a rope in the centre of the stage. (I seem to recall Julius Sermonia getting stuck or delayed on the rope coming on one three shows that I saw for the final few shows in Lansing... Or was that Broadway? He was a brilliant Misto. I wonder what he's been up to. ) Don't get me wrong, there are very very good dancers, singers, etc... in the non-Equity tour and I enjoy the show when I see it. But I think the way Troika runs the tour causes a constant cycling of people through roles is one of the causes of the talent problem. I don't think they've kept many people on past the one year contracts. The limited contract thing worked in London though. Anyway... The non-Equity tour did do a /few/ things better. They totally re-vamped and modernized the lighting which helps to liven up the show a bit. And it keeps the show going. As much as I would prefer an Equity tour, I would like it much less if we only had amateur productions. (I just hope we eventually get a London or NY revival.. I'll be planning a vacation, in that case. Though, I'm thinking of NY next spring for the Ragtime 10th anniv revival.) |
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| darkmage |
I've seen Tour V bring Mistoffelees in on the rope from the ceiling as well. I think it works better than having him sneak in from the back, it's more dramatic. Usually it's a sure sign they're using the hard set...
Generally when it comes through here they play at Gammage on the ASU campus. They have to use the hard set there as the inflatable one would be too small and get lost on the stage. In Sun City they used the inflatable one (yecch) but I don't know which one they're going to use at the Mesa Arts Center in May. |
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| Carbucketty |
Ok. I'm used to seeing the Troika tour in casino theatres. It would play at the Grand Theatre in Biloxi (Though, that casino complex was washed over the beach, across highway 90, and partially onto the waterpark across by Katrina, IIRC.) I know I saw it in the Saenger in October 2004, but I don't remember much about how it was staged. I don't recall them using NAP 11A, though. -- |
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| Pounce |
Didn't Troika briefly try to do shows from Wed through Sunday and try to schedule on the weekends 3 shows a day?  Efficiency and keeping the show profitable are necessary but really...the actors are people not robots.
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| *asterix* |
After one of those stints, only 2 actors managed to perform all 3 shows in the day, both swings. One walked away with a terrible limp, already sore and then having been dropped at the end of the Skimbleshanks number by a distracted, tired swing Alonzo. They haven't scheduled anything that packed in, performance-wise, in a couple years I think, but the schedule sometimes looks almost as gruelling, all the same. One city one night, another city the next night, and yet a third the night after that, not always in the same state/province. Travel is exhausting and physically taxing too... There seem to be a few more multi-evening stops this year, which is a relief. CATS has a reputation for putting its performers through their paces but it would be preferable not to see it continually tested just how far bodies (and mind-sets) can be pushed. |
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| Swan |
Ragtime revival? In Broadway?
Someone get me a plane. SOMEONE GET ME A PLANE!!!!! 
Swan |
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| Spikesters Munk |
If you can't afford a plane, I think a ticket will suffice 
The preceding was a patented SM smart-aleck moment...we now return you to your regularly scheduled life |
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| Swan |
Ooooh... someone here is going to have his Cats costumes tails all knotted together... just wait for Saturday!!!! 
Swan |
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| ultra_lilac |
I was pretty impressed with the Troika show I saw last month, but it would be nice for Cats to be 'uncut' and to have a devoted theatre and larger budget again.
Is there any reason other than a possible revival for the tour not stopping in New York? When I was still living in England the tour there never went near London either, and there seem to be no plans to do so. I don't know if it's an issue of contracts or legal stuff, but it does make me hopeful there will be something special planned for the 30th anniversary in those two cities! |
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| VictoriaTWC |
Anyone need some Ripped Fuel? LOL!
The ship set was used in Tour 1, Boston, Chicago, when they used to to the Equity 6 month runs or longer. I saw those way back when in the early 80's. Would love for the show to go to Vegas like Phantom did. Even though it would be a cheapend version, the auditorium would probably be bigger and have a larger set, hence use of the "hard set." I can totally see CATS being staged there, as SE, and Phantom have both had runs there. Plus, it would be 4 hours drive away for me every weekend. VTWC |
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| darkmage |
I wouldn't mind it being in Vegas either as it's an 1.15 hour flight from Phoenix. I wouldn't want to see it shortened or cheapened further though, as Troika's done enough of that already.
As for the hard set, I really wish they'd come through Gammage more often. They *can't* use the inflatable set there, as even with the hard set they have to block out roughly a third of the Gammage stage. Phantom in particular loves coming here because the stage is so large and it can accommodate all kinds of touring/Broadway shows. |
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| Drumdraper |
I bet by 2025, Troika will have the sets as painted backdrops and they will still be using the same costumes as they are now. | ||||
| darkmage |
^Don't give them any ideas... | ||||
| Gwen |
*gags* I don't think they'll get that dense. Let's hope they don't start getting ideas about putting celebreties (ie:Brittany Spears) into the roles like Old D, Gus, and Griz. ....I just got a mental image of Brittney Spears as Old D.  Ew.
(hurls into a bucket at the thought.) |
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| Drumdraper |
That'll be the first time Macavity won't even try to kidnap Old D. | ||||
| Pounce |
But Britney Spears definitely has the figure and beauty for Victoria.  Not sure what queens she could be cast as given her vocal range and voice but she probably could handle the dances.
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| Pounce |
Well...if Old Deut is Britney Spears...and I'm Macavity...I'd kidnap her!
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| Jinx |
Sadly the Ragtime 10th Anniversary production at NY City Opera has been postponed until an uncertain time. (See story http://www.playbill.com/news/article/106436.html) Frank Galati and Graciela Daniele are unavailable, so Hal Prince's staging of Candide will instead fill Ragtime's position in the season. |
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| Swan |
Swan |
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| Drumdraper |
What is this Revival play? | ||||
| Swan |
"Ragtime" is a musical I adore, but so far I have only been able to see a school production of it (it was a wonderful school production though). A Broadway revival would be the great chance to see a big production of it. It is about the life of people in the Ragtime era, especially the hopes and tragedies of the poor immigrants who went to the USA, and the black people fighting for their rights (sometimes fighting the wrong way). I especially like the character called "Mother". http://www.broadwaymusicalhome.com/shows/ragtime.htm http://www.amazon.com/Ragtime-Musical-1998-Original-Broadway/dp/B0000064XS/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-6147444-7360922?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1175157769&sr=1-1 Swan |