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Post by epo9 on Sept 7, 2008 18:43:56 GMT -5
I may be finishing school when they cast the ensemble for Broadway (unless they keep everyone from Toronto which is unlikely) who knows maybe Rebecca will be my first show ... probably not but a girl can dream.
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Post by rastlosejahre on Sept 7, 2008 19:10:52 GMT -5
Since Toronto is going to be the pre-Broadway tryout, the cast will be the cast that is going to Broadway....it should mostly be an American cast, though it could feature some Canadians because they are opening there. So, audition for the Toronto run, and if you get it, you should be going to Broadway!
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Post by Fantasma da Opera on Sept 7, 2008 19:40:10 GMT -5
Since Toronto is going to be the pre-Broadway tryout, the cast will be the cast that is going to Broadway....it should mostly be an American cast, though it could feature some Canadians because they are opening there. So, audition for the Toronto run, and if you get it, you should be going to Broadway! Yes that will probably happen. Which makes me wander if Colm Wilkinson will aply to the role of Maxim...
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Post by Brae on Sept 7, 2008 19:43:28 GMT -5
Since Toronto is going to be the pre-Broadway tryout, the cast will be the cast that is going to Broadway....it should mostly be an American cast, though it could feature some Canadians because they are opening there. So, audition for the Toronto run, and if you get it, you should be going to Broadway! Yes that will probably happen. Which makes me wander if Colm Wilkinson will aply to the role of Maxim... Colm Wilkinson as Maxim would be interesting... but he's not canadian LOL He's Irish.
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Post by scarlet on Sept 7, 2008 19:47:18 GMT -5
Not to be a downer, but a being cast in the Toronto production does not necessarily translate to being in the Broadway production. Union rules, immigration status and other things can cause major issues, especially for new people just starting out.
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Post by Brae on Sept 7, 2008 19:56:13 GMT -5
If I am not mistaken laws here require a show to employ a certain number of Canadians.
Transfers to Broadway from Toronto have happened with the cast mostly intact (Jane Eyre & Mamma Mia for example). But it does come down to Unions and immigration.
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Post by scarlet on Sept 7, 2008 19:58:12 GMT -5
If I am not mistaken laws here require a show to employ a certain number of Canadians. Transfers to Broadway from Toronto have happened with the cast mostly intact (Jane Eyre & Mamma Mia for example). But it does come down to Unions and immigration. Ah, but how many of the principals were actually American? For example, most of Ragtime's cast transferred to Broadway, but they were mostly American.
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Post by Fantasma da Opera on Sept 7, 2008 20:04:03 GMT -5
Yes that will probably happen. Which makes me wander if Colm Wilkinson will aply to the role of Maxim... Colm Wilkinson as Maxim would be interesting... but he's not canadian LOL He's Irish. Lol yes I know, but I had PotO in mind. He played the role in Canada and he was rather sucessful if I recall. And he's remembered for playing Valjean on B'way so it would be a "double-star" they could cast to sell tickets on both Canada and USA. And I doubt there wouldn't be problems with Immigration by going from Canada to the USA... ;D
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Post by Brae on Sept 7, 2008 20:04:12 GMT -5
If I am not mistaken laws here require a show to employ a certain number of Canadians. Transfers to Broadway from Toronto have happened with the cast mostly intact (Jane Eyre & Mamma Mia for example). But it does come down to Unions and immigration. Ah, but how many of the principals were actually American? For example, most of Ragtime's cast transferred to Broadway, but they were mostly American. Using Mamma Mia because it's the most recent one LOL Off the top of my head. Lousie Pitre (Donna), Tina Madigan (Sophie), David Keeley (Sam)
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Post by rastlosejahre on Sept 7, 2008 20:23:04 GMT -5
Many an American production has appeared in Toronto without issue....
The US Tours of....
Les Miserables (2005), The Phantom of the Opera (2007), Wicked (2005 and 2006).
And there are definitely many others, such as Avenue Q, My Fair Lady, and Spamalot....
This production is more than likely a pre-Broadway engagement that will employ mostly American actors....but I would not be surprised if there is an agreement with the Canadian Actors' Equity to employ a certain number of roles or ensemble tracks to Canadians. Pre-Broadway engagements in the United States means that the cast for the "Pre-B" production is the cast that will go to New York (unless someone is atrocious and is then fired). In general it is fairly easy for actors to go between Canada and America as long as they are approved by visas, green cards, guest work programs. I personally know an actress who is American and has been working in Canada for some time as a guest member of their Actors Equity.
Mamma Mia is not a good example of a Toronto show transferring to Broadway. Mamma Mia! in Toronto actually worked like this: In 2000, it was conceived as a North American Tour that would open in Toronto for a limited time and then tour the continent. If it were a success, then it would possibly be staged as a SEPARATE production from the tour in New York City. The Toronto engagement of Mamma Mia was such a success that the original cast (mostly Canadian, if not all) left the city to kick-off the tour and a new cast was brought in to continue. In 2001, it was decided to stage a Broadway production, and Pitre and Maddigan were asked to reprise their roles there.
In the case of Rebecca, it is not being conceived as a production that is aiming at touring the continent and then POSSIBLY going to Broadway like Mamma Mia...rather it is opening in Toronto to test its success with audiences and to see if changes to dialogue, staging, or song orders will be necessary to ensure success in the New York staging. It will likely be in Toronto for about 2 months, followed by a 2-3 month hiatus to allow any changes necessary, followed by the Broadway opening. Unlike Mamma Mia, the Toronto staging will "disappear" when it moves to Broadway. It is possible, however, that if Rebecca is a success on Broadway, that there be a return engagement of the musical to Toronto.
Another thing to add: American Actors' Equity does not like to see entire 30-40 member casts of musicals being all foreign. Even productions that transfer from London that feature a large number of English actors still balance the difference with Americans featured in smaller roles and understudy positions. Canadian Equity likely feels the same way about open-ended runs in Toronto, but obviously, with their allowance of short-term engagements of American tours, they do not mind limited runs, as the pre-Broadway Rebecca will be.
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Post by Brae on Sept 7, 2008 20:36:33 GMT -5
US Tours coming to Canada have a different set of laws that govern them. Usually satisfied by hiring a couple local musicians, and people to load in the show. US tours play other spots in Ontario, other then Toronto, including Ottawa and London (and in recent years Kitchener) - so the list is long of US tours to hit the Canadian stages.
Mamma Mia was used as an example of something that played Toronto with some Canadian Actors and then moved to the US, with those actors.
As for Green Cards and such, a family member of mine moved to the states to work (not in the Theatre though), and the US government required her to leave the country for 2 hours, then re-enter in order to work... should have asked the reasoning.
I don't doubt there is some sort of "transfer agreement" between Actors Equity & the Canadian Union (ACTRA I believe), in place. But I think the point scarlet was trying to make is immigration can be a pain in the neck.
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Post by Lora on Sept 8, 2008 2:48:14 GMT -5
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Post by Andreas on Sept 8, 2008 6:37:39 GMT -5
"The musical is also currently playing in Tokyo and will open in Berlin and Helsinki in the next several months. "
Rebecca will open in Berlin?? Has anyone heard about that before, or is this just a mistake?
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Post by IchBinRory on Sept 8, 2008 6:58:26 GMT -5
"The musical is also currently playing in Tokyo and will open in Berlin and Helsinki in the next several months. " Rebecca will open in Berlin?? Has anyone heard about that before, or is this just a mistake? They've used that statement twice in 2 separate articles so that must be the exact statement VBW is giving. I remember reading something about Berlin somewhere a while back. Can't remember.
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Post by Lora on Sept 8, 2008 7:08:04 GMT -5
"The musical is also currently playing in Tokyo and will open in Berlin and Helsinki in the next several months. " Rebecca will open in Berlin?? Has anyone heard about that before, or is this just a mistake? I was wondering about it too...
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