Talking Broadway

NYC -- More than 500 Broadway producers, press agents and creative teams will meet with venue operators and marketers from around the country at this week's annual spring conference of the League of American Theatres and Producers in NYC.

In addition to working sessions, some of Broadway's biggest stars will appear at the conference to talk about the creative process.

It's also a chance for Tony Award voters to see some of the newer shows before the nominations are announced. (The awards will be announced in June.) -- Michael Kilgore/TBPAC

The whole world is watching ...

NYC -- Welcome to our friends from the League's annual spring conference.

This is Culture Shock, TBPAC's blog, which we started in September of 2005.

You'll find daily posts here about the conference, as well to other items related to entertainment and the performing arts. -- Michael Kilgore/TBPAC

Taking the show on the road

NYC -- The producers of "Monty Python's Spamalot" told their production team that if they couldn't take the show on tour, they wouldn't open on Broadway.

It's that important.

Half of the Broadway audience is outside NYC, reached through tours and subscription seasons.

"Spamalot" obviously solved its weighty chain mail issue and is touring with great success, including two sold-out weeks here in Tampa earlier this season.

Another presenter talked about how important it was for thought-provoking works such as "Doubt," with actresses such as Cherry Jones, to tour the country in artistically unifying events.

He likened it to a Harry Truman-like whistlestop political tour. "It's like she's running for election ... and I think she'd win."

"Doubt" will be at TBPAC later this month. -- Michael Kilgore/TBPAC

She knows the road

NYC -- To present the League's annual touring Broadway awards, former road warrior Christine Ebersole MCd the evening. She's the current star of "Grey Gardens" on Broadway.

Ebersole toured with Richard Burton in "Camelot," and also with "Oklahoma!" so she knows about life on the road and the occasional unresponsive audience.

In Oklahoma once, a rancher-type came backstage and inadvertently explained their lack of reaction:

"Y'all were so funny it was all we could do to keep from laughing." -- Michael Kilgore/TBPAC

Soggy, soggy Broadway

NYC -- Forget the Wilson Pickett soul classic, "Funky Broadway," record rainfall over the last two days has resulted in canceled flights, ruined shoes, wet clothes and unfortunate hair styles.

Normally, this annual meeting is a kind of spring awakening, but so far the weather hasn't cooperated. -- Michael Kilgore/TBPAC

We'd like to thank ...

NYC -- There are serious issues to be discussed this week at the League conference: media fragmentation, the art of the deal, costs of putting a show on the road. But, first, because it's NYC and because this is Broadway, first there are the awards presented specifically to Broadway shows touring the U.S.:

Touring Broadway Awards
People's Choice Awards -- "Wicked"
Best Production Design -- "Monty Python's Spamalot"
Best Play -- "Doubt"
Best Long-Running Musical -- "Chicago"
Best Choreography --Twyla Tharp
Best Direction --"Monty Python's Spamalot"
Best Musical Score -- "Light in the Piazza"
Touring Broadway Achievement Award -- Tom Hewitt
Best New Musical -- "Monty Python's Spamalot"

Michael Kilgore/TBPAC