Last week Taylor Hicks and the cast celebrated one year on the road with the Broadway Across America National Touring Company of “Grease!”
When “Grease” opened in Providence, RI , December 2, 2008, our economy was sliding quickly downhill. Speculation said it was not a good time for entertainment. People would not spend frivolously to go to the theatre.
Taylor and the cast of “Grease” proved the naysayers wrong. People took “staycations” and spent money close to home—their hometown venues. In the past year, “Grease” has played to packed houses from coast to coast and in Canada.
In the communities where he visited, Taylor became a part of the local scene. He performed on TV, even in the kitchen, and mingled with the locals, from a heart-healthy basset hound in Texas to the Prime Minister and his teenage charges in Canada. He joined sports fans at ball games as he sang the National Anthem in San Francisco and Detroit. He will sing the Anthem tomorrow for the Carolina Panther and Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL game in Charlotte, NC.
It was an American Idol seeing America. Everywhere he went, lobbies were full of people waiting to meet him and have him sign his CD. I was pleased to be in those crowds in Tucson, Hollywood, Birmingham and Phoenix.
Outside the hometown audiences in Birmingham, I think the most enthusiastic crowds that I saw were in Tucson. This old Southwestern pueblo is Spanish land grant territory, beautiful desert cattle country and a Mexican border neighbor. Not Broadway theatre country you might think.
You’d be wrong. The crowds in Tucson loved Taylor and “Grease.” A lady at the stage door was there to thank them for coming to Tucson. She said many shows don’t. They all go to Phoenix. In the four performances I saw there, the crowds packed the beautiful entertainment venue, and it was probably the most pleasant theatre experience of my travels.
Perhaps this past year we decided that we wouldn’t give up all that makes us happy, no matter what the economy was doing. Perhaps it was that we needed our smiles do deal with all that we must.
“Grease” and Taylor Hicks has certainly brought a year of smiles to America!
Taylor has said that it is all about the lives you touch. From the stages to the lobbies, Taylor and the fun and talented cast of “Grease” have touched lives.
Congratulations to Taylor Hicks and all the cast on a very successful year of “Grease” on the road!
I was happy to be along for a little part of the ride!
When “Grease” opened in Providence, RI , December 2, 2008, our economy was sliding quickly downhill. Speculation said it was not a good time for entertainment. People would not spend frivolously to go to the theatre.
Taylor and the cast of “Grease” proved the naysayers wrong. People took “staycations” and spent money close to home—their hometown venues. In the past year, “Grease” has played to packed houses from coast to coast and in Canada.
In the communities where he visited, Taylor became a part of the local scene. He performed on TV, even in the kitchen, and mingled with the locals, from a heart-healthy basset hound in Texas to the Prime Minister and his teenage charges in Canada. He joined sports fans at ball games as he sang the National Anthem in San Francisco and Detroit. He will sing the Anthem tomorrow for the Carolina Panther and Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL game in Charlotte, NC.
It was an American Idol seeing America. Everywhere he went, lobbies were full of people waiting to meet him and have him sign his CD. I was pleased to be in those crowds in Tucson, Hollywood, Birmingham and Phoenix.
Outside the hometown audiences in Birmingham, I think the most enthusiastic crowds that I saw were in Tucson. This old Southwestern pueblo is Spanish land grant territory, beautiful desert cattle country and a Mexican border neighbor. Not Broadway theatre country you might think.
You’d be wrong. The crowds in Tucson loved Taylor and “Grease.” A lady at the stage door was there to thank them for coming to Tucson. She said many shows don’t. They all go to Phoenix. In the four performances I saw there, the crowds packed the beautiful entertainment venue, and it was probably the most pleasant theatre experience of my travels.
Perhaps this past year we decided that we wouldn’t give up all that makes us happy, no matter what the economy was doing. Perhaps it was that we needed our smiles do deal with all that we must.
“Grease” and Taylor Hicks has certainly brought a year of smiles to America!
Taylor has said that it is all about the lives you touch. From the stages to the lobbies, Taylor and the fun and talented cast of “Grease” have touched lives.
Congratulations to Taylor Hicks and all the cast on a very successful year of “Grease” on the road!
I was happy to be along for a little part of the ride!
Photo credit: Nederlander Productions
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3 comments:
The first anniversary is usually celebrated with a gift of PAPER. I suppose we can count the money that Taylor has been able to generate by his presence in Grease as PAPER. What a gift to the Touring Company and to the local theatres where "Grease" appears.
I am of the opinion that people will patronize local events during good and bad economic times because they don't have the residual costs of hotels, food and travel with which to deal. You get into the car, you travel for a short time, you go to the theatre, you go home: the price of the PAPER ticket ( and gas ) is about what you pay for an afternoon/evening of entertainment. Oh , I know, I am being simplistic in my analysis, but you get the point. For those who travel at all , the PAPER dropped at local restaurants and hotels is but a bonus for any community.
PAPER is a relatively cheap commodity , so to celebrate the first anniversary of "Grease", keep transferring that PAPER money into gate receipts .
cath
Thanks, San, for a beautiful commentary on Grease, Taylor Hicks, and the entertainment challenges all entertainers face today.
I also attended some performances of Grease -- New York, Baltimore, and Baltimore -- and Taylor's appearance was without a doubt the highpoint of every show. The anticipation of his appearance was palpable in the theatre and the reactions from audiences was amazing.
Thanks for another great year of comments from the Community.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and keep doing what you've been doing.
You are so right on about the success of "Grease"! The audiences have loved the performances and theaters were nearly packed. Whether they were there to see Taylor Hicks or another cast member, it didn't matter. They were there to support the show and the arts. Even the areas with the worst economies were packing the houses.
May the rest of the run be equally as successful for all the participant, and may the paper be green! LOL!
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