Angela Rowles, a general manager at NETworks Presentations, shared some insight into this seasonal occurrence. Founded by Kenneth Gentry, NETworks has produced and managed more than 45 national and international tours since 1995 including Cameron Mackintosh’s OLIVER!, SHOW BOAT, JEKYLL & HYDE, RAGTIME, CABARET and THE FULL MONTY.

According to Rowles, national tours typically run from September through June. Prior to a show breaking for the summer, a company manager, who oversees the people involved in a production, will coordinate travel arrangements to New York or the destination of choice for the actors and musicians. A great number of musicians travel with their instruments which can sometimes be tricky. "A bass is so large that an extra plane ticket is purchased for the carrying case," says Rowles.

Many times, the faces you see on stage in the spring will not be the same when the tour resumes just a couple of months later. "Depending on their contract, many actors choose not to return to the touring production in the fall," says Rowles. "They will use their summer break to audition for other productions or to work on other projects."

While the faces may change, the set pieces and costumes remain the same. A production manager, who is responsible for the physical elements of a tour, will coordinate the trucking and storage for sets, props and any other materials utilized in the production. In most cases, lighting and sound equipment are rented and are therefore returned to the shop for the summer. Set pieces, wigs and costumes will spend the time in a storage facility. The crew behind-the-scenes will normally return to the tour after the layoff.

"This is the busiest time of the year for us," says Rowles. While current touring productions like ANNIE, RENT, and LITTLE WOMEN are approaching their summer break, new productions such as LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA and SWEET CHARITY, starring Molly Ringwald, are being mounted to begin touring in the fall. While auditions are taking place, sets are being built for the new touring productions and before you know it, rehearsals begin and they are on the road again.

By: Nancy Parrott