What does National Tour mean?
National Tour is a professional theatrical production that travels to major cities across the United States following its premiere — typically in New York City — presenting the same show to audiences in cities that may not otherwise have access to Broadway-caliber productions. National tours of Broadway musicals and plays are a significant segment of the professional theater industry, employing large casts and crews and often featuring original cast members or performers of comparable professional standing. First-class national tours — sometimes called ‘first national’ or ‘Broadway tours’ — use full Broadway production elements, while bus-and-truck tours operate with reduced production values for smaller venues.
Example:The child actor auditioned for the national tour of the Broadway musical, knowing that a touring role would mean months of travel and performance across dozens of cities — a demanding but professionally transformative experience for a young stage performer.
Example: The casting breakdown for the national tour specified that performers must be available for a nine-month touring commitment, including rehearsals in New York followed by an extended run in cities from Los Angeles to Chicago to Dallas.
Did you know?
The economics of national touring have changed significantly with the rise of large touring venues in cities across the country. Productions that would once have been too expensive to take on the road now regularly tour profitably, supported by subscription audiences in major regional markets. The Broadway touring industry generates hundreds of millions of dollars annually and is responsible for most American theatergoers’ primary experience of professional musical theater.
