Today I was on myspace and saw Laura had posted on her blog that a tour is in the works! Apperantly if they go on tour Nate will get to go and be in the show too! Im excited for them to be thinking about going on tour and seeing all the fans that cant make it to New York!
Funny...I was just about to post the same thing! Here's what Laura wanted everyone to know:
"All right everybody, it's January... slow season on Broadway. I know that GREASE tickets can now be found at the half-price TKTS booth here in NYC. Our weekends have still been packed, but week days may prove to be your best shot if you're looking for tickets. A lot of people don't know that Max and I are still performing, and our contracts aren't up until July 24th this summer. So we're about half way through the run with over 180 performance under our belts so far!
I will be out of the show for the first time the week of Feb 12-17 for vacation. I'm also taking personal days for my friend Kirsten's wedding June 19-20. Just want to put it out there in advance so people aren't disappointed. I think Max is planning to take a vacation for a week in April, too.
There has been talk of a Grease tour, which we are both still debating and praying about. We don't know enough of the details yet, but Nate would get to be a part of the cast and come along, too! So even if you're not able to make it to NY this year, you may still get the chance to see the U.S. tour! Stay posted for more news on that soon... Thanks for your continued support, Grease fans! xoxo -Laura"
If I were Max, at a crucial juncture in a fledgling career, the last thing I would want to do is go on a grueling, ragtag, nostalgia tour of the hinterlands.
I think a tour would be a great idea! It's a great opportunity for those who still want to put on the show, and they get to do some traveling. Of course Max and Laura would choose whatever makes them happiest but they are sooooo young and still have a lifetime of opportunities, so if theyr'e up for it, I'm sure it would be a great experience. Just my opinion
I believe I read somewhere that the current Broadway Elphaba in "Wicked" (Ms. Block) at one point toured nationally for a year in the same role. She has said that that experience was wonderful and great for her career. It was during that tour that she developed a national following and grew exponentially as an individual. Let's face it, as mature as both Max and Laura seem, they're still just 22 and an opportunity to see the country while being paid for it might be a great learning experience. The added bonus of sharing the experience with your spouse, would seem to me too good to turn down. Just my $.02.
OO thanks for posting that! I can't see Laura's blog because, for some reason, she refuses to accept me as a friend on MySpace. I don't know why... does she only accept close friends and family? *shrugs* I don't know... anyway I think touring would be a great idea. There are so many people around the country that faithfully watched the show, but could not travel to NYC. This would give them the chance to see the people they voted for. Plus, I 'm sure touring around the country would be an amazing experience for both Max and Laura.
Laura4Broadway wrote:OO thanks for posting that! I can't see Laura's blog because, for some reason, she refuses to accept me as a friend on MySpace. I don't know why... does she only accept close friends and family? *shrugs* I don't know...
Maybe she's decided to stop adding fans. I know she has some fan pages on her friends list. I dunno. I'm sure she has her reasons.
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I agree, I think a tour would be fantastic.....I know Max wants to move out to L.A. but a tour wouldn't be as long as we all think...if it started as soon as their contracts are up and went three or four months...I dont think it would be that bad. Max and Laura both have a fan base around the country of people who arent lucky enough to be able to go to NYC and see them on broadway. Even though I convinced my parents to take me for my senior year spring break trip, delightfully passing up Panama City, I always thought there was going to be a tour. There is for almost every other show like American Idol, Dancing With the Stars, ect. have a tour and I know GYTOTIW recieved some of the lowest ratings on NBC I still think a tour would be an excellent idea...I know I would go, maybe twice, and I have many friends who would definitley go. And if Max and/or Laura dosent sign onto the tour, I think they should try to get other people from the show such as Austin who, last time I checked, is doing nothing all that important at the time.
Also, I agree with Mr.E. If I was Max and Laura I would tour with grease as long as they would let me. They are what now, 22 & 21, they have their whole lives left to do whatever they want with their careers. Right now, all they are known for is Grease and tour would be an easy way to help them gain more fans, while building up their own personal publicity. I know when shows come here to the Fox Theatre in St. Louis and I see a really good actor/actress I like to see where they go, and most of them have gone pretty far. Take Ashley Brown, Mary Poppins She did the Disney On the Record tour and I thought she was AMAZING (she also graced the stage here at the Muny as well as Jenny Powers, who was in Oliver! two summers ago.) she was noticed and look at her now - a broadway star!
Laura4Broadway wrote:OO thanks for posting that! I can't see Laura's blog because, for some reason, she refuses to accept me as a friend on MySpace. I don't know why... does she only accept close friends and family? *shrugs* I don't know...
Maybe she's decided to stop adding fans. I know she has some fan pages on her friends list. I dunno. I'm sure she has her reasons.
Funny thing is... I used to be her friend, then she got a new MySpace.. I think... and now I'm denied.
I wonder how they would do a tour. Would that automatically extend their contracts and they'd start touring after July... I wonder for how long.. or how many cities.... this is exciting
Wow, Max has so many career counselers. I think whatever he decides to do will be the best thing for his career and we will just have to wait to see what that is. They physical demands of this show on even a young persons body is incredible and difficult. We are his biggest fans and we support whatever dcesion he makes regarding his future after July.
We are selfish career counselors who want to see Max perform. I'm headed to NYC in early summer, so I'll most likely see him before he leaves the Broadway stage, and I'll be a fan regardless of the next venue he chooses in which to display his talents.
However, if the Grease tour comes within an hour or two of home, we'll probably go see it again with Laura and Max or Laura and ???.
Wow, so the news is out about considering touring! It's a big decision for both Max and Laura with many factors to consider. By nature, touring means you have no home for months and sleep in hotel rooms and hotel beds and have almost no time off when you aren't either performing or traveling....but....when you're young and especially if your spouse is involved with you, you can also get a chance to see a few cities, get yourself a little more known across the country, and of course, continue to have a job for some more months, and hopefully make enough money to build a bit of a nest egg so you can afford to go back to New York (or whereever) after the tour and play the auditioning game again. And of course, other factors include being able to have the temperment or endurance to keep performing the same show for another few months and a few more hundred shows, to say nothing of having the physical endurance as Max's family stated also. What would seem strange to me is to think of one of them (Max or Laura) accepting and the other not. Then what? Any of you career advisers have any opinions on that?
Well, seldom is it true--especially early in one's career--to be able to choose who the worker(s) beside you will be. One would think that Max and Laura are at least as adaptable as any other people their age.
To consider themselves only as a pair, a team, a performing couple would severely truncate their careers in all liklihood.
Of course, it is different for parents too. Should Sandy Laura be paired with a new Danny it is highly unlikely that he will show up at the Osnes house asking permission as did Nate.
My youngest daughter early selected a boy as a possible husband who we (the parents) thought of as a real loser. It really worried us, but we kept our mouths shut hoping that given the experience of being raised in our home would help her make the right decision.
She changed her mind and her mother and I quietly praised ourselves for having taught her such good values and judgement.
A couple of years later when she was about to bring to meet us the one she really would marry, she did some preparation.
She talked to us about him and we thought we were about to hear how our adult wisdom had blessed her with similar assets.
She said to us the day before he visited for dinner, "Dad and Mom, I just know you will like Jason!"
Her mother and I exchanged a smug little smile.
"Why? we asked.
"Because," she said, "he cuts his hair regularly, shines his shoes, cleans his finger nails and always remembers to say please and thank you."
So much for passing on values upon which to base wise judgement to our kids, we thought. But we were correct in assuming that she had learned something because Jason turned out to a real winner, a bright, friendly, relaxed nice guy who has been a wonderful husband, great father, and a suberb new "son" for us.
You just gotta' trust the kids after you have done the best you can to raise them the best you know how. It's really too bad that there are no schools for parents. We all start being parents with nothing more than a learning permit.
I am sure both Laura and Max will make their share of good choices.
I think the ideal situation (from a fan's perspective) would be to have Laura and Max continue as Sandy and Danny. But, in reality, that may not be true. I think it would still attract alot of attention if at least one of them stayed in their role.
I would love to see Max and Laura start touring......................"touring means you have no place to call home. Sleeping in hotel roooms and hotel beds and have almost no time off when you aren't either performing or traveling."........................ahhhhhhh, those were the days. Sure it was hard at times, but doing what I loved to do sure made it worth it.
Whether they decide to actually tour or move back home or even decide to come work in my home town at the local McDonalds, I still care for them and wish them the very best!!!!!!!!!!!
More than likely, they would have time off. They get "Golden Days" when you have no travel or rehearsals. They have off most afternoons, except weekends and get to sleep in most mornings.
Touring can be quite an adventure, seeing the country and being a tourist in interesting cities. You can learn to live from suitcases and also learn you don't have to make your bed or clean the bathroom!
To consider themselves only as a pair, a team, a performing couple would severely truncate their careers in all liklihood.
It would do more than truncate.....
Only an unscrupulous producer looking to turn a buck would cast Max and Laura again as lovers... Brother and sister, fine, but not lovers. They are not a match... They have no chemistry... It was obvious on the tv show, and Kathleen was not able to fix it.
The lovestory, or lack thereof, sets the tone for the entire show, and hence the bad reviews. I would not count on the provincial critics being any less knowledgeable or more merciful than the big boys in the Big Apple. They could make the tour a painful experience.
My question was not "what would Max and Laura do without the other for their entire future?" by any means. It would actually be extremely unlikely, I would think, that they would ever co-star together again in another show. But my curiosity is in wondering if the public interest would be as great in seeing the touring show if only one of them chose to tour? How about you all---if just Max toured or if just Laura toured---would you still be as interested in seeing it if it came to your area? I am just curious.
I am sure they would attract a lot more if they were both together, but I know people who would go just to see Laura anyday (they were not too fond of any of the Dannys on the show) I think it would be even better if they got whoever needed to replace a replacement from the NBC show NBC could re=run the show a la American Idol Rewind and get people back into it
When we can't have both, we take whatever we can get!!!! I know my girls (7 +9) would LOVE to see Laura. They are fascinated by her the way they are with a Disney princess. :) They still haven't forgiven me 'til today for not taking them to NY w/ me last year! I also would love to see rest of the cast on tour. They were all fabulous!
It's fun to hear your comments. I've also wondered if they would ever go back to the people on the reality TV show to see if anyone else from there would tour. I've also wondered about the rest of the current Broadway cast and if any of them would like to tour. If Grease stays open on Broadway, however, (in addition to the tour) I can't see them wanting the rest of the cast to bail and go tour. But I don't know if anyone knows yet what the future plans are for the Broadway Grease. I know Mr. E has speculated that he doesn't think the Broadway show would stay open without Max and Laura but I don't know about that. There would be plenty of good actors or actresses who could fill their roles if the show itself still had enough popularity. Also I think sltgreaser's comment above would be fun: have another reality show to cast any replacements! It will never happen but it would still be fun!
For the record, I know Robyn Hurder was in the running for Cassie in A Chorus Line - either on Broadway or tour. And Jenny Powers has something coming up (I forget what), as well.