2019-2020 Show-by-Show Projections (Part 2)

In part two of this post, I thought I would have some fun and make touring stop projections for the new shows entering the 2019-2020 season.  Since many variables go into which shows go to which venue, this makes the job a difficult one. However, a few consistencies from previous seasons will be taken into account as well as already-revealed information. Regardless, these projections are very fluid, and will only become clearer as the next wave of season announcements arrive in January.

Escape to Margaritaville

Announced in May 2018, Escape to Margaritaville is set to begin touring in the 2019-2020 season. The show is set to launch from Providence’s Performing Arts Center and will then go to Washington, D.C. It’s possible that the show will also return to Houston’s Hobby Center and New Orleans’ Saegner Theatre, where it had pre-Broadway performances. Here are other possible venues:

  • California: Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco
  • Colorado: Denver
  • Florida: Tampa, Miami, Naples, West Palm Beach
  • Michigan: East Lansing
  • New York: Buffalo, Rochester, Schenectady
  • North Carolina: Charlotte, Durham
  • Ohio: Cincinnati, Cleveland
  • Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
  • South Carolina: Greenville
  • Tennessee: Nashville
  • Texas: Austin, Dallas

Frozen

The Disney adaptation of the 2010 movie announced in May 2018 that a touring production would begin in the Fall of 2019. Launching from Proctors in Schenectady, the show will also perform at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles (Fall 2019) and Cleveland’s Playhouse Square (Summer 2020). What will be interesting to find out is whether the production will be mainly consist of single-week (as with The Little Mermaid or Newsies) or long-term engagements (as with The Lion King and Aladdin). Although the Broadway production did not have the same response as the movie, the show does have a following across the country, which might play a factor into the length of engagements. Although it’s entirely possible, I don’t believe that this show will be coupled with Aladdin in the same season. With all of those variables factored in, here’s a projected list of possible stops:

  • California: Costa Mesa, San Francisco
  • Georgia: Atlanta
  • Illinois: Chicago
  • Louisiana: New Orleans
  • Maryland: Baltimore
  • Massachusetts: Boston
  • Minnesota: Minneapolis
  • Missouri: St. Louis
  • Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
  • North Carolina: Charlotte, Durham
  • South Carolina: Greenville
  • Washington, D.C.

Jesus Christ Superstar

Following the successful live TV event, the news broke of a touring production coming to the 2019-2020 season. It’s been over 15 years since the last revival, which ran between 2002 and 2005. Whether this current iteration will last as long remains to be seen. Regarding its first year back, I can expect the show to visit several large markets while also playing in several smaller venues across the country. No launch city has been announced at this time and no other venues have revealed this show as part of their season. With all that in mind, here are some projected locations where it could play:

  • Arizona: Tempe
  • Arkansas: Fayetteville
  • California: Los Angeles, San Francisco
  • Colorado: Denver
  • Florida: Tampa
  • Minnesota: Minneapolis
  • Nevada: Las Vegas
  • North Carolina: Charlotte
  • Ohio: Cleveland
  • Oklahoma: Oklahoma City
  • Pennsylvania: Philadelphia
  • Texas: Dallas, Fort Worth
  • Washington, D.C.

Mean Girls

Launching from Shea’s Buffalo Theatre in Buffalo in the Fall of 2019, Mean Girls made their touring announcement amidst the other May announcements. Recently, the SHN in San Francisco announced that they will be hosting the production in the Summer of 2020. As with Frozen, the show is banking off of the large amount of fans of the movie. However, it seems that, although the show was, to some, largely snubbed at the Tony Awards, it has recently flourished in its New York home. This is thanks in large part to the recent Mean Girls Day, which landed, coincidentally, on Wednesday, October 3rd this year. Outside of the already-announced venues, here are a few more projected locations:

  • Arizona: Tempe
  • California: Costa Mesa, Los Angeles, San Diego
  • Colorado: Denver
  • Florida: Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa
  • Illinois: Chicago
  • Massachusetts: Boston
  • Minnesota: Minneapolis
  • Nevada: Las Vegas
  • North Carolina: Durham
  • Ohio: Cincinnati, Cleveland
  • Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
  • Rhode Island: Providence
  • South Carolina: Greenville
  • Texas: Austin, Dallas, Houston
  • Utah: Salt Lake City
  • Washington: Seattle
  • Washington, D.C.

My Fair Lady

Returning to the touring circuit after 11 years, the revival of My Fair Lady is set to begin in the Fall of 2019. Although no launch city has been announced as of yet, I can expect the production to replicate a large portion of venues its played back in 2007. (The full list of the previous tour stops can be found here: My Fair Lady 2007-2008 Tour Stops (IBDB).) Here’s the list of some projected stops:

  • Arizona: Tucson
  • Baltimore: Maryland
  • California: Costa Mesa, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco
  • Colorado: Denver
  • Connecticut: Hartford
  • Illinois: Chicago
  • Nevada: Las Vegas
  • New York: Buffalo
  • North Carolina: Charlotte, Durham
  • Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
  • Rhode Island: Providence
  • South Carolina: Greenville
  • Tennessee: Nashville
  • Texas: Dallas

Once On This Island

Winner of the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical this past season, Once On This Island is reviving its touring production after 16 years. Announced in February 2018, the production will launch at the Ahmanson in Los Angeles. In terms of projected venues, a lot has changed since it was last on tour. Because of its Tony award, I expect the show to visit more cities as it will provide more curious individuals the opportunity to see the show. Here are a few more cities where it could play:

  • California: Costa Mesa, San Francisco
  • Colorado: Denver
  • Florida: Orlando, Tampa
  • Illinois: Chicago
  • New York: Buffalo
  • North Carolina: Charlotte, Durham
  • Oregon: Portland
  • Pennsylvania: Philadelphia
  • South Carolina: Greenville
  • Texas: Austin, Dallas, San Antonio
  • Utah: Salt Lake City
  • Washington: Seattle

SpongeBob SquarePants

Last, but not least, is SpongeBob SquarePants, which announced its intentions to tour in July 2018 following its run ending on Broadway. Much like Frozen and Mean Girls, the commercial success of the TV show will pique the interests of those who follow the series. Because of this factor, it’s easy to project that this musical will be a popular one and will travel to many of the major markets this upcoming season, including:

  • California: Costa Mesa, Los Angeles, San Francisco
  • Colorado: Denver
  • Florida: Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa
  • Georgia: Atlanta
  • Illinois: Chicago
  • Maryland: Baltimore
  • Massachusetts: Boston
  • Minnesota: Minneapolis
  • Missouri: St. Louis
  • New York: Buffalo, Schenectady
  • North Carolina: Charlotte, Durham
  • Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh
  • Rhode Island: Providence
  • South Carolina: Greenville
  • Tennessee: Nashville
  • Wisconsin: Appleton

Honorable Mention

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

One show that is worth mentioning here is the Tony award-winning play. Although extremely successful on Broadway, the logistics and runtime of the show in its current form will prove hard to tour with. Extended stops, such as the one recently announced at the Curran in San Francisco, is the most-likely route.