Old Globe Productions Set Sights on Broadway

By Johnny McDonald

Broadway might consider the Old Globe its lucky charm. For several years, the theater in Balboa Park has proved a reliable test run for successful musicals and plays in New York.

Again, this coming winter series embarks on two musical world premieres that show box office promise.

The season kicks off Sept. 10 with “Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life,” featuring the film and stage star.

During the past two decades, The Old Globe has been the source of premiere productions that have garnered numerous awards and international acclaim. It presented world premieres of “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” “Imaginary Friends” and “Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All.”

A musical, “The Full Monty,” directed by Jack O’Brien, broke Globe box office records and went on to a successful run on Broadway.

Neil Simon has premiered “Rumors” and “Jake’s Women” and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson has brought three of his newest works here prior to their Broadway openings, including “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” and “Two Trains Running.”

The musicals are expensive centerpieces in which at least five weeks are needed to hone the finished project.

“All the elements from music artistic directors, arrangers, to conductors and copying of parts must be put in place. Securing talent for the orchestra may be augmented with musicians from New York.”

“Our musicals are in concert with commercial producers,” he said. “We sometimes develop the work ourselves but often are working with a commercial partner.”

The Twyla Tharp project was developed in March and April, when Spisto went to New York to discuss the project.

“The Chita Rivera project landed in the Globe because of our relationship with the producer,” he said. “Negotiations were closed in May.”

In discussing preparation, Spisto said: “We have a costume shop which, to our knowledge, is the largest in the state. We have the capability to build (scenery) anything. That’s why Broadway seeks us out.”

Although it would appear the emphasis is placed on the winter series, Spisto insists that’s not the case. He said Cassius Carter’s theater in the round will have the world premiere of “Lady With All The Answers,” a play about Ann Landers. Earlier this summer on the Globe’ main stage, the West Coast premiere of “Moonlight and Magnolias” was presented.

The repertory Shakespeare summer projects are large, with 26 to 30 performers. It marks the second year for repertory.

“We listen to playgoers, feedbacks and read all the mail we get,” said Spisto, who holds a master’s in art administration as well as being an actor and director. “Either Jack O’Brien, Jerry Patch or myself will respond. If we stopped listening to what sells, we’d be foolish.

“We sell between 75 and 80 percent of our seats,” he said. “We also donate seats to kids and underprivileged as well as those people who support the theater through foundations. So we fill about 90 percent of our seats.”

Vital subscription sales have increased to 50 percent

The Globe works with casting agents. with members of the artistic staff inserting specific ideas for talent selection. There is a long list of those who have performed before.

Understudies come from University of San Diego’s Fine Arts program, numbering around 800. One of the great highs is to have such a professional program which is back to the principal of Community Theater.

However, Spisto contends that the theater audience in San Diego might not be growing.

“In an outdoor-oriented community, the theater has a tough time competing with a lot of things, such as the fabulous weather, restaurants, sports activities and a host of other things,” he said.

“The Old Globe is not going to be all things to all people all the time. But we can be most of the time.”