I've Got A Wicked Secret

Around the watercooler lately, I've been hearing some idle gossip. It seems that a fan had been given a backstage tour of both Spamalot and Wicked. There have been lots of questions spinning, so let me give you the 411 from someone who really knows Broadway.




http://www.emeraldcurtain.com/

Now, the deal with "Behind The Emerald Curtain" is this: You pay for a ticket and you are given a tour of the MUSEUM filled with small props and costumes from Wicked worn by previous cast members (original Broadway cast if I'm not mistaken). The costumes and props are inside glass cases, some just on display, but the same "DO NOT TOUCH" rule applies. This is a group tour.

Here are some examples of what you'd see on the tour:

To sum it up better, it's really just a 90 minute tour with a few hundred people, depending upon the day, that includes a museum of costumes and props and an informational film shown in the Gershwin's auditorium. The last 20 remaining minutes is a question and answer session. The tour is usually given by 2 ensemble members or technical members of the crew. THIS TOUR DOES NOT GRANT BACKSTAGE ACCESS.

Um...hold on there, slick. There's just one problem...read the fine print. Yeah, yeah. I know you know. It says it right there on the website in plain English.

"V.I.P.P.(Very Important Person Package) ticket holders will be escorted behind the curtain and taken backstage to see the inner sanctum of the Strip's funniest show. They will sign a blood oath, swearing not to reveal any of the secrets, and violators will be impaled on a spike.The V.I.P.P. tickets include premium seating, a 45-minute "Secrets of the Grail" backstage tour after the show with a cast or crew member, and a commemorative Grail cup (filled with beer or soft drink). Guests will be able to take once-in-a-lifetime photos behind the scenes.The Very Important Person Package is priced at $179 per person, plus tax. A limited number of V.I.P.P. tickets are available exclusively on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Tours begin immediately following the performance."

There's the proof right there! Ha! Wrong. This tour was only available to Spamalot goers in Las Vegas. It was a promotion offered through Wynn Las Vegas for the Grail Theatre. No such package is offered for New York, London, or any of the national tour locations.

Here's the link to prove it:

http://www.readybetgo.com/news/wynn-spamalot-show-3580.html

Also, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids does not offer a package of any kind regarding backstage tours for any show during a time when fundraisers are not in progress. Even during BC/EFA fundraising, there is typically only one package of that type auctioned off to the highest bidder and the tour happens IMMEDIATELY after the fundraiser is over, usually the following week.

In order for anyone to get backstage at any Broadway show, you must be a guest of someone in the show and your name must be on the backstage security list for insurance purposes (props, costumes, etc. are expensive) and also for security reasons (it's the theatre's responsibility to ensure the safety of every actor). It is often advised that no tour be given to any person that is not a friend or immediate family member.