When a Broadway show hits the road for a national tour, what audiences see on opening night is the result of an enormous amount of behind-the-scenes work. One of the most important steps in that process is something most patrons never hear about: the pre-tour tech.
A pre-tour tech (short for “technical rehearsal”) is the period when a touring Broadway production moves into a theatre before the tour officially begins. Here, the creative team and full company build the show from the ground up in its touring configuration. It’s the first time all the technical elements—sets, lights, costumes, sound, automation, special effects—come together outside a New York rehearsal studio.
Think of it as the show’s “test drive.”
Our stage, equipment, and backstage spaces make the Capitol Theatre an ideal location for companies to perfect their touring productions. Not to mention our central location in Yakima and our low prices compared to Seattle or Portland! While the tour is here, they are:
Loading in the full set for the first time and making adjustments
Perfecting lighting cues and sound mixes in a real theatre environment
Running choreography and staging with actual scenery and props
Troubleshooting problems before they’re seen by audiences on the road
Training the touring crew who will reproduce the show in every city
This process can take days or even weeks—long and busy hours you’ll never see, but that ensure a polished, professional production when the tour officially opens.
By the time you attend a preview performance, the show is fully assembled but may still be refining the smallest details. Preview audiences get a special experience: it’s the first time the show meets the public, and our reactions can help the creative team make final tweaks. Most of our patrons never even realize they're watching a preview performance!
Hosting pre-tour techs allows the Capitol Theatre to support the national touring industry and bring Broadway-level artistry to our community before it travels across the country. They allow our staff to work alongside tours in a much deeper way than a typical show, providing valuable experience and steady work. Our local restaurants and hotels benefit from the upwards of 60 people staying here for weeks. Often, we are able to organize workshops or community events beyond the performances, expanding the reach of these amazing arts experiences beyond the theatre. Even if you only see the final preview, you’re witnessing the end result of weeks of creative problem-solving, innovation, and dedication happening right here in our building.
Posted December 05, 2025