‘America’s Got Talent’ goes live for first national tour

Later this year and for the first time during its five seasons, “America’s Got Talent” will follow in the footsteps of similar reality TV talent competitions and launch a tour of the United States.

The 25-city tour will run from coast to coast over a one-month period. The live tour opens October 1 at Paramount Theatre in Oakland, CA, and concludes November 7 at Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre in Orlando, FL.

Along the way, the “Talent” crew will perform on October 7 at Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, CA; October 20 at Rosemont Theatre in Rosemont, IL; October 27 at Beacon Theatre in New York, NY; and November 3 at the Wang Theatre in Boston, MA.

Public ticket sales for talent began July 23, just a day after the tour was announced. Ticket prices vary only slightly from market to market, ranging from a low around $40 up to a high of nearly$100, according to event listings on Ticketmaster.com.

The America’s Got Talent Live tour will feature performances by the current season’s winner, who will be revealed during the season finale on September 15. In addition to a spot on the tour, the winner will also receive the usual prize of $1 million and a headline show in Las Vegas, NV.

Other finalists from the season and a group of viewer favorites will also be along for the ride, with Jerry Springer hosting the whole thing. The tour is being promoted by AEG Live and co-produced by FremantleMedia North America and Simon Cowell’s entertainment company, SYCO Television.

Andy Felsher, a senior vice president with FreemantleMedia, said in a prepared statement, “After the huge success of both the television show and the live version of America’s Got Talent in Las Vegas hosted by Jerry Springer, we’re thrilled for another opportunity to bring fans closer to one of their favorite shows, in what is sure to be an amazing tour.”

America’s Got Talent Live itinerary:
(Dates are subject to change.)