More than 17 million tickets were sold to touring theater productions last year. Now they're finally getting their own awards, according to backstage.com:

The comedy musical Spamalot was honored with the top prize at the Touring Broadway Awards presented yesterday by the League of American Theatres and Producers.

On the list for best choreography: Twyla Tharp's "Movin' Out," which comes to the Saroyan Oct. 16 and 17. And picking up the award for best long run is "Chicago," which played in Fresno last year.