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[givesmevoice]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 9:54am

I've gone alone a few times, and will probably go alone to a few more shows. I don't really like going by myself, but mostly because I'm lonely for someone to talk to before the show, during intermission and then after the show. I also don't really have to guts to talk to random people around me. I'm afraid of making myself look like an idiot, haha. but most of my friends aren't local or that into theatre, so if I want to go, I'll most likely have to go alone.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 10:19am

I know for a fact that ushers, house managers, other patrons and even the actors themselves mock people who go to shows alone.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 10:22am

well, I realized long ago that I was important and unique enough to get singled out by everyone in a theatre, even if only to be mocked.

[Pianolin717]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 10:37am

"I also don't really have to guts to talk to random people around me."

I'm the same way! the only time I do talk to people is if they initiate the conversation and then I will feel better about talking, but when I am by myself, I am def. not very outgoing, and usually, I text people before/after/during intermission or find some other way to occupy myself, but as far as the mocking goes, who cares? would they rather people not keep them employed? that just seems childish to me

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 10:51am

I love going alone! I mean, sometimes I wish my friends would suck it up and shell out the $25 for a show rather than spend it buying drinks and getting wasted at a club, but that just can't be I guess. And it sucks because I'm here in the city and my boyfriend is 3 and a half hours away in Rhode Island, so the only person I know would always go with me cant. Therefore, I go alone all the time.

It's great (if rarely lonely)! You usually get a better seat and you can go at your own pace when you're getting up in the morning to rush or get ready to go to the show. Plus, if the people around you are nice, they usually strike up a conversation with you and are later shocked when you reveal this is your 8th to 15th time seeing said show. Plus, no distractions or anyone swaying your opinion of the show. You can just evaluate your own feelings on it and not have to worry about someone arguing with you that they liked it when you didn't.

[wonkit]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 11:11am

I don't mind going to the theater alone. I can schedule things on short notice. I don't have to worry about my companion enjoying or not enjoying the show. I like to strike up conversations with people near me during intermission, to see how they like the performance and what kind of theater they enjoy. (It took me years to learn to do this as I am really pretty shy.) I tend to go to my favorite shows more than once - and that seems insane to many of my friends, even those who enjoy Broadway.

Anyway, once the show starts, everyone in the audience is there alone.

[raulmark]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 12:28pm

the theater is NOT a concert! I don't think I could do a concert by myself lol It's better to have someone with you to enjoy...but theater? Once the lights go down everyone needs to shut up and watch the show. Yes, sometimes it would be nice to talk about a show after it is over, but what's the other option? Missing it?
I started this thread, because I have noticed many people going to theater by themselves besides me...often they are seated right next to me!
DO USHERS REALLY MOCK US???
I find that really funny if they do...Do they talk about us on the subway ride home and laugh? Wow, I must be very important! haha

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 12:43pm

Hee! Agree about the whole ushers mocking us thing. (And the other theatre employees and actors.) Maybe they should remember that we help keep them employed, and if all the single visitors stopped going, eventually there would be too many empty seats and buh-bye job.

[Byron Abens]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 12:48pm

I think people are overreacting to the whole "mocking" comment. Just remember, lots of people on this board "know things for a fact," but very rarely are these facts verified as true.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 12:52pm

Seriously, the person that gets mocked at the theatre is Joe. But that's only because he buys a ticket for his blow up doll and then proceeds to explain the show to it in Portuguese.

(just teasing Joe...a lot of your BWW comments make me laugh and this was one of them lol)

Updated On: 2/13/09 at 12:52 PM

[brandontwin2]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 1:52pm

Sometimes even if I go with friends we all buy single tickets to get better seats. I'll admit that going alone can be somewhat awkward but it has always been a good experience for me with some pretty unique conversations.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 2:07pm

I take a book with me. Get some reading in before the show and at intermission. You don't always have to talk with people! :)

[Salene]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 2:24pm

I do. On a few occasions I've been with my mother. I've also taken a cousin twice - and would again - but we don't live in the same city. I simply don't know anyone else who's interested. As others have said, I enjoy not having to worry about others liking the show and it's easier to get a good seat.

Great thread on the topic:
http://www.whatsonstage.com/board/index.php?showtopic=4806

[April Saul]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 3:03pm

About half and half for me...I'd never miss something waiting for my friends to get around to it or our schedules to match, and I am the type that talks to absolutely everybody around me, so it never seems that solitary to me...It's fun to have somebody to compare notes with afterward, but I will go ahead and do that with strangers if I'm by myself! Going to the movies alone, by contrast, seems lonelier; somehow theater is more of a shared experience and I've met interesting people and had great conversations before and after...

[Eris0303]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 3:52pm

I met one of my best friends at the stage door of a show. We had both come alone and started talking.

[turquoisefish]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 4:28pm

I go on my on 99% of the time. It is so much easier, I can see what I want, when I want as much as I want.
Mock me all you want but I have seen Wicked 16 times, 3 of these were with other people but the rest alone. I would never have been able to go as many times with company, especially as one was only decided upon the day before as I heard the standby Galinda would be on.

It also gives me the chance to see slightly more obscure stuff that my friends really wouldn't bother with.

The main reason is the effort it takes to arrange stuff for more than me. 3 colleagues and I are seeing a show soon and we had to book 3 months ahead just to get a day that worked for us all.

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 4:34pm

I'll usually see if anyone is up for seeing a show, but sometimes it's just not in people's budgets for the week or month, or they've already seen it.
I have no problem seeing shows alone. It's not like I'm going to talk during it, anyway.
It's strange because I won't go to a movie alone, but Broadway shows I don't mind. It's a different atmosphere.

[Pianolin717]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 4:37pm

"It's strange because I won't go to a movie alone, but Broadway shows I don't mind"
YES! I refuse to see a movie alone at the theaters!! HATE it but I don't mind seeing musicals alone

[Eris0303]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 4:50pm

lol

I won't go to the movies alone either lol

[Hank]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 4:58pm

As a recent widower, there's no way I'm gonna give up my other love in life. It's cool to see previews and favorites over again, often on a whim, and not worry about pleasing anybody else. Also, I work weekends so Tuesdays and Wednesdays work well for me.

[mikem]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 5:30pm

I'm pretty sure the "mocking" comment was supposed to be a joke (although it's kind of a weird joke, which is why I think people are concerned it's a real comment). It's pretty common to see theater-goers who are solo, and I can't imagine that it registers on the ushers/house managers/etc at all (or on other patrons -- I couldn't tell you whether the people sitting next to me are there by themselves or not in most cases).

And obviously the actors have absolutely no idea who in the audience is there by themselves. Actually, come to think of it, the ushers have no idea either, really; plenty of people meet up at the seats and I highly doubt they care enough to keep track.

[mormonophobic]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 5:48pm

I have learned the hard way that seeing shows with others is (a) often too difficult to arrange and (b) too problematic. Whereas movies can somewhat trigger a difference in opinions, live theater tends to do this much more often. For instance, if I had gone with my friends to see the recent revival of Gypsy and after they had gone, "Eh" I might consider murder. Just might. True, not the BEST of examples since LuPone seems to divide people like a mofo, but at least people on this board have reasons for liking/disliking her (although any reference to previous productions as point of comparison, especially the one you're probably thinking of, kind of buries the point imho). Either way, I just find I am much more completely into the show when I go it alone. Different strokes I suppose.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 6:10pm

Sometimes it is nice going with someone else, but I have no problems going by myself.

[danceallnight]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 6:24pm

So many people go to shows alone not necessarily because they prefer to but because they do not want to miss something that their friends have no interest in (myself included). There should be a way for posters on this board to connect with each other if they want to share a theater experience.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 6:31pm

I...personally would like to meet some other BWWers, but I'm afraid they'd judge me. =P