You're correct, Horse, I wasn't referring to my
Follies ticket. Apologies for not making that clear.
I was referring to the anniversary Les Miz, 2011 "Dream the effing Dream" thingo that infected the Ahmanson last year. I paid $100 for 3rd row, center orchestra as soon as single tickets went on sale. They had soared to $300 during the final weeks of the run.
As for insight on seating at the Ahmanson, I've been attending performances there since seeing Phantom for the first time before the renovation in 1995. If y'all think the current Ahmanson is a barn, the old Ahmanson was a cave...
...unless you were me and sat within the first 8 rows every time. Then such things don't matter and the space behind you could be the Rose Bowl for all I care. But all of y'all aren't picky mofos like me, so I will add what I know from experience.
-Don't pass up side orchestra seats for nosebleed center ones. One of my pet peeves is the lengths some people go to to enhance the perception of nosebleeds, so they say they'd rather watch a whole show through a bulky set of binoculars rather than CRANK their necks at the front row to see anything at all. Puh-leeze.
No cranking of anything required at the Ahmanson side orch seats. They are actually really great seats, even those at the extreme ends of each row. I can only vouch for seats up to row N. OK, so I've compromised and have sat in the 14th row once. The few extra rows was enough to make me feel disconnected but you're not me so it should be aiight.
-Center, PREMIUM (*eyeroll*) seating can be as much as double the price, when the side orch seats are almost as good!
-A chance to sit front row should be accepted immediately. Unless you're 2 feet tall, you'll likely not be cranking anything to see. I'm a midget at 5'4" and my neck does not bear evidence of CRANKING.
-Don't think anything beyond 8t row is crap because I say so. Again, I'm nit-picketty. Just don't be a fool and purposely sit afar because of fear of CRANKING!
-There is a point about mid-orchestra (row M) where the seating level is elevated a bit. I saw a performance of
Miss Saigon from row N and while that nasty disconnect did come along with the distance, you should disregard it along with concerns of cranking, as its a purely personal thing that I hope does not reach the level and hype as does neck CRANKING.
-My sis accompanied me to the Les Miz thingo last year and sat nosebleed balcony due to the shameful price hikes. I walked her up to her seat and we both experienced vertigo as we eyed the teeny weeny stage below.
Seriously, why even bother?
Recreation of original John Cameron orchestration to "On My Own" by yours truly. Click player below to hear.
