Article in defence of theatre chat message boards.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 1/20/22 at 10:36am

Hey folks.

I just wanted to share my latest article (I write for North West End in the UK) regarding theatre message boards, including Broadway World. Hope its OK I referenced a couple of posters on the board.

https://northwestend.com/in-defence-of-the-weird-and-wonderful-world-of-the-theatre-chat-message-boards/

[Wick3]

Posted: 1/20/22 at 11:13am

Thanks for the article! I, too, miss WhizzerMarvin and hope the poster is ok. I didn't realize the last time we saw a post from WhizzerMarvin was back in 2020.

You make a good point on how preview prices are not discounted anymore. When I was in London back in November, the table seats for the first week's previews of the West End Cabaret revival cost around 300 pounds each! 

Anyways, paid theatre critics always sit in the best seats in the house. I always thought their market are those patrons who can afford to pay top dollar premium priced seats. I'm not in that market and that's ok. Thus, I prefer to read reviews of fellow theater message board members who bought rush/discounted tickets since I always buy rush/discounted tix whenever I see a Broadway show for the first time.

 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 1/20/22 at 11:33am

In addition to the points you bring up about ticket prices for previews, I think it’s worth mentioning: 

We have a right to discuss shows in previews, simply because we have that intrinsic right as people. We aren’t paid critics under embargo, we’re audience members. The producers/artists chose to put the show in front of a public audience, and so that audience is allowed to talk about what they were shown – positively or negatively. Even if the preview tickets were still discounted, I believe that would still be true. 

Having said that, I do agree that the CONSIDERATE thing to do is to frame criticism in a constructive way, with an implicit acknowledge that the show has time to be worked on. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/20/22 at 11:46am

The negative often becomes the focus of complaints about message boards, but I find them equally –– or more –– important when people come back from an electrifying early preview and report "THIS THING IS GOOD, SEE IT NOW BEFORE THE WORLD CATCHES ON." Thinking of shows like Hamilton, Mormon, Fun Home, Strange Loop, South Pacific, Three Tall Women, The Humans, etc. I've bought plenty of tickets out of the strength of early buzz on this board.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/20/22 at 11:57am

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 1/20/22 at 12:21pm

Thanks folks xx 

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 1/20/22 at 2:58pm

Great article. I totally forget that Lin used to post here!

[JBroadway]

Posted: 1/20/22 at 3:05pm

everythingtaboo said: "Great article. I totally forget that Lin used to post here!"

 

He still posts from time to time. These are pretty recent: 

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1111007&page=6

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1125680#

 

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 1/20/22 at 3:15pm

Updated On: 1/20/22 at 03:15 PM

[Rainah]

Posted: 1/20/22 at 3:16pm

These boards are also invaluable for the small things that aren't included in standard reviews. Thanks for all the people posting on the Great Comet threads, I was able to buy the tickets that got my partner an incredible interaction with Anatole during the show that made it very memorable. We only visit the city once a year or so, so it was impossible to gather such data ourselves to know what seat was the right one to buy.

[BarnabyTucker]

Posted: 1/20/22 at 5:34pm

I've also found that the folks here are likely to see a show regardless of what negative things posters might say.  A general, tourist/NYC tristate audience isn't on this board and they're not going to read any negative criticism that is posted here that might deter them from purchasing tickets.  So I don't really see it being an issue. 

I also echo what previous posters have said about how the conversations here are largely positive.  I've had lovely conversations with community members about why we love theater, and I always get so excited to see a show when I reload the preview thread daily to see who else has seen it and what they have to say.

All in all, I think we have a solid community of theater enthusiasts here and I for one have my desire to see theater bolstered when I see what other fans have to say. 

Finally, if I were involved in a production that was being discussed on this board I would absolutely tune in to see what this subset (the theater fan) of the audience has to say.  I can only imagine how helpful a preview thread could be to the creative and production team as they fine tune their show.

 

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 1/21/22 at 10:21am

I agree completely 

[seahag2]

Posted: 1/22/22 at 12:34am

I always find myself coming back to these boards because they're really the only reliable place to get information about theatre. Theatre forums raised me - no, seriously- from age 11 to my current age, 25, and taught me so much about art and theatre history. The conversations about the politics and social impact of American theatre are invaluable because they come from the people who love it the most. 

Facebook groups and twitter circles have tried to replicate what happens here but most posters hold back because they're still trying to get hired or what have you. Loved the article and its honesty.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 1/22/22 at 1:57am

Thank you for your kind words, songanddanceman2. I feel like I'm going to cry, in the best possible way. It feels amazing to have found a community very early during this pandemic that lives and breathes live theatre. And now that theatre is finally back, it is so much fun to hear all your thoughts and give you all my two cents.

It's been a thrill both starting and keeping up with many threads since I first joined, and being among the first to hear breaking theatre news since the reopening process began. Yes, our wonderful Whizzer is missed, but we are extremely lucky to still have Jordan Catalano with us! 

Looking forward to new Broadway preview and cast recording threads this year and for many years to come... much love to you all.