Avenue Q in SF- are balcony seats OK?

[teka21]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 7:42pm

Looking to see Avenue Q while in San Francisco. Are Orpheum seats up in the Balcony OK for this show? I am unfamliar with the size of this theatre.
Thanks

[theaterguy11]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 7:43pm

I'd say no. That Theatre is gigantic. Avenue Q is all about the facial expressions, and seeing it up close and personal. The show would not have the same effect that far back.

[EugLoven]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 7:45pm

The Orpheum Theatre is the largest house in San Francisco.

While I've never complained with any seats I've gotten for any Best of Broadway engagement, I've also never been in the balcony of the Orpheum...

Avenue Q is a relatively "small" show in that the focus is on people and puppets, versus big sets and large ensemble dance numbers. In fact, they added black flats to the edges of the stage to shrink the set in more.

I'm not going to say NO, but perhaps if you do decide on balcony seats, try to get as close to the front as possible...?

[teka21]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 7:48pm

Thanks for the quick feedback!
I've found some Row X orchestra and rear loge seats, but they are way over on the end on the side sections. I'm guessing that's still preferable to the center balcony?
Updated On: 8/16/07 at 07:48 PM

[Tkt2Ride]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 8:52pm

I had no problems with the view but if you are going during the week, you can probably change seats after intermission. The first Act is long. I sat in the balcony, second row and the view, expressions were fine. I got stuck behind someone too tall so I had lean over to see the whole stage. I just moved to the front side and I could see the whole stage fine. I could have easily moved down a level but balcony, front side seats were fine. Sound wasn't a problem either. You could see all of the projection work with no interference.

No one seemed to want to sit on the right side of the Theatre in Orchestra or Mezz and they sold very few seats there. From the balcony though, that didn't seem to be a problem because we were above the stage. Those sitting behind me didn't complain about the view and they talked a lot. Didn't miss them in the second Act.

[teka21]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 8:58pm

Too bad our only free date is a Sat matinee so I'm stuck. I guess I'll wait and see it in NYC when I return...

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 9:13pm

If it's anything like it was in San Diego no. I could barely hear anything from the balcony. It's like there were no speakers up there for us.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 11:01pm

The sound system at the Orpheum is awful -- don't sit in the rear orch.

[teka21]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 11:07pm

Thanks everyone- you've all been very helpful!
Since good seats at the Orpheum aren't available on the only day I can go, I think I'm better off seeing this show in NYC instead!

Good to be a New Yorker and have the option.

[Tkt2Ride]

Posted: 8/17/07 at 1:53am

Too bad. I had no trouble hearing them at all from the balcony. Even over those two behind me. We may have benefited from the echo? It's still a beautiful theater though. I hope you get the chance to see something else there soon.

[justme2]

Posted: 8/17/07 at 3:10am

I was just at Avenue Q tonight and we were sitting in the very last row of the mezzanine section (right in front of the soundboard/lighboard operator) and the view was just ok from there. We ended up using the binocs a lot to get a look at the actual puppets.

Balcony is waaaaaaay back in the Orpheum, and I knew better than to purchase those tickets..so I sucked it up and bought $70 tix for the show.

Well worth it...loved the show!