Best Night to Go to the Theater?

[Danielle49]

Posted: 10/30/18 at 7:36pm

I was listening to Zoe Kazan’s interview on WTF with Marc Maron, and an interesting subject came up that I’d love to hear others’ thoughts on.

Kazan mentioned that in theatre, the best audience response, or night to perform, was Thursday evenings. She said the worst were I believe Wednesday matinees and Saturday performances. (Maron also said Thursdays for stand-up.)

I’m not sure that I’ve ever thought about this before. Does anyone - performers or audience members - have favorite nights to attend/perform? Or noticed the differences in audience behavior between performance days?

[BJR]

Posted: 10/30/18 at 7:59pm

Oh, I've definitely given this thought. Especially when I'm working through previews and really paying attention to each crowd.

I've always found Fridays to be the worst, outside of Wed matinees. For Friday shows, the crowd is exhausted from the work week, sometimes visibly so, and likely even regretting making the plans. Therefore, they're quiet and seem to demand the show entertain them.

Surprisingly, Sunday matinees can be wonderful at houses with subscription audiences. Yes, the crowd will be older, but often those who choose to spend their Sunday in a theatre really want to be there, rain or shine.

But Thursdays are indeed the best evenings. Thursday is often the best night to go to bars for similar reasons but people are excited for the weekend but choosing to go out and risk being tired Friday. Plus, it's usually more locals.

[romain2]

Posted: 10/30/18 at 8:18pm

Thinking about this it seems that Saturday night IS a bad night to go. I usually end up next to people not into the show. Not always but often enough.

I like Thursday nights and there’s also something special at Sunday afternoon and evening performances. Like the cast is giving it their all before taking a Monday break.

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 10/30/18 at 8:27pm

I always love Saturday nights. The theatre tends to be more crowded and the audience tends to be more awake. I've also found that that's the night where you're the most likely to see the full company. Maybe it's just because I've been seeing theatre on Saturday nights since I was in Elementary school, but that's my favorite night for theatre.

[greenifyme2]

Posted: 10/30/18 at 8:37pm

Tuesdays. Usually the best prices, best option of seats, the cast usually just had a day off, and as few tourists as possible.

Unless someone is visiting from out of town I avoid the weekends like the plague.

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/30/18 at 9:46pm

I also like Tuesdays. My favorite night to go. It's like a little treat during the work week! If not a Tuesday I like Tbursdays if I can't do a Tuesday or plan 2 shows in one week.

Don't know that it is true but someone told me that Thursday is also a goodnight for musicals because the actors voices have had Tuesday and Wednesday to "warm up" and are in their best shape for the week on Thursday. That isn't the reason I go on Thursdays though. I just don't care to go on weekends.

[greenifyme2]

Posted: 10/30/18 at 10:06pm

Another great thing about Tuesdays is the (usually) 7pm/7:30pm curtain times. It’s 10pm and I’m already home.

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 10/30/18 at 10:08pm

When I ushered st the Chicago Shubert for 4 years, the best audiences were the matinees on Saturday on Sunday. Many Hoosiers, Wisconsin Cheeseheads, and Kalamazoo citizens applauded loudly after each and every musical tune.

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 10/30/18 at 10:08pm

ArtMan!
 

Updated On: 10/30/18 at 10:08 PM

[haterobics]

Posted: 10/30/18 at 10:29pm

If you live in the city, then sure, this is all fine, and I always went on weekdays. But now, I'm relegated to weekends for the most part, and since I only see most shows once, my memory of their art will be how well they did it on a weekend matinee, typically.

[Tag]

Posted: 10/30/18 at 10:41pm

Thursday nights for sure, no contest.

Never go on a Tuesday (or right after the day off), and never go to the second show on a two show day.

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 10/30/18 at 11:02pm

Tuesday or Thursday night at 7pm. I also prefer the audiences of weeknight shows...I could not imagine seeing Frozen on a matinee, or Rock of Ages on a Saturday night. And most publicists won't put critics in on Tues nights, which I respect though don't totally agree with -- I've never had a problem seeing the first show after a day off.

Saturday night is great for a big musical or comedy, though -- like Kinky Boots or Hamilton or Hello Dolly would be great on a Sat night as long as the tourists are behaving.

[SharksVsJets]

Posted: 10/30/18 at 11:47pm

As a stage manager (not on Broadway), I found that the first performance after a day off was a little low energy. Probably nothing you'd notice if you were seeing the show for the first time, but I definitely noticed it.

[HBBrock]

Posted: 10/31/18 at 12:55am

If the option is there (usually it is in previews), I will always choose a Monday!

Truly a theatre audience on Monday nights. Very few tourists. Almost always jam packed with people that truly want to be there.

[LarryD2]

Posted: 10/31/18 at 8:55am

After seeing tons of theater and working in the industry for 30 years, I've come to the conclusion that the best night is Tuesday. The performers are rested from their day off. The audience is usually comprised of people who are devoted theatergoers and want to be there. You can often get good seats at a discount. Of course this is entirely observational and based on my own personal experience, but I always found Tuesday the best night, from the standpoint of being an audience member and frequent FOH employee.

Wednesday matinees are a hell-scape of crinkling cellophane, stage-whispering comments and hearing aid feedback. 

Updated On: 10/31/18 at 08:55 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/31/18 at 9:51am

Whatever night I have tickets for!

 

I've oft heard actors remark they love the sunday show, as they feel - regardless of being tired - they throw everything into it.

 

I truly dislike most matinees, but Weds are the WORST.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 10/31/18 at 10:23am

As a performer, Friday nights.  People may be tired from work but they are excited it's done and are looking forward to the weekend, so they seem to be in great moods.  Saturday night crowds have allowed their bodies to crash from the week and it's brutal.

As an audience member, Tuesdays.  The only people who want to be at the theater are people who really want to be at the theater. 

[Lot666]

Posted: 10/31/18 at 11:32am

dramamama611 said: "I truly dislike most matinees, but Weds are the WORST."

Agreed. In my experience, matinees tend to have the worst-behaved audiences, with weekday matinees being particularly off-putting.