Posted: 4/9/15 at 12:21pm
And while we're at it, the shortening of my SCREEN NAME to a nick name - Is that supposed to be insulting or is that your way of talking down to me? Because whenever someone does that, I always find it amusing that that's their way of being "cute" and trying to be superior in some way.
Posted: 4/9/15 at 12:23pm
And please, my dear ammonia, tell me what part of what I described in my initial posting was me with a playbill in my ass? Please let myself and everyone else know what part of what I described was my overreacting to the situation.
Posted: 4/9/15 at 12:27pm
Ladies, puhleeze. Can't we be civilized people.
Posted: 4/9/15 at 12:28pm
I'm a man. I'm not a lady.
It's always just a matter of time until someone like amoni comes into a thread and starts complaining about it.
Updated On: 4/9/15 at 12:28 PM
Posted: 4/9/15 at 12:33pm
I'm going to date myself with this response. Around 1958, when I was seven years old, my parents decided to take me to NY to see My Fair Lady, my first musical. Mymother explained how it worked: I would have to sit very still and not talk during the performance and I wouldn't be able to get up to go to the bathroom until the intermission. There was no refreshment stand in the theater so I wasn't loading up on junk food and drinks so I COULD sit still for each act. I wanted to "practice" by sitting very still in my little kid chair watching Romper Room. So, I learned to be a respectful theater goer from a young age.
I realize that it's all about money now so the producers could care less about how families behave once they've paid for tickets. I'm sure the same thing happens all of the country for shows on tour.
If this is how they behave in public, I don't even want to think what their home lives are like. Gross.
Posted: 4/9/15 at 12:38pm
When I was a kid, my parents sort of did the same thing with me. My first show was PETER PAN when I was 6 and I'm told we "practiced" how to behave before it, also.
Posted: 4/9/15 at 1:22pm
My first show was Peter Pan too! I was about 8, and even though I do not remember anyone telling me how to behave (it was my mom's first show as well), I remember everyone in our group were as respectful that day as we still are today in the theater. I think it is obvious in a live performance of any kind (except rock/pop concerts - maybe?) that one should respect the performers and others in the audience by being quiet and paying attention to the performance. (Heck, my family does not even talk, use the phone, or eat anything loud in the movies!) I have no idea why this concept is so unclear to some others. But thankfully, I have never been to a show with people behaving extremely badly - the worst I've seen were some children talking during Spiderman, and it wasn't too bad so it did not bother me.
Posted: 4/9/15 at 1:38pm
And my first show was The Lion King and my grandmother took me and she made sure I was silent, still, attentive, and well-behaved. That's all there is to it.
Posted: 4/9/15 at 7:28pm
Sorry you had such a terrible experience. My daughters are in NY from NC and saw it last night. Got text from them and they loved the show. My youngest daughter said the closing number for Act 1 was great. They said the stage door was crazy but Matthew Morrison did come out and was very nice. They did not mention any audience problems but did not chat with them yet.
Posted: 4/9/15 at 7:36pm
My first show was Beauty and the Beast when I was 5. My parents took me to high school shows first in order to see if I was ready to go to a Broadway musical. They even taught me theatre etiquette (ex. wait until the musical number is over if you need to leave to go to the bathroom and if you know the words to the song - don't sing aloud). I think parents aren't looking enough into a show before they bring their kids into it.
Posted: 4/9/15 at 7:42pm
Again though, my biggest problem wasn't the kids but the adults. The adults who WORK there.
Posted: 4/9/15 at 7:50pm
Jordan, so sorry to hear about this awful experience at the Lunt. Dear mr Weinstein, maybe instead of allegedly groping an attractive European model you should be placing more of your/underlings attention to the ushers and house managers at the L-F! The price of going to a Broadway musical aside, this behavior is unexceptionable. It sounds like I'm almost lucky being stuck ou here in the hinterlands and I will simply let mr. Weinstein and all those involved in the original cast to make their money off of me by the purchase of the OBC recording.
Posted: 4/9/15 at 8:11pm
Mr. Weinstein doesn't care about anything you mentioned. He cares about money, being rapey, and cheesecake. The end.
Posted: 4/9/15 at 11:28pm
During previews, I had a good experience during the Saturday evening performance in the rear mezzanine. The only thing that struck me as highly inappropriate was a single absurdly loud "Awwwww" when a particular emotional scene occurred. I did notice that the ushers seemed a bit lackluster, though. They didn't deliver any warning about phones that I saw, and they seated people at odd times when they arrived late. Not during musical numbers, but halfway through some scenes.
Posted: 4/9/15 at 11:31pm
I did rush about 3 weeks ago and was front row house left. Was surprised how many young kids were in the audience for a Wednesday matinee. The woman behind me had to keep explaining the show to her kid. Was getting annoying.
Posted: 4/10/15 at 10:06am
I got a standing room ticket for last night's show and was pleasantly surprised to experience none of the things mentioned here. It's possible Jordan Catalano just had an especially high number of kids in the audience with him, since it was a Wednesday matinee, but I also didn't have an issue with any of the ushers. Maybe someone spoke with them, but they were very respectful and quiet throughout the performance. There weren't a ton of kids in the audience but those that were there were as quiet as could really be expected. I saw an usher go up to a little girl who was talking and ask her to stop, and another asked someone to put away his cell phone. (These were both done as quietly as possible; I just noticed both because they were in my line of vision.)
I just wanted to post my experience so people would know that it isn't always bad doing SRO for Finding Neverland! That being said, however, know that you are pretty far back (the orchestra is huge) and that the wall you need to see over is pretty high. I wouldn't recommend it for anyone under about 5'3"/5'4" and even if you're a little taller than that, you can't comfortably lean on the ledge as you can at most theaters with SRO.
Posted: 4/10/15 at 10:11am
That's very good to hear. Hopefully someone passed this thread onto the staff there.
Posted: 4/10/15 at 5:05pm
I so hear you Jordan Catalano. I've spoke of these concerns multible times here because it's becoming an everytime thing. That nonsense of waiting on line to get into the theatre is absurd. To have to get to the theatre at 7:15 for an 8:00 show is ridiculous. I don't have an answer except taking Patti L. with me when I attend the theatre.
Updated On: 4/10/15 at 05:05 PM
Posted: 4/10/15 at 7:16pm
"I wouldn't recommend it for anyone under about 5'3"/5'4" and even if you're a little taller than that, you can't comfortably lean on the ledge as you can at most theaters with SRO."
Thanks for the tip. I'm short and don't relish the idea of wearing heels to stand that long.
Posted: 4/10/15 at 11:00pm
I'm surprised to hear that 'Finding Neverland' is selling standing room while it's still in previews. Often, shows won't sell it until after they've opened. Sometimes, the creatives like to watch the show from back there, so they like to keep it clear.
Sounds like their rush offers a much better view that's very close to the stage.
