Do You Remember Your First Time?

[Cat Guy]

Posted: 6/29/17 at 10:40pm

What was the first professional stage production (play, musical or something else) that you saw?  Please share your memories.

In 1966, when I was 19, I took my mother to a theater-in-the-round in Salt Lake City to see "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" starring the glorious Jane Powell.  Miss Powell was a particular favorite of my mother.  Two weeks later, I left home to begin my great adventure as a sailor in the United States Navy.  I have always been grateful that Ma and I had those few happy hours together.

 

Updated On: 6/29/17 at 10:40 PM

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 6/29/17 at 10:46pm

2010, IN THE HEIGHTS on tour at the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh.

It was during one of the biggest snowstorms we've had in my lifetime (we call it "snowmageddon", but we (my sister and me) trekked the hour or so into the city anyway. We had seen the Tony performance and were blown away so had to see it!

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 6/29/17 at 10:49pm

1992's perfect revival of "Guys and Dolls."  It was my birthday, and I was hooked from the moment the overture began.

[DrFrasierCrane]

Posted: 6/29/17 at 10:56pm

I saw Phantom of the Opera on tour with my mother. I think I was 9 or 10 so I can't say I remember much. My seat was right beneath the chandelier. I was amazed at how dynamic the sets were, certainly a far cry from the community theatre I was used to. The program is still is my closet somewhere.

[NoName3]

Posted: 6/29/17 at 10:56pm

The first national tour of the original production of My Fair Lady, on its last leg in 1962. I was very young but still remember all of it vividly. I was hooked for a lifetime and am still in love with Gaylea Byrne.

[Malka2]

Posted: 6/29/17 at 11:01pm

My mom to me to a college production of Brigadoon twenty years or so ago. I must have been around 9 or 10, and I was MESMERIZED. In my mind I couldn't quite separate the actors from their characters, so to me that was actual Brigadoon happening in that room...

It's funny but I just realized that to this day I still pursue that moment in a show when I'm completely absorbed in the performance and that becomes the reality of the moment rather than actors on a stage... It's that feeling from when I was nine that I want to experience again.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/29/17 at 11:04pm

1972.  The original Broadway production (and cast) of Bob Fosse's PIPPIN.  Imperial Theatre.  I was 7 years old.  

I had already been frequenting Manhattan years before but that production was the very first one my parent's finally took me to see along with them.  I was blown away completely with the "live" aspect.  Here is also when my obsession with Bob Fosse began.  His film version of CABARET came out shortly then his NBC TV Special LIZA WITH A Z aired.  He was EVERYWHERE that year which I'm sure fueled the fire.  

I've quickly lost count how many Broadway shows I've seen since each season and how many shows I 2nd Acted just for sh*ts and giggles.  Times Square was indeed magical in the 1970s and 80s.  

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 6/29/17 at 11:07pm

There have been threads on this subject before and that's okay. But I'm not going to apologize for repeating myself. LOL

The first professional production of a musical I saw was MARY, a musical about Mary Queen of Scots in a pre-Broadway tryout. It starred Inga Swenson as Mary and John Cullum as Bothwell.

I was 12 and thought the show was thrilling! My mother explained at length that I was wrong. No hands were held.

My first experience of a professional production of a show that had been on Broadway was Ethel Merman and Russell Nype in CALL ME MADAM. I saw it a few months after MARY. Nobody said I was wrong to like it.

ETA: The first show above was in the Fall of 1966, the second in the Spring of 1967.

Updated On: 6/30/17 at 11:07 PM

[hork]

Posted: 6/29/17 at 11:29pm

I believe mine was a regional production of Big River in 1991. A friend of my mom's had tickets that she couldn't use for that night, so she gave them to my sister and me. I remember the seats were in the front row of the mezzanine, dead center, which were great in theory, except there was absolutely no leg room and a rather high barrier in front of us. We both had to lean forward with our arms and chins resting on the barrier for the entire show, just to sit comfortably and see everything.

Other than that, I really liked the show, although I don't remember much about it.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 6/29/17 at 11:40pm

That I vividly remember? I want to say a tour of the riverdance when it played here in Chicago at the auditorium theatre. I remember prior I was obsessed with the VHS tape of the riverdance and I was absolutely thrilled to be seeing it live. My main memory prior to entering the theatre was watching happy feet in the van ride downtown. Then when we got to our seats I needed to get a booster seats since I was too small. 

[CallMeAl2]

Posted: 6/29/17 at 11:43pm

Kathrine Hepburn in Coco at the Dorthy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, the last stop on the short National Tour. Watching Kathrine Hepburn act in front of you is a life changing experience. It was also the first time I had ever seen a gay character  portrayed on stage (or on anything, for that matter).

[hork]

Posted: 6/29/17 at 11:44pm

Of course, technically, my first professional stage production was whatever Disneyland show I saw first. I remember one about the Mickey Mouse Club, so that was probably it.

[asoftplacetoland]

Posted: 6/30/17 at 12:13am

My first time going to see a professional production was for my 10th birthday. It was at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta and it was the national tour of Shrek. Really shows how young I am hahaha. I remember loving it and wanting to buy every single piece of merchandise. I also remember trying to make sure every article of clothing I wore was green. I took 4 friends and we were SO excited. Still kind of have a soft spot for that particular show. Mine isn't that insightful considering it wasn't that long ago but it was amazing. 

[theatreguy12]

Posted: 6/30/17 at 12:54am

Fiddler on the Roof.  In '71 or '72.  Just before it closed.  Was about 7 years old.

[TheThreadMaster]

Posted: 6/30/17 at 1:00am

My family and I went to Shrek in October of 2009 and I have been hooked ever since with no signs of release.

[StephieElise]

Posted: 6/30/17 at 1:13am

Annie at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne (still my favourite theatre) starring Anthony Warlow at the matinee on Wednesday 25 April 2001 (which is a public holiday here in Australia so I'm not too crazy for remembering the date!). I was 10 and my sisters and I all received the tickets from my grandfather and his wife for our birthdays. 4 years later the girl who played Molly enrolled at my school and became one of my best friends. 

[Ahmy]

Posted: 6/30/17 at 1:13am

First professional show was in 2013, a local company's production of Avenue Q. It was great, but I remember being surprised at how many children were in the audience.

[PatrickDC]

Posted: 6/30/17 at 3:32am

A semi-professional summer stock production of MAN OF LA MANCHA. I was 10'ish. I can still see the set vividly, granite walls of the prison with huge stone steps. I was in a fancy theater, and yet here was a massive prison before me. Set the *ahem* stage for a lifelong love of musical theater in general and set design specifically. 

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 6/30/17 at 3:59am

Bandcamp.  The year was 77.

[BroadwayLover4]

Posted: 6/30/17 at 6:58am

A high school production of "Oklahoma!" changed my life forever in fourth grade. I knew that I would be doing that in a school for my vocation. I am today!!!

My first Broadway show was "Purlie" with Clevon Little and Melba Moore. Whenever I hear that title show on Sirius; it takes me back to that magical Sunday matinee.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/30/17 at 7:00am

I'd been performing in shows since I was in 2nd grade, so I was already hooked on live theater, but it wasnt until I was in 10th grade,  that my sister took me to my first Broadway show.

1978, Grease. I hated it.  (Still do!)

Obviously, it didn't do any long term damage for my love of theater.

 

 

[LJD123]

Posted: 6/30/17 at 7:18am

It was my 15th birthday and my mother, grandmother and I got all dressed up and went into town (Boston) to see Cats.  It was snowing and I remember my grandfather dropped us off at the theater.  I loved the costumes and dancing, but I don't think any of us knew WHAT was going on with the storyline.....  I remember my grandmother talking about what a disappointment it was afterwards.  Didn't keep me away from the theater though

[Allegra23]

Posted: 6/30/17 at 7:48am

I think I was 7 when my mom took me to see Sound of Music at our regional theater in the '80s, while my dad and baby sister stayed home. I remember we dressed up, it was winter time so I had like a black velvet skirt and a nice cardigan. I don't remember much about the show - I think I was too overwhelmed by the excitement of a special event and the general experience of the theater crowd and nice theater etc. Since then, I've fallen in love with the movie, but have never seen another theater production of it.

 

First Broadway show was the revival of Promises, Promises in 2010. It was amazing and Sean Hayes was so funny; I didn't know it was possible to love live theater so much.

[Lot666]

Posted: 6/30/17 at 8:28am

The Rocky Horror Show, way back in January of 1981.

[A0326T]

Posted: 6/30/17 at 8:46am

I was 19. They're Playing Our Song. ...