Do You See A Show Because Of the Show, Individual Performers or Both?

Specifically for me, I see "Chicago" due to the show and some individual cast members. I've memorized large chunks of the dialogue, music (and some of the choreography) throughout the years. It's a simple stage with fairly simple (and skimpy) costumes. Prior to 2011, I really didn't give the show much of a thought. When I saw it for the first time on St. Patrick's Day 2011, I was immediately hooked. Since then, I've seen the show on Broadway or on tour, at least once every year.

For me it just depends. Like for my trip to NYC next month, I'm seeing Aladdin and Dolly for who's in it (I know Major Attaway from the Dallas theater scene). Then I'm seeing The Band's Visit, Spongebob, and Once on This Island for the show, though Lea, and now Norm, being in OOTI doesn't hurt. I'm also seeing Sweeney Todd, both for the show and who's in it.

I live about 300 miles from NYC, so seeing a Broadway show is a big investment of time, travel, and money. It’s worth it to me to spend extra money for face value tickets so I know in advance I’ll have good seats rather than hoping for a bargain at TKTS, rush tickets, etc. This also means I try not to see a show unless I’m excited about the show, itself. A star performer can get sick any day, and so I can’t justify moving mountains to see a particular actor only to be disappointed. I saw DEH largely for Ben Platt’s performance, and I spent much of the trip checking social media to make sure he was healthy. (I got lucky and saw him for the matinee, but he was out sick for that evening’s performance!) I’m glad I saw him, but the experience confirmed what is now my guiding maxim: Would I still be excited to see this show even if [insert name here] called out sick?

There is no actor I would pay to sit through a crappy show for. There are too many things to see and I have too little time to spend in NYC.

However, certain actors in certain roles can do a lot to make me see a show again (I am ensuring I see Medina in Hamilton again), or see one show I'm interested in over another (prioritizing seeing CFA on this trip because I'd like to see Jen) or to avoid a show (Refused to see Phantom with James Barbour).

Prior to my Nov. 2017 trip to NYC, I hadn't made firm plans on seeing "Chicago" that year. First, the national tour hadn't stopped in Texas. Also, I had considered a March trip (warm in Austin, but cold in NYC) or a June trip (warm in both places). But, when I become aware (via Telecharge) that Leigh Zimmerman would make a return as Velma Kelly, that spurred my interest and planning. I used a card for most of the expenses (tickets, hotel and airfare). She was the first Velma that I saw in March 2011. Also, she hadn't performed in the role since then. I figured that this was probably my last chance to see her in the role. That was my main reason for my Nov. 2017 trip. Next time I go to NYC, I do hope to see Hello Dolly and /or Phantom (would be two first time shows). I also might like to see "Beautiful" (b/c of Evan Todd) and "Bronx Tales" (b/c of Adam Kaplan). I'm seeing "Chicago" fairly soon (Feb. 17) when it makes a tour stop in Fort Worth, Texas (the hometown of Dylis Croman --Roxie Hart). I'll get a chance to see Lana Gordon (as Velma Kelly) for the first time.

The show. I don't watch TV or see movies, so I've never heard of a lot of the actors who made their names in either of those media. The one exception was that I flew to NYC for less than 48 hours specifically to see Lin-Manuel Miranda in "Hamilton", one of the best decisions I've ever made. (Of course, he wasn't a "name" for his TV or movie work.)

I would answer yes/no to all, too broad to be definitive across the board.

Both.

dramamama611 said: "AllThatJazz2 -- Question: WOULD you be returning to see Dolly again if you didn't like the show? I wanted to see the show again because I love it (in general) and loved the production. The announcement of Peters and Garber were just icing on the cake!"

If I hadn’t liked Dolly the first time around, Peters and Garber still may have been enough of a draw to lure me in anyway. While I’ve seen him before on stage, it wasn’t a musical, and I’ve never had the privilege of seeing her perform live before. I can also put up with a bad musical far more than I can a bad play (maybe because the music can at least serve as a distraction from bad plot/characterization or vice versa). So I likely would still shell out, though maybe in lesser seats - but that’s a rarity for me. I badly want to see Christian Borle, for example, but I wasn’t going to suffer through Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to do it!

Thankfully Dolly was one of the best theater experiences I’ve ever had in my life, so a return with the new cast was a no-brainer, lol!

Both.

I see Phantom every time I happen to be visiting New York, because of the show. However, there have been times when I booked a trip specifically to see a certain performer play one of the leads (e.g., Sierra Boggess as Christine, Jeremy Stolle or Laird Mackintosh as the Phantom).

I've never been much of a Sondheim fan, but I saw the revival of Sunday in the Park with George specifically because I wanted to see if Jake Gyllenhaal could sing. He can, and I loved the show.