Do you go see a broadway show for the show or just a performance/performer? — Page 2

I usually go in to see a show for what it is, but sometimes a certain actor is what gains my interest in it. Usually repeated viewings are based on who takes over roles (or if I'm with someone who I recommended it for). For example, I've seen Spamalot to last me for a while, but with Merle coming, I'll definitely be there.

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At $120 a pop, I don't see too many shows just because of a name. I did go see Bernadette Peters in "Tell Me On A Sunday", which I probably would not have seen otherwise. Hugh Jackman certainly in "The Boy from Oz". Other than that, unless you're dealing with a Nicole Kidman/Julia Roberts sort of limited engagement, I think the majority of folk will go see the show first and if they can't get into the show they want then they might go see one because a person they know or a star is in it.

Since I have not seen too many Broadway shows, I usually just go to see the show because it sounded interesting. Actually, last Wednesday was the first time I went to see a show for the second time because I enjoyed it, but to also see if stunt casting turned it into a train wreck.

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commasplice, I like what you said about going to a perfromance of Wicked in Chicago just because Ashford was out.

I have a similar story with Wicked. Towards the beginning of Kerry's run (this was when she built up a reputation for being out the afternoon performance of two show days) I had a ticket to see the show. Having seen it with her once I felt that she was a total let down. I was buying the ticket off of a BBW poster and when I got to the theatre to buy the ticket I see Julie Reiber signing autographs from the afternoon performances. Knowing that Kerry had been taking afternoons off I at first thought that Reiber was just going on for the afternoon performance. After asking her she told me that she was going to be on that night. I did a little happy dance.

But on another note, there are performers that I do like that are in shows I hate. For example, Beth Level is in Young Frankenstein. I love her work but I hate the show that she is in. And, despite loving her work there is no amount of money in the world could get me to sit through that show again.

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1. A lot of times, the performer(s) I like do attract me to a show, but I try to see the show for the show, especially since I'd get disappointed if they were out that day. It depends.

2. If it's a show I've seen before, I like to check out facial expressions and things going in the background and such. But I never look at ONE person the ENTIRE time, and definitely not to the point where I miss the whole show. There are some times when I can't help looking at my favorite performer during certain scenes. For example, in Gypsy during "All I Need Is the Girl," even though that is essentially Tulsa's number, my eyes also tend to stay on Laura for a lot of the time just to watch her b/c I really feel for her character. Or in Wicked, people were giving me weird looks during Dancing Through Life because I was laughing so much. Annaleigh was doing all these hilarious dances and gestures. I guess because everyone else is looking at whoever's playing Fiyero, they didn't know what the hell I was laughing at, lol.

Updated On: 9/1/08 at 11:33 PM

It's a semi-interesting question you ask; I mean, I've gone to see shows for performers (I'm pretty much dragged in to everything by at least one specific person, be it performer, director, or playwright), and I will watch that performer with glee.

But you almost seem to be asking "when you've gone for a performer, do you watch them, then start reading a book/having a snooze/getting a cup of tea whenever they're not onstage?". The answer to that is of COURSE not. I may let the presence of, say, Simon Russell Beale drag me to everything he's in (even if he decides he simply MUST be in a show I've previously vowed never to see again) but I can't think of anything more idiotic than ONLY watching him. Yes, he's brilliant, so I will be drawn to him when he's onstage, but I'm perfectly capable of watching an entire show.

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Honestly, if I could I would see every show at least once, and then see the ones I enjoy as much as possible. This being said, if there is an actor in something that I like, I will see the show for them, if there is a show that looks interesting in general, I will go see that as well. Any reason to get out and go to the theater is good enough for me.

If Kevin Spacey or Kelsey Grammer come back to Broadway I would go to anything they were in. Brian Stokes Mitchell, Idina, and Raul Esparza I love as well.

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I saw Dirty Rotten Scoundrels just to see Joanna Gleason live onstage. (I never have. Only on DVD) I enjoyed the show and her performance but could still kick myself for not seeing Pillowman instead.

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umm.. well, i've never seen it FOR a person, certain performers have gained my interest in a show, (i.e Patti LuPone in Gypsy, Julia Murney In Chess) but i generally go for the show it's self, the performers normally just make it better for me :)

The THREE times I saw Annie Get Your Gun were because of Bernadette, Reba and Cheryl Ladd (I know I'll catch hell for that one, but I was a HUGE Charlie's Angels fan)

I'm not a big fan of AGYG, but circumstances arose where I had the opportunity and wanted to see all three of those ladies on stage.