Front row seats

[BroadwayBelle2]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 3:46pm

How are front row seats? Are they too close?
My friend saw Lion King in front row and thought it was too close b/c he could see the people under the masks.

Updated On: 10/18/08 at 03:46 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 3:46pm

It depends on the theatre and the show.

Wait, he could see their bodies, too, right?

[BroadwayBelle2]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 3:48pm

I guess Updated On: 10/18/08 at 03:48 PM

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 3:52pm

I cant see their faces??? Can you?

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 3:56pm

...or their bodies???

[BroadwayBelle2]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 4:06pm

I'm sure these weren't the only costumes in the show.

[mc1227]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 4:13pm

I usually don't like front row seats because you can see spit flying out of everyone's mouth and how heavy their makeup is. That is a turn off for me. About 5-7 rows back have been the best seats for some of the shows I have seen.

[Gobstopper]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 6:21pm

I love sitting in the front row. I've done it twice.

I sat front row at Spring Awakening on Broadway. Christine Estabrook winked at me during curtain call and a few people sang directly to me at different points (including Lea Michele during "Mama Who Bore Me" which was the first song I ever heard on Broadway).

I also sat front row at the Spelling Bee tour and the seat beside me was empty. Andrew Keenan-Bolger jumped up in that chair and patted me on the head during "Pandemonium." He also pointed to my mom and waved when he was talking to his "parents."

And you CAN see everybody's face in the Lion King. That's the point.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 6:25pm

I sat front row for Lion King, and it was fine. Although it might be nicer to see the show from a bit further back so you can admire the scenery, sitting front row was a great experience. One of the giraffes comes really close to you during "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" if you're front row center.

[April Saul]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 6:32pm

This varies SO much that you'd be better off asking this question about a specific show and/or theater...it can be great if the stage is low but if the stage is high, a little annoying.

[legally_popular]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 6:34pm

I love sitting front row. I get so much more into the show and you can notice facial expressions and stuff you'd miss further back. I love being so close to the actors, although at Gypsy it may have been a little overwhelming at times when Patti and Laura looked directly at me... I almost died, lol. I kinda bug out when an actor makes eye contact with me, but it's exciting because they're RIGHT THERE.

[BroadwayBelle2]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 7:01pm

Did you get the ripped up letter thrown at you at Gypsy?
Updated On: 10/18/08 at 07:01 PM

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 7:25pm

The front row at Gypsy is AMAZING, i got an apple :)

[StarUsher]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 7:41pm

I did front row for Aida at the Palace in 2000 (back when I could still do student rush) and I thought the seats were great. Especially when Adam Pascal sang part of Fortune Favaors the Brave directly in front of me.
Updated On: 10/18/08 at 07:41 PM

[VocalLizzy]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 7:58pm

I've sat in front row at Rock of Ages...first five rows is HIGHLY recommended...think of the fun you have in the front rows of a rock concert...this isn't too far off.

Miss Lizzy

[SillySara]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 7:58pm

I really enjoy sitting in the front row at shows. The only time that sitting in the front row can be a little "hazardous" is when a performer is singing their hearts out right in front of you and end up being a spitter (went to 13 last night, ended up front row with a student rush ticket and was spit on multiple times). But I absolutely love sitting in front because I think it makes the whole experience even more special.

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 8:33pm

I don't like sitting in the front row. it is too close for me. I like to be 5 or more rows back. The last time I sat in the front row was for Smokey Joe's Cafe here in Denver when it was touring. During the curtain call, one of the actors spit on my best friend who was visiting from Philly and I treated him to the show. A semi shocked look came over the actors face. We left the show and went to a bar for drinks. The actor walked into the bar and saw us. he walked over and apologized perfusely for spitting on my friend. He then hung out with us for a bit. That was very cool and nice of him.

[Jonna]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 9:50pm

I love front row seats!

I have seen Rent, Spamalot, Spring Awakening, Hairspray, and Gypsy from the front row. I think it is such an amazing experience seeing it from the front row. It makes it very special to see all of this from so close up.

I agree with some of the other posts. Such as in SA when Lea Michele sings to those in the front row... it is such a crazy feeling. Oh and to that posted: How did you feel about My Junk when they are on the steps? Very close! haha

Oh and GYPSY I was about to explode haha Patti LuPone singing down to you, blowing kisses, etc. I wish I got an apple or the letter though but sitting so close to someone like that is amazing! It was a bit hard to see some things and the light bulbs and some lighting was a bit much but it was so worth it.

I think it does depend on the show and the theatre though.

[Nicole3293]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 11:03pm

i saw avenue q, gypsy, mama mia, and in the heights in the front row

Aveune Q and In The Heights were great front row cause the stage wasnt to high.

Gypsy was great front row cause Patti waved at the end of roses turn and winked at me! But you really couldnt see when they were on the floor or any of there feet. Which isnt a big deal but kinda annoyin in the beggining.
And Mamma mia the stage is just a little to high up as well.

Really depends on the theater!

[kate2]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 11:15pm

Hairspray is the only show I've sat in the front row for and I would rather be farther back. The stage is pretty high, and when the actors were right by the edge of the stage I felt like a "Peeping Tom" because I had to look straight up to see anything. So that was a little weird, but the show was definitely a ton of fun to be close to.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 11:17pm

I didn't find the Winter Garden (Mamma Mia) stage high at all. In fact, I thought it was lower than some other theaters I've been to. I found the stages higher at the Lunt-Fontanne, Al Hirschfeld, and Palace.

[sgv123]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 11:44pm

does gypsy have a high or low stage? Also......are most or all student rush seats front row?

[CarolynaGirl]

Posted: 10/19/08 at 12:18am

The Gypsy stage is high.
They give out front row first then various other areas (boxes, side orchestra, etc.)

[Marianne2]

Posted: 10/19/08 at 2:29am

I definitely recommend the first row at the Helen Hayes Theater. I know that is getting a couple of shows in there in the next few months, but that is where I saw Xanadu for the first time. That was amazing having Cheyenne Jackson so close. LOL!

[rentheadca]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 9:04am

I love front row so much! I've only been in front row through lotto, and it's great. In The Heights is such a great show to see from front row, and Rent was too. Hairspray was a little annoying, since it was really high. One of the actresses sang right to me though, which was fun. The guy who was playing Corny dropped the cap of his Hairspray can in the seat next to me