Going To The Theatre Alone — Page 3

A lot depends on the show and how "alone" you are. I don't have a problem being alone if I'm in Rush or Lotto seats but there was this one time that I didn't win lotto (and bunch of my friends had) for rent so I bought cheap tickets (it was someone's last performance) and was a few rows behind. It wouldn't have been that bad except I was on the end then next to me was an empty seat and it was really awakward during some of the emotional parts of the show.

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In DC, I usually go alone. On some rare occasions, I will go with a friend but most of them aren't into the type of theatre I see here or are really annoying when it comes to prices of tickets/show dates.

I often go to NY with my sister, but sometimes go alone. I prefer doing the Broadway thing with her though. It is our special thing and we both like to see as many shows as possible.

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I do alot too... I can see more obscure stuff that I wouldn'd take people to. Save the more popular stuff for groups or a date. Plenty of folks go alone

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I'm a Go ALone guy for the most part until the guilt kicks in and I ask someone to go with me. For the most part, I get lost in the shows, watching at one level, analyzing at another, and any interruption throws me off, even the best intentioned ones. I often go to see a show several times just to get it all, so the fewer distractions the better. I started sneaking into the city to see shows (alone) when I was 14, so I've been doing this for about thirty years. I almost always meet someone on line to chat with and now that I started taking classes again, always manage to meet someone nice on the rush line. That's not to say I won't meet someone from here, for instance, and catch a show if they'd like. It just means that I go into it knowing that it will be a different kind of experience, more of a social event and that's fine too. I just won't expect to have the light plot worked out in my head before I leave .

After just watching the Spring Awakening segment on the Today Show, I now want to go see it alone, after being put off for too long.

I love meeting people in the rush lines. I'm going to see either Spring Awakening or Legally Blonde with someone I met in the Jersey Boys rush line. But I mostly go alone since I'm the only person who really enjoys it. I went with my dad but he has tardiness issues.

Updated On: 4/26/07 at 01:55 PM

shakespherean...are you sure? "I started sneaking into the city to see shows (alone) when I was 14"

and not anywhere else?

:P

Updated On: 4/26/07 at 03:01 PM

Left house @ 5am to get train. Walked from the train station on 42nd to The View on 66th. Walked from the View to Journey's End on 44th. After Journey's End mulled around Times Square until Talk Radio on 48th and then walked back to train station on 42nd. Arrived back home @ 1am. A 20 hour day with LOTS of walking and hanging around - does anyone wonder why I do it ALONE and why wife and daughter think I am nuts ??

I go on my own a lot, and I like it. I agree with Ashley, I worry whether the person that I'm going with is enjoying themself. I saw Sweeney Todd on tour in Birmingham with my mum, and she hated it, and I was enjoying it until I heard that she wasn't at the interval and the edge was taken of the second half for me because I was so worried that she wasn't liking it. I saw SITPWG in London on my own and loved it. I already knew that none of my friends were really into Sondheim and after Sweeney, I didn't want to risk ruining another show with worry.

My ex-boyfriend was a nightmare. Before every show I look him to, he'd tell me if he didn't like it, he'd never go to another with me and he'd constantly grumble about the cost of the tickets and impose stupid limits on them so I'd pay the extra.

In our nearly four year relationship, I took him to see:

The Producers - he liked Springtime for hitler, Ulla and the whole Nazi subplot, but all the theatre in jokes that I love went way over his head.

Joesph - he already knew all the songs, so sang along, but got bored during the mega mix finale

Avenue Q - he loved it (he was 22 and didn't know what he wanted to do) but blamed it for me breaking up with him - apparently our relationship ended because "life isn't like those stupid musicals, there isn't always a happy ending" and Avenue Q gave me ideas about finding a purpose.

/rant

Wow, you guys are brave. I can’t even cross the street of a busy intersection alone without feeling that I’m being judged and looked at.

I live in Seattle and I love the theater. If I could, I would see all the touring shows that stop here. Problem is I don’t want to go alone because I feel like all eyes will be on me and people will judge me. None of my friends are into musicals like I am so most of the time when I really want to go see a show, I end up begging them to come with me and I’m desperate enough to pay for their ticket for them as well.

There were many other shows that I wanted to see but didn’t end up going to because I didn’t want to go alone. I wish I had a Broadway Buddy.

Not only do I worry about being judged, I feel awkward when I’m there by myself and reacting to the show. The people sitting next to me will hear/see me laugh and/or cry, and knowing that I’m alone and doing that, that’s just awkward to me.

In a few hours, I will be purchasing a ticket at the Paramount Theater Box Office for Book of Mormon for when it comes to Seattle in January 2013 and I’m buying it for just myself. It’ll be the first time I see a theater show by myself.

I absolutely cannot miss Book of Mormon and I don’t feel like buying an extra ticket and dragging along someone who doesn’t want to be there, so I’m going alone.

I’ll come back to this forum in January and update on my experience. Wish me luck. :)

Updated On: 9/22/12 at 08:08 AM

Good luck.

Let me ask you one thing to put it into perspective: do YOU judge those around you at the theater? If no, why would you think others are judging you? Truth be told, people could care less about what others are doing as long as it doesn't effect them (or involve gay marriage or abortion).

Not only will I go to the theater alone, but I'll dine alone and vacation alone. I don't do those things alone all the time, but I find it incredibly relaxing. Just ME time, no compromises, no balances.

Lastly, dragging an unwilling participant is hardly a joyous event. Save your money and you can go to twice as many shows. And keep looking to FIND people that ARE theater goers, or at least are willing to give it a try!

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I find it very relaxing to go to a show alone. It's fun to go with others too, but every once in a while it is nice to go alone. Heck my favorite part of the day is my twenty minute drive to work/school where it's just my music and me!

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I've generally found that if you go to a theater and buy a single on the day of the show, the box office staff goes out of their way to find you a great seat (unlike TKTS which usually gives you the last seat on the side aisle).