Going to theatre alone? — Page 2

I discovered the beauty of going solo to see a show back in 1994.  Though I was coming into NYC every year since I was a little kid in the 1970s, I always went with someone  or a small group to see shows on Broadway. 

 

In 1994 the friends I was with on this particular trip had NO interest in seeing shows so I didn't let that bummer my trip.  Vanessa Williams was in KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN, the Victor Garber/Bebe Neuwirth revival of DAMN YANKEES, the original cast of Disney's BEAUTY & THE BEAST and the Rosie O'Donnell revival of GREASE! were piping hot and I couldn't miss these.  

 

The first treat was the vast selection of front center orchestra seats I had to pick from.  The second treat was not having to deal with friends bitching or the endless "oh my God, wasn't she/he in this and isn't that the girl/guy who was in that movie?" questions every time an actor appeared on stage.  I for once was able to immerse myself 125% into the show and it quickly became a tradition that to this day friends know I hate going to see shows with others so they know it's a privilege if I ask someone to join me.  The rare few times.  

When I do my NY theater trips, I always go alone.  I do enjoy planning my day around by myself, which can be a lot of fun.  Would I like to have someone to go with?  Obviously.  But don't know anyone obsessive enough about theater to see 7 or 8 shows in five days as I do.

I usually go along and generally don't mind it.  The only time I needed to search around for a companion was when I was the lottery for Hamilton last week and had bought 2 tickets - that was certainly not hard to find someone to attend with me!

I love going to the theater by myself but not always. I've see more theater alone than with company, but it's been a good mix.

I'll check for interest but only run into the begging situation if it's a 2-for-1 deal, etc. The majority of my friends aren't into theater, so I'm glad that I've discovered the handful who do share the common interest.

There's a lot more flex in going alone -- I don't have to convince anyone else to go or worry about coordination, which can be a pain with everyone on different schedules. And it's much easier to do digital lottery, 20at20, etc. Plus the seats are better.

On the flip side, having company is always nice, especially on the long train ride home. Intermission hasn't been a problem though because I spend most of it waiting on the restroom line, anyway!

Another boon with having company is that I like to stage door, so it's nice to have someone to wait with, and quite a number of my friends are really great about being my personal paparazzo, too (I hate selfies).

I think seeing theater is one of those things that's perfectly fine to do on your own (among a lot of other things -- like traveling alone! or visiting museums alone!), and you realize it's not weird at all once you've done it. Plus you can miss out if you don't. I wish I had that attitude when NPH was Hedwig but that was before. Obviously knowing what I know now, I would have just gone by myself.

I like going to shows with friends who like theatre as much as I do. We can sit silently (that is, without speaking) and enjoy the show and then talk it over afterwards. Same thing with family. If I'm bringing a date, he's paying because with few exceptions they're always distracting. But mostly I go to the theatre alone because it's just easier if you're seeing that many shows to not have to worry about someone else's schedule and all the other nonsense. 

Dave13 said: "Keiichi2 said: "When I do my NY theater trips, I always go alone.  I do enjoy planning my day around by myself, which can be a lot of fun.  Would I like to have someone to go with?  Obviously.  But don't know anyone obsessive enough about theater to see 7 or 8 shows in five days as I do.

 

"

Word for word, this pretty much is what I would have written. I can find someone to go with, but it is hard to find someone that can do a marathon like a typically do. Not many people can sit in a dark Theater for 7 or 8 shows over 5 days. Its really hard to find someone that enjoys theater as much as I do. 

 

Also, when I am in NYC, depending on my mood, sometimes I feel lazy and hang out most of the day in the hotel, or I leave the hotel at the crack of dawn and don't come back until after midnight. It's nice to do whatever I feel like without a set schedule. When you are with someone, there are a lot of compromises, and I seem to enjoy the trip more by myself. 

 

"

Just curious, do you have a favorite hotel in NY, or do you usually try some place different?  My "home" in NY is The Michelangelo on W 51st Street, right behind the Winter Garden theater.  Great location for shows, fantastic service, and given the quality of the hotel and location, decent price. (I'm paying $1,368 for five nights, and they always give me a free upgrade to one of their better suites.)

 

My next trip is Saturday, April 2nd to the Thursday the 7th, and as always, the anticipation is great!

Keiichi2 said: "Dave13 said: "Keiichi2 said: "When I do my NY theater trips, I always go alone.  I do enjoy planning my day around by myself, which can be a lot of fun.  Would I like to have someone to go with?  Obviously.  But don't know anyone obsessive enough about theater to see 7 or 8 shows in five days as I do.

 

"

Word for word, this pretty much is what I would have written. I can find someone to go with, but it is hard to find someone that can do a marathon like a typically do. Not many people can sit in a dark Theater for 7 or 8 shows over 5 days. Its really hard to find someone that enjoys theater as much as I do. 

 

Also, when I am in NYC, depending on my mood, sometimes I feel lazy and hang out most of the day in the hotel, or I leave the hotel at the crack of dawn and don't come back until after midnight. It's nice to do whatever I feel like without a set schedule. When you are with someone, there are a lot of compromises, and I seem to enjoy the trip more by myself. 

 

"

Just curious, do you have a favorite hotel in NY, or do you usually try some place different?  My "home" in NY is The Michelangelo on W 51st Street, right behind the Winter Garden theater.  Great location for shows, fantastic service, and given the quality of the hotel and location, decent price. (I'm paying $1,368 for five nights, and they always give me a free upgrade to one of their better suites.)

 

My next trip is Saturday, April 2nd to the Thursday the 7th, and as always, the anticipation is great!

 

"

I typically stay at the same hotel or "home". When I travel, I stay at Marriott Brand Hotels. My choice is the Springhill Suites on 37th. I usually go to NYC about twice a year and have been at the same hotel for over 3-4 years. Nice rooms and I do not feel like I am getting ripped off like the full service hotels. 

I don't mind going to shows alone and do quite often - as others have said, the only thing I really miss is discussing the show during intermission and afterwards.

I'm always a little nervous about going to a show with someone for the first time because you never know how they're going to behave. I have a lovely friend who had a spare ticket for the touring production of Phantom and invited me along. I'd never seen it (I know, really?) so I thought, why not. Turned out she was one of those people who like to chat during the performance. I tried to just ignore her as much as possible but it was awkward. I doubt I'll go to anything with her again.

I do enjoy going to shows with my older son because he loves theater too, so we can have great discussions. AND we raised him to BE SILENT during a performance When he and his brother were younger we did a lot of stage-dooring. I used to just stand back and let them meet the actors, who were almost always very friendly and kind. I think we met David Hyde Pierce about three times!

This thread is like a trip through the Asperger's spectrum. Theater is a COMMUNAL art form, after all, and we have PAY PER VIEW for those who want to insure there will be no distractions.

That said, I'm with dramamama, kad, henrik and others: although I usually attend theater with my husband, I have no problem going alone. Nor do I have a problem if my party is broken up and placed in single seats. As someone else said, one shouldn't be talking during the show anyway.

But pre-show, intermission and post-show conversations are part of the theater experience, too. You are NOT responsible if your friend doesn't enjoy the show, because nobody can predict with any certainty how another will respond.

Maybe some of ya'll could pair up and attend a show on the same night. You can each make your own arrangement (I appreciate that coordinating purchases is a hassle), but meet before and after the show.

I met one BWW poster when FOLLIES played the Ahmanson. We chatted briefly before and after the show, and it only added to my enjoyment of the evening. Neither of us acted as if the other were obliged to hang out for hour.

I almost always go alone. Easier to schedule, easier to immerse. I do sometimes wish I had a discussion partner afterwards though.

My feelings exactly. I do have a friend who is less particular than me...who seems to enjoy just about everything, so that works, too.

This thread is like a trip through the Asperger's spectrum.

Maybe some of ya'll could pair up and attend a show on the same night.

 

Gaveston, is it so inconceivable that some people might prefer to go alone? I know I do! 

If your Asperger's diagnosis is accurate, your Lonely Hearts Club idea would likely be hell for us too, but thanks!

Updated On: 3/21/16 at 10:16 PM

A little bit of both! I love making a day out of it with my mom but I also just love seeing shows and I live a lot closer to the city than she does. I enter almost all of the digital lotteries daily, if it's an 8:00 show I'll put in for 2 tickets, if it's a 7:00 show I'll put in for 1 (that extra hour makes finding a buddy easier). Typically for plays I put in for 1 ticket, as I know I'm much more likely to get a friend to come with me to a musical. If you really forced me to pick, I like going with people but I'm not going to not go to a show simply because I can't find another person interested in going. 

I've never actually done, but I always say I want to. It's something I feel like you should do on your second plus visits to a show, the first you should experience it with someone else or a group.