#26
Posted: 9/17/17 at 12:14pm
I've seen four different Alexander Hamiltons, Lin included, and Luwoye is the greatest of them all. He's beyond stunning in the role.
Hamilton bway vs Hamilton tour- which to see? — Page 2
#27
Posted: 9/17/17 at 12:27pm
sabrelady said: "Thanks guys this was my instinct too. This seems to happen a lot w a hit show once the original cast leave- they all start doing tracks. ( Phantom Les Mis Wicked The Producers) I guess people want bragging rights to say they saw a hard to get show. No plans to go to Chicago ( heard good things about the production) so will just hang tuff and wait til it comes to TO. I'm a bit too old to stand in line and wait for cancellations esp if I'm going to be underwhelmed."
Good choice. What do you think you will see instead?
#28
Posted: 9/17/17 at 1:08pm
I heard from a friend that when the H tour comes to Seattle, some tickets are $1,500!!! I would never pay that much to see a show, let alone on seat.
#29
Posted: 9/18/17 at 3:10pm
IMO there's still nothing like Broadway, I'd see Hamilton there.
#30
Posted: 9/18/17 at 3:32pm
Like many others, I saw the OBC and then returned to see it again in November 2016 (Javier Munoz was out). I was extremely disappointed. Maybe we saw it on an off night but performances appeared very phoned-in. Save your money and catch it on tour.
#31
Posted: 9/18/17 at 3:43pm
If the ticket prices were comparable, I might say Broadway simply because the RR is so much smaller than a lot of touring houses. (Have no idea about Toronto theaters, however.) So I could possibly see going if it were a better seat location, and if prices were similar. But since you're talking rear mezz AND and inflated price, definitely wait for the tour. With the time frame you have in mind, there's no telling what either cast will be like, so might as well see it for a reasonable cost.
#32
Posted: 9/19/17 at 10:32am
If the touring house in Toronto is a typical 2000+ seat hall, it's a different (and lesser) experience than seeing it in a Broadway house, which will be half that size. Being closer to the show is always more fun. And if you never saw the OBC, you can't compare it for yourself, aside from the recording. I would say the main thing with Hamilton is to NOT see the show cold, no matter where you see it. Listen to the cast recording often. Get the book (Hamilton: The Revolution) and peruse it as you listen. Watch the PBS documentary (several times). Otherwise, too much of what happens and too much of what is sung will just buzz by, in one ear and out the other, and you won't fully appreciate the show. This is a show worth preparing for, no matter which production you see.
#33
Posted: 9/19/17 at 11:39am
^^^ In my opinion, any show that requires that much prep isn't a good show. The show should make these plot points clear enough. If not, it's not doing its job. I had no trouble following the show from the rear mezzanine and only had given the recording a brief listen and had a cursory knowledge of Hamilton's life. I will say again that $400 is too much for rear mezzanine seats especially now.
#34
Posted: 9/19/17 at 1:08pm
CollegeDreamer said: "I heard from a friend that when the H tour comes to Seattle, some tickets are $1,500!!! I would never pay that much to see a show, let alone on seat."
It doesn't ever matter what "some tickets" are selling for.
#35
Posted: 9/19/17 at 1:35pm
I second the comments about considering the theater. I saw "Hamilton" once at the Private Bank in Chicago, and three times in the RR. No comparison. The Private Bank theater felt like the architect accepted a challenge to make every seat in the house as awful as possible. The RR felt intimate and warm - the PB felt like a cavern. I didn't go up to the mezzanine at PB, but it looked like it was set considerably further back than in the RR.
Even if the OBC was kind of a unicorn, that doesn't mean the other casts are awful. I saw the OBC twice (minus Lin once), the original Chicago cast, and the cast with Javi plus whoever all were replacements with him, and all were fantastic experiences in their own ways. I didn't feel that actors were phoning it in. Different interpretations, yes (in some cases very different!), and people's preferences will vary. If it's going to be your only "Hamilton" - I predict you'll love it. In which case I'd choose the best available seat in the best available theater to you, at your price point.
#36
Posted: 9/19/17 at 2:23pm
I sat in the mezzanine at the Private Bank Theatre for Hamilton last November. I thought my seat was fine, and not far removed from the production. I saw the original Broadway cast twice (Christopher Jackson was out both times), and the Chicago production twice. I preferred the Chicago cast. That being said, I preferred Sydney James Harcourt as George Washington in comparison to Jonathan Kirkland (Chicago).
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Updated On: 9/19/17 at 02:23 PM
#37
Posted: 9/20/17 at 11:45am
I saw the SF show a few times and the Broadway cast last week. I actually liked the Broadway cast (with Euan and Lexi being the two that I felt a bit "meh" about). One thing that I wonder however is if they changed some of the choreography for the tour. I remember there being a longer solo dance by Mulligan during the "I remember death..." part of My Shot that's repeated in the monologue at the end. I didn't see the same thin on Broadway, or rather, it seemed a lot shorter.
#38
Posted: 9/21/17 at 12:06am
Miles2Go2 said: "^^^ Inmy opinion, any show that requires that much prep isn't a good show. The show should make these plot points clear enough. If not, it's not doing its job. I had no trouble following the show from the rear mezzanine and only had given the recording a brief listen and had a cursory knowledge of Hamilton'slife. I will say again that $400 is too much for rear mezzanine seats especially now."
I don't mean to make it sound like homework, but I guarantee a viewer will have richer experience if s/he knows something about the people and events portrayed. In addition, the more you listen and read about the musical choices made by Lin and Kail, the richer the musical experience is, too, even just riding around in my car. Just like Shakespeare's history plays--it helps to know who the heck the characters are and what the conflict is in advance.
#39
Posted: 9/21/17 at 9:02am
I've seen Luwoye both on Broadway and in SF. I am quite partial to seeing it in NYC as the Richard Rogers theatre is such a great small and intimate theatre. But $400 is too much for rear mezzanine. Catch the tour instead. Currently, the touring cast is great.
#40
Posted: 9/21/17 at 9:40am
I agree with Miles2G. My sister and my brother-in-law recently saw Hamilton for the first time, in the RR, and both of them went in cold. They had no trouble following everything that happened. The show's storytelling is that good. So listen to the OBC if you like, but it's not necessary to "study" up.
Updated On: 9/21/17 at 09:40 AM
#41
Posted: 9/21/17 at 10:24am
velevele said: "I second the comments about considering the theater. I saw "Hamilton" once at the Private Bank in Chicago, and three times in the RR. No comparison. The Private Bank theater felt like the architect accepted a challenge to make every seat in the house as awful as possible. The RR felt intimate and warm - the PB felt like a cavern. I didn't go up to the mezzanine at PB, but it looked like it was set considerably further back than in the RR.
Even if the OBC was kind of a unicorn, that doesn't mean the other casts are awful. I saw the OBC twice (minus Lin once), the original Chicago cast, and the cast with Javi plus whoever all were replacements with him, and all were fantastic experiences in their own ways. I didn't feel that actors were phoning it in. Different interpretations, yes (in some cases very different!), and people's preferences will vary. If it's going to be your only "Hamilton" - I predict you'll love it. In which case I'd choose the best available seat in the best available theater to you, at your price point."
YES. The Private Bank is terrible. We were only a few rows back in the balcony and had to lean forward to see the front of the stage and still couldn't see what was going on if the actors went up too far. That said, I really enjoyed the Chicago cast nearly as much (or more?) than the broadway cast. TBH, I would wait for it to tour unless you have money to burn.
#42
Posted: 9/21/17 at 4:00pm
When we saw Hamilton last month in Chicago, we sat in one of the boxes on the right side of the theater at the the Private Bank and loved our seats, despite the fact that much of the far right side of the stage was not visible. We felt very close to the stage and could easily see the faces of the actors, and the boxes have moveable chairs so you could slightly adjust your seat if necessary.
Seeing it at the Pantages last night was a very different experience. We were close to the center of the theater in row R, which is only halfway back and is in front of where the mezz starts, but still feels so far away from the stage. However, I liked many of the actors more for their roles, and with the exceptions of Chris Lee and (at the time) Karen Olivo, the LA cast was preferable. Michael Luwoye is absolutely fantastic. Solea Pfeiffer was out, but Raven Thomas was a great replacement Eliza.
#43
Posted: 9/21/17 at 8:26pm
Found out unexpectedly that I’ll be in Chicago for work next month. The only time I saw Hamilton was with OBC from nosebleed seat (last row) of rear mezzanine. So I’m excited to see it from a closer seat where my bad knees aren’t in total agony. From what I recall, the reviews of the Chicago Ham cast are good? Looks like decent Orchestra seats are running around $400 or right under with fees. I want a decent view and more leg room (aisle seats seem scarce to non-existent). Any helpful advice is welcome.
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