Has ANYONE ever seen all Broadway shows?

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 4:09pm

I was just wondering.... has anyone (with a healthy bank account)ever (presently or in years past) gone to all Broadway shows in a season: I mean going to a show every day until that person has seen all the season's shows. It is within the realm of possibility, but he or she would have to be a VERY dedicated Broadway fan to do such a thing. It would make a remarkable human interest story.
Just wondering.... from Roman in Austin, Texas... the official Patti LuPone FANatic

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 4:31pm

There was a time when I had seen everything playing on Broadway except for Phantom and Spelling Bee. I believe it was either this summer or last. In fact, I still haven't seen those 2 shows.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 4:35pm

Yankeefan007- You have never seen The Phantom Of the Opera?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 4:36pm

People do it all the time -- not just critics, but fans too. It's really not that difficult for those of us who live here. There are only about 40 new Broadway shows a season -- less than one per week over the course of a year. I know I have plenty of weeks where I see 3 or more shows. I saw 5 this week and have tickets for 6 next week (I saw 100 shows last year between Broadway and off-Broadway and have friends that saw more than twice that many). And it's not necessarily that expensive -- all but a small handful of shows offer discounts at some point during the year, plus there's rush, TKTS, TDF, and papering services (I very rarely pay full price for a ticket) .

Updated On: 9/24/06 at 04:36 PM

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 4:44pm

I know you're using discounts, but still, how exactly can you still afford to see all those shows?

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 4:58pm

Seriously! What are your jobs? No matter how many corners you cut, I can't imagine seeing 100 shows in one year. Even at $50 a ticket, that's still $5000!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 4:59pm

It's really not that expensive. I also subscribe to several theatres, so the average ticket price for shows I see at those theatres is usually around $30 - 40 a piece. Right now, I'm going to a bunch of NY Musical Theatre Festival shows and they're $20 a piece. I see a couple of dozen Broadway and off-Broadway shows a year through papering services which are practically free (just a $3 processing fee per show).

One year I figured out the average price for every ticket I bought that year was around $30 - 35. I saw about 100 shows that year, so that worked out to about $60 - 70 per week. That's nothing. Heck if I had a car (and I don't -- no need for one in NYC), I'd be spending double that on gas, repairs, maintenance and insurance. And if I had kids (and I don't), I'd be spending several times that much every week for their food, clothing, transportation, insurance, and all the games, toys, movies and stuff that kids need/want (not to mention having to save tens of thousands for vacations and their college educations). By comparison to all that, seeing a couple of shows every week is a bargain.

Updated On: 9/24/06 at 04:59 PM

[TomMonster]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 5:16pm

True Margo! I have about the same average of shows per year and ticket prices...

Thanks god I don't have kids or a car.

(I do take those extended trips to Bangkok and Rome, though and that cuts into my theatre going time.)

Generally, I've seen everything on Broadway in the last 25 years or so. The only shows I've missed have opened and closed while I was out of town.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 5:23pm

And I forgot to mention the actual monthly car payment in those stats above. Everyone I know who owns a car spends more on that alone (not to mention gas, parking, insurance etc...) than I spend most months on theatre.

[Kgshrauder]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 5:30pm

What is this papering service that you talk about?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 5:31pm

wow, u guys are lucky!! i wish i could go that often!!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 5:46pm

Papering services get complimentary tickets from shows that are early in previews or struggling at the box office that want to increase attendance and word of mouth, and distribute them to their members (who join by paying an annual fee -- usually between $85 and $100 -- and then a small service charge for each ticket you buy, usually $3 to $5). If you want to give the appearance of a full house, but sales aren't quite there yet, you call a papering service.

Once you join, you are given access to their website which has their current offerings -- mostly off- and off-off-Broadway, but sometimes there are a couple of Broadway shows as well. I probably saw 5 Broadway shows last year for $3. These services work well for those of us who aren't too far from midtown, have fairly flexible schedules and can make it to a show on relatively short notice (usually the tickets are for performances in the next day or two and occasionally they even pop up around noon for a performance that evening).

Updated On: 9/24/06 at 05:46 PM

[ashley0139]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 5:49pm

I had friends in NYC that would see every single show that came to Broadway. It is possible.

[folkyboy]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 6:04pm

i spend almost ALL of my extra money on theatre. whether it's in Boston or in NY. i've seen almost everything on Broadway now and what i haven't i either have no interest to or i'm going soon

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 7:15pm

It's great that those who live in NYC get to see those fab shows. But, I was wondering do you know of anyone who was determined to see every Broadway show, from A-Z, and did so by watching a show on consecutive days. RC in Austin, Texas

[LaCageAuxFollesFan]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 8:21pm

Have to agree w/Margo on this one. 2 yrs ago I made it to every show that opened in the 04-05 season. The 05-06 season I only missed 3Penny Opera (too many shows at the end of the season had me going crazy).

If you live in the city, are familiar with TDF, TKTS, Discount Offers, have friends with papering benifits, or are just dedicated to seeing live theatre, its not all that hard nor all that expensive.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 1:05am

This season I saw all of the musicals. Last season I saw all of the musicals except Pacific Overtures.