Have you ever seen a show before it goes to Broadway and feel…

…like you missed out if you didn’t catch it again once it transferred to Broadway? I know it’s a silly question but I’m curious if anyone feels the same way. For example, I see so many shows at City Center each year and sometimes the productions have another life elsewhere. I saw Sunday in the Park with George there and didn’t catch it on Broadway. I had just seen it at City Center, Broadway prices were too expensive and I didn’t care for some of the casting. Now I wonder if I made a mistake. Does anyone else ever feel this way?

Updated On: 1/20/26 at 09:08 PM

I would have to say "Spring Awakening".

I saw it at The Atlantic on the evening they found out they were transferring to Broadway. (Steven Sater told me at intermission when I struck up a conversation with him). I didn't see it on Broadway because I wasn't sure that I would like the staging or how it would play in a larger house. It just felt like a more intimate show and I couldn't see it "spread out" on a larger stage. However, I really wanted to see it again.

The tour came through Denver and I saw it. I was impressed with the staging at the massive Buell Theater. I walked out upset that I didn't see it on Broadway when I was back in NYC. But I at least got to see the tour.

TotallyEffed said: "I saw Sunday in the Park with George there and didn’t catch it on Broadway. I had just seen it at City Center,Broadway prices were too expensive and I didn’t care for some of the casting. Now I wonder if I made a mistake. Does anyone else ever feel this way?"

Other than the casting of the leads, which I thought to be sublime, the main thing I remember about the show at the Hudson was the Chromolume. For the first time in four times I've seen the show, it really seemed like a new and vibrant kind of art, and it also seemed like a kind of sculpture, in accord with the script. If it was substantially the same at City Center, I don't think you missed anything essential.

To address your question, I saw the precursor to the recent revival of Spamalot at the Kennedy Center, and I found it a very creaky and feeble brand of musical comedy, the kind of thing where I found myself questioning reality as everyone around me laughed at what I suppose must have registered to them as jokes. I don't feel like I missed anything by skipping it on Broadway.

Updated On: 1/21/26 at 12:39 AM

I was speaking to a friend about this over the holidays, and the want to revisit shows especially in the subscription world.

For example, Toronto had the North American/Try-out of &Juliet in Summer 2022. Now, we have a Canadian production, which is apart of the subscription. While, I had fun nothing changed between the 2 productions, other than cast. Doesn't mean much. Although, the pre-Broadway Aladdin in Toronto was such a different beast that while I didn't get overly excited when the tour came Winter 2024, it was interesting to see the overall whether good or bad.

I think in today's theatre world, when things are workshopped to death, its not always as "black and white" between a tryout and Broadway production. Now, if this was the Golden Age where scores were rewritten, leading actors fired, new directors came in on the road, then yes. I would seek them out over and over.

I saw Six and Death Becomes Her prior to their Broadway runs. Loved them both, but when I'm in NYC the vibe is always that time is limited - so I'm always going to see something new.

I think I've only also had the opposite reaction.

First thing that comes to mind was seeing Mrs Doubtfire in Seattle. I had fun, but I also never need to see that again.

Living on the West Coast I don't have the opportunity to see Broadway frequently. I know that I won't get to see most things. I'm thankful for what I do get to see. Sometimes once is enough.

Going back some time, in 2013 I had such a visceral reaction to Fun Home that I didn't feel like I missed out not seeing the changes for Broadway. The cast I saw at the ages that they were off-Broadway was just perfect to me. I haven't ever felt the need to even see any regional productions.

Updated On: 1/21/26 at 10:20 AM

I saw “Moulin Rouge” in Boston prior to the Broadway run. I thought there it was much more fun than Broadway, in ways I wish I would have skipped it in NYC and kept those memories. “Be More Chill” was fun and harmless off-Broadway. When we saw it right after it’s opening on Broadway it was awful in almost every way. I wanted to leave at intermission, but friends wanted to see if it got better.