How Far Would You Travel To See Your Favorite Show?

[David Leidholdt]

Posted: 7/31/11 at 12:28pm

Hello Friends,

I run a theatre Company in Asbury Park, NJ called ReVision Theatre. We are about an hour and half outside of NYC on NJ Transit. We open our 2nd show of the summer SPRING AWAKENING on Friday. I am trying to reach outside of the area to market the show. If you live in NYC would you “risk” going outside of the city on NJ Transit to come see one of your favorite shows? If not how far would you go and where do you find your information. Any information and advice would be greatly appreciated.

You can email me at [e-mail]

Thanks for your help!

Best
David

[ahhrealmonsters]

Posted: 7/31/11 at 1:23pm

Nope. Unless a friend is in it, I wouldn't go. I don't like Spring Awakening, but as someone who grew up in the suburbs of NYC going in, I don't have any desire to go back. Sorry.

[AC126748]

Posted: 7/31/11 at 1:29pm

Most people who are serious about theatre have no trouble traveling for theatre. Posters on this board went down to DC for FOLLIES, to San Francisco for TALES OF THE CITY, and will be going to Cambridge for PORGY AND BESS. I have to say, though, that it's probably doubtful you'll get many New Yorkers down to Absury Park for a small production of a musical that played on Broadway fairly recently.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/31/11 at 5:23pm

I saw Jersey Boys in Melbourne, Australia when I was living in the San Francisco area, but I really only incorporated that into a vacation.

As far as going from NYC to NJ, it would depend on the cast, not the show -- as well as convenience of public transportation.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/31/11 at 6:18pm

A subway ride away

[AvenueQResident]

Posted: 7/31/11 at 7:09pm

This is the first time I've made the trip from the UK to see as many Broadway shows as I can this year.

I also got a flight from LA to Seattle earlier this year, just to see the Next to Normal tour.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 7/31/11 at 7:42pm

If you're going to appeal to a NY audience, you have to give them something more than just a recently-closed Broadway show. Is there any NY connection in the cast or creative crew? Some new take on the show that would intrigue a potential audience? If it's just another production, I'd say to work on developing your local market.

[PennybankBill]

Posted: 7/31/11 at 7:51pm

Darn! I thought it was about a production of Frank Wedekind's Spring's Awakening.

[Justin D]

Posted: 7/31/11 at 9:07pm

I live in Barbados so traveling to see a show is a must. So far London would be my farthest, then Toronto and NYC.

went to Ft. Lauderdale twice just to see Phantom tour and Aida tour.

Would love to make it to Germany to see some there. Have an Uncle in Brisbane, but I don't think I will ever get that far just for a show.

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 7/31/11 at 9:33pm

Well I was on vacation in London a few years ago and we wound up seeing The Lion King, but I didn't intentionally go there for the show.

[Rabekriegerin]

Posted: 7/31/11 at 10:05pm

I made it to Vienna to see Wildhorn's Rudolf, but as a poster above commented, it was more for the cast than for the show itself. I think yes, theater fans will travel... but only if the incentive is enough!

[bandit964]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 12:37am

i would travel to the moon to see the original production of August Osage County again.

[dragonlp86]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 1:09am

I've traveled (twice) from Baton Rouge to Boston and then on to NYC to see 'Next to Normal', but I made vacations out of both of them. Once was for when Brian d'Arcy James joined the cast for a short time, and the other was for closing night. I have a friend who lives in Boston, so it makes for an easy and convenient 'landing point'.

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 6:01am

In the early 1990's I traveled from Manhattan to Philadelphia to see the Tommy Tune production of BYE BYE BIRDIE, starring Tune, Ann Reinking and Marilyn Cooper. The trip was not a vacation; I really went just to see the show which I had been in at College.I was not disappointed. All the leads were great, especially Marilyn Cooper as an hilarious mother to Tommy Tune's Albert.
The trip was doubly gratifying because I was returning to the great city where my theatergoing started at a performance of the 1951 flop FLAHOOLEY starring Barbara Cook. I think I saw it at the beautiful Forrest Theatre where BIRDIE was playing. So, it was a brief trip down Memory Lane for me.

[Urban]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 8:53am

You where in Melbourne and you didn't call Lizzie? I could've got a real life barb in person! :)

Well I've occasionally here going to a suburban production. These days it depends on the theatre group - some I know are good and I have no problem revisiting - others are known awful and I'd avoid.

Saying that I've been to London and seen shows and will be in NYC in September - so I guess I will be travelling around the world to see a show :) Granted I ain't going to either place specifically for musical theatre - it is just the cherry on top :)

Actually know that I think about it - didn't several members of this board fly to Australia specifically for the Australian Arena tour of "The Boy from Oz"?

[madbrian]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 9:01am

I live in northern NJ, and the only show that comes to mind that I would consider travelling to south Jersey to see would be Noises Off, though it was just done last summer by the NJ Shakespeare company, and done very well.

[chewy5000]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 9:17am

I spent 24 hours in a plane to see Spider-Man.

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 9:24am

^ DING DING DING We have a winner!

[littlegreen2]

Posted: 8/2/11 at 6:37pm

24 hours in a plane?! Damn.

I saw Next to Normal in six different cities, most recently Toronto. I had to fly there, and it was my first plane ride ever. I thought that was a little insane but I'm glad there are others who do things like that.

[DefyGravity777]

Posted: 8/2/11 at 6:43pm

I live in PA and flew to San Francisco to see the closing of Wicked there. Have also been to Boston,Toledo,Cleveland,Charlotte,Tucson and Memphis to see shows also. I also go to NYC a lot. So needless to say I travel far to see shows.

[blaxx]

Posted: 8/2/11 at 6:52pm

I have spent 40 hours on different flights (back and forth) just to see Sleep No More 4 times. I win.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 8/2/11 at 7:01pm

I drove from Dallas to Austin to see a production of "August: Osage County" starring Lauren Lane. I did it for the shot to see Lane in a VERY intimate theatre in a role she could have very easily won a Tony for. She was absolutely breathtaking and made me go "Amy Who?" (And I saw the closing cast)

[binau]

Posted: 8/2/11 at 7:03pm

I have spent about 127 hours on flights to/from the Sydney and New York, Charlotte NC and Melbourne Australia to see next to normal. Although maybe it doesn't count because I do see other things in NYC at the same time :P.

Updated On: 8/2/11 at 07:03 PM

[MeggilyWeggily08]

Posted: 8/2/11 at 7:25pm

I'm going to be seeing Next To Normal in Utah this fall, and I live in NJ. I'm trying to plan a trip to see one of the productions out of the United States. I'd love to see theatre in another country anyway, but I think seeing a show I know so well being produced within a different culture, or even in a different language would be such an amazing experience.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 8/2/11 at 7:53pm

i have been as far as London and Australia to see Hairspray.