How disruptive is a Live from Lincoln Center taping for that performance's audience?

I have tickets to see Act One on June 14th and just received an email saying that they will be taping that performance for Live from Lincoln Center. The email says that multiple cameras, cameramen, and lights may impact the audience experience and offers refunds or exchanges to another date if desired. Does anyone know how disruptive it will be? Should I go on the 14th or will it be so disruptive that get a refund? (I don't live in NY so an exchange for another date is not an option.) Tickets are in the orchestra about halfway up if that makes a difference. Thanks!

If you can only go that day, and you really want to see it, I don't think potential for disruptive cameras should dissuade you from going. I mean, I wouldn't let that take away my only chance to see something.

LettheSunshineIn, are you going to the matinee or the evening performance? I was thinking about going on that day but haven't bought tickets yet.

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I was relocated twice cause of cameras!!!!! Someone called the day before or day of and changed my seats and asked me to go to the box office when i got there to pick up the new tickets.

LettheSunshineIn, thanks for the info. Interesting that they're taping the final performance.

I don't think that the Live from Lincoln Center cameramen would actually go on stage as happened with Legally Blonde, but there's probably more disruption than with a taping for the TOFT library, where I think they just set up cameras and let them roll, without the cameras moving or any changes in lighting.

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Live From Lincoln Center is exactly that - a performance broadcast live, broadcast once and only once. The last one I attended had seven cameras, I believe (not counting backstage and dressing rooms). Six were static, one was on a boom in the back of the orchestra and does move on its arm, but I did not find it distracting. I have never seen a camera following action onstage and think it VERY doubtful they will do so. It will be obvious that cameras are present, however, especially the one on the boom arm.

The lighting will be significantly altered, however (or, at least, it has been in the past). It will be much brighter. The reason they do both matinee and evening is to have a sort of rehearsal/run-through to help the director set up shots and to have something to fall back on should something catastrophic happen during the evening live broadcast.

I'd go. Energy is always high for the Live From Lincoln Center broadcasts, but if you are easily distracted, you might consider opting out. I think you'd be missing out if you did, though.

Let us know, will you?

I feel I should clear up something. I am an usher at LCT and we had a meeting about this just yesterday. First, it is not a live broadcast. I know the series is called "Live from Lincoln Center" but it will not likely be see on TV for about a year, similar to The Nance.

Edited: I apologize, friends, we were informed today of another change. It does, in fact, look like next Friday night and Saturday nights performances will be canceled (for camera-related rehearsals) and that the filming will take place on the Saturday and Sunday matinees. Sorry again!

I look forward to being there, because, as mentioned, it will be very high energy...especially if we happen to win a couple Tony Awards this weekend!

PalJoey - Thank you kindly! I very much look forward to the future of my career!

jnb9872 - Thank you! Everyone is very excited for Sunday and very high energy backstage!

ghostlight2 - I think, though, that you are partially correct. I believe in the beginning, just like National Theatre Live, they were live broadcasts. That just isn't the case anymore. I mean it will still be a live recording, just not simulcast.

And thank you for your kind words for my fellow ushers and I. There are times where it may seem like a thankless job but I still love it because I get to go to the theatre EVERY day and be a part of something wonderful. Being that it is LCT is just icing on the already amazing cake!

Updated On: 6/7/14 at 10:39 AM

That's a great update, FutureGM, thanks for writing in! Best of luck this weekend and I can't wait to see what comes of the filming.

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Please read my amended comment. Thank you!

Thank you, futureGM, for the inside scoop!

When was the last Live from Lincoln Center performance to be televised? Was it South Pacific? That was actually live, if I remember correctly. I wonder if this is a permanent change to melding together different performances. I hope not. There is an excitement to an actual live performance (the Carrie Underwood Sound of Music, for example, would have been much worse if it hadn't been truly live IMO).

I'm also surprised that the show isn't extending an additional week, given that they've canceled Fri and Sat night. It looks like the Sat and Sun matinees are sold out, as you might expect since they moved the canceled people into those performances. I don't think they would have lost money if they extended for a week, particularly if the show wins Best Play.

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Updated On: 6/7/14 at 10:10 AM

Oh I should add for future GM and his colleagues...I thought you all did a great job. The usher in my area (and I assume all of you) had a relocation list, so any reseating that had to happen was already planned and organized. I'm sure that was a lot of work ahead of time, but it definitely made for a better experience for all, so thank you.