How do you feel about theatre-goers who rush the same show constantly?

This might be a touchy subject and I apologize if so, my intention is certainly not to offend anyone but honestly to see if I'm alone in thinking this and need some sense knocked into me!

There's a girl I'm aware of who's a huge fan of "Mean Girls," and has seen the show over twenty times since it opened. This show is regularly sold out - I was lucky enough to get tickets for a performance even nearly a month in advance. As far as I know, tons of people line up to rush - so not really a case where if you show up, it's easy to get a ticket last minute. This particular young woman rushes at least once a week, sometimes multiple times, showing up before 4 or 5 am to ensure that she gets a ticket. She's also entered and won the lottery at least once. Any time that an understudy goes on for a principal role that they haven't performed before, she *has* to see the show.

I just can't shake the feeling that there's something...a little icky about this. I know she has every right to see the show as many times as she wants and there's nothing wrong with that, but it gives me kind of a sour feeling that she's likely beating out people who have never gotten the chance to go. Yeah, they could have gotten there earlier or whatever, but it just makes me feel a little bad to think that the first person to not score a rush ticket was beaten out by someone who's seeing the show for the 25th time. If "Mean Girls" wasn't selling out so quickly I probably wouldn't feel that way.

I don't know, I'm just conflicted in my feelings on this and am curious to see how other people feel. The word "unfair" seems super childish, especially since obviously there's nothing that can be done about it, but that's the word that keeps coming back to me. I will also readily admit that this person also does things like send gifts (eg Edible Arrangements) to cast members on a regular basis, and act like she's on a "friends" basis with the cast, so it's possible my viewpoint is skewed because that behavior is creepy to me as it is.

Updated On: 7/14/18 at 09:36 PM

Almost every show has this person. Several. It's become a thing and goes with the nicknames they give themselves. Many of these peeps simply move from one show to be stuck on to another once their current closes. We've seen comments on here that a poster "knows" that X show will become their next obsession.



That bein said I agree with Starcatchers: it's really none of my business how someone spends their time or money.

I don’t have a problem with it, I mean it’s not my time or money so. I’ve seen dear Evan Hansen like 6 times (granted I’ve never rushed it or anything just bought tickets) everyone has that show that they love and I think it’s cute! Honestly if I lived closer to NY there are serval shows I’d rush a lot

The same as any other obsession: if it interferes with "normal" life, it's gone to far.

LesWickedly said: "You wrote multiple paragraphs about it, but you obviously don’t care."

I'd say I care about as much as you cared to write a snarky, rude response to a post that you easily could have ignored.

dashingdaisies said: "Maybe an even better conversation would be the even broader topic of when fan obsessions go too far?"

How do you know so much about this person? Perhaps you are the one with an obsession.

Updated On: 7/14/18 at 10:03 PM

and you could easily ignore people rushing the same show over and over right?

I happen to know the person the OP is referencing and honestly I don't understand why this person (who joined a few days ago no less) decided to take time writing a lengthy shame of someone they barely know. I am friends with the person in question and honestly she has done nothing to warrant this. Yes, she does in fact do the rush weekly and gets up very early to do so, which if one is so concerned about making sure they get a ticket, perhaps following in her lead would be beneficial. I can also attest that she has not won the lotto multiple times and has in fact only won once and has done standing room a handful of times as well after losing lotto. I'm not sure why the OP feels the need to be the police of how people enjoy a show, but how and why people do the things they do is none of your business. It's clear some part of you is jealous or upset by the fact the person in question has enjoyed the benefits of seeing the show multiple times and at the end of the day it is completely ridiculous to drag someone out in the open because of your petty feelings. You want a ticket on Wednesday? Wear pink and get in line like the other people (the person in question being one of many).

Seems like the OP has their musicals mixed - pink does go good with green, but not with the Plastics, sweetie.

Updated On: 7/15/18 at 10:16 PM

Is it wrong to say....WHO CARES? I am not trying to be rude or a wiseass. See what you want when you want. It's your own business. People that write a 3 paragraph post about it certainly have more issues with this specific person than was written. The beauty of a lotto or a rush...anyone can enter and anyone can win!

I just feel lucky to be able to see shows frequently and not maxing out the credit card.

(oh my god, I have been on this board since 2007 and this is the most I have written...wow!)

5 a.m.?? That's kind of a questionable time to be waiting outside a theatre in a major city.

If you’ve got the money and time to do it, it’s really no sweat off my back. Go for it. I have bigger issues with the fans who think that because their tweet of instagram comment got a reply that they’re truly friends with the actor and allowed to invade their lives.

If they're seeing the show as respectful audience members, and if their excitement happens to encourage others to attend and help fill the house, then they are great.

This generation, it's Mean Girls, or DEH, or Newsies, or insert-name-here... Years ago, people surely did the same for Mame, Applause, Spider Woman, Millie, etc.