I recently had one of my worst and bitterly disillusioning experiences in Broadway Theater in the front row. Recently at the old Studio 54 theater for "A Streetcar named Desire, I sat audience left/stage right as far over as you could get, and I had a miserable experience.
In case you have not seen it, Streetcar has a two room set with a kitchen/dining area divided by an imaginary wall with a bedroom living room area. From where I was sitting in Act 1 Scene 1 the kitchen table mostly obscured the couch and and I could see part of the bed if I craned my neck and looked through the table. In scene 2, the spare bed on stage right was pulled downstage several feet to accomodate Blanche's open trunk thereby completely obscuring any view I had of the bed.
I paid full ticket, 91 dollars for obscured seating and I was not happy.
I had similar seating for Les Miserables the first time I went all those years ago and had a much better experience.
For the Lion King, I had Row "C" seating but "A" & "B" are the orchestra pit and I could have pulled the toupee off the conductor's head.
I think for the big musicals I prefer to sit farther back. I think the ideal seat would be the front of the balcony, or the mezzanine if it true three tier seating.
For a drama, I prefer to be up close.
I also saw "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" with Ann Margaret from the very front row . . . as a single straight male, the residents of the Chicken Ranch had a certain .. . appeal.
I also sat in the very front Unrinetown and got up close and personal with a cast member and the stage...my left shoulder was actually underneath the center platform that jutted out.
BLAH BLAH BLAH
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