Is this a thing? …overly enthusiastic balcony at Wicked
Is this a thing? …overly enthusiastic balcony at Wicked
Olivia11
Stand-by Joined: 7/30/16
#1Is this a thing? …overly enthusiastic balcony at Wicked
Posted: 3/27/23 at 11:55pm
Ashamed to say that I saw Wicked for the first time this weekend. I do not mind an enthusiastic audience but the balcony seemed almost organized starting organized loud cheering well before the show started. Once it started, there was almost a Rocky Horror participation style, which felt odd to me.
it’s possible it was a school group, as it definitely had a teen vibe to it but it felt more “super fans” that had seen the show many times.
Is this a thing? It wasn’t hugely distracting (we were second row side orchestra) but I didn’t love it.
blaxx
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
#2Is this a thing? …overly enthusiastic balcony
Posted: 3/28/23 at 12:58am
Olivia11 said: "Ashamed to say that I saw Wicked for the first time this weekend. I do not mind an enthusiastic audience but the balcony seemed almost organized starting organized loud cheering well before the show started. Once it started, there was almost a Rocky Horror participation style, which felt odd to me.
it’s possible it was a school group, as it definitely had a teen vibe to it but it felt more “super fans” that had seen the show many times.
Is this a thing? It wasn’t hugely distracting (we were second row side orchestra) but I didn’t love it."
Oh, it's a thing.
It is the "I love this musical so much I'm going to act like I'm in it or part of it" effect. It's no bueno.
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
ardiem
Stand-by Joined: 7/9/15
#3Is this a thing? …overly enthusiastic balcony
Posted: 3/28/23 at 4:06am
Judging by what I'm seeing, it looks like there is such a thing as an overly enthusiastic poster :)
bk
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/03
#4Is this a thing? …overly enthusiastic balcony
Posted: 3/28/23 at 5:33am
I know a few cynics who think it's pre-recorded - and it's ALWAYS in the balcony. Same for Hamilton. All this screaming coming from the balcony - not one person doing that in the orchestra and from what I was told, the balcony wasn't either, although a few joined in when they began hearing it. Is that a crazy thing to think? Since I'm a cynic, I don't think it's such a leap :)
Olivia11
Stand-by Joined: 7/30/16
#5Is this a thing? …overly enthusiastic balcony
Posted: 3/28/23 at 4:25pm
ardiem said: "Judging by what I'm seeing, it looks like there is such a thing as an overly enthusiastic poster :)
Ha! True…I hadn’t posted in awhile and forgot the golden rule not to post from my phone lest risk multiple posts. Luckily, it looks like the mods saved me and deleted the multiples. "
#6Is this a thing? …overly enthusiastic balcony
Posted: 3/28/23 at 5:01pm
It's just because the more enthusiastic, passionate, and typically younger part of the audience is not able to afford "premium" seats, e.g. now most of the orchestra and even mezz at many Broadway shows.
#7Is this a thing? …overly enthusiastic balcony
Posted: 3/28/23 at 5:04pm
Scarywarhol said: "It's just because the more enthusiastic, passionate, and typically younger part of the audience is not able to afford "premium" seats, e.g. now most of the orchestra and even mezz at many Broadway shows."
That was my thought. Kind of like when Rent did front row lotto for the crazy fans and they would start the clapping during 'Seasons of Love'.
Olivia11
Stand-by Joined: 7/30/16
#8Is this a thing? …overly enthusiastic balcony
Posted: 3/28/23 at 7:02pm
Scarywarhol said: "It's just because the more enthusiastic, passionate, and typically younger part of the audience is not able to afford "premium" seats, e.g. now most of the orchestra and even mezz at many Broadway shows."
Yeah, but that would be true at all shows. I get that some shows have a younger following, so it might happen more at a Wicked, Rent, or Beetlejuice but this seemed extreme.
…maybe I’m just old. Then again, I’ve been going to theatre for 35 years (yep, that math just proved the old thing) and have never felt the urge to act like that?
#9Is this a thing? …overly enthusiastic balcony
Posted: 3/28/23 at 9:22pm
Any time I've experienced a noticeably crazy audience, it's been the result of friends of a cast member. Entirely possible that someone was debuting in the show and their friends/family there or something along those lines.
And to the other poster's point - the "cheap seats" are definitely the ones bought by the younger patrons, who happen to be the most likely to be boisterous.
To compare yourself 35 years ago to 20-somethings of today is not apples to apples - behavior today is different than norms 35, even 10 years ago.
hollebolle
Featured Actor Joined: 6/13/18
#10Is this a thing? …overly enthusiastic balcony
Posted: 3/28/23 at 10:32pm
I noticed something similar at Sweeney a couple of weeks ago. I was mid-mezz, and there was insane energy from the section behind me. Way worse than your typical applause and cheering for big names--they were screaming, gasping and borderline squealing in general, but specifically for Gaten and Jordan. In this case, I'm 99% sure it was a school group.
#11Is this a thing? …overly enthusiastic balcony
Posted: 3/28/23 at 10:39pm
i think spring break for some schools this week or this past week. I was at Hadestown and half the people there were teenagers/school groups. Lots of energy and excitement for sure and I wouldn't be surprised if that was their first Broadway show.
Olivia11
Stand-by Joined: 7/30/16
#12Is this a thing? …overly enthusiastic balcony
Posted: 3/28/23 at 11:47pm
veronicamae said:
To compare yourself 35 years ago to 20-somethings of today is not apples to apples - behavior today is different than norms 35, even 10 years ago."
What I was trying to say was that as a regular theater goer for 35 years, I have never been at a show where this happened, including the next night at Hadestown, which was well within the normal range. It seemed very specific to Wicked, hence my question.
I’ve also seen enthusiasm from family and friends (which I find charming, actually) but this was much more, unless someone brought 300 people.
It felt organized and not the first time the same people have been involved, if that makes sense. The pre-show cheering event was so loud, the entire orchestra section turned around and it went on and on and on. Once the show started, there were weird audible reactions that felt like people wanted it to be part of the show. Again, Rocky Horror vibes but not as extreme.
Olivia11
Stand-by Joined: 7/30/16
#13Is this a thing? …overly enthusiastic balcony
Posted: 3/28/23 at 11:49pm
Wick3 said: "i think spring break for some schools this week or this past week. I was at Hadestown and half the people there were teenagers/school groups. Lots of energy and excitement for sure and I wouldn't be surprised if that was their first Broadway show."
Yeah, the other show we saw was Hadestown. It wasn’t anything like we experienced the night before. Wicked was obnoxious.
#14Is this a thing? …overly enthusiastic balcony
Posted: 3/29/23 at 3:40pm
I found it incredibly annoying that everytime I saw "RENT", the audience was always giddy before the next upcoming number, especially, "Out Tonight" and "Seasons of Love", I understand that the songs are all well written, but to me, hooting and hollering is borderline annoying!...
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