JimHillMedia.com: "obstructed view" at Tarzan doesn't begin to cover it- Page 2

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/27/06 at 8:00pm

It was a really, really foolish decision to open TARZAN at the Richard Rodgers Theatre which as others have pointed out, has some of the worst sightlines of any Broadway theatre. And yeah, I saw HOW TO SUCCEED from the back of the orchestra too and there was a lot I couldn't see.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/27/06 at 8:08pm

this is not good. i have Row Q orchestra seats on the aisle for April 21st. I hope the staging is fixed before that date to accomodate the entire audience.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/27/06 at 8:12pm

Deena---I bought tix for the second row, front mezzanine. How bad are those seats? You mentioned that the front mezz was too high---I thought the complaint about the poor view at the rear of the orchestra was that the mezz was a low overhang-----? (I don't remember this particular theater----which shows were there recently---maybe it'll jog my memory)

[flaemmchen]

Posted: 3/27/06 at 8:15pm

I'd rather sit in the mezz at the Richard Rodgers than anywhere else. That theatre has the worst obstructed view seats I have ever seen.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 3/27/06 at 8:18pm

WithoutATrace, I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer but I highly doubt they plan to re-do the show's entire staging concept. If the Nederlanders wouldn't do it...I doubt Disney will. They know the show will sell.

If anything, all they might do is lower the price of rear orchestra seats.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/27/06 at 8:28pm

Yeah, I was gonna say Trace...any chance you could sell that ticket and try for something else? Singles pop up all the time for TARZAN...

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/27/06 at 8:30pm

i'll just go see it again...i'll check for single seats for another preview. i feel bad for my friend who also paid full price ($75) because she doesn't go to the theater very often and was really excited for this.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 3/27/06 at 8:31pm

The article quoted has a link to Ticketmaster, which describes the whole obstructed view...vaguely...but has anyone been to the box office to see if indeed they are selling for lower price?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/27/06 at 8:32pm

I have a ticket for Row T....but like I said, I want to see it obstructed.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/27/06 at 8:33pm

when i asked the guy at the box office if Row Q would be obstructed, he said it was full view. one would think that the producers/creative team would watch the show during rehearsals to see where the obstructed view seats would be...

[Rypm25]

Posted: 3/27/06 at 8:34pm

I have never returned to this theater ever, after seeing "How To Succeed" there..in the last row of the orchestra. The overhang really does get in the way. The entire beginning could not be seen because John Stamos was on the window washer...I could hear him talking, I could hear him singing, but I could not see him. It's the worst experience I have had in the theater as far as obstructed views go. There were also many other moments that things could not be seen. So, though there was no flying witches or dropping chandeliers in "How To Succeed"...even a show with very little special effects had many obstructed moments, I can only imagine the miserable view theatergoers are having with tarzan!

[forgetregret]

Posted: 3/27/06 at 8:38pm

I'm not sure about during previews but once the show opens, obstructed orchestra seats are $81.25 (as opposed to full-view orchestra which is $111.25). I'm not saying it's right that it's so hard to see the aerial stuff from the back of the orchestra, but at least they're selling those seats for $30 less.

Edit- okay according to Ticketmaster, obstructed view during previews is $57.50- full-view is $76.25. Updated On: 3/27/06 at 08:38 PM

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/27/06 at 8:49pm

Damn, my orchestra Row Q seats should have been $57.50 instead of $76.25. Maybe I can ask the box office for a partial refund?

[forgetregret]

Posted: 3/27/06 at 8:51pm

I'd say it'd definitely be worth a shot. If it's true that the last ten rows are obstructed, that is. The box office might stand by their decision that it's only the last however many rows they first decided- not sure how many- but I'd try to ask if I were you, you never know.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 3/27/06 at 8:58pm

$81.25 for an obstructed view? Are you kidding me? That's beyond ridiculous! The only good part of this is that Disney may be setting themselves up for their first flop.

Anyway, everyone keeps talking about how bad the Richard Rodgers is. Does anyone remember a show that was done where the view wasn't obstructed? If it's that bad, why hasn't someone bothered fixing the theater yet?

Updated On: 3/27/06 at 08:58 PM

[VinnieTheIceman]

Posted: 3/27/06 at 9:02pm

Tickets beginning in row T are obstructed and sell for a cheaper price. Rows A to S are full view and sold at 76.25 for previews (101.25 for Sat eve's) and 101.25 for all shows after opening night.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/27/06 at 9:06pm

If rows A-S are full view, was that article exagerating when it mentioned the last 10 row of the orchestra were partial view?

[Smaxie]

Posted: 3/27/06 at 9:09pm

>If rows A-S are full view, was that article exagerating when it mentioned the last 10 row of the orchestra were partial view?<

Yes.

[Tiny-Toon]

Posted: 3/27/06 at 9:20pm

Obstructed view seats for Tarzan are $55 during previews- the same price WICKED charges for its Partial view seats. Only the last 5 rows of the orch. are partial view in this production and Disney have the right to charge whatever they want for those seats- the question is who's gonna buy them. And don't take it all out on Disney, remember that the producers of Jersey Boys got the nerve to charge $90 for the last row of the mezz. As a sold-out show, there's no way their ticket price for those seats will change or the staging of their special effects.

Updated On: 3/27/06 at 09:20 PM

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 3/27/06 at 9:21pm

It is probably exaggerated, but then again, I'm sure there's not much difference between someone in Row S and Row T, so maybe it counts that there's some degree of obstruction in the last 10 rows.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/27/06 at 9:35pm

We really need to go back to the pricing structure of days gone by where it was staggered depending on where the seat was. none of this crap where All orch and FM is the same!

[Ravenal]

Posted: 3/27/06 at 11:01pm

The Disney company has to be the most greedy corporation in the universe! People must stop supporting this evil entity.$85 dollars for partial view?! How dare they! I am actually shocked that there is an obstructed view differential. But how will you explain to your 5 year old why he can't see what's going on onstage? Because daddy didn't work enough overtime for decent seats? Please!

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/27/06 at 11:12pm

Oh my GOd!
The people are revolting!
Let's all do some history of this theatre and see why this "problem" exists.
What was it called before it was the 46th St. Theatre?
Must be in the form of a question?

Updated On: 3/27/06 at 11:12 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/27/06 at 11:16pm

"But how will you explain to your 5 year old why he can't see what's going on onstage?"

Like your 5 year old would even notice. You can take your kid home at intermission and he/she would never even know they've only seen half the show. So, I wouldn't necessarily use the 5 Year Old Litmus Test.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/27/06 at 11:23pm

The first listing for this Theatre is the 46th St.
(strange since most theatres back then were named for Architects or Producers.
The Show was Good News! than not another listing till 1940!
With the hit Pananma Hattie.
many hits followed :
Finian's Rainbow 47
Guys and Dolls 50 (great set design)
The Bad See (yikes) 54
Damn Yankees 55

Never heard a complaint about those designs or obstructed view.
What Happened?

Updated On: 3/27/06 at 11:23 PM