Listening to Cast Recording before seeing show

I listen to Cast Recordings before going to see the show, too, because sometimes I cannot understand what the actors are singing and then I get lost and then I don't get it. Hehehe. I'm slow like that. Like for Rent, I listened to it so many times before I actually saw it because I knew I wouldn't have been able to follow the story completely.

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I would normally say no, so that there is an element of suprise to it...but I did it for the first time with Avenue Q, about two weeks before I saw it...and listening to it first just heightened my anticipation for seeing how the songs would take life onstage. It really didn't ruin anything for me.

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for me, the only way i can experience a show is by listening to it usually
but i do agree, listening to the recording helps me remember it more. but then at times if i havent seen a show i get bored with the recording, until i DO see it and then i listen to the recording over and over.

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Generally, I listen to it first, because I rely on tours and regional productions to see shows, so by the time it gets around here, I've already listened to it fifty thousand times. I saw Spamalot without knowing any of the music (besides the film), though, and didn't feel like I was missing anything. I could go either way, I think, and would go in with a blank slate more often if I could, but circumstances generally don't let me.

I generally prefer to listen to cast recordings...otherwise Itend to not be able to understan. When I do see something I've never heard before, I often buy/order the recording immediately after so I can reconsider the show in light of the subtelities of the song. But sometimes it can be confusing-like in LSoH, the first time I heard somewhere that's green,
I know Seymour's the greatest

But I'm dating a semi-sadist

So I've got a black eye

And my arm's in a cast.

Still, that Seymour's a cutie

Well, if not, he's got inner beauty

And I dream of a place

Where we could be together at last,
I thought Seymour was the sadist, which made the first half-hour of the show confusing when I saw it, and reduced the experience.

I really like to listen to the music before seeing a show so I get the feeling of the show.. the one time this was a mistake was for Avenue Q.. all the jokes were on the cd and it def. took some of the pleasure away..

I didnt have the cd for Spelling Bee because it isnt out and now I am dying to get it.. the "virgin" experience on that was great though!

I used to try and go into shows a virgin.

Until I tried it with Les Miserables.

Now there was a waste of $60 bucks. No idea what was going on, the only exposure being the movie with Liam Neeson. I was totally lost story wise, and the only songs I can remember...no, I don't even really remember them, but that I really enjoyed were "Lovely Ladies", "Master of the House" (which was the one I had heard before), "Castle on a Cloud" (again, heard it) and "One Day More." The pretty spectacle ones!

I now try to at least read a synopsis before I see the show.

With the exception of shows where I saw the movie first(Sound of Music and King and I) I have NEVER listened to a cast recording before seeing a show. For me personally, it's not the same listening to a CD of a show I haven't seen, plus I want to be surprised. Sometimes, too much plot is given away, sometimes too many jokes are given away. I understand that sometimes plot is hard to follow but I'm actually much better at that, and I always just check a full summary online in case I feel I missed something. Even with shows like Les Miz--it significantly helped that the plot was provided in the playbill to help me through it. With the exception of a couple of songs, I just don't like the experience that way.

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Always!!!!!

unless their is no album yet. By knowing the songs I can pay more attention to what is happening on stage rather than listening......oh I listen, but I miss less.
And....often, if I don't like the music....I won't go. Plus I like to know the story before I go.

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regreted buying hairspray until i actually saw it