Listening to Cast Recording before seeing show- Page 2

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 3/25/05 at 2:12am

I encourage listening to OCR's in advance of seeing the shows. I believe that you can enjoy the show more knowing the score (and the story synopsis) going in. Sometimes not possible because OCR is not out. And I know some prefer to be hit with the songs and the jokes in the lyrics cold when they sit in the theatre, but with older theatres, sound mixes et al sometimes lyrics do not come through clearly in the theatre. Also people often trash a show after one hearing (Critics are guilty of this too) but after hearing the recording a few times the realize many subtle intricacies.

[eslgr8]

Posted: 3/25/05 at 2:45am

Whenever possible, I listen to the cast recording before seeing a show. I realize that this may take away the element of suprise, but being familiar with the melodies makes hearing them on stage for the first time much more impactful for me than if I were to hear them for the first time in the theater. When I saw Dirty Rotten Scoundrels last September in San Diego, I kept wishing that I knew the songs, because when I left the theater it was so hard to remember what each one sounded like, and I am still waiting to hear them a second time, all these months later. I can't wait till the cast recording is released! I know I would have enjoyed DRS even more than I did had I been able to sing along inside my head as the actors were singing on stage.
And as Frontrowcentre has so correctly said, many scores cannot be appreciated on first listening, so I prefer that my first listening not be in the theater when I experience the show for the first time. Updated On: 3/25/05 at 02:45 AM

[mmFan]

Posted: 3/25/05 at 10:44am

I used to always buy the cd after the show (if I liked the music). For the first time though I bought the Wicked cd before seeing the show (I knew it was a huge hit on broadway and it was coming to my city). Well, I loved the music and it made the play that much more enjoyable.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/25/05 at 11:05am

i bought the Avenue Q and The Producers albums when they first came out, long before seeing the show. They both were just as good on stage....i plan to do the same thing with Spamalot when it comes out.

[boatsintheghetto]

Posted: 3/25/05 at 1:18pm

um it depends...usually i listen to a recording before i really get into the show...its the music that gets me into it and then i beg my parents to let me see it....but with instnaces such as hairspray, i saw it on a wing...my mom bro and i were in NYC and i was desparate to see a show so i begged my mom and she took us to see it and i loved it and then bought the recording... but say in instances such as Miss saigon, i bought the recording cuz i was doing some songs in voice lessons and i sorta got bored listening to the malitia songs so when i saw it, i found that part boring. it all depends on the show i guess

[hanabana]

Posted: 7/11/13 at 5:06pm

I've done both, and it really depends on the specific show. I made the mistake of listening to the Book of Mormon recording before seeing it, and I feel that it definitely took away a lot of the surprise element from the show. The show was still great though, but I wish I had gone in knowing nothing about it. But some other shows that I've listened to the cast recording beforehand did not take away from the show at all. For example, I listened to Wicked and Newsies many times before I saw the shows, and enjoyed both of them very much nevertheless.
But these days, I do find myself staying away from a cast recording if I want to see the show. I love to be pleasantly surprised by the score at the theatre!

It's funny actually, I found this thread because I am actually thinking about the Pippin revival cast recording. I am definitely going to see the show, but I won't get a chance until October, at least. But I have the cast recording already and really want to listen to it. For those who have seen Pippin, will listening to the cast recording give anything away? Thanks.

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 7/11/13 at 6:49pm

Generally I don't (I like the surprise element) but sometimes I regret that decision. When I saw the original production of Sweeney, I caught about half the lyrics. After listening to the OBCR and reading the lyrics, I appreciated the show much more on my second visit.

[OperaBwayLover]

Posted: 7/11/13 at 7:24pm

Most of the time I listen to the recording before I see the show. In the case of The Lion King, even though I had the OBCR months before finally seeing the tour, I waited to hear the score live, just because. Now when I listen to the recording, I remember everything I saw onstage, and it makes it more fun.

Sometimes this doesn't always work. I listened to the OBCR of 42nd St. before seeing the show, and sat through the first act hating it because it wasn't as brilliant as the recording. It really is give or take, I suppose.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 7/11/13 at 8:25pm

There's absolutely no crime in listening to a recording before you see the show. Most of us who grew up in the boondocks did so throughout our formative years. And of course it's easier to "hear" music and lyrics you've already memorized.

There is something very special about hearing a new score for the first time in the theater, however, and one must train one's ear to appreciate new music and to hear lyrics amid the other things going on on stage. (And, yes, unfortunately, some houses just have bad sound in some seats.)

And, after all, that is what makes theater music different from other forms of pop music: theater songs are supposed to be written to be understood in one sitting and, often, while turn tables are whirling!

In the end, there's really nothing quite so thrilling as encountering a great score for the first time in the theater. That's how I "met" FOLLIES, SWEENEY, MARCH OF THE FALSETTOS, PASSION, STREET SCENE and some other classic shows and the experiences were sublime. (Yes, I have since memorized the OBC recordings of all these shows.)

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 7/11/13 at 8:37pm

I'm lucky - I live in NYC. I like to see shows more than once..so ideally I like to see it first without having listened to the music and then see it again, after I become familiar with it. Usually that works well for me.

However, the last time I would have wished I had heard the music before (as I have said already) was for Matilda, because of lot of the lyrics-music was lost to me during the performance I saw. Having a knowledge of what was being said before hand might have increased my enjoyment of the show. For a show many seem to agree on has one of it's strength's in it's lyrics, I missed a lot by not knowing ahead of time.

Updated On: 7/11/13 at 08:37 PM

[DEClarke]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 3:10pm

Living in Houston, I often listen to the cast recording first. Many times that is my only way to experience a show before the tour.

All in all, I really enjoy getting to hear the recording first. It's an easy way for me to see if I am interested in the show, so no money is lost on a ticket if I am not. Also, it is nice to know lyrics before seeing a show because sometimes they aren't that clear live.

[AZBroadway_theatre]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 3:24pm

Listening to the cast recording before a show is an interesting debate. I like to compare it to reading a book before seeing the movie in the sense that you tend to imagine it differently in your head. Someone made a good point about how familiarizing yourself with the music can make in more interesting because a, you know the music already and b, it is interesting to see it play out live. I think it definitely is a personal preference thing. I would imagine in some cases, just hearing the music without the context of the show could deter you away from seeing an awesome show. Over all though, I do enjoy listening to it before hand but I always keep an open mind and never judge a show based solely on the music.

[Kelly2]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 3:31pm

If at all, possible, I go in completely blind. I prefer it that way. I don't like having anything from the show in my head before I actually see it.

[forgetmenotnyc]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 6:15pm

Interestingly, a couple folk mentioned AVE. Q which was one of those shows that I listened to before seeing it & it RUINED A LOT of it for me.

Isn't it possible to go in the middle somehow? Listen only to the overture, for instance? It is nice to have it around to immediately listen to afterwards.

On the other hand, because the price for the live show is so outrageously high, if you feel you can do a little homework beforehand so as to maximize your comprehension - than so be it.

The first Bway show I ever saw was SWEENEY TODD & I wish I could have listened to it first. LES MIZ, as well.

I just saw MATILDA & I think it would have been fine to listen first since once many of the uptempo songs kick in you can't understand hardly anything. I saw CINDERELLA a few wks ago & also think it would have been fine to listen to except Victoria Clark was out when I saw it & had I really enjoyed the recording I may not have been as accepting of her understudy. I think PIPPIN would be fine to listen to in advance, as well.

As writing this response - I have now come up with the best answer. No across the board response should be expected. With this great message board at your disposal, just POLL EACH UNIQUE SHOW BEFORE YOUR PLANNED VISIT?(or are you like some of us here who never know when providence will strike?)

Anyone have feelings about whether it might be OK to listen to 'BOOK OF MORMON' again before seeing it? I just scanned through it a yr. ago but made a point of not returning to it. It will probably be the next show I see. Have FIRST DATE songs been released yet & if so does anyone have any strong opinion about listening to it first?

[hanabana]

Posted: 7/12/13 at 8:21pm

forgetmynotnyc, I wouldn't listen to the Book of Mormon cast recording before seeing the show. But I think in your situation, that depends, do you remember it well from briefly listening to it a year ago? If you remember most of the lyrics and the funny parts, then I guess it would not hurt. But if you don't remember most of it, then the show will be much funnier for you. I listened to it before seeing the show, and because the score is great, I came to know it rather well before seeing it live - that definitely took away a lot from the show. I still enjoyed the show, but I would have had a blast if I walked in not knowing what the characters were going to say/sing next! That is the main reason that now I prefer to walk in to a show completely blind too. I am seeing Avenue Q for the first time soon, and I have been making a point to stay away from the cast recording.