Listening to the cast recording *of a particular production*, before seeing *that production*.

[binau]

Posted: 1/15/10 at 2:28am

I'm contemplating whether I should listen to the Night Music cast recording before seeing the show (when it is released).

On one hand, I don't have to wait 3 months to listen to it. And I can get to 'know' and appreciate the performances of some of the cast [so their performances aren't as forgettable], and I get to compare the cast recording to the real performances, which would be interesting to see differences etc..

But on the other hand (the major reason against I feel), I may 'spoil' the nuances of the (especially lead performances), and the show might seem a lot less interesting if I know what is coming. (Though I imagine the performances will start to vary from the recording slightly as time goes on, but still).

Thoughts? Has anyone ever listened to the cast recording of a production and then seen it, and glad or not glad they did?

[zooxanthellae]

Posted: 1/15/10 at 2:47am

I almost never listen to a cast recording before the show; however, I did listen to the recording of the current revival of South Pacific before seeing the production. Unfortunately, I didn't catch the show until after the cast changes, so my disappointment (mostly from Laura Osnes) was somewhat reasonable. I didn't find Szot to be a let down.

Usually, I find a show to be much more exciting without knowing every acting choice or phrasing employed. If you listen to the recording first you may hate it. This may deter you from the show, which you may in fact like (despite your hypothetical disapproval of the recording).
In short, I think seeing the show and then immersing yourself in the recording as a sort of post-show extension/obsession/love affair is always the most enjoyable.

Updated On: 1/15/10 at 02:47 AM

[Viola2]

Posted: 1/15/10 at 3:20am

I'd heard much of the cast recording of Wicked before seeing the show, and I didn't really like the songs by themselves. But after seeing the show, I fell in love with it. So even if you don't like the cast recording much by itself, you may end up liking the show.

That said, though, if I know I'm seeing a show, I usually avoid listening to the cast recording beforehand. It's not that I'm afraid that the show would be less interesting knowing what's coming, but I'd rather get the full effect of the story with it all onstage, instead of following the story based on the recording alone.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/15/10 at 5:07am

I PREFER to have the 'virginal experience' of the production. The few times I have not been able to wait, did NOT turn into any sort of disappointment, however.

I am pretty picky about which OBC I do purchase. I need to feel compelled to want to buy the music. I don't want to waste my money buying cd's that I won't listen to. I haven't listened to my ITH recording fully ONCE...a waste of money. There are also productions, that I feel the music belongs to the stage and the recording won't do it justice.

[After Eight]

Posted: 1/15/10 at 10:26am

I'm also among those who prefer not to know the songs before seeing the show. It's so much more exciting hearing them for the first time in the theatre. The thrill of discovery. Imagine being in the first night audience of "Gypsy" and hearing "Everything's Coming Up Roses" for the first time. What could have been more thrilling?

[LuPonatic]

Posted: 1/15/10 at 3:28pm

More times than not I've listened to the cast recording before seeing a production, and most of the time I still enjoy the production. The few times I have seen a production BEFORE hearing the cast recording, though, have been my best experiences at the theatre.

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 1/15/10 at 4:47pm

I listened to the OBCR of The Little Mermaid many times before I saw the show-- and I saw the original cast (except for Carlotta, who was a replacement). It was very surreal to hear when I saw the show... when some intonation or phrasing was different from the OBCR, it was like, "Wait, that's not how that line sounds!"

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 1/15/10 at 4:58pm

I like being familiar with a show before I see it, so I'll either listen to cast recordings or do some research on the show. If a show is considered a classic or is otherwise important to the canon, I'll probably listen to at least a few songs.

[binau]

Posted: 1/15/10 at 5:29pm

This thread wasn't meant to be a "know the songs before seeing the show" type-thread, it's not about knowing the show. I mean I have obviously heard the OBC of ALNM...

It's about hearing the recording of a *particular production* before seeing *that* production.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/15/10 at 6:40pm

I remember seeing the original Follies & than being let down that the score was chopped up to fit 1 LP.I am glad I saw it first.

Watching the Follies concert DVD was even worse . It was painful listening to a shortened "I'm Still Here"

In the past, cast albums came out relatively quickly. Now, some do not even come out at all. The best are CD's Like Breakfast At Tiffanys. listening to the complete score is better than listening to a live tape of the original.

[Kad]

Posted: 1/15/10 at 6:43pm

I used to buy cast recordings before seeing the actual productions all the time, back when Broadway shows were not geographically accessible for me. And honestly, it never spoiled anything for me.

In this case, I think it might actually be helpful to listening to the recording beforehand simply because the production is so different than the original production.

[uncageg]

Posted: 1/15/10 at 7:40pm

When I was a kid I used to have to listen to the Cast Recordings before seeing shows because I didn't get to NYC a lot. So the recordings were out before I got up there to see them.

Now I usually don't listen to the recording unless I know I am not going to get to NYC to see the show or it will be a while before I do. Now I like to experience the score/music for the first time when I am in the theater.

I just listened to the cast recording of "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown" this past week because I am seeing a production of it this evening. I had heard bits and pieces and decided that since it has been around for a while and I have heard some of it, this time I would listen to it before seeing it.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 1/15/10 at 8:54pm

Generally, I prefer to listen to the cast recording before I go see a production of the show itself. I like to be familiar with the music going in. For example, I'm ushering at a production of Footloose later this month so I want to be relatively acquainted with the score before I go (I quite like it actually). When I saw Gypsy, it was different because the cast recording of that particular production wasn't out yet. But I DID have A cast recording of Gypsy so I knew the songs already.