Longacre Theatre Size...

[Lil_little_edie942]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 4:24pm

Hi---

Could someone tell me if the Longacre is particularly big or small? When I go to tkts tomorrow I want to know if the balcony or back mezz seats will be worth it. Thanks.
Updated On: 7/19/08 at 04:24 PM

[Lil_little_edie942]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 4:41pm

Bumpeh.
Bump.
Bump.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 4:49pm

Longacre is a mid-size theater (broadway standard) approx-1,095 seats. It has three tiers- orchestra, mezzanine and balcony. I sat on Orchestra & Mezzanine. When I saw BOEING-BOEING- I went upstairs to the balcony to check it out. The view is okay. but if I were you, I would go with Mezzanine, even the Rear Mezz is just fine.

J*
Updated On: 7/19/08 at 04:49 PM

[Patash]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 4:51pm

http://www.playbill.com/reference/seating/

This should become a bookmarked site for anyone looking for tickets to Broadway shows.

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 4:57pm

Yea but nobody listens they will just continue to come on here and post questions about seating in different theatres etc etc!!!! So annoying when everyone has different preferences to where they sit in different theatres! What did people do before the internet!

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 5:14pm

It's okay to ask about seating. People have different prefences, but the majority of people will agree that a good seat is a good seat. Same goes with bad seats.

I've sat in the front mezz (2nd row), and had trouble seeing because the guy sitting in front of me was blocking. He wasn't that tall, but the rows aren't high enough from each other..or maybe he was. I guess it wasn't that bad

I've also sat on the second to last row of the balcony (the $26.50 seats), and I thought it was great, even better because of the price.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 5:20pm

^^^ How would you compare Longacre's balcony vs. Walter Kerr? Walter Kerr IS Really bad! I saw A CATERED AFFAIR there and it was horrendous!The Cort's balcony is perfect! no complains.


BTW- There's a book about Broadway Theaters seats- what to AVOID! I would look for it later in my bookcase- there's a section on bad seats..

J*
Updated On: 7/19/08 at 05:20 PM

[gustof777]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 6:53pm

I've seen Boeing Boeing three times and each time I've bought a 26.25 balcony seat and EVERY time there's not that many people in the balcony and I've been able to move to the front row and the view is wonderful. Even in the last row of the Balcony I don't think would be that bad. A little high, but not bad. I also agree with Jay....there is NO comparison to the nightmare that is sitting in the balcony of the Walter Kerr.
I love the Longacre though. Had never been in before seeing Boeing Boeing and it's now one of my favorite houses

[jaystarr]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 7:48pm

btw- here's the book I am telling:



The Backstage Guide to Broadway by Robert Viagas
$9.99 at amazon

- lots of useful tips, though he needs to update the book.
- I definitely recommend this book to Broadway Enthusiast as reference.

Here's what is says on THE BEST AND WORST SEAT section:

Longacre- Two balconies and comparative small orchestra mean the Longacre is one of the last booked Broadway theaters--which is a shame, since its nearly 1,100 (roomy) seats puts it in a class with some smaller musicals houses.

^^^ I guess, he meant two balconies (mezz and balcony) he also did not say any bad seats which means all the seats are pretty descent.

From reading the post here and from my experience. These houses' balcony SHOULD be avoided at all times:

1. Lyceum- too steep
2. New Amsterdam- too steep
3. Walter Kerr- youre almost in the ceiling, you see half the stage, cant see the lower stage, unless you scoot up to your seat.

4. Belasco- too dark, too far away from the whole thing.

(not a broadway house)

5. City Center- bring binoculars and an oxygen tank!


Hope this helps:

J*

[Smaxie]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 7:48pm

It was a catastrophe before the renovation.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 7:49pm

Actually after the Renovation, its a very pretty theater, its PEACH and GOLD inside!

J*

[Lil_little_edie942]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 7:56pm

Thanks, everyone, for your help.
Especially JayStarr. Whoo!


WickedBoy2: Sorry I'm not the absolute extraordinaire when it comes to knowing how big *every* theatre is. I guess if I'm not as much of an expert as you of finding all of these resources, I shouldn't even *bother* coming here, right? Sorry for thinking that BWW is somewhere to come and discuss all things broadway. My bad.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 7:57pm

Anything is an improvement over its old color... baby diaper brown!

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 8:01pm

Oh gosh. Now it's totally upbeat!

I've never been to the Walter Kerr, so I don't know what the balcony is like, but it sounds bad. The Longacre really has a good balcony, one of the best I've sat in. It's high, but the sight line is great.

Sorry for thinking that BWW is somewhere to come and discuss all things broadway.

It is.