Lunt-Fontanne Theatre

I have tickets for The Little Mermaid, and I'm in the Orchestra section in row BB. Does anyone know if these seats are going to be partial view? I usually sit in the Balcony, so this is new for me.

That's a good question.

And since Mezz Row A overhangs Orchestra Row J, you may not be able to see much of the top half of the show because the overhang will be blocking.

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Are there any other theatres that have the double letter rows at the back of the orchestra as opposed to the front? I'm used to seeing row AA or BB as the very first row.

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Nothing in the orchestra at the Lunt is sold as partial view, so you'll see all the main action, but the top half of the stage might be cut off by the mezz. They're good though, with the prologue in Beauty, the enchantress used to fly higher than the back of the orchestra could see but it was modified so the entire audience could see her and the effect. Maybe the same will be done for Mermaid. We'll see!

The Lunt-Fontanne orchestra seating section is unusually long. This used to be the old Globe Theatre. When it was re- built in the 1950's, the first production to re-open the theatre was THE VISIT starring Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, highly acclaimed actors. The next production was the musical GOLDILOCKS starring Elaine Stritch and Don Ameche in 1958. When pit conductor Lehman Engel went to the theatre to examine the orchestra pit he discovered that the pit was hopelessly too small for the 25 players that traditionally was the norm for pit orchestras at that time. Workers had to drill through concrete to enlarge the pit to accomodate the players. The orchestra seating section at that time was divided into 2 price ranges, with the first several rows referred to as "Orchestra Divan seats" going for $9.40 and the remainder of the orchestra section going for $8.05. This double pricing, which is prevelant in London theatres, makes sense. I wish it were used in Broadway theatres today. In a sense the huge prices for Premium Seating in use today is similar but not the same as the double pricing I am speaking about.

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bump

Premium seating aside, I can remember the days when tickets were priced according to how well you could see the stage: best orchestra seats were most expensive; then mid orchestra; then rear orchestra, then front mezzanine; then rear mezzanine. then, if applicable, front balcony; and finally, rear balcony. Sometimes the worst seats in the house were the most highly priced: the box seats. Even taking inflation into account, Broadway was much more "do-able" for people of limited means, allowing many people the chance to see first rate shows as long as they were willing to climb the stairs. That's all gone now. It does seem unfair that someone who pays, say, $131.00 for a rear mezzanine seat is paying the same as someone who pays the same for a prime orchestra seat.

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