Most Times?- Page 2

[Matt_G]

Posted: 5/20/04 at 11:30am

Oh, I would never spend that much money, redhot. Thank God for $20 rush seats is all I've got to say!

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 5/20/04 at 11:46am

Annnd Comps.

[Plum]

Posted: 5/20/04 at 12:29pm

As someone who only recently gained the means to see Broadway shows completely on her own, I really don't get the point of seeing a show 20+ times. Multiple times, yes- there are different perspectives, maybe you missed something or a performer was out, and if it's a Sondheim there's probably about 24 different new subtleties to be found in each song, but 30 times? 60 times? Why?

I'm not condemning anyone who does this; I just don't get it. I don't get to see most shows I want even once, so I can't imagine using my opportunities to see the same show over and over.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 5/20/04 at 12:38pm

Well, Plum I normally wouldn't see a show as many times as I did ROCKY HORROR, but each time was a completely different show. It was never the same twice which is why it was so exciting. Plus, if you knew all the call backs and started your own, than you were a part of the show also. It was something very special I was extremely sad to see go.

[GirlfriendFromCanada]

Posted: 5/20/04 at 12:41pm

I know a lot of people who relate seeing Broadway shows over and over to seeing movies over and over. When you live in or near NYC, the two really are comparable. In two weeks, some people will go see Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban twenty times in probably a month. Why? Because they love Harry Potter, and want to see it over and over. Absolutely nothing about the movie will change, it's film and it's permanent, but they will most likely get something out of it every time, and if not, they'll enjoy it every time. The same goes for seeing a Broadway show numerous times over the course of its run. Some people who are multiple viewers see a show monthly, some see it every few months, some see it once a year. Unlike movies, theater is ever-changing, even in subtle ways. Casts change, which means interpretations of characters change and some people just enjoy seeing different portrayals, or just really like a show. Sometimes it's a bit much, yes, but what hobby isn't?

[beartrande]

Posted: 5/20/04 at 12:44pm

I know I'm lucky that I've been able to see shows many times if I've wanted to. Les Mis 100+ has been spread out over the last 14 years. And working in London did give me the opportunity to see shows after work. And I definitely didn't pay top price all the time (that route lies bankruptcy!). But gone are the days when preview prices were £10, now they are just £2.50 off the top couple of prices Plus the Palace used to have their restricted view seats at £6 and £7.50 once upon a time.

Oh, I'd love to be able to see Wicked 20 times! If I was living in New York it would be very tempting to try the lottery whenever I fancied seeing the show. Then if I didn't win one night it wouldn't matter, I could try another night.

I also don't see just one show at the expense of others. I've seen over 80 different shows over the past 14 years or so! But then it is my main hobby

[Plum]

Posted: 5/20/04 at 12:50pm

Sometimes it's a bit much, yes, but what hobby isn't?

Very true. Really, I'm a bit jealous of people who can even think about seeing a show multiple times- I have to hoard my show-watching opportunities like a squirrel. :)

Oh, and the only movie I've seen twice in the theaters is Titanic, because the second time was for someone's birthday party. Even on video, I tend to find that a lot of movies I liked the first time around lose their luster when I watch them again. Gladiator, anyone?

[bythesword84]

Posted: 5/20/04 at 1:00pm

Oh, well my 30 Les Mis times was over...7 years, keeping in mind that the first time I saw it I was almost 13 and still heavily dependent on having a parental go with me to see it, whereas with my 14 Avenue Q times, that's been since September and now that I can go whenever I want I generally do. I will use discounts or student tickets for shows of course if I have the opportunity.

The difference for me between movies and plays is that every time you see a play there is something different to find. It could be the same cast every time you go but you still can get something different out of it. Plus, I find it to be the best way of relaxing- to see a show.

[pitrepower]

Posted: 5/20/04 at 1:28pm

Two most seen shows:
Mamma Mia: 118 (soon to be 122 after this weekend in Vegas) at first because of the talent of the original Bway cast (Louise, Karen, Tina, etc.), and now over the place because the show just makes me happy!
Wonderful Town: 23, the show is a lot of fun and the cast is great! Jennifer Westfeldt makes an adorable Eileen and Donna Murphy is just simply AMAZING! I love the show but Donna is my favorite part about it!

[twogaab2]

Posted: 5/20/04 at 1:35pm

I suppose my theory of seeing a show mutiple time is this, I could no more want to see a piece only once, that I felt strongly about, than I could hear a song once and feel that I had gotten all of it that I could. Some shows, once is enough. Some shows, as many times as possible (which is why I'm up to #9 on Normal Heart).

Anyway this is just personal taste and just my opinion so I may be wrong.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 5/20/04 at 1:38pm

Cabaret- I stopped counting after 15.

[JasonD13]

Posted: 5/20/04 at 2:58pm

I've seen Rent 5 times. That is about the most I'll see one show. I love Rent, so I keep going back. But overall, I try to see new stuff rather then repeat a show too many times.



*Fish Talk the Play Coming Soon to paperback**

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/20/04 at 3:58pm

I saw the original production of TWHM 34 times. That doesn't count the revivals and touring companies. Why? The show has always been a joyful and exhilerating experience (except for that dreadful tour with Mimi Hines and Phil Harris...it gave me nightmares for a week!) It was also a great pleasure to see all the great ladies who played Dolly. I listen to any one of the various recordings at least once a day and have a shrine to the show in my home.

Just the other day when I was teetering on the brink of depression due to my accident, my son realized I hadn't played any of the cast albums for a while and put both the French and Israeli versions of the show on the turntable. My mood immediately improved. (By the way, my car's license plates read "TWHM"). HELLO, DOLLY has become part of the very fibre of my life since January 16, 1964.

Only two more years until the next revival!!!!!!!! Will it be Bette Midler or Faith Prince who walks down the stairs of the Harmonia Gardens?

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 5/20/04 at 4:12pm

well, if there honestly IS a revival in the next couple of years, and it honestly IS between Bette and Faith...God let it be Faith - at least she doesn't shamelessly mug the Bette does (which in the right circumstances, works just fine - but NOT in Dolly) take for example Bette's version of Mama Rose - HORRIBLE. Faith truly knows how to play comedy from a place of realism, which is always the best way to approach it.

[StateOfJade]

Posted: 5/20/04 at 5:13pm

RENT 18 times.

[CJR]

Posted: 5/20/04 at 6:58pm

Chicago, more times than I'm willing to admit -- if you want, you can check my FAQ: http://www.roxanecarrasco.com/cjrfaq

Hollywood>http://www.roxanecarrasco.com/cjrfaq>http://www.roxanecarrasco.com/cjrfaq

Hollywood Arms - 5
Bells Are Ringing - 5
RHS - 5
My Life with Albertine - 2
Godspell - 3
Rent - I lost count... but I'll say 5, just because that's what I can clearly remember off the top of my head from when I worked the tour.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 5/20/04 at 7:14pm

Dreamgirls -- 8 (I think)
A Chorus Line - 6
Angels In America: Millenium Approaches - 5
Angels In America: Perestroika - 4
House of Blue Leaves (LCT revival) - 5
For Colored Girls - 5 (different productions)
Measure For Measure - 5 (different productions)
The Seagull - 4 (different productions)
Long Day's Journey Into Night - 4 (different productions)
Chicago - 4

currently playing:
I Am My Own Wife - 3
Caroline or Change - 3

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 5/20/04 at 7:46pm

MargoChanning, is there a reason you saw Angels in America:Millenium Approaches one more time than Angels in America:Perestroika? Just wondering...

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 5/20/04 at 8:59pm

This really shows how much of a non-New Yorker I am. I saw CATS 3 times, and only one of those was on Broadway (it was the summer before it closed and I quite literally begged to see it). The other two times were on tour. I'm going to see it for the fourth time next week at a local theater (a very good, not to mention talented, friend of mine is in it).

[CJR]

Posted: 5/20/04 at 9:33pm

Oh yes... and then there was Cats.. I'm not proud to say I've seen it 4 times -- once as a child and then the 3 shows on tour I worked.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 5/21/04 at 4:49pm

Governor Slaton,

When "Angels In America" opened on Broadway (May 1993), only Part One: Millenium was presented, and that ran by itself for six months while Kushner worked on Part Two: Perestroika. I saw Millenium twice during that period and waited anxiously for the second half. Perestroika finally began performances in rep with Millenium in November of '93 and I saw Perestroika by itself early in previews (the poor cast had to rehearse the three-and-a-half hour Perestroika during the day and then do a performance of the three-and-a-half hour Millenium every night). The show had a schedule that went something like: Monday -- Part One; Tuesday -- Part Two; Wednesday Matinee -- Part One; Wednesday evening -- Part Two; Thursday -- Part One; Friday -- Part Two; Saturday matinee -- Part One; Saturday evening -- Part Two; Sunday -- Dark. Each was treated as a separate play in terms of buying tickets, so it was up to you whether you wanted to see them both together or just one of the parts. So if you wanted to see the whole play close together, you could see it on successive nights, or in one marathon day on Wednesdays or Saturdays. I did the marathon three different times, so that's how I saw Millenium five times and Perestroika just four.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 5/21/04 at 4:49pm

Governor Slaton,

When "Angels In America" opened on Broadway (May 1993), only Part One: Millenium was presented, and that ran by itself for six months while Kushner worked on Part Two: Perestroika. I saw Millenium twice during that period and waited anxiously for the second half. Perestroika finally began performances in rep with Millenium in November of '93 and I saw Perestroika by itself early in previews (the poor cast had to rehearse the three-and-a-half hour Perestroika during the day and then do a performance of the three-and-a-half hour Millenium every night). The show had a schedule that went something like: Monday -- Part One; Tuesday -- Part Two; Wednesday Matinee -- Part One; Wednesday evening -- Part Two; Thursday -- Part One; Friday -- Part Two; Saturday matinee -- Part One; Saturday evening -- Part Two; Sunday -- Dark. Each was treated as a separate play in terms of buying tickets, so it was up to you whether you wanted to see them both together or just one of the parts. So if you wanted to see the whole play close together, you could see it on successive nights, or in one marathon day on Wednesdays or Saturdays. I did the marathon three different times, so that's how I saw Millenium five times and Perestroika just four.

[lc1965]

Posted: 5/23/04 at 12:29am

I have to chime in w/ those folks who don't get seeing a show multiple times. I can see seeing a show 2 or 3 times if it very complex or if your friend is in it or if you missed your favorite performer. But, seeing show repeatedly is a bit odd to me. As a FOH staff member, I can say that many of the repeat customers are there for reasons other than the show. It's sort a sense of community. This was true for one recent show (which shall be nameless!) There was a group of a couple dozen young adults who were there virtually every night. They stayed for the songs they liked & got up for those they didn't. It was rude to the performers & those in the audience. A shame, really.