Most Uncomfortable Theatre Seating: Nominations

[CurtainsUpat8]

Posted: 2/21/14 at 6:27pm

I am not a huge person but I am big. I am 6 feet and not fat. About 200 lbs. If I have problems with seating it's always because of my longer legs. I have learned to avoid some theatres and balconies altogether. That being said, last week I had the MOST uncomfortable seat I have EVER had in NYC. I went to see A Man's a Man at Classic Stage Company. ROW D on the SIDE. The entire row is a disgrace. There were young girls who didn't weigh more than 110 lbs who did not have enough leg room. It was literally excruciating and ridiculous for me to be sitting there. I was able to move during intermission thanks to a kind usher. I will say enjoyed the show very much as I have many of the shows at CSC, But CSC should be EMBARRASSED to sell this entire row of seats.

And so I nominate the entire ROW D on the sides of the Classic Stage Company as the most uncomfortable seats in NYC.

[Emma White]

Posted: 2/21/14 at 6:34pm

Well this isn't exactly "uncomfortable," but seeing Matilda, which I LOVED, was also a really annoying experience because there were just too. many. children. in the audience. Eating loudly, and talking loudly, and crumpling bags. And then the adults shushing them, which is EQUALLY annoying!

[Jon]

Posted: 2/21/14 at 6:51pm

As a formerly VERY large person (over 400 pounds) who is now just somewhat large (210), I nominate every Broadway theatre containing seats manufactured before 1960.

[ARTc3]

Posted: 2/21/14 at 6:55pm

The front row of Pippin, where all you can see unless you're a giraffe is a wall. The stage deck is so high it is near impossible to see past the very front of downstage.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 2/21/14 at 6:55pm

The gallery at the BAM Harvey should be outlawed by the U.N. Convention on Torture.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 2/21/14 at 7:47pm

I was watching Fun Home at the Public's Newman Theater. Row B, seat 6. The springs on the left side of the chair were completely broken, and the coils were at the bottom of the chair. I was lopsided the entire damn time. I sincerely hope they fixed it!

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 2/21/14 at 8:00pm

The mezzanine at the Walter Kerr unless you are a contortionist.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 2/21/14 at 8:03pm

The gallery at the BAM Harvey should be outlawed by the U.N. Convention on Torture.

I'm only 5'2" with legs that are short even for my height, so I never have much of a problem with seating (especially in terms of legroom), but those seats at BAM were the worst thing to ever happen to me.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 2/21/14 at 8:08pm

The balcony of The Hirschfeld. Erma Bombeck used to have a joke that when she crossed her legs while wearing pantyhose she would suffocate. It's the same with the Hirschfeld. The seats are so tight up there that if you can get your legs crossed, you're going to die in that position.

[CurtainsUpat8]

Posted: 2/21/14 at 8:19pm

Some that I think are very comfortable are... Laural Pels, Samuel J Friedman, American Airlines.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/21/14 at 9:34pm

Also weighing in on BAM. I'm 5' 1". Last time I was there, I was with a friend who's also 5' 1" and another who's probably 4' 10".

And before getting into those cupholder-sized seats, we practically had to crawl up the steps so we wouldn't fall backwards to our death on top of the rich people below.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 2/21/14 at 9:49pm

Some of the seats at Studio 54 are extremely uncomfortable. There was one show (DROOD?) where I couldn't it me legs into the space provided. I wound up sitting on the steps in the aisle for that show. No one seemed to mind.

[promisespromises2]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 12:19am

The most uncomfortable I have been so far has been in the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. I can't tell you the number of times I got elbowed throughout Kinky Boots by the lady sitting next to me. And I don't blame her because all you had to do was twitch and you were on top of the next person.

[bobs3]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 12:47am

I haven't been to the Broadhurst in years but it was extremely uncomfortable. I know they remodeled the theater a few years ago and I hope they modernized the seating for today's taller (and sometimes wider) audiences.

[wonkit]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 1:38am

Any seat I have ever been in at the Golden. I have long legs, and my knees get black and blue.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 6:49am

Agree about the Hirschfeld , there is basically NO leg room, especially in the Mezz. I am 6'0, small frame and have really long legs, so I can't imagine how uncomfortable it must be for a taller or larger person.

[LittleEdieFan]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 10:07pm

I'm a big ol bear of a guy at 6'2" and 300 lbs.

In my experience the worst theatres for a larger person are the Broadhurst, the Al Hirschfield, and New World Stages.

The best theatres are the Palace, the Stephen Sondheim, the Marquis, and Studio 54

[Scottsacto]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 10:18pm

The Imperial--By Far. Sat in the Mezz. one time asked the woman in front of me if she minded me throwing my legs over her shoulders during the show. She laughed and said no problem as she was freezing to death. Next time tried Orchestra--No better!

Though I must admit at 6'4"--I may be a bit jaded!

[CoreyRyan3]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 10:21pm

I'm 6'3, very skinny. Very long legs.

The ones I really remember are the Hirschfeld front Mezz and the Walter Kerr Mezz. Both of which were awful.

I've learned to just deal with it though.

[mc1227]

Posted: 2/22/14 at 10:25pm

The right orchestra seats at The Imperial are noticeably tighter than left and center. The seem to also be angled to the left a bit which makes for a very uncomfortable experience.

[Scottsacto]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 12:54am

Thanks MC1227 for the post--that was the side I was on in the Orchestra--Never noticed that before.

[blaxx]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 12:59am

It is not the mezzanine at the Kerr that is bad. It is the two-row balcony.

If you ever want to know how a person with vertigo who is about to get pushed and plummet to death by breaking himself into a thousand pieces feels like, just sit there for 3 hours.

[RJ COMMUNICATIONS]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 9:30am

The last row of the Booth has NO legroom. I am 5'0' with short legs and I was extremely uncomfortable. The girl next to me STOOD through the entire performance, because she literally could not sit down.

At the Nederlander, there was a row in the Mezz or Balcony where you could not take your seat before all the
other patrons in that row had been seated, because there was NO such thing as passing a person at their
seat, that's how little room there was. The usher actually asked me to have a drink at the bar until everyone
had sat down in my row!!

I'm guessing this issue is not regulated at all. I think they should enforce laws on theater owners about how much room they provide. Otherwise they will continue to cut corners on iffy spaces in the theater and call
them seats. Who's to stop them?

[jemjeb2]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 1:19pm

I am 6'4', so am pretty tall, and am usually cramped at most theatres. I do especially remember though being mid -Orchestra(!) at the St. James and literally had to sit through all of "A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum" with my knees pulled up to my chin. It was not funny.
At today's theatre prices it's time this was regulated. When theatre was easily affordable I felt I could put up with it, but now I am outraged. Maybe it's also because I am older and grumpier

[mj21723]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 1:46pm

I nominate the last row of the mezzanine at the Eugene O'Neil. Sat in the two person row for Book of Mormon and it was painful. I am barely 5 ft 3 and my knees were into the seat in front of me. Very uncomfortable!