Pippin: First Row Partial View

Today was my birthday. As a birthday treat, I decided to treat myself and my partner to Pippin. I had weeks ago decided that I couldn't afford "premium" tickets, but I wanted to sit in excellent seats for this production. The solution was to get up early and wait on a cancelation line for the day and hope that there would be cancellations at a time in the day when the box office would be willing to resell those seats at top orchestra rather than the inflated premium prices.

The men at the box office were very nice and directed me to stand at the back of the lobby. As it is "Tony Week" they were dubious as to whether, or not, I'd be successful.

Around 2.30p (after waiting over 6 hours) a 10 row center seat was released. I immediately bought it and discussed my plan with the box office for securing a second seat. I was again reminded of "Tony Week" and told that it was very unlikely that I'd be lucky again. The best seat they had was first row center, partial view.

I was told that the seat was listed as partial view, but that the person sitting in that seat would have their chin at stage height. This is a direct quote. I asked how that could be partial view and I was reassured that it was an excellent seat and very little would be missed except in the very back of the stage. I again asked if the stage was above eye level. I was told it was not.

7.30p we arrived at the Music Box theater. My partner's seat was ridiculous. He is 5'11" and sitting comfortable, he was looking directly into a wall. His eyes were a good foot below the stage level making it clear that he wasn't going to see much of anything. I immediately spoke with the house manager who was very helpful and led me back to the box office who did try and accommodate my friend. The only seat unsold was the last row of the orchestra against the wall.

I was furious. I would have waited and taken my chances at another cancellation. I felt completely mislead.

From my 10 row center seat, Pippin was glorious and I couldn't write enough to express my admiration for this production, but my evening was dampened knowing that my partner wasn't seeing anything that resembled the show I was seeing. At intermission my suspicious were confirmed. Both my partner and the other audience members in the first row were miserable and felt angry and cheated. Why even sell these seats. Unless you are 7' tall you're staring at a wall.

Music Box Theater, Weisslers, who ever decided to offer this seat to anyone other than the blind, shame on you.

FYI - the seat was full price, not even discounted.

Updated On: 5/17/13 at 02:04 AM

I think they build the stage forward to cover the orchestra pit. That might have caused the problem.

I suspect that the Music Box Theater doesn't have an easily accessible basement, or that the production wasn't willing to do the required construction to lower the stage AND tuck the orchestra completely under the stage, so the deck was built up to accommodate the musicians. This is pure speculation, though.

The stage is extremely high. Actually, the highest I have ever seen and I am listing way over 200 Broadway productions. I was sitting in row J (it was my partner that suffered - because of my birthday and I'm much shorter than he is) and my eyes were just slightly above stage level. Compounding this issue is that the Music Box's orchestra is only slightly raked.

You have the good fortune to test the seat beforehand. I am sure that you will decide to not accept these seats. From what I saw beforehand, at intermission and the comments of my partner and the other sitting around him, this was just unfair. These seats offer a view of only the action that occurs on the apron of the stage, above the waist when the performers are mid- to upstage and the aerial work.

They were not offering booster seats. In fact, the people behind him also had some issues and asked him not to sit on his jacket. He was gracious and complied and just suffered through the show.

He actual told me that he couldn't see the back of the set until the standing ovation midway through the first act when he was able to stand and then his eyes were above stage level.

I am not talking an inch or two. I'm talking almost a foot. Literally, he was staring at a wall.

These seats were definitely misrepresented to me. I was repeatedly told he'd be looking up, but that his eyes would be above deck level. These seats are not for anyone who wishes to SEE Pippin. Oh, he heard everything just fine.

Updated On: 5/17/13 at 10:11 AM

Having seen the show 14 times now. 13 times from seat B-9 (opening night I was in the mezz). and having been back stage. the stage is a normal height. The basement is very easy to get to and they didn't need to extend for the orchestra. It said partial view, that is what you got, quit crying.

Also Tony week is the first week of JUNE!!!

There is NO cancellation line!!! And you were told that too.

Updated On: 5/17/13 at 10:23 AM

The ticket did say, "partial view". I was told by the box office that his eyes would be above stage level, and I have been going to the theater for over 45 years, worked in the theater for many of those 45 years and I assure you, I have never seen a stage deck set that high.

My partner is 5'11' and I have never known him to lie. We arrived at 7.30p, 30 minutes before the show, and so I myself walked him to his seats and saw for myself what was being offered. I am not "crying". Those seats were simply WRONG.

That's actually the front row on the side. I was sitting up against the stairs. I surely know where I was sitting those two times.

dreaming: my apologies, as I didn't check out the sides, I didn't know that you were also in the front. I do not know you and I don't wish to assume I know your experience better than you.

Just to share some information, for future reference: The last row of the orchestra at the Music Box is a VERY good place to sit. In fact, Rows O (next to last) and P (last) are my favorites. The reason is that both rows are bumped up about a half foot from the rows directly in front of them. We sat in Row O for Pippin and had a wonderful, clear view of the stage and all the acrobatics too. It took me a while to figure out why the view is so good, but I saw One Man Two Guvnors three times and I eventually noticed!

As you said, "You started the cancellation line" as a rule, they do not have a cancellation line. I was standing right there when you arrived and asked about it. and you were told there was no line. so it was "your Cancellation line". They do not do that at the box office.

Thank you dreamin!!! I wish they had a like button as well.

For CHRIST'S SAKE.

ART, I am sorry that the BroadWAY has become so impossible for the average person that the idea of a special treat for your birthday involved you standing in line for six hours. That sounds like hell to me and after 20 minutes I would have thought up some other kind of treat that involved a reasonable investment on my part. But I guess these are the economic realities of our time.

I'm sorry you were disappointed with the outcome, I'm sorry your partner couldn't see anything. I'm even sorrier for the person seated directly behind him in row two. I hope your next special occasion is more celebratory and I hope it doesn't involve wasting your valuable time. And even more importantly, in real life, I hope you are lucky enough to encounter more empathetic listeners that this little troll gchris who, for eff's sake, is about two minutes from lecturing you about walking to Pippin barefoot in the snow at 3 o'clock in the morning. Because gchris has seen the show in the double digits so that just means he cares more about it than you do. Or something. Be thankful you're not gchris. And happy birthday.

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FindingNamo: Wow! Thank you! That actually helps and is greatly appreciated.

Please know that I, like I suspect most people here, am passionate about the theater. When premium prices made house seats near impossible for me, I knew my options were to compromise or wait on a cancellation line. I opted for the cancellation line and have no remorse for the time spent. I am just that passionate about the theater and Pippin holds a very special place in my heart from over 35 years ago.

I was actually planning on waiting till curtain time, as often these seats aren't released till then. I would have waited if I hadn't believed the box office attendant that 1. These seats did provide an excellent view with EYES ABOVE THE STAGE DECK; and 2. They thought I had little chance of anything better no matter how long I wanted.

I think I'm mostly complaining about being these seats being misrepresented by the box office, who otherwise were wonderful and accommodating.

On a more important note... From my 10 row center seat, my birthday present to myself was spectacular. I loved this new Pippin and in some ways prefer it over the original - although I do think the Fosse version a bit sexier and darker.

Updated On: 5/17/13 at 10:56 AM

I only hit the post button once.

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Updated On: 5/17/13 at 10:57 AM