Previews, Official Run or both?

There are as many answers as there are people. I have little preference -- I go with what fits in my schedule. for example: I likely won't be in the city again until November -- my two show choices will likely be The Band's Visit and Once on This Island. One just starting previews and the other just past opening.



I saw DEH off b'way, and on bway -- but only saw Waitress in Boston. If I'm not moved/exhilarated by the first time, I'm not going back at all- regardless of improvements I hear about.

Sometimes previews are cheaper. That's pretty much the only reason I'd choose to go to a preview over a regular performance. If I'm going in previews, I'll aim for close to opening night, since the closer you get, the more likely a show will be "frozen". Along the same lines, sometimes I just see tickets to something on TDF and snatch them before they're gone and don't even think if the show is in previews or not. Especially if I think it's going to be a hot ticket once the review comes out, I'll take what I can get, when I can get it.

The cool thing about previews is that sometimes there will be songs that won't make it into the final show, because they'll be replaced by something else. Usually it's because the original songs don't work as well in front of an audience as whatever the new song ends up being, so... I'd rather just see the finished product. I don't think I've ever been at a preview that had a track list different from the final one. Maybe Something Rotten? I don't remember the music too well from that one, to be honest.

At times I also like to go close to opening. Depends on the show. First one that comes to mind is "Caroline or Change". I chose to go 2 nights before opening.

CT2NYC said: "I prefer to see a show for the first time at the tail end of previews, during whichthe critics go as a basis for theirreviews. Since attending theopening night performanceis not an option for most people, including myself, press week is the next best thing, in my opinion. As even more incentive, cast absences are practically nonexistent during this period."

Very true. I saw The Color Purple during press week and Cynthia always did the score justice, but goodness gracious was it delivered that night.

I see just about everything in previews. I would say return to see most musicals again after opening night about 75% of the time depending on how much I enjoyed the show. I rarely see plays more than once, though.

I like to get in immediately at the start of previews to avoid being spoiled by too much chatter. And often, it turns out, to beat demand. But if I like a show, I will go back time and again. Performances may deepen, the piece may tighten, but with the exception of Shuffle Along (and the dubious exception of Spider-Man), what you see at the top is almost exactly the final product with the Broadway musicals of recent years. I've never really changed my mind based on changes a show made in the course of previews.