Repeat Visits To Shows

Justin D said: "I believe a large chunk of the Broadway market is repeat visitors, especially on long running shows."

Hmm, I think the repeat visitors are a tiny fraction of the audience, just the loudest and noisiest so they seem like they are a larger group than they really are.

Weirdly passive aggressive thread, though, heh.

theaterlyfe19 said: "this isn’t always true. I have seen a particular showmultiple times and I’m not loud or agressive...I think that applies to very few repeat visitors?"

But posting online about seeing a show multiple times is the loudness I'm referring to. No one sees a show 10 times and isn't also telling people about it in their local circles/social networks. Not necessarily that they are obnoxious or crazy (but they can be), only that it creates a perception that this is more common behavior than it actually is...

haterobics said: "theaterlyfe19 said: "this isn’t always true. I have seen a particular showmultiple times and I’m not loud or agressive...I think that applies to very few repeat visitors?"

But posting online about seeing a show multiple times is the loudness I'm referring to. No one sees a show 10 times and isn't also telling people about it in their local circles/social networks. Not necessarily that they are obnoxious or crazy (but they can be), only that it creates a perception that this is more common behavior than it actually is..."

I think that is a very cynical view. While I do not see shows with the frequency with which some posters on this board do, I have seen at least a dozen shows 8 to 10 times (either on Broadway, in London, in Boston, in touring companies, and occasionally in regional theatres); and another 20 - 30 at least 5 times, I have already seen Moulin Rouge three times, and have tickets for two additional performances.

Since my circle of friends are much less frequent theatergoers than I am, I never discuss frequency...for the specific reason that I don't want to be perceived as a know-it-all show-off. I have gone to these shows multiple times -- I should point out that I am 68 years old, and have seen a number of these shows over the course of almost 60 years -- because I absolutely loved them or, if not loved them, because of the opportunities they provided to great performers, e.g., I have never loved Sunset Blvd, but the role it provides to its lead makes up for deficiencies; I am a little tired of Gypsy, but would see it again depending on the lead (which will not include Imelda Staunton).

So, to the original poster, I see many shows multiple times because they give me pleasure. If I had the choice to see Chicago a tenth time or to see True West or Be More Chill the first time -- neither of which I have any interest in seeing -- I will happily see Chicago again (and I would love to have the opportunity to see excellent productions Dreamgirls or Nine again).

I don’t have an issue with seeing shows multiple times. If I enjoy a show and it moved me in some way, I’m fine with spending money to see it again. I’ve seen Phantom and Les Mis about six times, but that’s over a span of 20+ years. For other shows, specific casts or travel companions may influence repeat performances. I saw Hello Dolly with Bette, again with Bernadette, and once more when Santino Fontana was briefly in, and have plans to see it on tour with Betty Buckley. By the end of the year I’ll have seen Come From Away three times, because my various travel groups all have a high interest in seeing it, and I enjoyed it enough the first time to go with them.

The only time I see it become a problem is with those who become obsessed with a show to the point of bankrupting themselves or displaying disturbing behavior toward the show or its cast. I’ve seen it firsthand with an acquaintance of my friend who has gone to Anastasia and DEH 20+ times and demonstrated unhealthy behaviors towards the cast via stage door and paying for her tickets (e.g. using her rent money to see the show again instead). That’s a whole other kettle of fish.

Jarethan said: "I think that is a very cynical view."

Not sure what is cynical about it. All I'm saying is that if Frozen sold 11,903 seats last week, I would argue more than 11,500 people are likely seeing it for their first and only time. It is just our new online/social media culture that lets the outliers who go repeatedly seem like a far larger population than they likely are.

Beyond that, I don't care what people want to spend their money on. If it makes them happy, let them have their fun. Until you drill down beyond that to one of the true crazies, that's going to be most people's take on it.

CarmenA3 said: "theaterlyfe19 said: "I know there are people who see shows more than once. I know people see the same show a lot. As long as they have the money for it, and they are rewspectful to the show and the actors, I dont see a problem with this. Theyre not hurting anyone and why should people care if it brings someone joy? Thoughts?"

The tone of your post feels like there is more backstory thanwhat you posted above. What is all this "they're not hurting anyone" business?As a fan who has seen multiple shows multiple times, it's actually offensive, to be honest. Why do you carehow often someone has seen a show? I see a lot of shows more than once, so what? I know people that have gone to multiple Justin Timberlake, Billy Joel andJimmy Buffett concerts. They are fans and enjoying the time they spend there as I do when I choose to spend my hard-earned money on shows I enjoy. Some people got upset a while ago when people would enter lotteries or do rush multiple times because it doesn’t give people who haven’t seen the show a chance to see it or win the lottery. Say they don’t even live in NYC but they choose to enter anyway-not even NYC-anywhere where you can see theater. But that was the specific example I was thinking of.

Whenever I have friends come in to visit NYC and they ask what they should see, I immediately reply Come From Away. I'm not screaming at them or forcing them to buy tickets, just sharing my opinion on a show that's affordable and to which tickets can be found (e.g. rush). Does that make me a weirdo? No. I never said anything about forcing people to buy tickets or calling people weird....unless that was just a general statement. Because obviously I don’t think it does.

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theaterlyfe19 said: "I know there are people who see shows more than once. I know people see the same show a lot. As long as they have the money for it, and they are rewspectful to the show and the actors, I dont see a problem with this. Theyre not hurting anyone and why should people care if it brings someone joy? Thoughts? "

I couldn’t care less of someone sees a show more than once. Good for them. These shows last because of ticket sales. I’ve seen my favorite shows more than once. There are 5 shows that I’ve seen 2-3 times each because I loved them. Love the original cast albums but there’s nothing like seeing and hearing them live. That’s why I returned. If it’s good, I’ll go back. I saw Dear Evan Hansen last March and I’d love to go back and see it again with their new Evan. I saw The Prom just two weeks ago and I would definitely go back because it was a lot of fun. I would never see Alladin again but I’ve seen The Lion King 3 times. My point is that It doesn’t matter. If someone is annoyed that people see a show more than once, that’s their issue and it’s a weird issue to have.

theaterlyfe19 said: "I know there are people who see shows more than once. I know people see the same show a lot. As long as they have the money for it, and they are rewspectful to the show and the actors, I dont see a problem with this. Theyre not hurting anyone and why should people care if it brings someone joy? Thoughts?"



Personally, I (we) usually just see a show one time. Never really understood why some see a show sometimes 4,5 even 10x? That's costly! The exception was Hello, Dolly!

We saw it with Bette and Bernadette. Hamilton once off-Broadway and winning the lottery for the original BWAY cast of Hamilton! Other than that...once is enough and special.

SharksVsJets, The Broadway League produces demographic reports on Broadway audience demographics. Quoted from their 2017-2018 report executive summary:

" The average Broadway theatregoer reported attending 5 shows in the previous 12 months. The group of devoted fans who attended 15 or more performances comprised only 5.5% of the audience, but accounted for 31% of all tickets (4.3 million admissions). "

This isn't referring to performances of the same show, though (at least not necessarily), but rather to multiple ticket purchases for any Broadway show. But it is one data point related to though not exactly answering your question. The full report is for sale but the summary (from which the above quote is taken) is available for free online at:

https://www.broadwayleague.com/research/research-reports/

agree with theatrelyfe. I've seen a bunch of shows multiple times but I'm not obnoxious about it. the most common driving factor is replacement cast or an understudy being on, so ill want to see their take on the performance. best example being waitress

With the vast majority of shows I've attended over the years, I've only seen them once. It makes my Broadway trips more special, and I have a pretty good memory so don't usually don't feel the need to catch it again. On rare occasion, if it's a show I REALLY enjoyed or one I would like to take a family member to see, I'll catch the tour. I can only think of a couple shows I enjoy enough to watch over and over again. For one of those, I have seen it several times over the years, and for the other one, I totally would have if it had remained open.

I do have a couple people in my personal life who spend tons of money seeing the same shows over and over again. It's their money and they enjoy it, so good for them. The only way it would concern me is if either of them were depressed and going into debt buying tickets as a desperate form of escapism, which I'm sure isn't the case.

Updated On: 2/22/19 at 11:58 AM