Seeing shows alone? — Page 2

LOL. Believe me when I say that I'm not "scared" to go to New Jersey alone. I said I wanted company in the theater (for both Pillowman and Ragtime), not that I think I'll constantly have to look over my shoulder whenever I'm in big bad Jersey. LOL. I'm a grown man from Chicago who's been in cities alone by himself quite a few times...
I simply want to share the experience of this great show with someone else!

My friend knows Ragtime. She's heard the first nine minutes of it and seen accompanying visuals. However, I accept her blunt refusal to go. I do think that whenever someone travels to another city to a visit a friend, that person's interests should be privileged since s/he probably won't be back for a long time. Again, my friend knows many people in NY and could see Avenue Q with any of them anytime. If someone were to come visit me here in the Midwest, I wouldn't use their visit as an opportunity to just entertain myself when there are other things they (as outsiders) want to see.

LOL - oops, my bad! For some reason, I felt like you were in your teen years coming to NYC to visit a friend. Guess not!

Yeah, I know the frustration of not being able to communicate the passion you feel for something to someone. I've just resigned to talking things out on this board and letting my friends call me a theatre-freak. :)

Like I said before, some people just aren't into theatre. For whatever possible reason, I don't understand, but they aren't. You should have a trade off w/ your friend...go to Ave Q w/ her and she goes to Ragtime w/ you. The rest you go alone?

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I don't really mind going to see a show by myself. I'm there to enjoy the show, not hangout with friends. It is nice to have people who share your interest with you though. But in my case, most of my friends don't really have an interest in theatre, so I'd feel bad dragging them to an expensive show they aren't really interested in. I'd feel bad to make them sit through something they really don't enjoy.

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I was a little apprehensive about going to shows alone, but I've done it quite a lot in the last couple of months and I'm really fine with it. It's always nicer to have someone to go with, but I don't at all mind it. I've become very outgoing and I usually always find someone to talk with for some reason or another. Sometimes I'll eavesdrop on their conversations and hear them say something about a show or performer that's incorrect and of course I have to correct them. Sometimes they ask one of their companions a question that no one knows the answer to so I do. Recently at a show I was alone, there was an old couple behind me who said something about seeing Light In The Piazza so I turned around and asked them if they liked it, they said they loved it and we talked a lot, I ended up showing them my picture with Matt Morrison, they thought it was cute. Once I start talking, a lot of people are excited to talk to me, especially tourists who only get to see a couple of shows and are fascinated by someone who sees so many. It makes me feel special.

And if for some reason I don't really have anyone to talk to, during intermission, I could always go into the lobby and talk on the phone until act 2 starts.

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I prefer to go to both movies and theatre alone. I don't have any distractions, I don't have to worry about conversation or anything. I like to go in, take it in, and be able to think about it alone without any distractions before I discuss it with other people. Certain movies and shows I would like to see with someone else - and I do - but more often than not, I'm alone and I love it.

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I love going to shows alone! When I went to NYC last year, I saw 2 of the shows I saw alone. Personally, I don't feel awkward like that or anything, but then again I've been going to movies alone for forever. If someone I know can't go or doesn't want to, I'm not going to let that get in the way of me doing something I want to do. And during intermission, I usually get up, pretend I'm looking at merchandise, look at playbill, or buy something and oogle (is that a word?) at it. I've even talked to the ushers before. The train this is another hand, and I think that's your decision whether you feel comfortable doing it or not. I hope you go and have a great time!

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I have probably seen more on my own than with friends. Many of the times when I have been up there recently, I have just popped up for the weekend by myself.

I certainly don't feel bad doing so. Plus, I get to see exactly what I want--and often times that means better seats because 1 seat is easier to get than 2+

I also like talking to the people around me... most of the time you will meet someone really nice. I even had someone give me their better seat because I was by myself and really excited about seeing the show!

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On the Aisle:
The second to last time I saw Q, I went by myself.
I was having a horrible day and needed to see Q. None of my friends could bare losing the lottery so I went myself.
There was a guy (tourist on the lottery line with me and he started talking to me) I was giving him restaurant advice and he said why don't we sit together if either of us wins and if we lose you can show me the City.
We agreed and his name was called.
NYC is a great place.
It also happened many years ago going to the Urinetown lottery.
It was not the same kind of LOTTERY, you just had to be there but I met a guy on line and we chatted and we sat together. We became pretty good friends.

Updated On: 6/15/05 at 08:03 AM

I'd definetly feel awkward going alone. You can only pretend to be engrossed in the Playbill for so many of the intermission's minutes before you get bored. >>>

That's funny. And so true. I do several road trips a year for different reasons, and I usually start in NYC before I go South. I've mastered the art of skirting in at five minutes before show time. I usually end up with pretty good seats buying tickets this way.

A couple of years ago my old boss got me a season ticket for the North Shore Music Theater....one ticket. It's the thought that counts!

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If I didn't go alone I wouldn't be going at all. (And never going is just not an option for me.)

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id feel weird going alone. you have nobody to share the experience with and its also just strange. but thats just me.

first time was weird. every time after that was fine. it's great chatting with the tourists.

The way you put that it sounds sad. It sounds like you'd rather be alone. I'm sad for you.

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