Seeing shows by yourself — Page 2

I usually go see plays myself. Most of my friends/family who like theater prefer musicals. Each season I usually send out a list of things I want to attend to friends and see who wants to join me. This year I am going to Beetlejuice (in DC), King Kong, and Kiss Me Kate with friends. I am going to Lifespan of a Fact, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Ferryman by myself.

A funny story - I'm a history buff and was excited when I heard about Hamilton at the Public but of course they were sold out. I played the lottery every day with no success. When the transfer to Broadway was happening I asked everyone I knew if they wanted to see it. No one was interested so I got a ticket and went by myself a month after they opened on Broadway. A few months later I had everyone who turned me down calling me to ask how I got tickets. There was no problem getting tickets when the Broadway run first went on sale - I had my choice of seats. I was glad I saw it when I did and didn't wait because no one wanted to go. Often when I go by myself I am seated next to someone else who is there alone. I've met some great people and had many interesting conversations.

Updated On: 9/14/18 at 12:52 PM

I go alone to most everything, and I usually enjoy it. The best theatrical experience I ever had was seeing Einstein on the Beach in Los Angeles - it was a five hour train and bus ride down, the show was four and a half hours, and then I had to wait until two in the morning at Union Station for the bus back. It was like climbing a mountain by myself, totally exhausting and exhilirating and I can't possibly imagine having done that with someone else. Sometimes, the act of totally immersing yourself in your own experience is its own experience.

Count me in as another who sees shows by themselves the majority [if not all] of the time. I will see the odd show with others (my mom really wants to see Network so we're seeing that together, and I'm seeing Kiss Me Kate with a friend because we saw it together on a 6th grade trip and it felt right to see it together again) but I prefer to go alone.



In addition to the reasons others laid out, I enter a lot of lotteries and it's way easier to plan it around my own schedule and not have to worry about getting a date for the night. Especially because my husband really isn't a live theater fan.

I never realized there were so many other people who love going to shows alone. I do it all the time. It's certainly nice to be able to discuss the performance with someone else after, but generally, the convenience of going solo is too good to resist. I control the date, the parking, the seats, etc. I just pop into the city, grab an inexpensive bite to eat, enjoy the show, and head home, singing as loud as I want in the car.

I would not go to an evening performance solo, that would be rather weird. A matinee sure. Restaurants, the same - breakfast, lunch ok; dinner, absolutely not.

I go alone about half the time. I prefer to go with someone, but I kind of like going by myself too. The girls at work are always shocked when I go alone. I actually find it kind of empowering. I always get a bite before the show, because I like to eat. I sit at the bar. I’m just more comfortable at the bar. I just realized I’ve never gotten a table alone at a sit down and order off the menu type place... maybe I’ll do that next time. It’s good to step out of your comfort zone.

I do most things alone including eating out, Broadway and off-Broadway and touring shows and international travel. Maybe it is because I grew up as an only child, but it just doesn’t bother me. I’m not against doing these things with others, but only if it enhances the experience. I just got back from another overnight trip to Tulsa (from OKC) to see Wicked solo (I saw it solo twice last Thursday as well - matinee and evening performance). But I’m taking one of my best friends up see Les Miserables next Sunday as a belated birthday present to her. I usually eat solo because I tend to decide to eat out at the last minute. And not everyone would want to see the same shows I do or could keep up with my schedule (I saw 9 shows during my 7-night trip in June) or would want to. Most of my early touring shows were with my parents when I was already an adult. Now that my dad is deceased and my mom has dementia and doesn’t even recall going to those shows, I cherish those memories. So I’m not asocial. I just don’t limit my choices in life due to being single.

Updated On: 9/14/18 at 10:22 PM

ilysespieces said: "geoffreyC said: "I would not go to an evening performance solo, that would be rather weird. A matinee sure. Restaurants, the same - breakfast, lunch ok; dinner, absolutely not."

So do you just not go out alone after 5pm? To use your word, that's a "weird" line to draw."

I know.

I travel to NYC often for work, so generally see shows by myself. I much prefer it that way. The problem is I have a husband who doesn't think we should do things separately. I'd much rather prefer to go to the things I want to see by myself, and not waste money buying him a ticket when I know he won't enjoy it. The problem is he doesn't like to do things by himself, so will either drag me to see something he wants, or he won't go at all.

Lot666 said: "geoffreyC said: "I would not go to an evening performance solo, that would be rather weird. A matinee sure. Restaurants, the same - breakfast, lunch ok; dinner, absolutely not."

I don't mean this to be offensive, but your comments make you sound very insecure. What about being alone in public in the evening makes you so averse to it?"

So when someone answers in a way that does not align totally with the majority of the comments, they must be weird or insecure? I did not say being alone in public. I specified a sit-down restaurant (not fast food) and the theater. Believe me, they are not really that glad to see you by yourself at an upscale restaurant in the evening, for various reasons that I will not go into. As for the theater, it is an odd and kind of sad feeling (to me) to be sitting by yourself amongst couples and groups out for an evening's entertainment. As for your totally "inoffensive" comment, it is not insecurity but personal preference. Try to understand this concept.