Shows/Theatrical Experiences That Changed You as a Theatregoer

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 8/2/12 at 2:10am

Whether it's a certain show or production as a whole, or even just a song in a show, what theatrical experiences have changed you as a theatregoer? The biggest for me was when I saw a professional production of Into the Woods when I was in 4th grade. It was my first show that wasn't a "kid-friendly" show, and it was also my first introduction to Sondheim. My dad took me and we sat in the first row. I still remember how enthralled and engrossed I was in the story, songs, and overall production. After seeing it, my appreciation and understanding of the power of telling a story on stage and through music was greatly increased. Looking back, it is this one production that made me the avid theatre fan I am today. I had seen plenty of shows at youth theatres prior to this, but I still consider this the most powerful theatrical experience I have had. What show do you credit with making you the theatregoer you are today?

Updated On: 8/2/12 at 02:10 AM

[My Oh My]

Posted: 8/2/12 at 5:02am

It goes without saying a certain British import's first Los Angeles engagement in 1988, which I attended at age 11 in 1989, was what did it for me. It was a delayed reaction, though. I sat there, watching this incredible thing unfold in front of me, and aside from being unusually quiet and pensive on the way home, I exhibited no sign of someone who had just been overwhelmingly moved...and intrigued.

I realize now that the initial intrigue and fascination led me to seek answers in other shows as well as in finding out more and researching the creative teams. I gained a real appreciation for theatrical approaches in storytelling and all its myriad, uniquely crafted elements in writing and design work that are specific to the art form. I eventually realized that theatre's way of presenting things was more real than reality in how it impacted me, even in its shameless fakery. So, I'm happily hooked.

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 8/2/12 at 5:25am

My Oh My, I can't believe you managed to post without mentioning the orchestrations!

[My Oh My]

Posted: 8/2/12 at 5:32am

Orchestrations!!!!

There.

[adam.peterson44]

Posted: 8/2/12 at 5:49am

Carousel was the first musical that i saw, in grade 5. Although many years later the details of the story are very fuzzy, the soliloquy made such a big impression on me back then that I still remembered it many years later as the first time I had ever experienced that much emotion during any form of storytelling. I think seeing how a powerful performance of a powerful song could lead to more heightened emotion than any movie or tv show I had seen previously just hooked me on live theatre.

Epilogue: I have not seen it since, and have wanted to just to remember the story better, and the videos of the Goodspeed production are really making me want to just rent a car and drive the 10 hours each way just to see it one (long) weekend. I've never done anything that crazy before to see a theatre production. I guess even after so many years *coughdecadescough*, some things haven't changed, happily.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/2/12 at 7:54am

I was an actor long before I was an audience member: both in school as an elementary student being chosen for the Jr High's musical production (they always used little kids in one number) as well as in my living room.

My parents had a strange collection of OBC Recordings that I would listen to and act out in the living room. The two that stick out in my head: The Rothchilds and Two by Two. (Sure, they were predominantly men, but that didn't seem to deter me!)

I never stopped performing in musicals. And I got more knowledge from movies -- West Side Story was the one that we (as teenagers) watched religiously.

I actually HATED my first ACTUAL Broadway show. The original run of Grease. (Near the end of its run.) I just hated it. (I still can't stand the show.)

Other than those begining experiences, however, I can't any shsow has actully CHANGED me. Made me think and feel, sure -- but not actually changed me in any recognizable tangible way. I'm sure intrinsically there are changes -- just like every experience we have makes us who we are.

Are there shows that I can point to and think, "THAT'S why I love theater?" Yes, many -- and I truly feel that theater is closest thing to a religious experince as I've ever had.

Updated On: 8/2/12 at 07:54 AM

[castlestreet]

Posted: 8/2/12 at 8:06am

8th Grade- They took us to see Phantom in Toronto. After that I couldn't get enough theater, it opened my eyes to a spectacular world of music, design and acting. While I had seen regional and touring productions of other shows, Phantom was such an event, and at that time the entire city of Toronto was basically an homage to Phantom, so it was such a big deal. After Phantom I went from wanting to see more and more and listen to every cast CD I could get my hands on.

[Quiche2]

Posted: 8/2/12 at 10:19am

PETER PAN with Cathy Rigby. This was the first musical, professional or amateur, that I ever saw. I was 9 years old. Before then, I was like any other 3rd grader, who only cared about candy and other stupid things. After that night, I was hooked on musical theater. Those tickets were a birthday present from my Nana because I loved the Peter Pan movie, and that one present changed my entire life.

[aaronb]

Posted: 8/2/12 at 11:13am

I remember seeing a school production of KING LEAR when I was in Elementary School and being blown away by it.

[once a month]

Posted: 8/2/12 at 11:14am

A Chorus Line

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

Sleep No More

[Bob30]

Posted: 8/2/12 at 11:32am

The London Palladium production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang showed me that magic and atmosphere can be created on stage and through the eyes of 7 year old me the production was flawless and heightened the magic of the film. The over the top sets, songs and dancing have ad me hooked on theatre ever since :)

Also seeing the current London revival of Sweeney Todd showed me that musical theatre doesnt have to be all chorus lines and smiling faces but a story can be told through music that has a very deep meaning instead of 2 and a half hours of fun like most musicals.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/2/12 at 11:34am

The first musical I ever saw was a touring production of Anne Of Green Gables at Hamilton Place. I was seven, and my mom, grandma and I went. I sat there enthralled at the house lifted in and out, and they danced with ice cream. I was hooked. However the most moving moment I remember is one I had the opportunity to work on... a local production of Cabaret, and being on stage to help move a set piece as each night we rolled like a steam train from the song Cabaret on through to the heartbreaking conclusion. It changed me, and was the realist theatre moment I have ever experienced.

[DEClarke]

Posted: 8/2/12 at 12:04pm

I would have to say two shows did it for me:

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF at the Music Hall in Houston, TX in 1993.

CABARET at the Baytown Little Theatre in Baytown, TX in 1998.

[quizking101]

Posted: 8/2/12 at 12:12pm

Even though I had seen many before it, the show that changed me as a theatregoer had to be the recent revival of WIT.

I felt smacked across the face by that show because A) it gave me a perspective into the thoughts of the cancer patient and the scenes at the very end showing Dr. Bearing's decline painfully reminded me of my grandmother's own death from colon cancer two years before. The tears in the rear mezzanine were audible, including those of my own parents.

Also, on a personal level, it told me that human connection is a wonderful and universal thing. Being intelligent, cold, and calculated in my own way led me down a very lonely road and this shook me and told me that I should warm up to others a bit more.

[ErinDillyFan]

Posted: 8/3/12 at 9:37am

After having been a musical theater fan all my life and having had season tickets to all the national tour outlets in the Detroit area and having grown up in a small town where the community theater productions were just passable, I took my daughter to see her elementary school choir director in The King & I. My wife & I realized then that not community theaters are created equal. In big cities, the pool of talent can be amazing. I have seen people that had little experience that were just born to play a specific role, to people that were formerly on broadway and national tours that for whatever reason gave up that life and others that were in school and went on to a life in professional theatre.