Stage Seating. Yay or Nay?

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Stage Seating. Yay or Nay?

Posted: 8/6/07 at 2:44pm

I've never done it and I don't plan on sitting on stage.
My biggest problem with stage seating is I think it ruins the whole illusion that what you are seeing is real. As soon as someone sitting on stage moves you are distracted and are reminded that what you are seeing is just a show.
If that even makes sense.

Thoughts?

Updated On: 8/6/07 at 02:44 PM

re: Stage Seating. Yay or Nay?

Posted: 8/6/07 at 2:49pm

I've never sat on stage, but when I saw Xanadu, I found myself gazing at the people in the onstage seats a lot. Some of their reactions were just as funny as the show itself. After laughing with [at] the folks sitting onstage, I don't think I could sit onstage. Also, the performances are still aimed out at the house, so I bet you're seeing a lot of profiles and not getting a clear view of faces and expressions.

re: Stage Seating. Yay or Nay?

Posted: 8/6/07 at 3:08pm

I think it's a show-by-show thing. With "Xanadu," you're in the middle of all the lunacy and for me at least, it enhanced the whole goofy tone of the show. I don't want to sit anywhere else.

re: Stage Seating. Yay or Nay?

Posted: 8/6/07 at 3:14pm

I'd love to see on stage seating done at a Brecht play.

re: Stage Seating. Yay or Nay?

Posted: 8/6/07 at 3:16pm

I agree...it depends on the show.

With Xanadu, you're in the middle of the action. The audience is able to see your reaction. You become a part of the show, basically, especially in the end when everyone dances.

I haven't sat onstage for Spring Awakening yet, but those seats are off to the side. So you are going to have all the action in your face, but your not as much a part of the show as you are for Xanadu.

"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611

re: Stage Seating. Yay or Nay?

Posted: 8/6/07 at 3:40pm

It totally depends on the show--- hated the stage at "SA"--
Liked it during "Inherit the Wind"

LOVE it for "Xanadu" !!

re: Stage Seating. Yay or Nay?

Posted: 8/6/07 at 4:20pm

^ I agree. With "Inherit the Wind" it was pretty cool. I would have preferred to be in the front 10 rows orchestra, but stage seating was in comparison an inexpensive alternative, not to mention much better than being in the mezz, balc or even back of orchestra.

Plummer, Dennehy and the other actors as well were very expressive, turning around often, very theatrical. After all, they were both playing lawyers, and we were supposed to be the courtroom. Definitely an amazing experience. Plummer just ruled that stage.

2010

Feb. 28 - Looped, Feb. 28 - Next to Normal, March 4 - Hair, March 11 - A Little Night Music, March 24 - Time Stands Still, April 6 - La Cage Aux Folles, April 10 - Anyone Can Whistle (City Center), April 10 - Looped, May 9 - Enron, May 15 - A Little Night Music, May 15 - A Behanding In Spokane, May 30 - A Behanding In Spokane, May 30 - A Little Night Music, June 20 - A Little Night Music, June 23 - Red, June 23 - Sondheim on Sondheim, July 13 - A Little Night Music, July 18 - The Grand Manner (Lincoln Center)

re: Stage Seating. Yay or Nay?

Posted: 8/6/07 at 4:48pm

There's been other discussions about on-stage seating on here not too long ago, and my opinon then was that I didn't like it - for the reasons mentioned here already.

My opinion hasn't changed.

"To love another person is to see the face of God!"

re: Stage Seating. Yay or Nay?

Posted: 8/6/07 at 4:53pm

In terms of Spring Awakening, I would not recommend it for a first time. For the most part you are behind the action and miss some really great facial expressions. For other songs like "Bitch of Living" and "Totally F*CKed" it is actually a lot of fun, you feel like you are in the song and it's funny what some of the actors do in the background.

In a way I think it takes you out of the show since seeing some dude in a Abercrombie shirt is going to take you out of the time period, but that show is raging with anachronisms so if you're not bothered by the references to a "stereo" or microphones being pulled from jackets, you're fine.

#10

re: Stage Seating. Yay or Nay?

Posted: 8/6/07 at 6:46pm

I agree with the Inherit the Wind onstage seating - AMAZING - you were so involved with the actors that you felt like you were in a courtroom and the audience wasn't there. In Spring Awakening I found myself watching the reactions of the people in the front row - it's a different feeling altogether but the onstage experience was still worth it. We sat in the second row, stage right, first three seats. The only time we couldn't see facial expressions was when the cast was singing at the very front of the stage.

#11

re: Stage Seating. Yay or Nay?

Posted: 8/6/07 at 6:50pm

Yay for being on a stage. Must be fun.

Nay for being in the audience looking at all the slobs on stage while trying to watch a show.

"But I can tell you that Raoul, who was so handsome in "The Phantom," is now a drunken wreck."

#12

re: Stage Seating. Yay or Nay?

Posted: 8/6/07 at 7:53pm

I really enjoyed sitting on the stage for SA. We were toward the back, and we did miss some of the action. I had seen the show before, so I really enjoyed observing the actors behind the action. I also enjoyed being in the center of Bitch of Living and Totally F*CKed. I liked watching the movement from a different area actors. I do admit that the out of breath actors take away from the ending of the show, but it was worth it. We were surprised that we saw so much. The coolest thing was watching the actors from so close - you can tell that every fiber of John Gallagher's body is Moritz for those 2 hours, and that Lea Michelle and John Groff never break character. For me, it was worth that.

If you are thinking about sitting on the stage for SA be aware that the chairs are very uncomfortable!!!

So, that was the Drowsy Chaperone. Oh, I love it so much. I know it's not a perfect show...but it does what a musical is supposed to do. It takes you to another world, and it gives you a little tune to carry with you in your head for when you're feeling blue. Ya know?

#13

re: Stage Seating. Yay or Nay?

Posted: 8/6/07 at 9:22pm

I don't like stage seating just for the gimic of it, but if you put stage seats for another reason, like your show is Brechtian or something then it's fine.

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