Posted: 4/8/16 at 4:11pm
I've never done standing room before, and am always wondering what it is like to be there seeing a show. I know rear orchestra seats are often obstructed view because of the mezzanine overhang. What is the view like in the standing room? Better or worse?
Posted: 4/8/16 at 4:18pm
Also depends on your height. I've never done standing room anywhere but i know the broadhurst has a pretty high wall. I'd definitely have to stand on my tippy toes the whole time...
Posted: 4/8/16 at 4:22pm
It's generally fine. I have preferred standing room to extreme side orchestra for certain shows/theatres.
My only miserable standing room experience was seeing "The Audience" in London years ago at the Gielgud Theatre. It was my 5th day in London and I had walked everywhere, I only got on a bus or train 3 times total. That particular theatre's standing room is a very wonderful view, but there is NOTHING to lean against like in most other theatres where there's a little railing or something you can lean forward onto. Towards the end of the show I felt my legs give out and I fell. Thankfully I was ok and stood back up immediately and lasted the rest of the performance, but my normally 15 minute walk back to my hotel tool 45 minutes because I had to stop and sit on a stoop every block.
Posted: 4/8/16 at 4:29pm
It really depends on the theatre (as someone mentioned) and the set for the show, honestly. I've done standing room for Book of Mormon many times and no view in that standing room is bad whereas I did standing room for next to normal and In the Heights and seeing the higher levels of the sets was a little difficult.
Posted: 4/8/16 at 4:45pm
I've always had good experiences with standing. I've done it at the O'Neill, Booth, Lunt-Fontanne, Cort, Belasco, Circle in the Square, Nederlander and Winter Garden.
I mean, it's always a bit of a pain to have to stand for the whole show. My feet and knees always get kinda tired, but it's not too bad. I'm 5'10'', so I've never had any problem with the height of the bar/wall. I've always been able to lean comfortably on them.
I've also always found the view to be good. Though, I would prefer to be closer to the stage, the rear-orchestra doesn't feel as far away as sitting in, say, the rear-mezz or balcony, and I've always been able to see everything of importance.
Another advantage to SRO is that you can do some things with greater ease. You get a bit more breathing room, so you can fidget without bothering anyone, stretch, get something out of your bag, take a drink of water, etc. Plus you can pop over to the bathroom as soon as the lights go up at intermission, and beat the lines. And if you like to stage-door, it's easy to beat the crowds and nab a good spot.
Posted: 4/8/16 at 4:56pm
Some of my past SRO experiences:
For Fun Home, you don't miss anything and I think standing room is pretty much premium view. Best deal on Broadway.
For Book Of Mormon, you may miss just the top part of the set, but nothing really happens there. You can check it out during intermission. You get to be pretty close to the stage though, compared to rear mezz. Same applies (to a lesser extent) to Kinky Boots and The Color Purple where there's really no action above the sight line. I was lucky that I was pretty much always behind center orchestra...
I definitely prefer center SRO to extreme side orchestra for musicals as you want to see the whole stage. That said, I haven't done it in really big theaters like The Palace.
For plays like King Charles III and The Humans, I didn't mind sitting in the very front rows (rush) as I got to appreciate the performances while sacrificing some perspectives.
Updated On: 4/8/16 at 04:56 PM
Posted: 4/8/16 at 5:37pm
I stood for Book of Mormon and the view was fantastic.
Posted: 4/8/16 at 5:39pm
I have to agree, I've never had a bad standing room experience. You have quick access to the exits, you have a good view of the stage (I have not done standing room for a production in which mezz overhang may be an issue, such as in the event of a mult-tiered set), the tickets are generally inexpensive.
The only downside I would say is that you may be distracted by house staff movement and noise behind you.
Posted: 4/9/16 at 4:26am
I stood at Hamilton last month and the view was ok, but the overhang meant that we couldnt see what what going on on the walkway unless we stood right back and bent over, and even then we could only see just above their waists, but i was just happy to have been there lol
