"Sweeney Todd" - get familiar before?

I am headed off to NYC on the 25th and have tickets to "Rent" and will be doing discount tickets of whatever I can get after that. I am hoping to score "Sweeney Todd," though.

My question is, should I listen to the music and get familiar with it before or will I enjoy it just fine without knowing it beforehand?

I'm ashamed to admit it, but I was totally unfamiliar with Sweeney Todd before I saw it in December (other than a handful of songs: Worst Pies in London, Johanna, Not While I'm Around) and I was glad that I went in not knowing it. While I think it'd be an entirely different experience going into it being intimately aquainted with the music, I do think it was interesting to enjoy it without knowing for sure what was going to happen. Now I've got the cast recording and I can go back and see it again from a different perspective, but I think it's still thoroughly enjoyable even w/o knowing the music ahead of time.

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Agreed. I saw it with no preparation and understood it fine (although the more elaborate production on the DVD clears up some things that were confused by the minimalistic staging). There's some things you WON'T want to spoil.

Knowing the music is not needed. But I feel having an overview of the basic plot and characters is important.

I have to agree (given how the story plays out) that it's better to go in unprepared. When I saw it the 2nd time, I did with a different perspective of all of the characters and it actually added to my enjoyment. However, I was happy for my first viewing that I knew VERY little about Sweeney.

By the way, if you go on broadwaybox.com, there is a discount code to get seats for $65. I sat 10th row center orchestra the 2nd time I went with this code . . . they were GREAT seats.

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Yep, I even have a "rule" about shows I've already seen. If I know I'm sure I'll be seeing it again, no matter hor far off, I'll stop listening to the cast recording until then.

Yes -- most Sondheim is complex. However, there is SO MUCH going on with most Sondheim shows that, not matter how much you "prepare" you still won't get it all. I feel the TRUE way to appreciate Sondheim is to perform one of his pieces. Every night there is a new discovery and you continually feel you are learning more about the characters.

Nevertheless, I still feel that the first experience of any work should be as fresh as possible. Even if plot points aren't given away, you should even try to avoid reviews because they may color your feelings about the performances. Immerse yourself after seeing the production the first time.

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