THE MUSIC MAN Previews — Page 23

TaffyDavenport said: "FANtomFollies said: "I tried asking this a while back on the seating advice thread but didn't get a response:

My group has seat in the Orchestra Row H seats 16,18,20 and 22. Will this be partial view at all? We bought them so long ago and we've never been to any show at Winter Garden so just want to know if we should prepare ourselves for a less-than full view."

Here's H 24:

https://aviewfrommyseat.com/photo/155413/Winter+Garden+Theatre/section-Orchestra+R/row-H/seat-24/"

Yes I've seen that photo but it doesn't tell me anything about the view of the show during the performance. I'm wondering if/how much of the performance I might miss.

Yes I've seen that photo but it doesn't tell me anything about the view of the show during the performance.

That is literally what this photo shows you.

New York Times coverage of the journey of The Music Man to Opening Night.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/02/theater/music-man-broadway-hugh-jackman.html

In case of subscription wall - some sidelights.

*Capitalized at USD twenty-four million.

*Fairly high infection rate of cast & crew (60). Did not contemplate closing or putting show on hiatus. Did consider pushing Opening Night date.

*Zaks says that he was able to put in changes only by end January.

Updated On: 2/2/22 at 06:55 AM

Just noticed that The Music Man is now on TodayTix. No discounts though.

OffOnBwayHi said: "I saw this last night.

Although beautiful, it feels a bit dead in the eyes. I felt nothing the entire runtime.The show ends and ultimately all that’s left to say is, “That was nice.”

Sutton is such a wonderful talent and Hugh Jackman is such a big star, but neither radiated throughout. It was like, “That’s Sutton and Hugh on stage… They’re singing. They’re dancing. Cool.”

I wanted to be blown away by this, but it’s a forgettable experience imho."

I felt very similarly to this. They speed through the dialogue so quickly there is no time to respond with any emotion which leads to just not caring about the characters. So many people are miscast it starts to become sad (Hugh, Shuler, Jayne, etc.). The only person giving a performance worth a darn is Sutton. The sets and costumes are cheap looking. The choreo is good but relatively generic.

It really feels like they said, "Welp! We got Wolverine to sing and dance again on Broadway and that's all people will care about so we really don't need to try very hard on ANYTHING!" I chose this show to be my main birthday show as it's always been one of my favorites and I walked away SEVERLY disappointed. So sad at so much missed opportunity!

I saw the show Wednesday matinee with $49 rush tickets. This was the first time I’ve ever seen this show and I didn’t even know much about the story except for the short overview on Wikipedia, and I must say I loved every second of it! I don’t think I’ve laughed so much since the pandemic started. The rush line is definitely worth it.

For me, the overwhelming "feeling" I got while watching the show for the first time last weekend was joy. The joy of the actors, the joy of the singing and dancing, and the joy of just being back in a packed theater again and watching a (slightly) new spin on a familiar old show. And I'd say that joy is as valid as feeling as any. I loved it.

Just to add my two cents, while I agree this production is visually similar to Dolly, tonally the two are pretty different. Dolly was full of mugging and eye-winking. This was played almost shockingly earnest (aside from the annoying "breaking character" moment) and I thought benefitted from that approach. I had a really lovely time, even though the insane ticket prices are probably promising more than this actually delivers.

Updated On: 2/3/22 at 07:12 PM

angoradebs said: "I saw this show 3 times between Weds-Sat and I loved every bit of it. I'm 100% the target audience as Music Man has been one of my favorite shows for 20+ years, and I love both Hugh and Sutton.

I sat in orchestra E1, orchestra A1, and mezz A18 (my seat was A30 but 16-28 were empty so I moved)

I know people are curious about the front row seats. A1 is partial view in the same way a lot of front side seats are - if someone is standing center slightly upstage it is sometimes blocked by ensemble members. This seat was absolutely amazing for all of the scenes that take place at the front of the stage with no set (and that's a lot of the show). When there's a big ensemble number (76 Trombones and Shipoopi especially) you'll miss a bit. And of course you're sometimes seeing the back of the actor (true of many side seats, though)

I did not mind the stage height, but for the person who "likes to see feet" - you won't always. How often you will will depend on your height. I'm 5'6 and could see feet for probably the front third of the stage. Any further back and I saw ankles. I do think the staging does a great job putting the main action front and center, though.

I loved sitting so close, but I am very very used to sitting front row off to the far side (this isnt far side, I just mean I usually view shows from an angle). Someone used to sitting center will probably be disappointed. I don't think it's the best spot for a first viewing of the show. And I don't think they should be charging $300 for it. I'm glad I got to sit there, and I'd sit there again if the price went down.

E1 was the perfect seat to me. Mezz was fine, good for seeing the dancing but in general I don't like sitting in the mezz. A30 was listed as PV and it definitely is (and there are like 6 more seats further over). A18 was of course full view and would probably be the perfect seat for a lot of people.

I did notice a couple of slight changes from one viewing to another (like which ensemble member said a line, and a bit of choreography that got cut during a transition scene). So they're still playing around with some small things, but for the most part the show stayed the same."

So I’m wondering, was there a row BB to be found when you were there? Because that row changes for each performance on telecharge and someone on aviewfrommyseat posted an A row picture saying “front row center” and as someone who has a BB ticket… I’m feeling more than a little confused, lol.


The overall seating chart on Telecharge shows AA as the first row, BB as second, A as third, and so on. But when you select ‘Find tickets’, row AA is never shown anymore (not even greyed out) and the seats in Row BB disappear and switch around for every performance, so I have zero clue what’s happening there.


I’d take the seating chart at its word if it weren’t for the people who have been there seeming to make out like row A is front row? SMDH. I’m working myself up over here because I’m trying to comfort myself with my “too-close 2nd row” seats, but first I need to actually find out if they ARE second row, or possibly first (or somehow, inexplicably, nonexistent?).


So if anyone knows for sure wtactualf is up here, I’d appreciate it. Just booked my flights today for a 9-day trip at the end of April and somehow scored nonstop LAX>JFK for $422 round trip. So I’m feeling good and giddy and excited… except for this damn seating weirdness.

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Updated On: 2/4/22 at 11:11 AM

mxfish1313 said: "angoradebs said: "I saw this show 3 times between Weds-Sat and I loved every bit of it. I'm 100% the target audience as Music Man has been one of my favorite shows for 20+ years, and I love both Hugh and Sutton.

I sat in orchestra E1, orchestra A1, and mezz A18 (my seat was A30 but 16-28 were empty so I moved)

I know people are curious about the front row seats. A1 is partial view in the same way a lot of front side seats are - if someone is standing center slightly upstage it is sometimes blocked by ensemble members. This seat was absolutely amazing for all of the scenes that take place at the front of the stage with no set (and that's a lot of the show). When there's a big ensemble number (76 Trombones and Shipoopi especially) you'll miss a bit. And of course you're sometimes seeing the back of the actor (true of many side seats, though)

I did not mind the stage height, but for the person who "likes to see feet" - you won't always. How often you will will depend on your height. I'm 5'6 and could see feet for probably the front third of the stage. Any further back and I saw ankles. I do think the staging does a great job putting the main action front and center, though.

I loved sitting so close, but I am very very used to sitting front row off to the far side (this isnt far side, I just mean I usually view shows from an angle). Someone used to sitting center will probably be disappointed. I don't think it's the best spot for a first viewing of the show. And I don't think they should be charging $300 for it. I'm glad I got to sit there, and I'd sit there again if the price went down.

E1 was the perfect seat to me. Mezz was fine, good for seeing the dancing but in general I don't like sitting in the mezz. A30 was listed as PV and it definitely is (and there are like 6 more seats further over). A18 was of course full view and would probably be the perfect seat for a lot of people.

I did notice a couple of slight changes from one viewing to another (like which ensemble member said a line, and a bit of choreography that got cut during a transition scene). So they're still playing around with some small things, but for the most part the show stayed the same."

So I’m wondering, was there a row BB to be found when you were there? Because that row changes for each performance on telecharge and someone on aviewfrommyseat posted an A row picture saying “front row center” and as someone who has a BB ticket… I’m feeling more than a little confused, lol.


The overall seating chart on Telecharge shows AA as the first row, BB as second, A as third, and so on. But when you select ‘Find tickets’, row AA is never shown anymore (not even greyed out) and the seats in Row BB disappear and switch around for every performance, so I have zero clue what’s happening there.


I’d take the seating chart at its word if it weren’t for the people who have been there seeming to make out like row A is front row? SMDH. I’m working myself up over here because I’m trying to comfort myself with my “too-close 2nd row” seats, but first I need to actually find out if they ARE second row, or possibly first (or somehow, inexplicably, nonexistent?).


So if anyone knows for sure wtactualf is up here, I’d appreciate it. Just booked my flights today for a 9-day trip at the end of April and somehow scored nonstop LAX>JFK for $422 round trip. So I’m feeling good and giddy and excited… except for this damn seating weirdness."

There is a thread for Seating for TMM...Please use it and keep this thread purely for thoughts, opinions from those who have actually seen the show.

I saw it last night and was glad that I got $99 tickets years ago now. I enjoyed the cast, the music and the dancing. Marian the Librarian and 76 Trombones made me very happy! I thought Hugh Jackman was very charming and Sutton was delightful as always!

That being said, I was disappointed by the design of the show. The costume and the sets were not appealing at all. And it reminded me of why I don't like seeing kids in shows very much; they had the singing and dancing down, but the acting? Oof.