The lure of the first preview

[bear88]

Posted: 8/12/22 at 1:49am

What is the primary motivating factor to see the first preview of a new show? The thought crossed my mind because I could, theoretically, see the first preview of a new musical intended for Broadway - Goddess at the Berkeley Rep. As it happens, a member of my party wouldn't be available for the first preview, and we're seeing it six days later.

But it got me thinking about whether I would even want to see the first preview, and about the draw of first previews for all of you. This is sort of an Only on the Broadway Message Board type of question, because the average theatergoer doesn't care - and seeing a brand-new show with an unfamiliar story (and music, if it's a musical) wouldn't appeal to most people.

When I read the comments about first previews, they tend to point out the glitches or the unwieldy length of the show (that could and probably will be tightened) or other problems that hopefully will get ironed out. There is, of course, often a financial incentive to see a show in previews. Tickets are less expensive. It's not a hot ticket yet. Then again, it might never be a hot ticket.

Is there just a special buzz associated with the very first performance? I'm sure that it true for the actors and creatives. Is it true for the audience too? Do you hope to catch lightning in a bottle? Oh, sure. You saw Hamilton at the Public. I saw the first preview. (I think some of you still here did, as I recall a thread.)

Out-of-town previews have their own pluses and minuses. There are likely to be changes, possibly substantial ones, in the show from the time it first opens and when it appears in New York City, on or off Broadway. Cast members might come and go. You're watching a rough draft. Then again, it's always a treat to get Broadway talent coming to you. 

Anyway, it's an open-ended question. Why the first preview? Or if you avoid the first few days, how come?

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 8/12/22 at 2:15am

I think it’s the “lightning in a bottle” point that you made, for sure is one. 
For me it’s usually just that I’m so excited for the show that I want to see the first preview and then maybe see the show more after that. I was at the first preview of Company pre-shutdown and it was such a special experience. 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 8/12/22 at 6:12am

I loved attending first previews when I lived in the city (or seeing things as early in previews as possible). I just love seeing things early in the process and then revisit to see what changes occur. It's fun to see a show evolve and find its footing because, as many of us know, a show can have a ton of rehearsals and dress rehearsals, but a lot of things can't "click" until there's a live audience. It's always interesting to see how the pacing changes between an early preview and a post-opening performance. 

I love seeing Bartlett Sher's productions early in previews. His previews can be a bit messy, but still beautiful. I saw THE KING AND I, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, and MY FAIR LADY early in previews and many times post opening, and it was always fascinating to see the work that was done and the little subtle changes made that added up to make the productions even better.

I will admit that sometimes the first preview audience and buzzy excited atmosphere can sometimes lead to me being a bit blind to the flaws in the production - I can easily get caught up in the excitement and think I am loving something when really it's just being caught up in the moment. This definitely happened to me at BULLETS OVER BROADWAY (also my first time seeing a first preview). I unabashedly loved the show, and still really do like it, but I did not really how flawed the show was because I was so caught up in the moment.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 8/12/22 at 9:42am

It's just exciting to be there for the first paying audience and witness many of those "I was there" moments, like when a performer first gets a standing ovation for a song or stops the show. You know it's electric for them. 

One of my most prized experiences was the first preview of Women On The Verge where Sherie Rene's bed caught on fire and a stage hand ran out with a fire extinguisher, the leading ladies had some tech issues while suspended during "On The Verge" and Laura got a long, wild standing O after "Model Behavior."

It was a blast. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/12/22 at 9:54am

There’s a lot of reasons I love first previews. For musicals though, I love tracking s new shows progression and (at least until a few years ago) shows can drastically change from first preview to opening night which I love to see. 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 8/12/22 at 9:58am

I'm of two minds on it: 

On one hand, you sometimes get the opportunity to see interesting material that later gets cut (and might even become kind of infamous). Plus, you get to go in and form an opinion with zero pre-conceived notions, which I particularly enjoy.

But on the other hand, you're usually not seeing the best version of the show. And if you're like me, and not a fan of seeing shows more than once, it becomes a harder decision. I will say that when it comes to musicals in particular, I've been avoiding early previews more recently. I'd just rather see it when it's more refined; it's hard enough to find a good musical these days, without deliberately catching one in its roughest state. But for plays, I don't mind - especially play revivals. 

The other part of this (and I'm not sure if others will acknowledge this) - I'll confess it's kinda fun to be one of the 1st people on the message board to report back on a show. Being one of the people to satisfy everyone's early, anticipatory curiosity - especially on a real wild-card show. I guess there's a bit of shallow vanity in that, but it is what it is - I'm only human. 

[Charley Kringas Inc]

Posted: 8/12/22 at 11:47am

I'll totally own up to the thrill of being one of the first to report back, haha. It's fun! Though I'm not sure if I've ever actually seen the very first preview, usually it's a little further in, but I think it's fascinating to see a show in its raw form. It's often been said (in some form or another) that the audience is a co-creator, so seeing a show very early means being a part of that collaboration.

Before previews start, the show is in a state that's mostly informed by internal decisions, and the biggest changes (imo) that happen in previews entail buffing out all the elements that don't make sense on first viewing, or are just plain misguided. Getting to see that is always extremely interesting, particularly being able to compare it to the finished product.

I don't love Beetlejuice, but it was a prime example. In previews, it came across as ugly, mean-spirited, and suffocatingly crass, which makes sense. If you're in the enclosed environment of workshopping and creating, you might not realize that a performance that's way over the top only seems fresh to you in comparison to the performances you've been fixating on for weeks. By the time it actually arrived on Broadway, they had taken note of that, and reigned it in for a more palatable (and popular) experience.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 8/12/22 at 1:22pm

Bettyboy72 said: "One of my most prized experiences was the first preview of Women On The Verge where Sherie Rene's bed caught on fire."

The bed IS supposed to catch fire (it’s a visual reference to Almodovar’s original film).  It’s obvious there was a tech issue with the contraption that distinguishes the flames on the set, hence the stage hand running on with a fire extinguisher.



 

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 8/12/22 at 1:33pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Bettyboy72 said: "One of my most prized experiences was the first preview of Women On The Verge where Sherie Rene's bed caught on fire."

The bed IS supposed to catch fire (it’s a visual reference to Almodovar’s original film). It’s obvious there was a tech issue with the contraption that distinguishes the flames on the set, hence the stage hand running on with a fire extinguisher.



No duh, Captain Obvious. There was no need for your snarky comment. It was very clear she was setting the bed on fire in the show, but it flared up and there was an actual issue that created e moment for all involved. There was a fire that wasn't going out. It was a first preview issue which this thread is about. 

Thanks though. 

 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 8/12/22 at 1:36pm

Bettyboy72 said: "No duh, Captain Obvious. There was no need for your snarky comment. It was very clear she was setting the bed on fire in the show, but it flared up and there was an actual issue that created e moment for all involved. There was a fire that wasn't going out. It was a first preview issue which this thread is about.

Thanks though.


Well your post contained zero indication that you "knew" it was supposed to catch on fire -- so maybe don't be a d**k about it when someone calls you out??

 

 

[Wick3]

Posted: 8/12/22 at 1:41pm

In addition to what has been said, it's also a way to see the creatives at work. Most of the time they're sitting in rear orchestra or standing at the back taking notes. 

A few months ago I went to the first preview of COCKthe play in West End and it was so cool to see director Marianne Elliott give a speech in the beginning of the play welcoming us back to live theater. That was also the first time I had ever seen an actor pass out onstage (Taron Egerton passed out during an intense scene.)

[Jarethan]

Posted: 8/12/22 at 3:10pm

I saw Follies, Phantom, Miss Saigon, Moulin Rouge, and Nicholas Nickelby, to remember a few of the big ones, in their first preview.  There was added excitement in the air, because they were all essentially known quantities (I had seen all but Nickelby either in Boston or London previously), so there was no ‘risk’.  And, honestly, there was to a person in just 20s or 30s bragging rights to have managed to get tickets to the very first performance.

Unlike a lot of folks on this board, I have never gotten to see many shows more than once unless I loved them (and even there, the most times I have ever seen a show (in multiple versions and venues) has been around 10 times, often over 50 years).  I haven’t lived in Manhattan since 1978, which makes it harder to justify more than one visit to a show I didn’t love.   As a result, I have tended to stay away from first previews now that previews run so long (Mame had 5 previews back in the day), because unless I LOVE it, I am likely to see it only once, and I’d rather see it in it’s frozen state.  Based on some of the other, less successful shows I have seen in first previews when I still lived in NYC, I concluded that the excitement factor was not there if it wasn’t a known quantity, and I saw more than a few shows I would have skipped had I waited for the reviews.  With one exception: I saw the first preview of Moon for the Misbegotten in 1973, mainly because it was initially only scheduled to run for 5 weeks, and I was traveling on business a lot of the time.  Since no one expected much, there was no special ‘first preview’ vibe going into the theatre, but it was contrasted by one of the longest, strongest ovations at the end of the performance and leaving the theatre with a feeling of ‘did I just witness theatre history being made?’

Since I usually only get to Manhattan 2 or 3 times a year, the opportunity only surfaced when a first preview occurs while I am actually in the city, which was the case with MR.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 8/12/22 at 6:55pm

JSquared2 said: "Bettyboy72 said: "No duh, Captain Obvious. There was no need for your snarky comment. It was very clear she was setting the bed on fire in the show, but it flared up and there was an actual issue that created e moment for all involved. There was a fire that wasn't going out. It was a first preview issue which this thread is about.

Thanks though.


Well your post contained zero indication that you "knew" it was supposed to catch on fire -- so maybe don't be a d**k about it when someone calls you out??
 

It’s a theatre message board so I assume people know the show (my bad). Also Brody is always nasty to people on here and I never am. I just got sick of his holier than thou nonsense. Sorry for being a dick.