Theaters Comfortable for "Large" Patrons

My boyfriend has wanted to see a Broadway show for as long as we have been seeing each other because he knows how important theatre is to me. He really wants to share it with me. However, he is a large guy. Both in height and in weight. He has felt out of place and unwanted the few times that he has been to theatre productions local to him and it's scared him away from trying to see a show in New York with me. He's afraid his height will obstruct the view of others behind him or size make anyone next to him uncomfortable. I assured him that the one is easy as we will just pick aisle seats so the only one next to him is me, but I don’t know how to assure him about his height. He is afraid to inconvenience someone that paid a lot to see a show yet he doesn’t want to sit all the way in the last row somewhere, especially if it’s a big theatre.

So our question is, what theatres are designed best for larger patrons? Ones with roomier seats, good leg room, and a steep enough incline so that others sitting behind us may be able to see over him? Or ones small enough that sitting in the last row will not feel like sitting a mile away from the action?

No this has all been VERY helpful Kade! The more info the better. Thank you. He is working on getting his weight down and it sitting over 400 at the moment. Being that he is tall, he is not super bulky but he's very subconscious about it. This is really helpful.

Scarlet Leigh said: "No this has all been VERY helpful Kade! The more info the better. Thank you. He is working on getting his weight down and it sitting over 400 at the moment. Being that he is tall, he is not super bulky but he's very subconscious about it. This is really helpful."

Sounds like we’re of a similar size! He will most likely be fine in an aisle seat, especially if it’s in the orchestra. Transfer seats might also be an option, given what that house manager told me, as well as the fact that they seem to be sold as regular seats. I’m working on getting weight off, but that’s definitely an option I’ll be considering next time I can’t choose an aisle seat!

I was thinking the same thing, but I know some heavy people are concerned with the ability of a single chair to support them.



And can I say....what a nice thread to read: an honest and loving concern, all addressed with polite helpfulness. (it's just nice to see it stay that way.)

I don't have the belly problem, but I have the shoulder problem so I always get an aisle seat so I can hang out into the aisle. If I don't its a pretty miserable experience for me and the people either side.

My theater buddy when she visits NYC is large (5'5 and 300 pounds) so we're quite picky with our seats. For most theaters, we prefer the box since they have freestanding chairs that tend to be more comfortable than the regular seats. They also tend to be partial-view and thus cheaper in the pricing.

If the box is unavailable, we always try to get an aisle seat in side orchestra (aisle closer to center orchestra) or side mezz (aisle closer to center mezz) as we find that even if the person in front of us is tall, the view is not obstructed because we have to slightly tilt our heads anyway to see center stage. I hope this makes sense.

I saw Harry Potter last week and my suggestion is to get one of the boxes as there are plenty of room and freestanding chairs. In addition, in orchestra row K has the most legroom.

Since the World Cup recently started, this thread reminded me of Brazil 2014 and their larger seats for larger patrons (though I don't think these larger seats should be priced more than the seats next to them.)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2286535/Fat-seats-2014-World-Cup-youll-pay-double-price.html

I'm 6'8 and 350lbs and have been in nearly every theatre on Broadway, and what I've discovered is the my girth is almost never the issue I face (aside from getting in and out of the seat because of the armrests).

My problem is that my legs are around 36-38" and my feet a size 16, and so my knees either jut out into the seats in front of me, or (because of the height of the seat) are bent in an uncomfortable squat (my knees higher than my hips instead of level). I often apologize to patrons around me before a show in case I have to fidget and get comfortable.

If the seat is supremely uncomfortable, I can usually ask the house manager or an usher for a seat change and (provided it isn't sold out) they usually are able to accommodate me, usually with the arm transfer seat or a standalone chair.

In re: buying a transfer seat, I've never done that because I see all of the ticketing websites saying that "these are for patrons with wheelchair disabilities, and if you can't demonstrate a disability, then your ticket will be cancelled" or something along those lines.

For me, the two absolutely WORST theatres for my size are Studio 54 and the Broadhurst. The rear mezzanine at Studio 54 is not meant to fit anyone who isn't a small child, and I've actually lost circulation in my legs and almost fell down the stairs because I had no feeling in my legs. For the Broadhurst, the rows are too close together and my legs cannot squeeze in without impacting the person in front of me by bending their seat forward entirely.

I have ALOT of feelings on this topic and I think with the price of theatre tickets going up, these theatres should take the time to maybe do what the Lyric did and remove/expand their seats. I'm forever grateful for all of the ushers and house managers who have helped me make theatre more enjoyable, because even though I could stand to lose a bit a weight, I cannot fix my height and I hate that it feels like a penalty in order to enjoy a show.

I'm an average height and weight but have long legs and I find a lot of seats uncomfortable so I definitely feel for you all when it comes to dealing with this. I usually try to get an aisle seat myself because of how uncomfortable I find the leg room in most places.

Depending on what show you are seeing the last row aisle seat might not be a bad option though, I've sat in the back of the orchestra and the last row in the building completely and most of the theatres still offer a fantastic view.

Show wise I recommend Once on this Island at the circle in the square because it is a really tiny theatre so a last row aisle seat will only be like row 7 in some of the sections. So you'll still be close to all the action and he might be more comfortable knowing that he won't be blocking anyone and that you're still sitting close.

Updated On: 6/15/18 at 01:09 PM

If he's comfortable standing for a duration of a performance, standing room tickets are readily available for popular shows. Otherwise, have him sit on an aisle with you sitting next to him in the row. That way he isn't disturbing any patrons in case the chair is too small. Good luck!