Theaters Where You Would Rather Sit In The Mezzanine Than In The Orchestra...

[Zeitoujo]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 8:19am

________________________________________________________________
Summer Show List:
06/27- Beauty and the Beast
07/11- Spring Awakening; Rent
07/23- A Chorus Line; Spring Awakening
07/29- A Chorus Line; Beauty and The Beast

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 8:25am

Well, I can't imagine my seat for Grey Gardens being any better than what I had on Saturday. Last row of the mezz, perfect view.

[Zeitoujo]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 8:37am

So the last row of the mezz at the Kerr is great?

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 8:43am

Yes.

[BroadwayBelle2]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 8:57am

I always go for the orchestra seats, they're worth it. Sometimes they can be expensive so, I try to get discounts. But I did see Mary Poppins in the rear mezzanine I think row M, and they were pretty good!
Updated On: 7/23/07 at 08:57 AM

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 11:05am

Chorus Line. I sat in the front mezz and the view was great. You get an overall view of the choreography.

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 11:07am

The Gershwin, maybe. Any of the big ones.

I'm not so much a fan of the mezz at the Kerr. Yech.

[ElFantasma14]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 11:38am

Actually, front row of the Gershwin was like row J of the August Wilson mezzanine, it was soooo far back. And so high too! I think front row of the August Wilson would be perfection.

[Bwayfan4]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 11:51am

WW11, I couldn't aree with you more. I sat in the last row of the mezzanine for GG a few weeks ago and it was a great seat! I also liked sitting center mezzanine (3 to 4 rows back) at the Biltmore...it's such a small theatre, but what a view!

[jordangirl]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 11:53am

Unless I'm right down front at Studio 54, I love the mezz. Granted, I've only sat in the mezz or front row there, but the orchestra seems really flat and I've never had a head in my face problem in the mezz there.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 11:58am

I think the only theatre I would RATHER sit in the mezz would be the Marquis. Maybe the very front of the Palace, but only because the stage is so high.

[Born To Reign]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 1:35pm

Palace too. When you get far enough back in the orch to be able to see the floor, you're very far away

[bwayballerina]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 1:44pm

I saw Mary Poppins from mid-mezz and definitley wouldn't have wanted to be on the main floor.
Ditto for Wicked (but in Chicago)
I saw Company from the front row, and loved that experience, but would have also liked to have seen it from somewhere in the mezz, to get the bigger picture. I have a feeling that could probably be true for many smaller shows.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 1:47pm

I think it depends quite a bit more on the show than on the theater. Yes, some houses have poor sight lines and things, but it's not as easy as just thinking of the layout of the theater. Some shows look better or are more effective from the mezzanine.

Updated On: 7/23/07 at 01:47 PM

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 2:01pm

Richard Rodgers, probably. I've never sat up there, but considering how it blocks the entire second half of the orchestra, I'm sure the mezz has to have a better view.

Updated On: 7/23/07 at 02:01 PM

[jordangirl]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 2:03pm

I gotta say, we were mid-mezz for Curtains yesterday and I think that was a great place to sit. We could see everything!

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 2:14pm

I love the mezzanine...period.

[Mark_E]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 2:16pm

I don't mind sitting anywhere aslong as the view isn't restricted and it's not too expensive. In the UK it is much more common to have an Upper Circle and I usually sit there as it is much cheaper.

To be sitting in the Rear Mezz in any theatre would be great for me, as they are so cheap compared to what the back of the dress circle is in the UK (Normally the whole mezz level is full price, although sometimes around £10 cheaper ($20)).

[vfd88]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 2:23pm

I saw Phantom from mid-mezz a few years ago, and the seats were FANTASTIC. You were eye-level with the catwalk that the Phantom is on occasionally (where the chandelier is) and you get a great view of everything. Even if the show was not so great.

[silversurfer2]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 2:47pm

Well, The Eugene O'Neil for Spring Awakening is a great small theater. Having seen the show, numerous time, from all vantage points-On-Stage, ORCH, Front row, Mezz....I ahve to prefer the first few rows of Center Mezz...You can really take in the Staging Lighting design and full impact of the show from these seats.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 3:13pm

parterre at the Met Opera is ideal

[JRybka]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 3:19pm

I hear that it is better to watch the lion king from the mezz then in orchestra if only for the opening number.

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 3:25pm

JERSEY BOYS has an absolutely fantastic view from the mezz.

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 4:55pm

I saw Little Women three times when the August Wilson was the Virginia. The first time, I was the first row on the mezzanine, and I could see perfectly. The second time, I was the first row in the orchestra, and, since the stage is mercifully low, I could see everything, including the spit flying out of the actors' mouths. And then the last time I was in the last row on the mezzanine and could see everything, but it was very vague and the details were lost up there.

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 5:12pm

I think it does depend on the show matching up with the theatre. Back in the late 1950's or early 1960's I sat in the front mezzanine of the Broadway Theatre for a performance of WEST SIDE STORY with its original Broadway cast after it returned to NYC from its first tour. The view of the dance sequences was just excellent and I think better than it would have been from the orchestra. The sweeping view of the dancing was wonderful. But this last December I had a 9th row center orchestra seat at the Broadway for the COLOR PURPLE and found it to be a wonderful seat which heightened my enjoyment of the show.

Incidentally, while checking on the dates for WEST SIDE STORY in my book "Opening Night on Broadway" by Steven Suskin, I read this intriguing tidbit: "In terms of the score: it has been rumored that while Bernstein was off trying to fix CANDIDE, lyricist Sondheim wrote some of the music himself. Bernstein's co-lyricist billing mysteriously disappeared from the credits during the tryout, presumably as a trade off." (!)