What defines a Broadway tourist to a Broadway regular.- Page 2

[Mamie]

Posted: 10/22/08 at 9:28am

I live in the DC area and I do go to NY specifically to see Broadway and off-Broadway shows at least 6 times a year. Most of the time I go for a weekend and see 3 shows - 2 on Saturday and one on Sunday before taking the train home. I have occasionally gone for just a day and returned on the late night train.

I know the location of most Broadway theatres and I know the shows I want to see and have them prioritized in my mind. I know the times to hit the box offices for cancellations and I know exactly where to run if Choice A pans out and I have to run to B before the curtain rises.

I can get almost anywhere in the city as well as Brooklyn and Queens on the subway and that is my usual mode of transportation while I'm there. I do use TKTS occasionally but I go to the downtown office because the lines are shorter.

I do not consider myself a tourist - Broadway or otherwise - but I do (usually) stay the night when I go.

[wonkit]

Posted: 10/22/08 at 9:34am

A Broadway tourist is defined by his/her behavior. You are a Broadway tourist if you talk during the overture (because the play hasn't "started" yet), you unwrap candy during major dramatic moments (because you don't understand how distracting it is and you aren't paying attention anyway) and you only go to see things that your neighbors have seen (so you can talk about it when you get home).

When I was growing up, my parents would take the family to Broadway once or twice a year, but we weren't tourists. I loved it for all the reasons I love the experience now but it was the one time when my father wouldn't fidget at all for two and half hours and my mother would have tears in her eyes during certain songs. It has a lot to do with involvement - and there is such a big difference between going through the motions and being completely engaged.

[jasonf]

Posted: 10/22/08 at 10:02am

A quiz:

1) When you think of what a "BROADWAY SHOW" should be, do you think:
A) Cats, Wicked, Lion King
B) title of show, Spelling Bee, anything by Sondheim

2)When you are in a theater, do you:
A)not realize that your cell phone should be off
B)give caustic glares to anyone who makes any noise more intrusive than a cough

3)Do you think the break between acts is called:
A)half time
B)intermission

4)Do you
A)Watch the Tonys if you happen to be home and nothing else is on
B)Design an entire weekend around them

5)When you saw I Am Legend did you think
A) Pretty good movie, Will Smith was good in it
B) Apparently Wicked will still be playing after the vampires take over

6)When you saw the movie of The Producers did you
A) Think that Nathan Lane fellow was funny
B) Spend the entire time playing "Where's Waldo" with Broadway stars

7)Complete the sentence: The sequel to the Phantom of the Opera is:
A) not a horrible idea
B) Are you freaking kidding me? They're going to use a theater for THAT?

Norm Lewis is
A) I have no idea
B) One of the best voices in New York

9) When(if) I saw [title of show] I
A) thought it was cute but didn't get a lot of jokes
B) recognized every voice on the answering machine instantly

10) Which statement is true?
A) I'm just as happy seeing tours as a production in NY
B) While I enjoy other productions, there's no comparison, NY is the epicenter of theater, period.

If you answered A for any questions - guess what, you're a tourist.

Edited to appease those non-elitists :)

Updated On: 10/22/08 at 10:02 AM

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 10/22/08 at 10:12am

I happen to find this thread a little arbitrary and elitist. for example:
10) Which statement is true?
A) I'm just as happy seeing tours as a production in NY
B) There's no comparison, NY is the epicenter of theater, period.

good job devaluing every actor who works somewhere that isn't New York. I think you're more of a Broadway...no, a theatre regular if you can find the value in every production you see. sometimes...it's just about the love of someone putting on a live show.

[jasonf]

Posted: 10/22/08 at 10:14am

Doesn't devalue it in the least - it's the difference between a BROADWAY tourist and Broadway regular. Doesn't make one better than the other. Find a regular who wouldn't rather see a show on Broadway...

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 10/22/08 at 10:20am

um, me? I'd consider myself a regular who, although I never saw tours growing up (because, um, tours don't go through Hudson County...it's too close), gets just as much joy and fulfillment when I see regional theatre, school theatre, etc as I do from seeing a Broadway show.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 10/22/08 at 10:20am

whoops, double post

Updated On: 10/22/08 at 10:20 AM

[wonkit]

Posted: 10/22/08 at 10:21am

I actually had problems with the wording of question 10, too. If it were "I'm standing on 44th Street and I can't decide what to do on a Wednesday afternoon." that would be a good (A) alternative.

[jasonf]

Posted: 10/22/08 at 10:21am

But given a choice, would you rather see Broadway or something else? I see plenty of other shows, but given the choice I'll take Broadway every time.

[jasonf]

Posted: 10/22/08 at 10:27am

Geez- it was meant light-heartedly, should have known better...

Edited to appease you all -- lighten up.

[Mamie]

Posted: 10/22/08 at 10:27am

I also have a problem with No. 1. That's extremely elitist and doesn't take a simple thing like PERSONAL TASTE into consideration. I kept looking for option C) All of the above.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 10/22/08 at 10:30am

I also didn't see [title of show]...does that take away all my theatre cred?

[Mamie]

Posted: 10/22/08 at 10:33am

Apparently so.

I'm going to have reclassify myself as a tourist because I love Phantom of the Opera and I wouldn't cross the street for some Sondheim shows. NOT ALL SONDHEIM - but some I don't appreciate at all.

Now excuse me while I go and make reservations at McDonald's for my next visit to NY.

[wonkit]

Posted: 10/22/08 at 10:36am

Quibbling aside, this is a fun question!

[jasonf]

Posted: 10/22/08 at 10:37am

Geez -- try to have a little fun. I think these things DO define the difference -- I happen to like Wicked, but it's not the first thing I think of when I think Broadway. I doubt most "regular" Broadway patrons do either. It's not a value judgment -- look who's on their high horses now.

It was meant in fun. Get over yourselves.

[winston89]

Posted: 10/22/08 at 10:58am

I would think that a Broadway tourist is someone who has no clue who is in the cast nor do they care. And, is someone who just goes to see a show in New York because it is the thing to do during their vacation in the city. Now, a Broadway regular is someone who doesn't have to live in NYC or around the city (though it helps) but is instead someone who can name the cast of the show and know what other projects they have been in can name the theatres that the shows are playing in etc and is willing to see off broadway shows without a problem. Most tourists would assume that Off Broadway must suck without even going to see it themselves.

[morosco]

Posted: 10/22/08 at 11:00am

If you refer to intermission as "halftime"...you might be a Broadway tourist.

If you refer to rehearsals as "play practice"...you might be a Broadway tourist.

If you refer to a cast recording as a "soundtrack"...you might be a Broadway tourist.

[Magdalene]

Posted: 10/22/08 at 11:05am

Let's see, I go to NYC 3-5 times a year, plan what I do in NYC around what shows I'm seeing (from Spamalot to Conversations In Tuscalum and all points inbetween), my favorite restaurant is Barney Greengrass, and I stay in a hostel so I have more money for tickets. And that makes me....

and jasonf, Norm Lewis is AMAZING!!!!

[Eris0303]

Posted: 10/22/08 at 11:26am

I live outside of Trenton, NJ and travel to the city a few times a month to see shows. This month I have three shows scheduled currently. Last month I saw six plus attended Flea Market. But there will be months where I won't see anything. They're rare but they happen.

I've never spent the night in the city though I would like to someday. It'd be nice to not have to be back at the train station before the last train leaves.

I certainly don't consider myself a tourist but there might be someone who does.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/22/08 at 11:44am

Broadway Regular - One who visits Broadway often

Broadway Tourist - One who rarely visits Broadway

So?

[James885]

Posted: 10/22/08 at 11:45am

I live in the Washington D.C. area and visit NYC about 3-5 times a year. Most of those trips are day trips although I may spend the night once in a while. My last visit to the city was in August to see Young Frankenstein and The 39 Steps. I attempt to plan my activities around Broadway shows although that can sometimes be difficult. I'm familiar with most of subway lines and can get around the city effortlessly. I certainly know my way around the Theater District/Times Square area. I don't consider myself a tourist when I come to New York, although I don't consider myself a local either. So I guess a "regular" is a good term to describe me.

[Weez]

Posted: 10/22/08 at 12:25pm

10) Which statement is true?
A) I'm just as happy seeing tours as a production in NY
B) While I enjoy other productions, there's no comparison, NY is the epicenter of theater, period.

... if we pretend that we're discussing West End tourists compared with West End regulars, then would it really make me a filthy filthy tourist that I'd rather head to Stratford or Chichester for the weekend given the choice? I visit the West End at least once a month, I never see fewer than two shows per trip, but there's SO MUCH MORE to theatre than just what's happening in the self-proclaimed capital. What an absurd question!

I don't live in New York. I don't even live in the US. I guess the fact I stay up HOURS beyond bedtime to watch Drama Desk awards and Tony awards, the fact that when I get to New York I squeeze in as many shows as can physically be squeezed into the time period, the fact I can watch a TV series and spend most of my time squeeing over various minor guest actors because I saw and loved them in a Broadway show, the fact I know who the Tony was named for and can reel off great long lists of Tony winners, the fact I have hardly anything but Broadway cast recordings on my iPod, I suppose none of that counts for anything. Well, if that's what makes me a filthy filthy tourist, then a filthy filthy tourist is what I am.

But at least I shower, turn off my phone, don't carry noisy sweets, and don't chatter during shows. *shrugs*

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 10/22/08 at 12:31pm

Here's a question: I used to go to the city on at least a monthly basis to see shows, but now that I am away at school I am not able to ever go. Is it possible for me to lapse from regular/visitor to tourist when i eventually go back? Ooh, semantics.

[winston89]

Posted: 10/22/08 at 12:59pm

Scarywarhol, I live in the city and I went every weekend and sometimes wedensday afternoons to see shows. I don't consider myself any less of a Broadway regular just because I am away at college.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 10/22/08 at 1:41pm

Thank you, jasonf and morosco BRILLIANT.