Who are those who see shows multiple times, and how??- Page 4

[sally1112]

Posted: 1/10/08 at 9:53pm

I see the same show multiple times the same way that I get my plane tickets to NYC- credit cards!

[brad3]

Posted: 1/10/08 at 10:21pm

Idk. we just do. I've seen Mamma Mia! 27 times...

[Bill63]

Posted: 1/10/08 at 10:53pm

One other option I use is Theater Extras.

https://www.theaterextras.com/profile.asp

It costs around $100 a year and a $4 service charge per tickets. Its mainly off-broadway, but they have broadway shows once in a while. I try to see every new broadway musical and when a show is not doing well, I wait and see if will be on Theater Extras. The only other limitation is that when a broadway show apears on the site you have to act fast because the tickets usually go fast. So you have to be able to check their web site regularly. I've seen the following shows over the years on Theater Extras:

Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life
Company
HOT FEET
Lennon
The Pirate Queen
Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me
The Great American Trailer Park Musical (off Broadway)
Gutenberg, The Musical (off Broadway)

[Marianne]

Posted: 1/10/08 at 11:29pm

I've seen Les Mis 60+ times. I used to have to drive back and forth between Massachusetts and Washington DC whenever I went home on break from school, so if the tour was on the way I'd stop and see it. And then I saw the revival an embarrassing number of times, taking the Greyhound up from DC in the morning and back overnight.

Yeah, I still live with my parents. They don't pay for my tickets, it's just easier to buy them because I don't have bills to pay. Student rush, discount codes, the occasional splurge on a $110 front orch ticket... I figure I'll hit the real world soon enough, so I might as well enjoy myself while I'm still living rent-free.

As for why, some people are just obsessive.

[broadwaybaby086]

Posted: 1/10/08 at 11:59pm

Yeah, the Spring Awakening/Urinetown/Wedding Singer person is a woman, and isn't doing student rush/doesn't qualify for student rush. Just to give an idea of whatever that must be cost.

But as for the topic at hand...I see things multiple times, nothing extreme, and I have definitely been tapering off as of late with graduation and rent looming over me like a dark cloud, but I don't live off of my parents. I'm not a drinker or partier, which is where a lot of college students' money goes. I have a job, and I just don't spend my money on much anything else. I figure I could be doing much worse/more destructive things with the same amount of money I spend on theatre and charity. Everyone makes sacrifices/decisions.

[viola13]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 4:00am

I've seen a lot of shows multiple times through rushes and lottos. I think the most I've paid was $65 for Drowsy's last show, at TKTS. My rational (to my parents, when they ask how I can see so many shows) is that plenty of kids spend $25 a week on alcohol or drugs, and I'm spending it on a Broadway show.

And if we're giving examples of people who've seen shows in extreme amounts, like the woman who goes to Spring Awakening, there's a guy who's approaching 1200 shows of Rent. He's been going since 1996. They let him up onstage during curtain call for his 1000th show.

[carymetorent2]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 4:52am

""During the intermission, the people who sat on stage walked to the orchestra and a friendly usher asked a girl if she knew how many times she had been at the show. The girl said yes, but wasn't forthcoming with an answer. When pressed she admitted to 120 times. I swear."

Her name's Joanne. She's a little obsessed. She'll be seeing the show for her 300th time on January 26 (I asked her last time I was there). She saw the Wedding Singer around 200 times, and did the same thing for Urinetown."

I think I know of that girl from Wedding Singer. She used to sit in the second row and count her tickets before every show. She doesn't do student rush, paid full price for every single ticket at Wedding Singer....god, I would love to have her cashflow :-P

[lesmis]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 6:19am

I am an amateur compared to Joanne.

I have seen Les Mis 20+ times, My current favorite is Mamma Mia which I have seen about 10 times and am going again next weekend. It's just pure fun. I usually get tickets at Playbill or Broadway Box. I figure I work hard why not do what I enjoy.

[Elphabatize]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 7:28am

When I saw SA, I saw Joanne and my friend (who's also seen SA multiple times, but nothing like Joanne) pointed her out. Apparently, the story is that she has some inheritance or something that has a clause that says "Here's $x for you to see a new show every day" and that's how she can afford it because she does pay full price every night.

Updated On: 1/11/08 at 07:28 AM

[amoni]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 8:17am

"Apparently, the story is that she has some inheritance"

And apparently, no friends.

[MadProps86]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 8:32am

I've seen Legally Blonde five times, the first time sitting in the second to last row of the entire theater and the rest with student rush. Each time I've gone back there's been an understudy on in one or more of the leads, so it really is like seeing a completely different show to me.

[April Saul]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 8:43am

This is an interesting thread, because many of us wonder. But if you go back to the thread about which shows everyone's seen this year, you'll notice that the folks who give Wicked or SA so much repeat business usually don't get to see that many other productions. I can understand seeing something more than once, though I've only done it with SA, Hairspray, Pillowman and now Seafarer--and usually to introduce someone else to a show I find fascinating or uplifting. It does seem to me that a lot of these people are willing to sacrifice a chance to see something new, which may or may not move them, in favor of visiting a trusted, old friend that they know will make them feel good. A little bit of addiction here, but there's a lot worse things to be addicted to--if you can afford it financially, that is. But what else are you missing in the meantime? is the question that would bother me personally....

[BroadwayBelle2]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 8:45am

I get these coupons at school. You just bring it with you to the box office. I saw Les Mis in October and with the coupon it was only $32 for front mezz.

It's not just any show, It's usually a show that's been around for a while or will be closing sometime soon.

[PhantomTango1]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 9:07am

I can understand seeing something more than once, though I've only done it with SA, Hairspray, Pillowman and now Seafarer--and usually to introduce someone else to a show I find fascinating or uplifting. It does seem to me that a lot of these people are willing to sacrifice a chance to see something new, which may or may not move them, in favor of visiting a trusted, old friend that they know will make them feel good. A little bit of addiction here, but there's a lot worse things to be addicted to--if you can afford it financially, that is. But what else are you missing in the meantime? is the question that would bother me personally....

I understand what you're saying. I don't get to NYC very often, so whenever I do go I want to see POTO. However, I have a long list of new shows I want to take in. What I see usually depends on who I'm with - if the person has already seen or has no interest in seeing POTO, then it's off the list. If they're open to seeing it, or I go alone, then that's the first place I'm going to. I'm very opportunistic when it comes to seeing my favorite show, and I am the first to admit that I'm addicted to it, but at the same time try to balance that with new experiences. I have season tickets to the Kennedy Center, so I'm looking forward to the shows I'll be seeing there.

[Mark_E]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 9:11am

Shows don't need to be expensive. There are cheap seats in the rear mezz/upper circle that are very good value.

[Urban]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 9:39am

Oy.

My record is twice (Phantom & Miss Saigon). I feel like such a novice now.

I guess my problem is I have an EXTREMELY LOW boredom threshold. I was planning to see Miss Saigon for a third time (specifically to see Matinee Kim) but I backed out at the last minute and gave the tickets to my parents (which thrilled them) because I knew I'd just couldn't go through with it. Twice was plenty. And I realised I was repelled at the idea of seeing it thrice.

On the bright side, giving those tickets to my parents gave them the theatre bug! So I did a bit of good there!

I will admit I live in an area that tickets to the shows are just expensive period. The one place that does discounted codes to my knowledge (Half-Tix) just doesn't get alot of musicals. So as much as I'd love to see multiple shows, I have to be careful with the costs (and since the price between the good seats and the nose-bleeds here are just not that radically different either - I might as well pay that little bit extra).

I do the cheap food though. My big tip is that I have discovered those side alley resturants in any Chinatown (regardless of city) tend to be both super cheap and super generous in their proportions. More delicious then a Big Mac anyway!

I'd love to have the money like that Joanne though. Of course I'd see a different show every night as opposed to the same one (I just cannot imagine anybody even doing that - I mean in my mind your favorite show would turn into some version of water torture).

[Trina55]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 11:13am

I think when I was at Spring Awakening the other night, 120 girl was onstage and 300 girl was in the front row. I saw the one onstage - who was greeted by the usher by name when she arrived - go over and talk to someone sitting front row center with a Urinetown jacket. I have to agree, that many times seems totally crazy. After a while it just starts to get ruined for me.

That said, I DO see most shows I really like a handful of times, and I have a general policy of not spending more than $30 a ticket. Only exceptions in recent memory were a single $120 ticket to Young Frankenstein, which I asked my parents for as a birthday gift, and - if you can believe it - $60 for Spring Awakening early in its run at the Atlantic, because I didn't know if it would extend and I wanted to make sure I wouldn't miss it!!

If you think about it, lots of people go to the movies every weekend, and a rush or 1/2 price ticket once a month is about the same amount. Also, living in New York, I have lots of friends who blow $100+ in a weekend just by going out clubbing or drinking. So if theater is your preferred medium of entertainment, it's totally manageable as long as you know where to get discount tickets. (Not to mention all the off-off broadway stuff around, which can cost as little as $5)

[LeaGirl]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 11:23am

My record is (and will forever be, I can't imagine even approaching it) held by Les Mis - which I've seen 45 times.

That sounds staggering but some factors make it not so bad. I like to think. Because the number is embarassing.

1. I started in 1988
2. It was my mother's favorite show to see so she used to take me a lot.
3. 16 of those were from one time when I ushered for a tour stop in NC (I almost died from Les Mis overload, never again)
4. Does anybody else remember those 15 dollar tickets in the Imperial? When I was 18 - I was OBSESSED with the 1998-99 Les Mis cast (they were great) and I went all the time, part of the mezz was only 15 bucks!

There is no way anything else can approach that number - 45 is a lot but spread out over 20 years... not so bad.

I do tend to see things I enjoy a few times, but....not THAT much.

Updated On: 1/11/08 at 11:23 AM

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 11:35am

"Can anyone watch the same DVD or listen to the same CD multiple times..."

Yes, it is MUCH cheaper.

[Urban]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 9:18pm

^Yeah, but you can easily flick over or fastward half the stuff in a DVD or CD which does help ALOT.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 9:37pm

Wow, MadProps86, I am jealous. I have seen Legally Blonde once and loved it. I watch the MTV version for a few minutes every day. I'm still trying to figure out why I love this show, but I guess it just tickkles my funnybone. Orfeh is such a hoot (although I was surprised how much she seemed to ham it up for the camera, usually it's the other way around).

Guilty pleasures, I guess.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 9:43pm

Every once in a while I'll see a show twice, but it has to really get to me to make me go any more than that. The most I've seen one show is 10 times.

[MadProps86]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 10:10pm

Wow, MadProps86, I am jealous. I have seen Legally Blonde once and loved it. I watch the MTV version for a few minutes every day. I'm still trying to figure out why I love this show, but I guess it just tickkles my funnybone. Orfeh is such a hoot (although I was surprised how much she seemed to ham it up for the camera, usually it's the other way around).

Guilty pleasures, I guess.

It's totally my favorite guilty pleasure. I think my favorite part about the show is that it really does suck you in. It's just a good time. No matter what mood you're in when you walk in, you leave with a huge smile (that's how it is for me at least). From the front row, it's phenomenal and the first time you really catch your breath is intermission. It's definitely a fluff fun show that's really smart about it. The pink world of Elle Woods rocks my socks, lol.


Updated On: 1/11/08 at 10:10 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 10:19pm

Aren't there some Rentheads who have seen the show 100+ times.

It happens with other shows, too. Rentheads aren't the only crazy fans.

I've done it. I swore I would never be "one of those people," but I found a show that hit me like a ton of bricks, and I was powerless to keep that oath. And although I will never, ever do it again, I have absolutely no regrets. I also think it's one thing to see a show several times over an extended period. For example, excluding Adam and Anthony's return this summer, I usually re-visit Rent once a year. And that adds up. But, needless to say, without student rush, it's not something I'd be able to have the luxury of doing.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 11:11pm

Madprops86, for me, it's LBB and the music. Some of those melodies are haunting - and dangerous. It can require some explanation when people overhear me singing "Take It Like A Man" to myself.