Why are preview shows at 8 and why Monday night?

[sondmon]

Posted: 3/10/17 at 12:27pm

Just curious if there is any reason for this.

[RaisedOnMusicals]

Posted: 3/10/17 at 1:41pm

Preview shows are often at 8 instead of 7 because they are incorporating changes and need rehearsal time. Not sure about Mondays. 

[JustAnotherNewYorker]

Posted: 3/10/17 at 1:43pm

No idea if this is why, but Mondays do have the benefit that other Broadway professionals (who may be otherwise engaged with their own shows) can attend on a Monday. 

Updated On: 3/10/17 at 01:43 PM

[Theater3232]

Posted: 3/10/17 at 1:53pm

I guess they don't care if the paying audience finds Monday 8pm to be inconvenient, which is why they need to heavily discount these performances.  Just start the rehearsals an hour earlier to match the hours of most working professionals.  If Wall Street can start by 8am, so can theater rehearsals.

[KKeller6]

Posted: 3/10/17 at 1:59pm

Preview shows on Monday are at 8 because the cast and crew are rehearsing. So, they would incur a pay penalty for the crew if the show were at 7. The extra hour between 7 and 8 allows for the meal break for the crew.  For the same reason the show is on Monday, instead of Sunday. During previews that is a rehearsal/work day, whereas they couldn't get in a full day's rehearsal on a Sunday matinee.

Updated On: 3/10/17 at 01:59 PM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/10/17 at 1:59pm

Or, you don't have to buy tickets that don't fit into your personal life.

[broadwayrocks2]

Posted: 3/10/17 at 2:01pm

Sundays cost more for crew and running crew .Usually during previews there are extra crew involved not just running crew . 8 pm shows during previews also afford extra time for the striking of tech tables that are in the house and also a quick clean up of the house prior to the audience .

[AC126748]

Posted: 3/10/17 at 2:01pm

If Wall Street can start by 8am, so can theater rehearsals.

Yes, because it's exactly the same thing. 

[NJ_BroadwayGirl]

Posted: 3/10/17 at 2:39pm

Theater3232 said: "I guess they don't care if the paying audience finds Monday 8pm to be inconvenient, which is why they need to heavily discount these performances.  Just start the rehearsals an hour earlier to match the hours of most working professionals.  If Wall Street can start by 8am, so can theater rehearsals."

There are seven other performances you can choose to attend ...

[ntrackbar]

Posted: 3/10/17 at 2:41pm

I always heard the Mondays were to make it easier for industry folks with their own shows to come on their night off.

[MinnieFay]

Posted: 3/10/17 at 3:35pm

ntrackbar said: "I always heard the Mondays were to make it easier for industry folks with their own shows to come on their night off."

You heard wrong.  See above.

[ntrackbar]

Posted: 3/10/17 at 3:47pm

OK. Well, then I guess it is just an added bonus for those of us with shows every other day. 

[SueBee06]

Posted: 3/10/17 at 3:54pm

Theater3232 said: "I guess they don't care if the paying audience finds Monday 8pm to be inconvenient, which is why they need to heavily discount these performances.  Just start the rehearsals an hour earlier to match the hours of most working professionals.  If Wall Street can start by 8am, so can theater rehearsals.

Actually, no. They can't. First of all, there are often tech things that are taken care of in the morning that require having the stage clear of actors. There are also union rules about how much time off is needed between breaking the night before and starting the next day. And I think, if I remember correctly, there is a cap on the number of hours of rehearsal can be done on a performance day (this is Equity specific). So you have tech work in the morning, then hopefully a lunch break, then a rehearsal with the cast to implement any changes, dinner break, and then the show.

Schedules can get a bit weird during previews for a variety of reasons, so sometimes performing on Monday is the way to get an 8 show week in (or 7 show - depending on schedule).

As for not caring about an audience attending, getting an additional performance in before opening can be worthwhile even if sales aren't as high as other nights. Many GMs budget for "Preview Losses" in their production budget to cover this kind of thing.

"