Would you see a show in "preview"?

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Would you see a show in "preview"?

Posted: 5/16/08 at 1:19am

...or would you wait to see it when it officially opens...?

Sometimes previews give the opportunity to see how a show evolves, of course, if seen again once it "officially" opens. I find this most rewarding and educational...

Updated On: 5/16/08 at 01:19 AM

re: Would you see a show in 'previews'?

Posted: 5/16/08 at 1:20am

Would I? Of course. I have.

"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

Posted: 5/16/08 at 1:22am

Updated On: 5/5/09 at 01:22 AM

re: Would you see a show in 'previews'?

Posted: 5/16/08 at 1:35am

Well, my asking is because most people might consider a "preview" as not worthy of dishing out money for, and might want to wait until the "official" final production is staged...

re: Would you see a show in 'previews'?

Posted: 5/16/08 at 1:36am

Or maybe your perception is that it's "most people"? You're asking here to make sure, right?

And hey, that's why previews often don't cost as much...

"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

re: Would you see a show in 'previews'?

Posted: 5/16/08 at 1:50am

I wait until reading the reviews (not just the critics, but boards like this) and decide if I want to see it or not.

"Hey, you! You're the worst thing to happen to musical theatre since Andrew Lloyd Webber!" -Family Guy

re: Would you see a show in 'previews'?

Posted: 5/16/08 at 1:57am

Even if I see a show in an "out of town" production, I think I still would go see it in the 'preview" stage before a Broadway opening...this stage is almost like a transition state which could be quite fascinating to witness.
Of course, I am talking about worthy shows here. I don't think I would go THAT far, for a show that is just not that talented :I

Ah, Lizzie, "most people" WOULD include all of us here

re: Would you see a show in 'previews'?

Posted: 5/16/08 at 6:14am

What I love seeing is either the first preview, opening night, a performance early in the run, or closing night. All four of those times not only have the cast at their peak, but the audience is the most receptive. I've been to a ton of preview performances including:

Little Shop of Horrors (Saw Again)
Wicked (Saw Again)
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Did not see again)
The Woman in White (First Preview, did not see again)
Lestat (Last Preview before Opening Night)
Mary Poppins (First Preview, seen twice since)
Legally Blonde (First Preview, seen twice since)
Young Frankenstein (Saw Again)
The Little Mermaid (First Preview, saw again)

That's about 9 shows right there...

re: Would you see a show in 'previews'?

Posted: 5/16/08 at 6:22am

jag...I'm almost jelous of your record! What an impressive feat, and how lucky for you to have been blessed with these opportunities! It is a Broaddway fan dream come true :)

#10

re: Would you see a show in 'previews'?

Posted: 5/16/08 at 6:24am

I see a show whenever I have time and finances. If this means seeing it in previews, so be it. I like the idea of seeing a show early in previews then coming back a little later in the run to see how it went, but I'm very poor (due to spending all my money on theatre tickets), so I mostly see shows just once, as and when works with my schedule. ^_^

Notes from the Earlham Street Gutter

#11

re: Would you see a show in 'previews'?

Posted: 5/16/08 at 6:30am

Weez, me too!!...especially so last year... :I

#12

re: Would you see a show in 'previews'?

Posted: 5/16/08 at 6:59am

I've only seen one but it was amazing. Also cheaper seats but that didn't matter because I did lottery.

#13

re: Would you see a show in 'previews'?

Posted: 5/16/08 at 7:04am

Absolutely - I generally try to see every show about 1 week prior to its official opening. The show at that time has been set, members of the cast are likely not to be absent and just in case the show doesn't make it much past opening night, I had the chance to see it.

#14

re: Would you see a show in 'previews'?

Posted: 5/16/08 at 9:17am

Go see it in previews! I have seen two shows in previews that closed shortly after opening, The Times They Are A-Changin' and Glory Days, both of them I am glad I saw in previews because I would have had no chance to see them had I gone after they opened, and then I would have missed out on seeing something truly awful! So yeah you never know what will be the next Carrie or Glory Days, act now before it's too late!

http://theaterfag.blogspot.com/ Reviews and the like

#15

re: Would you see a show in 'previews'?

Posted: 5/16/08 at 9:57am

Good point, acrocksyo, if I'd realised Glory Days was going to close opening night I would have gone to see it in previews, but I waited and missed it. I think the only time I've gone to a preview was Grey Gardens, and that was because a friend ended up with a spare ticket. I should probably consider it more often.

#16

re: Would you see a show in 'previews'?

Posted: 5/16/08 at 9:58am

Yep the early bird catches the worm or flop in this case!

http://theaterfag.blogspot.com/ Reviews and the like

#17

re: Would you see a show in 'previews'?

Posted: 5/16/08 at 10:03am

Love seeing shows in previews. For all the reasons stated above. Additionally, it depends on my schedule. While I get into the city about 1X a month, I can never be sure.

For example: about a month ago I found out I COULD be in the city THIS weekend. I grabbed tix for both Saved! and Port Authority: both in previews and both on limited run. If not, I wouldn't have had the chance to see the at all due to scheduling.

If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

#18

re: Would you see a show in 'previews'?

Posted: 5/16/08 at 10:03am

The best is seeing pre-Broadway shows in previews, then after opening, and then on Broadway. I haven't done all three of these things for any one show, but two out of three more than once.

"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

Updated On: 5/16/08 at 10:03 AM

#19

re: Would you see a show in 'previews'?

Posted: 5/16/08 at 10:06am

Dramarama611 is a name thief.

A little known fact is that in the original screenplay, Pan's Labyrinth was Pan's FLAByrinth. Hmmmmmmm...glad they changed it.

#20

re: Would you see a show in 'previews'?

Posted: 5/16/08 at 10:23am

I saw "Xanadu" in previews...and have gone back twice since...make that three as of May 29 or 30th.

Probably seeing "Equus" during previews...seem to be more tickets available then.

#21

re: Would you see a show in 'previews'?

Posted: 5/16/08 at 10:23am

I was at the final preview for Spring Awakening off-Broadway and it was fun. It appeared Steven Saters Family was sitting right by us. I got to chat with Duncan Sheik and Mr. Sater told me that they knew the show was already going to move but he didn't know where to. There was a real exictement in the air. And the cast was full of energy. I also saw Caroline or Change, The Color Purple, The Homecoming, A Raisin in the Sun and a few other in previews on Broadway.

Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder

#22

re: Would you see a show in 'previews'?

Posted: 5/16/08 at 11:01am

Have done so, and will continue to do so...

"NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!"

#23

re: Would you see a show in 'previews'?

Posted: 5/16/08 at 11:19am

If you (a) can afford it and (b) are in New York all the time, seeing previews is perhaps one of the best ways to learn about the process of creating a musical.

I wasn't able to get to the out-of-town tryouts for Legally Blonde, which, save for "Wicked" is probably the best-represented show on Youtube.

I have to say, watching the San Francisco footage and comparing it to the MTV show, or any other footage shot at the Palace is like a master class in directing.

The show was clearly on its feet in San Francisco, but the amazing amount of detail work that was done prior to the Broadway opening is amazing.

I love previewing (and besides, as in the case ofthose lucky enough to see "Carrie" and a few other shows, that may be all you'll get.

http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=972787#3631451 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=963561#3533883 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955158#3440952 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954269#3427915 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955012#3441622 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954344#3428699

#24

re: Would you see a show in 'previews'?

Posted: 5/16/08 at 11:37am

I love seeing shows in previews, and then usually go back during the run to see what has been changed. As has been said, if you can afford it, it's a great way to see the evolution of a show. While there have been a few exceptions (Deuce and The Country Girl come to mind) the preview performances are not any less professional (in terms of lines, choreography, etc.) than post-opening performances.

I saw the off-Broadway Frankenstein in an early preview, and in that case the director spoke to us before the show to thank us for being part of the creative process and explain that they had just put something new in that day, so hopefully it would go off fine...and if there was a train-wreck we would see him again. Things went fine, and at intermission and after I saw him talking with random audience members about the show.

Some shows do talk-backs especially during previews to get a feel for the audience reaction as well.

I think they're fun!

Experience live theater. Experience paintings. Experience books. Live, look and listen like artists! ~ imaginethis
LIVE THAT LESSON!!!!!!

#25

re: Would you see a show in 'previews'?

Posted: 5/16/08 at 11:53am

"Well, my asking is because most people might consider a "preview" as not worthy of dishing out money for..."

Well, producers often heavily discount tickets to shows in previews. Xanadu had a $49 discount in previews and Cry-Baby had a $54 discount.

"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611

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