Sweeney Todd Off Broadway Performances

[Kad]

I assume the pre-show pie service uses the work lights to facilitate the feeling of being in an actual cheap pie shop (and also to ensure safe and effective food service).

[GreasedLightning]

nasty_khakis said: "Canadian, those are work lights in that photo. The production, in London anyway, used mostly candle light to light with a few normal theatre lights. It's pretty dim and gloomy, but adds to the ambiance and mood. 

 

"

I saw a few photos of the audience in the house with the same bright lighting. I'm sure once the show starts  it gets more moody, but preshow seems to be lit very. brightly. 

[nasty_khakis]

Oh sorry, yes. The best of my memory is pre show used florescents or something similar.

[MinnieFay]

nasty_khakis said: "

." Similar to how Hello Dolly knows we're all going to see it again with Donna so they've essentially sold two tickets at once."

HUHH??  Do you REALLY think there will be a lot of repeat visitors who will come back just to see Donna Murphy (apart from the few dozen diehard "I MUST SEE EVERYTHING" fans who post on these forums)?

[LimelightMike]

Is there a Playbill for this? Hoping there is, and that it's got a clever design for the cover instead of the razor...

[BroadwayConcierge]

Limelight: there's a few playbill shots on the theater's Instagram page! It looks like it's just the same marketing materials they've already been using...

https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/313313640/

[Hamilfan2]

Anyone going to this able to grab me an extra Playbill? (If they even have then)

[icecreambenjamin]

Was anyone here there tonight?

[ahhrealmonsters]

I was there last night. It was very bright- the work/house lights are on during the pre-show pie. I was upstairs, in the second (last) row (there are only 2 rows upstairs). I had a seat downstairs during the pie, as there was no table/space to eat upstairs, and then was moved upstairs for the show.

Once the show started, the lighting got a lot darker. I loved it. The view upstairs (especially in the second row) was definitely limited, but most of the action happens by the pie booth & stairs. Despite it being and innovative/immersive/site-specific production, most of the performances felt very standard, particularly the actor playing Sweeney. I thought the actress playing Mrs. Lovett didn't have a very good singing voice, which was jarring compared to the other women in the cast. Betsy Morgan was the stand-out performer of the show. I saw her in First Daughter's Suite, and she continues to shine onstage - she's also pretty visibly pregnant, so I don't know if she'll leave early/need a replacement.

All in all, it was a great night. The house is tiny, and the whole show was very intimate, yet there seemed to be a lot of partial view seats. There was a marriage proposal after curtain call.

Also, the audience has to leave the house during intermission. And programs are given out after the show.

[icecreambenjamin]

How was the orchestra?

[macnyc]

ahhreal, there's no counter for the upstairs seats? I'll also be sitting in the second row upstairs.

It does say on the seating chart that those seats are partial view, something that I failed to take note of when I bought my tickets! How much would you say you missed?

[ahhrealmonsters]

icecream - It was a 3 piece orchestra. Piano, violin, and clarinet. Some of the orchestrations didn't sound familiar to my ear (I know the score fairly well), which was a little distracting, but overall, it was effective.

mac- There's a counter for the first row, not the second. I actually enjoyed being in the main area for eating, as there was more space. As for the view upstairs, it definitely looked like the first row had a better view than the second. I had to look between the heads of people in front of me, plus the banister in front of them. Most of the action is viewable, it's just the "immersive" part that's hard to see.

[TheaterGal3]

I am seeing this tonight and seated at the counter in the last row upstairs. Hope I won't be too upset with the view. Sounds like it might be okay, though. I have a ticket my friends and I aren't able to use tonight. Does anyone know if the date for one ticket can be changed? I've never had this happen before and I'm not familiar with the policies theaters have for this situation. Thanks in advance for any tips or suggestions on what to do!

[haterobics]

nasty_khakis said: "Similar to how Hello Dolly knows we're all going to see it again with Donna so they've essentially sold two tickets at once."

I have tickets to see Bette twice in the run, but none for Donna...

[stlrod]

TheaterGal3 said: "I am seeing this tonight and seated at the counter in the last row upstairs. Hope I won't be too upset with the view. Sounds like it might be okay, though. I have a ticket my friends and I aren't able to use tonight. Does anyone know if the date for one ticket can be changed? I've never had this happen before and I'm not familiar with the policies theaters have for this situation. Thanks in advance for any tips or suggestions on what to do!
No changes no cancellations.  Will only post date for day of performance availability.  Talked to box office today when flight seriously delayed.
 

"

 

[TheaterGal3]

stlrod said: "TheaterGal3 said: "I am seeing this tonight and seated at the counter in the last row upstairs. Hope I won't be too upset with the view. Sounds like it might be okay, though. I have a ticket my friends and I aren't able to use tonight. Does anyone know if the date for one ticket can be changed? I've never had this happen before and I'm not familiar with the policies theaters have for this situation. Thanks in advance for any tips or suggestions on what to do!
No changes no cancellations.  Will only post date for day of performance availability.  Talked to box office today when flight seriously delayed.

Ahh okay. Thank you!
 

"

 

 

"

 

[macnyc]

mac- There's a counter for the first row, not the second. I actually enjoyed being in the main area for eating, as there was more space. As for the view upstairs, it definitely looked like the first row had a better view than the second. I had to look between the heads of people in front of me, plus the banister in front of them. Most of the action is viewable, it's just the "immersive" part that's hard to see."

 

Thanks for the info! I really don't care that much about the immersive aspect of the performance, although that's certainly a huge part of the appeal. I just want to see and hear it.

 

 

 

[Drewski Vanderbilt]

Does the loud whistle make an appearance in this production?

[ahhrealmonsters]

Drewski - Yep. It's being played (whistled?) by the pianist.

[GreasedLightning]

Snide remarks aside... is this show creepier than any other carnations because of the immersiveness? I would assume the subject matter mixed with the immersive seating allowes them to truly shake up the audience. 

 

[icecreambenjamin]

I would really like to hear some more about this production.  Did anyone see if they had any windowcards?

[boonanas]

icecreambenjamin said: "I would really like to hear some more about this production.  Did anyone see if they had any windowcards?

 

"

 

They have a poster for sale not sure if it's considered a window card 

 

[characterism]

I have tickets (with pies) for the second row upstairs in May and I just noticed on their website that those seats are now not able to purchase pies. I really hope that doesn't mean when we get there we'll be turned away for the food...

Also, when I purchased the tickets those seats were not listed as partial view, and now are (as others are mentioning)

[Wick3]

characterism said: "I have tickets (with pies) for the second row upstairs in May and I just noticed on their website that those seats are now not able to purchase pies. I really hope that doesn't mean when we get there we'll be turned away for the food...

Also, when I purchased the tickets those seats were not listed as partial view, and now are (as others are mentioning)"

I heard you will be seated downstairs to eat your pie before the show starts and then moved back up to the second row of mezz to watch the remainder of the show. When I went to the box office to buy my mezz seats they stated there is fog/haze or something like that up there for a scene or two. I'm still quite excited though and looking forward seeing this!

 

[macnyc]

I also purchased the second row upstairs, a few weeks ago, and I don't remember it being labeled as being partial view.

 

Also, my receipt doesn't say anything about partial view, so I bet that was added later.

 

Wick, did you get the first row or the second row? I don't mind fog or haze for a couple of scenes. But ahhrealmonsters was saying upthread that he (or she) had to look between the heads of the people in the first row and also see over the bar. That doesn't sound too good.

 

[TheaterGal3]

I sat in the second row upstairs and didn't remember it being labeled partial view when purchased, but at times it is in fact a partial view. Almost everyone stood a few times to get a better view of downstairs during a handful of scenes. It wasn't often but it happened and even at that we couldn't always see the person performing. It didn't really bother me though. It's a good view for most of the show. I didn't have to look between any heads. I'm not tall, but I should note the people in the row in front of me were also on the average size in terms of height. Still, no problems. We ate our pies at a table downstairs and move upstairs about 15 minutes before the show started.

I've never seen a production of Sweeney Todd before and truly loved this one. The actors seemed to be having a great time, too.