Previews vs. Opening?

[EMeraldNYC2]

Posted: 2/9/14 at 11:02am

Hi everyone, I'm new to the message boards but I thought I'd give it a try! Some friends and I are hoping to make the trip up to NYC to see Idina Menzel in If/Then this spring or summer, but the preview dates are conveniently during our spring break. Would the previews be a different experience from seeing the show when it opens? Or should we just wait until summer to go? Is there anyone that has seen previews that can notice pros and cons of previews vs. opening? Thanks!

[VotePeron]

Posted: 2/9/14 at 11:15am

Seeing previews for If/Then should be a safe bet, judging that they've already had an out of town tryout to work out kinks/develop the show. A lot of the times previews are basically versions of the show that are a little rough around the edges, but performance and production wise are great.

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 2/9/14 at 12:32pm

At the very worst you'll see a show that's probably a bit longer with an extra song or so than the final version at the end of previews. There isn't enough time in a month or so long preview period to make wholesale changes to the book or score minus some cuts and minor changes and rehearse them all while the show is playing to an audience. If the idea that you're not seeing the 100% completed version bothers you, don't go, but the differences will be pretty minor.

[EMeraldNYC2]

Posted: 2/10/14 at 4:49pm

Ok sounds great, thanks for the responses! That's true, the show did just have that time in DC so hopefully it's nearly finished. I'm sure it will be a great show either way.