Are Previews Bad?

[JonahKost]

Posted: 6/28/15 at 5:43pm

I would rather see a performance after it opens because its the finished version, but are previews worth seeing? I know it depends on what show you see, but are they even worth seeing?

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/28/15 at 6:00pm

Like you said, it all depends on the show

When you have a turkey like Legs Diamond, you could preview forever and it would not help.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 6/28/15 at 6:08pm

It depends what you are looking for. Some people like to see a show being developed and others like to see a finished product (which, as Roxy notes, may itself not be all that finished). If the cherished memory of seeing some really bad, even laughable, idea on stage before it is pulled appeals to you, then previews are great. And of course a late preview may well be one of the best performances since it is the one critics are seeing. 

[SweetLips]

Posted: 6/29/15 at 3:02am

Preview prices.

Until a show is frozen, so in the process of being 'constructed'--are previews priced much lower than after opening?

The short 1 or 2 week previews in Australia are usually just fine tuning the finished imported product so the preview price is almost the same as after opening.

How does a 1 or 2 Month preview affect price change?

We seem to have a fixed price to the entire run of show but from what I read here box office $ changes often and with demand.

[JoseLee_]

Posted: 6/29/15 at 3:43am

Another way to look at it is that previews are only for a short time (except for Spider-Man) and the finished product will be the bases for all other productions.

If your a big theatre fan, maybe you would like previews for it's historic appeal? Not many people will have much to say about previews over the final show in the future.

[Marway44]

Posted: 6/29/15 at 6:17am

I usually don't see previews for that reason, but I did catch a preview of the recent Annie revival and did notice it didn't seem polished.  I did see some areas that needed tightening, plus we had 2 guys sitting next to us taking notes who worked with the production.  They had the most trouble when the orphans were on stage.  They whispered and wrote excessive notes.  I wouldn't say they are bad, but I would say some are not polished or perfect yet.  Don't forget that even after a show opens and is supposed to be "frozen" they still change a song or a line here and there.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/29/15 at 6:30am

Prices? Almost never different from "regular" ticket costs.  (Not considering if they change tix prices based on a Tony win, for example) I understand that that hasn't always been the case.

 

I've been to many previews and aside from occasionally being near the creative team, there are seldom major differences. You do certainly hear stories, and yes, sometimes there are changes after the fact....but I've never been disappointed in the quality.

[Marway44]

Posted: 6/29/15 at 6:38am

I agree with you on the quality issue dramamama.  You always have the same Broadway quality at a preview.  I do remember though when preview prices were much less than regular performances. 

[LarryD2]

Posted: 6/29/15 at 7:34am

Prices? Almost never different from "regular" ticket costs.  (Not considering if they change tix prices based on a Tony win, for example) I understand that that hasn't always been the case.

I can remember when -- for many, if not all, shows -- preview prices were often lower than post-opening prices. As recently as a decade or so ago, I remember some theaters would sell their balcony seats for $10-15 during previews (and raise the price to $20 post-opening -- now balcony sells for $40-60 at most theaters). 

Preview prices are a thing of the past for most theaters now. Lincoln Center Theater prices its previews lower than post-opening performances for its members, but I don't know if preview ticket prices are lower for the general public, as well.

 

[RaiseYouUp]

Posted: 6/29/15 at 7:36am

I don't think previews are bad at all. I saw Pippin in previews and thought it was the best Broadway show I'd ever seen.

[aj88]

Posted: 6/29/15 at 8:29am

For the most part, I would prefer to see a performance later in previews rather than within the first week or two.

Before I moved here, obviously it was harder to plan around things like that because I never knew when I could make it back and how long shows would stay open.

There was one year I came to NYC and for the first time, all three shows I saw were in previews and in fairly early stages. I know there a couple of technical glitches and pacing issues when I saw Catch Me If You Can but I thought it was an overall smooth production.

Anything Goes was an interesting case because I remember reading how bad the first couple of previews went so I went into it a little concerned but the show seemed to be in very good form after the first week of previews, although it probably would have been nice to have gone later on to see Sutton Foster grow into the role of Reno more.

In the end, it really does just come down to the show.

[Kad]

Posted: 6/29/15 at 9:33am

In my experience, it is increasingly rare that preview performances differ substantially from post-opening performances.

[Bilbo3]

Posted: 6/29/15 at 9:49am

I personally like to see the finished product, preferably during the tony season. I don't get to New York very much, usually only once a year for only a week and when I'm there, I want to see the polished version with the best cast when the show is fresh because I know I'm only going to be able to see it once. Lots of people here like Whizzer and Pal Joey are able to experiment with performances and possibly see them 4 times because they live close to the city. They are very lucky but most of us just aren't able to do that.

Updated On: 6/29/15 at 09:49 AM

[tazber]

Posted: 6/29/15 at 9:52am

It depends on the show.

Something Rotten was almost set by the first preview (granted, they had out of town try-outs). They had a wonderfully epic ballad in Act II that was cut sometime before opening, so it was cool to get to see the number.

(they made the right decision to cut it btw, but I'm glad I got to hear it)

[newintown]

Posted: 6/29/15 at 9:55am

I find that the best time to see a show is the week that the critics come; there's still the early-in-the-process excitement among the cast, and the audience has a greater percentage of sophisticated viewers.

On the drawback side, that week can often draw the annoying shill-type audience, who make a vocal spectacle of themselves, whooping before songs have finished, etc. They almost always sit or stand in the back of the orchestra.

But the show is often in as good a shape as it will be at this time, and you won't encounter long-run fatigue (which I've seen set in as early as the third month of the run).

[LarryD2]

Posted: 6/29/15 at 9:58am

On the drawback side, that week can often draw the annoying shill-type audience, who make a vocal spectacle of themselves, whooping before songs have finished, etc. They almost always sit or stand in the back of the orchestra

 

This is the worst. I've found that it's most egregious earlier in previews and especially at the first couple of performances, though.

 

[MNC77]

Posted: 6/29/15 at 10:16am

I love seeing previews primarily because the rush is more accessible. Less people want to see previews, and buzz hasn't built up for the show yet, so you can get there at 9 or 10 and get tickets for shows that, a month later, you'll have to rush at 7 or 8. 

[brdway411]

Posted: 6/29/15 at 11:02am

I like previews because you get to see things that might get cut..like the magic act in Kinky Boots. Or a show that might not make it Glory Days. 

[bfreak]

Posted: 6/29/15 at 11:12am

"It depends on the show.
Something Rotten was almost set by the first preview (granted, they had out of town try-outs). They had a wonderfully epic ballad in Act II that was cut sometime before opening, so it was cool to get to see the number.
(they made the right decision to cut it btw, but I'm glad I got to hear it)"

 Actually, Something Rotten cancelled its out of town tryout.

[newintown]

Posted: 6/29/15 at 11:18am

It's true that Something Rotten cancelled its Seattle production, but it had undergone a full workshop production and many readings/working sessions (as did Book of Mormon, which had several workshops prior to opening on Broadway).

Granted, it's not the same as an open-to-the public productions, but its also not opening entirely cold.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 6/29/15 at 1:33pm

I have seen previews of Les Miserables, Bullets Over Broadway, Rocky, If/Then, On the Twentieth Century, The King and I, and Finding Neverland. I did not feel like I was watching a preview at any of them. The quality and cast were all top notch. Bullets and The King and I both had quite long running times that were shortened later in the preview process, but other than that it didn't feel like I was watching previews. So, no, previews are not bad IMO.

[Dave13]

Posted: 6/29/15 at 2:03pm

It seems everyone is dying to see Hamilton in previews. 

Considering it was previously in Public Theater, my guess is it will not change prior to its official opening. 

I haven't seen it yet, but the current production appears to be solidified. Can anyone seeing it changing?

[toofunktastic2]

Posted: 6/29/15 at 2:08pm

"It seems everyone is dying to see Hamilton in previews. 

Considering it was previously in Public Theater, my guess is it will not change prior to its official opening. 

I haven't seen it yet, but the current production appears to be solidified. Can anyone seeing it changing?

"

Lin-Manuel has mentioned that there will be some changes, but I'm not sure if they're going to be particularly significant changes.