Seeing shows multiple times

[theatreguy12]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 1:41am

There has been a lot of talk of shows, like Hamilton, that theater patrons on here have seen multiple times.  And would see again.  Over the years, Les Mis and Phantom are other examples some people have seen a lot of times.

What shows can you not get enough of and have seen multiple times….and could still see again and again?

Which shows have you seen and loved, but once was still enough?  

One of the shows I saw multiple times and could see again was Damn Yankees when it was out a couple of decades ago.  A revival would bring me back for sure. Another show I saw multiple times was Crazy For You. Jelly's Last Jam too.

An example of a show I saw only once, and liked, was Les Mis.  But really have no need to see it again, even though I did like it.  

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 6:25am

I guess you mean multiple times over a period of years.  However, during one NYC visit, I did see my favorite show (Chicago) multiple times.  I saw Chicago two times on Sat. March 10, 2012 and once on the next day.  I had a blast.  (Some people were a bit perplexed.  But, I wanted to do something different.)

[nolanativeny]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 6:51am

I think there's a distinction that should be made between shows you want to see again and shows you would see again. For me, I've seen Phantom several times, and would see it again, but I'm not necessarily going to buy a ticket and see it again when there are other shows I could be spending money on. Wicked is a show that I saw on tour with a friend and we had crappy seats so I went again by myself the next night and splurged on a better seat, and then I saw it again in Seoul, mostly for the novelty of seeing it in a different language. If someone had a ticket or was seeing it for the first time, I would see Wicked again, but it's not near the top of my list anymore (although I haven't seen it in New York). On the other hand I saw Spring Awakening in New York once and immediately was trying to figure out how to see it again. I eventually ended up seeing it two more times on tour, in two different cities, both a fair distance from home. 

I have a friend here at school in New York who LOVES Les Mis and has seen it so many times the people at the box office and the ushers at the Imperial know her name. For me that's taking it a bit far, but I know the joy it brings her to see it so I can't disapprove.

[rebeccmam31]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 7:56am

nolanativeny said: "I think there's a distinction that should be made between shows you want to see again and shows you would see again."

I agree with this.  Most shows I *would* see again given the right company/cheap tickets/etc. (thought there are definitely some exceptions!).  There are few I deliberately seek out again for myself, but there are some I want to see again because I have friends (or my daughter's friends) that I know would love them. That is why I'm seeing Hamilton 4 times and will be taking a slew of teenagers to the touring company of Curious Incident when it comes to Pittsburgh.  There are also shows that I see every few years because of having a subscription to the Broadway Across America series here (ex. Wicked, Les Mis, Book of Mormon...). I wouldn't necessarily seek those shows out, but I happily go see them when they come through, 

I do have a friend that has now taken her daughter to see the Newsies tour 9 different times (so far--I think there are plans for at least two more shows before the tour wraps in October) in about the last year.  Sometimes they drive five hours, go to a show, and then drive straight home.  If it makes them happy, that's awesome, but it's...not for me.

 

[@z5]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 8:07am

Hedwig, absolutely. Saw it 12 times on bway. The new color purple is another one I can definitely see more.  Saw if/then a few times. 

 

Chicago go is also just a classic that you can't ever get sick of. 

[@z5]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 8:07am

Hedwig, absolutely. Saw it 12 times on bway. The new color purple is another one I can definitely see more.  Saw if/then a few times. 

 

Chicago go is also just a classic that you can't ever get sick of. 

[Wee Thomas2]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 8:09am

We saw Hedwig  at least 7 times (and we have to travel for B'way) as we had to see it when it was on B'way, then we had to see it at the late showing, then we got cheap seats at TKTS, then had to see each of the other Hedwigs, including JCM with the crate, etc etc etc,

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 8:15am

theatreguy12 said: "Which shows have you seen and loved, but once was still enough?  "

 

This has honestly never happened to me. Whenever I've loved a show, I've either wanted to see it again and couldn't for logistical reasons, or gone back to see it again as soon as possible.

Updated On: 3/30/16 at 08:15 AM

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 8:48am

I've seen many shows more than one time, including Sweeney Todd, Wicked, Book of Mormon, Kinky Boots, and Pippin. Personally, I enjoy revisiting shows in different incarnations or after a cast change to see how it differs from before, and I always enjoy seeing different interpretations of a role. 

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 8:53am

When tours come through my town I may see a show twice, if possible.

I saw an amazing local production four times I think during its month long run because I loved it.

[indytallguy]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 9:28am

I can see most Sondheim repeatedly (and try to as often as possible) because I generally discover something new with each visit.  Sometimes the shows I see repeatedly are because of singular elements. Piazza is one I saw 5 or 6 times, often to see Victoria Clark again inhabit her role and own the stage.

 

I had the good fortune to see the recent Glass Menagerie revival multiple times. On my subsequent visits, i chose to focus more intently on one individual character's journey for each of those visits. That gave me a lot to think about after the show.

 

And sometimes I'll attend more than once strictly to see the show from a completely different seat location.  I did A View from the Bridge first from first row mezz and then did onstage seating.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 9:51am

I don't see shows multiple times very often anymore because I don't get to the city as often as I would like due to work and other stuff. So, I mostly end up seeing what I can when I can. But, the ones I have seen multiple times were because I really enjoyed them the first time and wanted to revisit. That was with Xanadu.  I saw Priscilla Queen of the Desert twice because I won the lottery the 1St time, so the front row seats were not ideal at certain times. But, I loved it. And oddly, I saw West Side Story a 2nd time because I didn't have a good experience the 1st. The cast change made all the difference for me. 

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 9:53am

Current shows I have seen an embarrassing amount of times..that are around now...are Kinky Boots, Matilda, and Fun Home.  It's often to see the cast changes....but not exclusively.  I have seen a few others "a couple of times".

I have seen other shows many times because I might be working in some capacity at the show..and I really never get tired of seeing anything multiple times.

[Alex10]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 9:58am

Whenever I like a story, I'll always be up to experience it again several more times, and that's especially true for me with live theatre, as the show is a different experience every night, from different seats, possibly with different actors (if understudies or on or cast changes happen). I don't always get around to seeing shows more than once, between limited runs and the financial constraints of this crowded season, but if I like a show, I'll definitely want to.

I know it's really not a popular show on these boards, but Finding Neverland is a really important show to me that I've made so many friends through. My friends and I have seen it several times, and a lot of the cast and theatre staff do recognize us. That's definitely the show I've seen the most, I don't have that experience at any other theatres.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 10:01am

While I've been known to see some shows more than once: often I'll go because I'll attend with different people.  For example, I saw Gentleman's Guide 3x...once on my own, once with my students, and once with my son.   Sometimes because I know there is more to discover, (N2N, Hamilton) and even once due to slight obsession (I'll take the 5th on which show that was, however.)

 

It's also fun to see how a show changes from out of town (coming from the ART) to opening on b'way or even from previews to after opening.  I also enjoy getting to see replacements and understudies in subsequent viewings.

 

I would say I only see about 1/4 of shows more than once in any specific run, maybe even less -- while there are shows in which I have no/little interest, I still try to see as many shows as possible.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 10:05am

shows I've seen multiple times:

 

A Chorus Line(revival) - 9 times

Chicago - 5 times

Book of Mormon, Aida, Rent, Contact - 4 times

Once, Pippin, Memphis, Avenue Q, Movin' Out - 3 times

Multiple shows twice.

[alexbenson]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 10:26am

I've never expressly gone to see a show multiple times, I'd rather remember it how comes naturally. I do have friends that have seen shows a dozen times with no intention of stopping. That always seemed more compulsion than fandom to me. 

[Hellob]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 10:40am

I saw Jelly's Last Jam 4x back in the day. I loved it. 

[theatreguy12]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 10:43am

Interesting perspective, Lizzie, because this did cross my mind when formulating the question. A question that came to mind when I was walking by the Imperial Theater last week and saw Les Mis on the marquee. It got me thinking about the show, and how I really liked it. But really have no interest in seeing it again.  

You'd think that if you liked something you'd naturally want to see it again.  

For me some shows can be good, but still one timers.  And Les Mis is one of those.  Even though I liked it, I'd rather spend my money on seeing something new rather than see that one again.  Same goes for the likes of Phantom (which I know seeing only once almost constitutes theater blasphemy), Saigon and others.

When I saw the original 42nd Street on Broadway I loved it so much I knew I wanted to see it again when it came through LA on tour. And I was willing to spend the money again.  And I did a couple of extra times too during its run.  Same goes for Crazy For You and Damn Yankees.

 

LizzieCurry said: "theatreguy12 said: "Which shows have you seen and loved, but once was still enough?  "

 

This has honestly never happened to me. Whenever I've loved a show, I've either wanted to see it again and couldn't for logistical reasons, or gone back to see it again as soon as possible.

 

"

 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 10:47am

I've even seen shows I didn't love multiple times, because rush was easy and I was curious, because they cast an actor I was already a fan of, or because I liked it enough when a friend was in town and they wanted to go. Or, more recently, I was helping with lotto and was in that in-between spot where I'd go if I won, and I won.

When I do love a show and it has a lasting impact for years and years in multiple iterations, I will see it many times. I hit 70 for Les Miz over 10 years ago, and that's when I stopped counting.

[Hellob]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 10:49am

I think some shows don't hold up on repeat. The magic is lost and the flaws are more apparent. BOM is a good example for me. I enjoyed it but the second time, I wasn't impressed. 

[Petrichor]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 10:54am

Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to see nearly as many shows as most people on here have(hopefully one day that will change!), but I hold the shows I have seen very dear to me. Especially Wicked. Seen it three times so far, and would without a doubt see it again in the future. I saw Phantom ten years ago, around February 2006, and am considering seeing it again this summer as a sort of birthday gift to myself and a surprise for a friend...albeit, on the West End, not on Broadway. I'm going to be seeing Les Mis for the first time on Broadway in a few weeks, I'm sure that will be another show I would seek out to see more than once. 

 

Another sad little tidbit of information, nearly everyone in my life who has seen a show with me is not as open to seeing the same show more than once. They are also somewhat picky about the shows they do see, whereas there's a whole list of shows I am dying to see right now. I could not expect my friends or a family member to accept an invitation to see a show they are unfamiliar with or have seen already. I would have no problem seeing a show by myself, but at the moment there are a couple of factors preventing me from making the spontaneous city trip.

 

I have to agree with a previous poster in that seeing a show multiple times still feels like a new experience. I enjoy seeing different performers, different takes on the story or the way lines are executed.

 

With all of that being said, though, I am slowly trying to focus on spending money on shows I haven't seen yet! Money will have to be tight for a while, but if I can see a show it will be a new experience for me. So no more Wicked trips for a while, hah.

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 10:57am

I've seen Book of Mormon more than any other show. I always enjoy it, but it's by no means my favorite show. It's just one that appeals to a wide variety of people, so whenever it comes around on tour I tend to go with friends. It's soon to be surpassed by Hamilton as the show I've seen the most. I think I could see that over and over and always enjoy it. The same is true of Les Mis and really any show that I enjoy--I will always go when a tour comes to my town. But I don't feel compelled to see the same show over and over at the expense of seeing something else. (Maybe if a show is really great I'll feel compelled to see it a second time regardless.) It's why I never go see Les Mis, Phantom, Chicago, etc. in New York. I've seen them already and there's always something else I haven't seen yet I don't want to miss. But if something is touring I don't have to see it in lieu of something else because my options in Chicago are more limited (although I am  trying to get out to more local shows now!)

The exception was Hedwig which I saw several times because I always wanted to see what a new Hedwig would bring. 

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 11:22am

LizzieCurry said: "I've even seen shows I didn't love multiple times, because rush was easy and I was curious, because they cast an actor I was already a fan of, or because I liked it enough when a friend was in town and they wanted to go. Or, more recently, I was helping with lotto and was in that in-between spot where I'd go if I won, and I won.

When I do love a show and it has a lasting impact for years and years in multiple iterations, I will see it many times. I hit 70 for Les Miz over 10 years ago, and that's when I stopped counting.

 

"

Wow..I think 35 is the most for me...so far..LOL  Thank goodness for lotteries, etc or this would not be at all possible. And the in person lotteries were great -if you would looking for one ticket when they offer two, you could find a lottery "buddy" who was also looking for one ticket - and double your chances and meet some interesting people along the way. But if it's a chance to see a show for $30+  or see a movie (which is going to wind up free on my TV at some point anyway), it's almost always the show...even if it's something I have seen.

 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/30/16 at 11:26am

Oh, I'm past 35 for a lot of other shows, too. But with LM, it took several years to build up that many viewings (in the era before rush/lotto became more ubiquitous).

If I'm on vacation in a theatre town, I'll try to see a familiar show plus one that's new to me -- I saw Zorro on my first trip to London and wow, that was not a good show... but oh the memories!