Great Comet Seating Thread

[billyelliotfan123]

Figured one should be started because that's what everyone wants to know about this show. For anyone who has seen it already where were you sitting and how was your view?

[LesWickedly]

Great idea for a thread. I myself am wondering how obstructed Right Orch will be and what happens on the platform in front of Row G. Can't wait to hear reports tonight! 

[MarkBearSF]

Interested about the two transverse aisles in orchestra. Is there a barrier in front of the first row of the rear section? (Leg room question. Can my feet extend into the aisle or will they be blocked by a low barrier as in the Richard Rodgers?)

[Eliza2]

I usually like to sit in the front, but am concerned that the front couple of orchestra rows will be obstructed by the on stage chairs/tables, from looking at a couple of the photos in the Previews thread.

I don't want to sit on the stage, so if anyone can let me know what the view is like from front orchestra I would appreciate it.

Early reports seem to indicate that front mezz is probably best, but I do prefer to sit closer if possible (as long as I can see!)

[jonlow09]

Saw the matinee today. I sat house left, row E in the orchestra. Action happens both in the mezzanine and orchestra so the stage is the only place with an unobstructed view. I wouldn't suggest the downstage seats either as the patrons in them seemed to be craning their necks a lot. I think the upstage seats and front mezzanine are the best. The spectacle can certainly be appreciated from just about anywhere in the house though. 

[steven22]

Sat in the rear mezz last night. Great view!!! 

[aimeric]

I agree that front mezz is probably a great view for this show, since the stage is so built up that the top levels of the set aren't too much lower than the front mezz level, but I also think the front few rows of orch would be a nice, unobstructed view of everything.  Keep in mind that, with the rows that they've removed from the orch to build the stage out, the mezz overhang now begins around row C-D of the orch.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Is anything staged below the mezzanine overhang, therefore missed by seats in the rear mezz?

Also, any word on where the rush/lottery seats have been?

[jonlow09]

Brave Sir Robin2 said: "Is anything staged below the mezzanine overhang, therefore missed by seats in the rear mezz?

Also, any word on where the rush/lottery seats have been?

 

"

 

Plenty of action happens back there, but it's never a focal point. I rushed and got orchestra house left, row E. 

 

[aimeric]

Yeah, as said above, stuff is staged beneath the mezz overhang, but there's also stuff staged in the mezz that we in the orch couldn't see.  None of it is essential to the plot, or even important--usually just ensemble dancing and so on.

[Phantom4ever]

Any suggestions for a seat for someone who is very VERY wary and anxious about actor-audience interaction?  Where is the best place to sit to guarantee that no one will touch me, dance right in front to me, talk to me, attempt to make me part of the show in any way shape or form?   Sorry we all have our quirks :)

[dramamama611]

Very, very few people are used as part of the show.

[Phantom4ever]

Oh cool I was getting the impression that it's very interactive and immersive 

[aimeric]

Phantom4ever said: "Any suggestions for a seat for someone who is very VERY wary and anxious about actor-audience interaction?  Where is the best place to sit to guarantee that no one will touch me, dance right in front to me, talk to me, attempt to make me part of the show in any way shape or form?   Sorry we all have our quirks :)"

 

Sure, easy!  You should just pick a seat that's not next to any of the aisles or platforms.  If you're near those, you might get actors dancing near you or trying to make eye contact with you, but if you're, like, two rows away from any of the acting spaces, you won't be bothered.  And yeah, as mentioned, there's very little actual interaction, and all of that takes place in the onstage seating space.  It's not one of those weirdly intrusive, in-your-face type interactive shows.

[rachel818]

Thanks to everyone for posting seating intel; I actually just created an account to ask a seating question. (Longtime lurker, though. ) My seat is orchestra row P on the aisle closest to the center, stage right I believe. Reading all of this I'm considering calling to change my seat to front mezz. I'm looking for the best "big picture" angle of the show I guess. I'm wondering if anyone has any insight on if much is missed by sitting in the back of the orchestra.

[HSky]

I was onstage last night with a good view of the mezz. Being in the front row of rear mezz above the aisle dividing the front and rear might actually be the best if you want the "whole picture." Characters come and go from the aisle that's created in front of the first row in front mezz (which is what the staircases connecting the levels are mostly used to access), so you'd see that from the very front of the section, but there are a few beautiful moments (one was a choral part near the end) when they're in the main aisle across the mezzanine that you'd miss, although their backs would be to you (Granted, it's visually staged more for the benefit of those downstairs).

[aimeric]

Rachel, if front mezz is available for your preferred date, you might be happier there.  Orch row P is quite deep beneath the mezz overhang (as I said, the overhang begins at orch row C or D), and while I imagine that there isn't much you would miss from there, it would probably seem pretty far from the action.  The main things you would miss from orch row P are anything happening on the stairs (mostly choral action, notably in the opera scene), anything happening in the mezz, and maybe the cool chandeliers/stars, including the comet itself (though that does lower at the end of the show until it's almost at stage level).  Overall, front mezz would give a better stage picture, I would think, but somebody correct me if you think that's inaccurate.

[Eliza2]

Thanks for the help, everyone! I just bought front mezz based on the recommendations in here.

[aaaaaa15]

So are we thinking that the onstage seating (specifically the armchairs) are worth the $100 or so more than front mezz? Or would you miss quite a bit more from on stage?

[billyelliotfan123]

I saw the show last night and was seated in Rear Mezz row F. It was perfect. I saw everything without issue. It seemed as if anytime there were actors dancing in the orchestra section they were also dancing upstairs. I wouldn't want to sit in the orchestra because of the overhang and that has to be one of the highest stages I have ever seen. Onstage seating now does not seem worth it because everything they give out and do for the people onstage they do the same in the house. It also seemed like no one on stage had a good view of the entire show. It honestly felt the sow was staged to be seen from the Mezzanine. 

[aimeric]

I would say it's an exaggeration to say that there are no great views onstage, but in all the productions of this show, the immersive seating has always meant that for every up-close moment, there have been other moments where your view is blocked, usually by the actors themselves.  It's a totally different experience sitting onstage than sitting in the house, and it depends what you want from the show: sitting in the house gives you a better view of the overall picture, but it's a more detached view; while sitting onstage gives more of an intense, all-around sensory experience, more impressionistic.  Both are amazing, but yeah, really different, and you should choose according to what sounds good to you.  I imagine the high prices for onstage seating are 1.) to grab those who really want to feel like they're "hanging out" with Josh Groban up close and personal, and 2.) to try to replace the revenue they're losing from removing so many of the seats and doing all the alterations to the theatre space.

[aaaaaa15]

Thanks guys. I feel like this is going to be a tough decision.

[bwayphreak234]

I was in the last row of the mezzanine last night. Section 2, row H, seat 6. The view was absolutely perfect - as was the entire show.

[nrocke731]

I saw the show last night and was absolutely blown away.  I got a rush ticket, second in line for the evening show.  My seat was Orchestra E 18.  The seat was listed as partial view.  There were only a few things that I missed.  Anything that happened on the house right mezzanine staircase I couldn't see (but nothing important was up there).  The only notable stuff I missed was some of the action with the old father-in-law's big scene at the beginning.  Otherwise my seat was incredible.  From my seat the cast gave me food, gave me instruments, clinked glasses for a toast with me, and talked to me.  And I had a wonderful view for the rest of the show. 

I think it would probably be worth saving up some money to buy a premium on-stage seat sometime, but the rush seat was great. 

[rachel818]

Thanks all for your advice! I decided to just go for it and switch  my seat to Front Mezz, row B seat 2 (stage right.) I'm even more excited to see the show in December now!

[Gartenzwerge]

I decided to try the onstage seating and saw last night's performance from the upholstered banquettes, stage left, row BF (second to last row).

 

When I bought the tickets, I was kind of bummed nothing closer was available, but as the evening progressed, I was really grateful to be up so high. Plenty of the action occurred right next to me, and had I been lower, I would have had to swivel around to see it. The only downside was that we were far enough left that the side staircase was cut off. But nobody lingered on it for very long, and we had a full view of everything that happened both on stage and in the mezzanine. 

 

Definitely wouldn't pay to do it twice, but no regrets on springing for the stage seat. If I were to go back, the only seats I wouldn't want would be the sunken tavern seats directly in front of the stage. Those people looked like they were craning their necks upward the whole time.