Mezz at the August Wilson?

[Leaf Coneybear]

Posted: 6/14/17 at 11:23am

I'm seeing Groundhog Day in a few months and I'm trying to buy seats, I was wondering if the mezz at the August Wilson is huge or bad or anything. I'm trying to buy cheapest seats available, so I will be near the back! Thanks!

[10086Sundays]

Posted: 6/14/17 at 11:30am

I've never sat up there, but what I've heard from folks at GHD is that the view is great, but the seats suck.  Plus, being too far back, your view will be poor. I can't remember which thread it was, but someone mentioned a specific row, maybe G?, that was good. Hopefully, they'll post here. 

I would go rear center orchestra using a discount personally. There's nothing that happens which might get cut off by the mess overhang, except maybe the videos at the beginning. Can anyone confirm?

Updated On: 6/14/17 at 11:30 AM

[macnyc]

Posted: 6/14/17 at 11:40am

I sat in Row E of the mezzanine for GD. The view was fine, and it was a good vantage point to see all the special effects. It IS a huge mezzanine, however, If you can sit in the front part, I would recommend that. 

[HSky]

Posted: 6/14/17 at 11:43am

I've been in the front mezz a few times and once sat under the overhang about 3 rows from the back of orchestra. (Let's see where TDF puts me at today's matinee, maybe I'll have a different perspective to share.)

I like the front mezz seats better although you don't miss anything crucial under the overhang. You can see all the videos but can't see the houses on the backdrops framing the stage and some of the lighting effects on those backdrops are blocked (the fireworks aren't as impressive). I like having the elevation to see the turntables in action.

If you can get front mezz center or along the aisle in the front mezz side, I think those give you a very good view.

Updated On: 6/14/17 at 11:43 AM

[ameleigh]

Posted: 6/14/17 at 11:45am

Haven't seen GHD, but sat in the mezz for Jersey Boys and the view was excellent.

[JustAnotherNewYorker]

Posted: 6/14/17 at 11:58am

Front Mez is great. Rear Mez isn't because the theater is long and thin, not short and squat.



I've seen ghd from front and rear Mez, front and mid orchestra. I'd choose front Mez if you can

[Lot666]

Posted: 6/14/17 at 12:05pm

My husband and I sat in the center mezzanine, about 5-6 rows back, and it was absolutely the worst theatrical venue experience we've ever had. Neither of us is particularly large (5'10" and about 180 lbs), but the seats are tiny and the rows are so close together that I had to push my butt into one corner of my seat and twist my knees off in the opposite direction in order to sit down. I also had to bend my legs so that my feet were tucked underneath me because there was nowhere in front of me to place them. To make matters worse, there is insufficient rake to see over the heads of those in front of you, so the lower 30-35% of the stage was consistently obscured. 

On a side note, there is only one restroom and it's in the (below street level) lobby, behind the bar. The queue starts in the house right stairway coming down from the mezzanine, to orchestra level, and finally to the lower level lobby - they actually put up stanchions and have staff in place to keep the ridiculous line in check.

I saw the show a second time from the orchestra, about midway back, and it was a very different experience. It's a great show and, in my opinion, worth whatever additional cost there may be to sit downstairs.

[macnyc]

Posted: 6/14/17 at 12:07pm

I do agree that leg room is lacking in the mezz.

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 6/14/17 at 12:11pm

I sat in the front row of the mezzanine, 4 seats in from the side aisle, and I thought it was a perfect view. Enter code GHDBB1 on Ticketmaster for discount tickets. If you can spend a little extra, I highly recommend those seats. With the discount, they're $89.50 or $99.50, depending on when you go.

BTW, this was the view from my seat, A13:

https://imgur.com/a/ivUaA

Updated On: 6/14/17 at 12:11 PM

[Leaf Coneybear]

Posted: 6/14/17 at 12:42pm

Thanks for all the input! I've decided to splurge and not buy rear mezz since it doesn't sound great. Now it's between rear orch or front mezz. I generally like mezz more because I'm very short and the slope is better, but spacing is also imprtsnt to me (like how the seats are staggered) because I hate when someone's head is directly in front of mine. So if anyone has any info on those I'd be very grateful!

[Valentina3]

Posted: 6/14/17 at 12:50pm

It's not really a sell out by any means, so I'd recommend sticking it out if you're watching the show "in a few days". Someone here recommended signing up for the lottery. They have a lot of open seats, and the results are announced a day before. Even if you lose, they send you a discount code which you can use to buy significantly cheaper seats. I won it back in May and my bf and I sat centre, front-mezz 2nd row. It was a great view and I think we paid $40-50ish total.

[greenifyme2]

Posted: 6/14/17 at 12:54pm

10086Sundays said: "I've never sat up there, but what I've heard from folks at GHD is that the view is great, but the seats suck.  Plus, being too far back, your view will be poor. I can't remember which thread it was, but someone mentioned a specific row, maybe G?, that was good. Hopefully, they'll post here. 

I would go rear center orchestra using a discount personally. There's nothing that happens which might get cut off by the mess overhang, except maybe the videos at the beginning. Can anyone confirm?

 

"That was me! I sat in both center Mezz, first row G then row F. Row G is terrible, don't sit there! Row F has a FANTASTIC view!

I also sat in the first and 2nd rows of the orch. Last night I sat in row U of the orch, my sightline was good but the acoustics that far back under the overhang were not. This show is best viewed from the front of the mezz, so you can see how all of the intricate set pieces work!

 

Updated On: 6/14/17 at 12:54 PM

[Lot666]

Posted: 6/14/17 at 12:54pm

Leaf Coneybear said: "Now it's between rear orch or front mezz. I generally like mezz more because I'm very short and the slope is better, but spacing is also imprtsnt to me (like how the seats are staggered) because I hate when someone's head is directly in front of mine. So if anyone has any info on those I'd be very grateful!"

The rake (slope) in the front mezz is minimal. As I said in my earlier post, and this is especially true if you're relatively short, you will have someone's head in your sight line unless you're in the first row. I will never make the mistake of buying upstairs seats at this particular theatre again and I highly recommend that you for go for orchestra.

[_IrisTInkerbell]

Posted: 6/14/17 at 1:38pm

The overhang in the Wilson is significant and the rear orchestra was partial view for that reason for Jersey Boys. Their set had 2 levels and you couldn't really see the upper one. GHD's set only has 1 level so I assume you should be fine? I sat rear mezz for this show and thought it was a good view. I also don't remember it to be significantly more uncomfortable than other rear mezz seats in terms of leg room.

[loveinnewyorkcity]

Posted: 6/14/17 at 1:47pm

Though the mezzanine isn't particularly far from the stage, I don't recommend it if you are shorter. Sat in row G recently and because the seats aren't spaced out well, the person in front of me blocked my view the entire time with their head. I was sitting on my feet to see. 

I highly recommend the orchestra but beware of the overhang. If you sit too far back you will miss some action and visuals higher up on the stage.

[bfreak]

Posted: 6/14/17 at 1:48pm

I remember sitting in Center Mezzanine Row M for Jersey Boys and was worried it would be too far back but it ended up being a very good view and was not too far back at all! Was able to see everything and expressions fine.

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 6/14/17 at 4:47pm

I'm short, as well, and I worry about people's heads all the time. For that reason alone, the front row of the mezzanine is usually the safest bet for me.

[thealtoslament]

Posted: 6/14/17 at 5:33pm

My mom and I saw GHD front row center mezzanine back in April. The view from the mezz is fantastic but there is no legroom. My mom and I are both short ladies (she's five foot even, I'm 5'2" so it didn't bother us but if you're taller it might. 

[Leaf Coneybear]

Posted: 6/14/17 at 5:59pm

I bought tickets for the front mezz, thanks all! Does anyone know if the bar in the front of the first row (the railing) is tall enough to block the stage? I find at some theater's they're no problem and with others it's really obstructing the view

[HSky]

Posted: 6/14/17 at 6:03pm

I'm 5'2" and had no issues in the front row of front mezz.

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 6/14/17 at 7:08pm

Leaf Coneybear said: "I bought tickets for the front mezz, thanks all! Does anyone know if the bar in the front of the first row (the railing) is tall enough to block the stage? I find at some theater's they're no problem and with others it's really obstructing the view

The railing is low, and not at all obtrusive.

 

[Big Apple2]

Posted: 6/14/17 at 8:03pm

Here's the view from center mezzanine Row A when I saw it. 

 

https://imgur.com/gallery/ProRy

[LesWickedly]

Posted: 2/26/18 at 3:18pm

Currently trying to buy tickets for Mean Girls. I would like to be close, but everything close and towards center is premium. From what I've seen, the mezz seems a little higher and further back than most theaters. Would Row C of the Front mezz still offer good a good view of facial expressions, or should I go with Rows G, H or J off pretty far to the side of Right Orch? 

[VotePeron]

Posted: 2/26/18 at 3:51pm

I sat front mezz (rows B/C/E) multiple times for Groundhog Day, and had an excellent view, facial expressions and all. However, once you pass row H or so, the view really begins to suffer. The problem is the mezz is raked so small, you keep moving farther away from the stage, not just higher. I sat in the rear mezz once for Groundhog Day, and enjoyed the show much less (not to mention the leg room - yikes).

 

Hope that helps!

[LesWickedly]

Posted: 2/26/18 at 11:28pm

As long as you can see faces very well, that does sound good. Any other thoughts?