Shows you disliked the first time, and ended up liking the second time.

[Dave13]

I just saw Something Rotten on tour. When I saw it on Broadway, I hated it. For some reason I didn’t care for the constant references to other musicals. I know most people loved it, but I never understood why. Then I saw it on tour and loved it.

I had the same experience with A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.

Has anyone else had the same experience?

[antonijan]

Finding Neverland

[Hamilfan2]

While I didn't HATE it, I didn't particularly care for Falsettos when i first saw it, despite the amazing performances by the all star cast.  It wasn't until I saw it again (the filming for Lincoln Center) that I really liked it.  Now I have seen the recording multiple times and it is one of my favorite shows of all time!

[dramamama611]

Well, I think that comes with more familiarity. Which is why so many people love a show they've been listening to for months.

[stee]

The first time I saw American Idiot, I really hated it... It wasn't what I was expecting, it was incredibly dark and it didn't feel like a musical in the traditional way.

But it stayed with me, and the songs started to haunt me.  I decided to go back again and the second time I was incredibly moved, I thought the message was so poignant and timely, and I just thought everyone was so incredibly talented.  So many elements I wasn't able to digest the first time.

I've seen it 4 times total and it still stays with me as one of my favorite and most moving shows, which is genuinely a surprise since I really thought I hated it the first time.  But now I recognize that my "hate" was more just "didn't get it" and wasn't able to fully appreciate it because it was so different than anything I had previously seen, or expected.

[Demitri2]

I didn't care for EVITA the first time around. A friend recommended I go back and I ended up seeing the show twelve times more during its pre Broadway run.

I much more enjoyed the revival of 42nd STREET.

[ColorTheHours048]

The Great Comet. Absolutely hated it the first time around (in the tent on 45th Street) and in my attempts to listen to the original recording after. Then, I took a chance and saw it on Broadway and was completely hooked.

I don’t know what it was exactly that changed my mind, but I suspect it had to do with the more straightforward staging, beefed up vocals/orchestrations, and heightened design in its transfer to a proscenium space.

[Dave13]

ColorTheHours048 said: "The Great Comet. Absolutely hated it the first time around (in the tent on 45th Street) and in my attempts to listen to the original recording after. Then, I took a chance and saw it on Broadway and was completely hooked.

I don’t know what it was exactly that changed my mind, but I suspect it had to do with the more straightforward staging, beefed up vocals/orchestrations, and heightened design in its transfer to a proscenium space."

For me, I think it’s the mood you carry into the theater.    I think at times you are more receptive than at other times to appreciate a performance. 

[Bwayfan292]

Holiday inn. Hated it the first time, the book was just very bad. Second time I saw it (pbs broadcast) I had a fun time watching it. (Book still sucked though.)

[poisonivy2]

I hated Brigadoon when all I knew was the MGM movie with Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse. WHen I saw the City Center Encores! version I loved it.

[Phantom4ever]

Chicago. Hated the lack of sets. Went to see it again when Usher was in the cast and fell in love. I have now seen it 26 times and it’s one of my favorite shows. But it took 8 years for me to give it another try.

[labellaragazza1]

The first time I saw The Great Comet, I was pretty confused and maybe overwhelmed? by it. It wasn’t that I hated it, I kind of left going “What exactly did I just see??”

But the music stuck with me and after I listened to the recording and actually understood what was happening (I went in without knowing the plot or music at all) I decided to go again and absolutely adored it., enough to see it a 3rd time before it closed.

[JBC3]

Strongly dislike the original Broadway production of Passion. Now it is one of my favorite shows.

[Mister Matt]

The first time I saw La Cage was with the original staging starring Lee Roy Reams and I found it over-the-top ridiculous, overblown and unrealistic.  When I saw the recent London revival with Graham Norton, I thought it was far more engaging in a more realistic setting and ultimately, very moving.  I later saw it again with Harvey on Broadway. 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Once on This Island.

[David10086]

I don't think I've ever seen a play/musical I hated a second time. There were a number of musicals I didn't like the first time around (1991's 'Miss Saigon' comes to mind) so I would never sit through it again to give it another try no matter the changes or the years in between. I commend those who do give a show they hate/dislike  a second try! You're braver than I.  

[kade.ivy]

I’ve had the reverse happen with Aladdin. Saw it in January 2015 and was some of the most fun I’ve ever had in a theatre. Saw it December 2016 (with the same principal cast) and still had fun but was at times quite bored and found the actors to be phoning it in.

It might be that a show like Aladdin is a one-time enjoyment or that I matured and brought different experiences to the performance as a theatregoer over two years. But I can’t help but think the performers had lost some of their passion in the timespan.

[JoseLee_]

Sister Act, Once, Motown, & Mamma Mia.

[theatreguy12]

 

That’s me as well, David. If I use the “h” word as I’m departing the theater after a show, I won’t see it again.

David10086 said: "I don't think I've ever seen a play/musical I hated a second time. There were a number of musicals I didn't like the first time around (1991's 'Miss Saigon' comes to mind) so I would never sit through it again to give it another try no matter the changes or the years in between. I commend those who do give a show they hate/dislike a secondtry! You're braver than I.

"

 

[Chicken_Flavor]

When I first saw Newsies, it was so annoying to me, but I had already downloaded the cast recording on my laptop and was too lazy to delete it. So, months after months of listening to my music on shuffle, I found myself humming King of New York, and the songs just grew on me. 

[David10086]

theatreguy12 said: "

That’s me as well, David. If I use the “h” word as I’m departing the theater after a show, I won’t see it again.

David10086 said: "I don't think I've ever seen a play/musical I hated a second time. There were a number of musicals I didn't like the first time around (1991's 'Miss Saigon' comes to mind) so I would never sit through it again to give it another try no matter the changes or the years in between. I commend those who do give a show they hate/dislike a secondtry! You're braver than I.

"

"

Exactly! When I'm leaving a show which I didn't enjoy at all, I'm not thinking to myself "I'll definitely give this one another shot in a few years."  I'm usually thinking "There's two hours of my life wasted. The best thing about the show was the intermission."

Not knocking anyone who thinks differently - as I said earlier you - you're braver than I will ever be. 

[matty159]

Actually the only time I have really experienced this was with Groundhogs Day. I went one night after work during previews. I don’t know whether I was tired or the show wasn’t doing it for me, but after the eternal first act that I barely made it through, I bolted. I thought it was insufferable. A few weeks after opening, a friend had an extra ticket and convinced me to give it another chance. Glad I took him up on the offer because I felt like I was seeing something totally different (and little to nothing about the actual show seemed to have changed). It was still far from perfect, but I had a great time and was glad I gave it a second chance.

[HamilHansen]

Charlie and The Chocolate Factory...

[wendy72]

I really didn't like Contact when I first saw, but thought relatives would like it when they came to visit so I went again. And I was surprised that I loved it the second time around.

[kdogg36]

JBC3 said: "Strongly dislike the original Broadway production of Passion. Now it is one of my favorite shows."

This is my answer too! I don't necessarily blame the production, but I certainly didn't enjoy Passion when I saw it on Broadway in 1994. Fortunately, I bought the OCR and quickly came to cherish the score as one of my favorites, and I've greatly enjoyed subsequent productions that I've seen.