Do You See A Show Because Of the Show, Individual Performers or Both?

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Specifically for me, I see "Chicago" due to the show and some individual cast members.  I've memorized large chunks of the dialogue, music (and some of the choreography) throughout the years.  It's a simple stage with fairly simple (and skimpy) costumes.  Prior to 2011, I really didn't give the show much of a thought.  When I saw it for the first time on St. Patrick's Day 2011, I was immediately hooked.  Since then, I've seen the show on Broadway or on tour, at least once every year.  

[bwayphreak234]

I see every musical and play that opens on Broadway (usually in previews) no matter what the show is or who the performers are. However, my level of excitement for the shows I see does vary based on the show at hand and/or who is in it. For example, I was much more excited to see Meteor Shower with Laura Benanti and Amy Schumer than I was, say, The Children.I loved both plays in the end, though. 

[faceleg]

For me it just depends. Like for my trip to NYC next month, I'm seeing Aladdin and Dolly for who's in it (I know Major Attaway from the Dallas theater scene). Then I'm seeing The Band's Visit, Spongebob, and Once on This Island for the show, though Lea, and now Norm, being in OOTI doesn't hurt. I'm also seeing Sweeney Todd, both for the show and who's in it.

[JBroadway]

I tend to make my show-seeing decisions based on a variety of factors, but basically I operate by a “names” system, I.e if I’m looking through listings and I see the name of a playwright, performer, or director whose work I’m following, I put it on my list of shows to see. Word of mouth and reviews also play a role, but it’s one of the last things I take into account because everything is so subjective, and I often disagree with the word of mouth.

There are also some theatre companies where I will pretty much see any show, like St. Ann’s Warehouse.

Everything I’ve said so far, I realized, is mostly true for Non-Broadway shows. For Broadway shows it’s more like a game of subtraction. I’ll usually see most shows, but I’ll exclude those that don’t seem worth my time and money.

[MattRVA]

I live about 300 miles from NYC, so seeing a Broadway show is a big investment of time, travel, and money. It’s worth it to me to spend extra money for face value tickets so I know in advance I’ll have good seats rather than hoping for a bargain at TKTS, rush tickets, etc. This also means I try not to see a show unless I’m excited about the show, itself. A star performer can get sick any day, and so I can’t justify moving mountains to see a particular actor only to be disappointed. I saw DEH largely for Ben Platt’s performance, and I spent much of the trip checking social media to make sure he was healthy. (I got lucky and saw him for the matinee, but he was out sick for that evening’s performance!) I’m glad I saw him, but the experience confirmed what is now my guiding maxim: Would I still be excited to see this show even if [insert name here] called out sick? 

[Danielle49]

Usually for musicals I go for the show itself - if I'm spending that much money it's got to be a big production (e.g. I'll see The Book of Mormon no matter who's in it). I usually justify spending a large sum for plays if I'm really interested in the actors or creative team (e.g. The Boys in the Band, The Front Page).

However, if there's a musical that involves a particular person/performance but I'm not very interested in the show I'll risk them not being there (e.g. Borle in Charlie). The most money I've ever spent on a show was for Dear Evan Hansen to see Ben Platt's performance - on his final weekend no less. I wasn't a fan of the show and knew I wouldn't be. I was more interested in Platt's narrative as an actor than Evan's narrative. I guess it depends. But ultimately both factor into it.

[Rainah]

There is no actor I would pay to sit through a crappy show for. There are too many things to see and I have too little time to spend in NYC.

However, certain actors in certain roles can do a lot to make me see a show again (I am ensuring I see Medina in Hamilton again), or see one show I'm interested in over another (prioritizing seeing CFA on this trip because I'd like to see Jen) or to avoid a show (Refused to see Phantom with James Barbour). 

[dramamama611]

Overall: the show.   I love Christian Borle -- still had no desire to see Charlie. I want to enjoy the evening, not just a single performance.  I DO see most things that open, but certainly not all....and this season it seems I will see fewer than usual due to lack of interest. (Don't have any desire to see: Frozen, Spongebob, Magaritaville ---- and a few others.)

 

 

 

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Prior to my Nov. 2017 trip to NYC, I hadn't made firm plans on seeing "Chicago" that year.  First, the national tour hadn't stopped in Texas.  Also, I had considered a March trip (warm in Austin, but cold in NYC) or a June trip (warm in both places).  But, when I become aware (via Telecharge) that Leigh Zimmerman would make a return as Velma Kelly, that spurred my interest and planning.  I used a card for most of the expenses (tickets, hotel and airfare).  She was the first Velma that I saw in March 2011.  Also, she hadn't performed in the role since then.  I figured that this was probably my last chance to see her in the role.  That was my main reason for my Nov. 2017 trip.  Next time I go to NYC, I do hope to see Hello Dolly and /or Phantom (would be two first time shows).  I also might like to see "Beautiful" (b/c of Evan Todd) and "Bronx Tales" (b/c of Adam Kaplan).  I'm seeing "Chicago" fairly soon (Feb. 17) when it makes a tour stop in Fort Worth, Texas (the hometown of Dylis Croman --Roxie Hart).  I'll get a chance to see Lana Gordon (as Velma Kelly) for the first time.

[BwayLB]

Mainly for the show itself. The only three occasions I was excited for stars were Alice Ripley in Next to Normal, Davis Gaines in the Music Man and Christopher Sieber in La Cage Aux Folles

[velevele]

The show. I don't watch TV or see movies, so I've never heard of a lot of the actors who made their names in either of those media. The one exception was that I flew to NYC for less than 48 hours specifically to see Lin-Manuel Miranda in "Hamilton", one of the best decisions I've ever made. (Of course, he wasn't a "name" for his TV or movie work.)

[David10086]

I would say for both, if it's a Broadway show with a celebrity name.  If it's a local sow at a repertory theater, I would narrow it down to the play itself - not necessarily the performer who's starring in it. 

[haterobics]

I would answer yes/no to all, too broad to be definitive across the board.

[AllThatJazz2]

It depends. Like others, I’m not in the immediate area so if I’m traveling to NYC I need to know the money I’m spending on a show is “worth it”, so to speak. Much of the time, I see a show because the show itself interests me, and the specific performers are secondary. For example, I heard such great buzz about The Band’s Visit that my friend and I have seats for next weekend (and the cast album only solidified my desire to see it). However, a particular actor may boost my interest - I booked seats to DEH after seeing Ben’s performance at the Tonys (before that I’d been hedging on seeing the show despite loving the cast album due to the subject matter, which hits very close to home for my family).

Some shows are chosen solely due to the names involved. I knew next to nothing about After the Blast, but am a huge fan of Zoe Kazan’s work and enjoy the two leads, so we bought seats based off of them. And I’ll be seeing Hello Dolly again this weekend because of Victor Garber and Bernadette Peters joining the cast (saw it with Bette and adored the show, but due to my limited time in NYC these days I rarely repeat the same musical or play).

[After Eight]

Both.

[dramamama611]

AllThatJazz2 -- Question: WOULD you be returning to see Dolly again if you didn't like the show?  I wanted to see the show again because I love it (in general) and loved the production.  The announcement of Peters and Garber were just icing on the cake!

 

 

[AllThatJazz2]

dramamama611 said: "AllThatJazz2 -- Question: WOULD you be returning to see Dolly again if you didn't like the show? I wanted to see the show again because I love it (in general) and loved the production. The announcement of Peters and Garber were just icing on the cake!"

If I hadn’t liked Dolly the first time around, Peters and Garber still may have been enough of a draw to lure me in anyway. While I’ve seen him before on stage, it wasn’t a musical, and I’ve never had the privilege of seeing her perform live before. I can also put up with a bad musical far more than I can a bad play (maybe because the music can at least serve as a distraction from bad plot/characterization or vice versa). So I likely would still shell out, though maybe in lesser seats - but that’s a rarity for me.  I badly want to see Christian Borle, for example, but I wasn’t going to suffer through Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to do it!

Thankfully Dolly was one of the best theater experiences I’ve ever had in my life, so a return with the new cast was a no-brainer, lol! 

[Marianne2]

It depends on the show and who the actor is. Like most musicals I go in just wanting to see the show based on if I think I'll enjoy it. I have had that experience with some plays as well, but sometimes a casting may entice me to see it more than I originally intended.

[Lot666]

Both.

I see Phantom every time I happen to be visiting New York, because of the show. However, there have been times when I booked a trip specifically to see a certain performer play one of the leads (e.g., Sierra Boggess as Christine, Jeremy Stolle or Laird Mackintosh as the Phantom).

I've never been much of a Sondheim fan, but I saw the revival of Sunday in the Park with George specifically because I wanted to see if Jake Gyllenhaal could sing. He can, and I loved the show.