Listening to Cast Albums before seeing a Musical for the first time

[Playbill_Trash]

Posted: 3/21/18 at 12:14pm

I've talked to my friends a lot about this and was curious to start this thread here to hear everyone's opinions. 

I have a personal rule to not listen to cast albums (or watch promo footage or read reviews or preview message board threads for that matter) of musicals that I have not seen before I see them for the first time. I like the material to be fresh the first time I see it on stage and let what has been created for the stage to be as new for me as possible. 

Does anyone here have similar rules or patterns they follow when they see a show for the first time?

(I made this rule when I basically memorized the cast album for Avenue Q before seeing it and it of course spoiled a lot of the experience when I finally saw it on stage. This rule has made for a lot of great, surprising experiences in the theatre ever since. Also, the only time I think I've regretted it is when I didn't listen to any of the Hamilton score before I saw it and honestly had a hard time keeping up when I saw it live haha). 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/21/18 at 12:15pm

I avoid it as best I can. When I lived in California and it looked like there would be at least a year until I was able to see a new show, then I'd listen, but otherwise, no. I don't try to do any kind of media blackout, but I try not to put a cast recording in regular rotation until I've seen the show.

[nolanativeny]

Posted: 3/21/18 at 12:40pm

I listened to Hamilton a ton before I saw the show, and I really wish I hadn't. It may have been the fact I was in the back of the mezzanine, and I was also seeing mostly replacements, or it may have been an off night for the cast, I don't know, but I remember not being completely blown away like I was expecting to, which I think was partially due to knowing the cast recording so well. And probably overhyping. Or most likely a combination of all of the above. TL;DR I say don't listen before if you can help it. 

[haterobics]

Posted: 3/21/18 at 12:50pm

I try to go in as blank as possible. I only read preview threads here if I'm on the fence about whether to see it. If people are raving, I'll buy a ticket and stop reading the thread. If mixed, I'll wait and maybe check in on the thread sporadically. And I never listen to the music beforehand.

[hanabana]

Posted: 3/21/18 at 12:57pm

I stopped listening to cast recordings before seeing a show after I did that for Book of Mormon.  Knowing the lyrics really took so much away from that show.  I like to be surprised (pleasantly I hope) now.  I actually have really good restraint - have managed not to listen to Dear Even Hansen or Hamilton since I have yet to see these shows.  However, I would watch some promo videos to decide if I would be interested in a particular show.  Since the promos are usually only snippets of the show/songs I don't find that to be a problem.  Sometimes I would watch a performance on TV, which would contain an entire song, but they usually don't give away the entire plot or anything so it's not a big deal either.

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 3/21/18 at 12:58pm

It depends on the show, really. Sometimes stumbling across a couple songs from a cast recording by chance and then listening to the whole thing will interest me enough to try and see the show, but if it’s something I’ve been looking forward to or otherwise am going in not knowing anything about, then I don’t tend to listen beforehand.

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 3/21/18 at 1:24pm

I'd rather listen to a cast album than watch a bootleg...

[thebookofwhizzer]

Posted: 3/21/18 at 2:39pm

Actually, I always listen to the cast album before hand. Even though the show has less surprises, I adore all the shows I see. 

[Justin D]

Posted: 3/21/18 at 3:31pm

I'm on the fence, because If i do listen before hand, then I might find some songs that I really love and look forward to seeing done live, also it would have prevented me wasting money on some shows that I;ve seen that  quite frankly I hated the music and felt like I wasted money.

But on the other hand, sometimes I do like the surprise of experiencing something new (if it turns out to be positive).

I also try to limit myself to exposure to visuals from the show since set design is also my big thing.

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/21/18 at 3:52pm

I do the same as Lizzie pretty much. If I know I won't see a show for a while I will listen. I got so tired of hearing HAMILTON at every piano bar that I finally listened to it first. Not sure I will ever see Dear Evan Hansen so I listened to it. Now I really have no big desire to see it as I am not crazy about the score.

[BwayLB]

Posted: 3/21/18 at 4:01pm

I usually don't listen to entire cast albums unless I for sure am going to see a show and I listen before I go to a show. So I know what to expect in terms of song narrative

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/21/18 at 4:09pm

I don't say this to brag, but I'm grateful was able to see Wicked before a cast recording came out (I saw it in San Francisco) — same with Dear Evan Hansen (saw it in DC), Come From Away (also DC), and Hamilton (saw it in previews on Broadway). I don't mind being spoiled of a plot point, especially if it's a revival whose plot is fairly well-known, but I can get fairly weary of late-night-TV oversaturation of a newer song in a newer show.

[Babe_Williams]

Posted: 3/21/18 at 4:11pm

It really depends on the show. Generally if I am planning a trip to NYC specifically to see a show, I'll definitely have listened to it before. For a touring or regional production, I am 50/50. Just depends on my mood. 

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 3/21/18 at 4:13pm

I’m leaning more toward not listening much before seeing a show for the first time. This point was made for me after I listened obsessively to the DEH OBCR from the time it was released until I finally saw the show in November. I had most of the plot points in mind (usually correctly). I had already expected the songs that would be the most emotional for me. Surprisingly, a song (So Big/So Small) that I did not have much emotional connection to on the OBCR is the one that had me a sobbing mess as the scene before it revealed a plot point I hadn’t envisioned.

In retrospect, many of the shows I’ve loved the most are ones where I wasn’t familiar with the songs going in or had only maybe casually listened to those songs. These shows include: Hamilton, My Fair Lady, Avenue Q, The Band’s Visit, and Hello, Dolly!

There are shows where I was more familiar with the OBCR beforehand and still loved the show, though. Shows like If/Then and American Idiot. With those shoes, it was difficult to ascertain all the plot points through the music alone. I also was very familiar with the Spider-Man OBCR before seeing it. I agree the show was a hot mess mostly, but the songs (mainly the ballads) I loved on the recording are also the ones that I connnected with the most during the show. In that case, I don’t think being very familiar with the music affected my level of enjoyment.

[Playbill_Trash]

Posted: 3/21/18 at 4:15pm

Thanks for your opinions, everyone.
I agree with a lot of what was said about it being different for every show.
Usually, if I know I plan to see a show I will avoid all music/preview threads. However, on the other hand, if I know from the show's announcement of opening that I will never see the show, I will binge every preview thread post. For example, I know I won't see rocktopia and it has been one of my favorite threads as of late.
Same with reviews, I won't read then if I know I'm seeing the show anyway because the spoil too much just by describing what they've seen. But if I know I won't see it, the review is the closest thing I'll get to seeing it so I'll read it.
I'll also go back to the preview threads if shows after I see them, but that is mainly because WhizzerMarvin is the only critic I trust.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 3/21/18 at 4:19pm

It depends. If it's a revival or something like Encores I'm less bothered about the press stuff since I probably know something about the show anyway and it's just a matter of determining if I want to see this version of it.

If it's a new show and/or based on an original property, I almost always stay away from promo footage and especially cast albums unless I don't think it's likely that I'll see the show anytime soon (e.g. Hamilton).

It's also a bit about managing expectations. I was unsure about Carousel so I read that thread but I am already going to see My Fair Lady and I don't want word of mouth to sway me so I'm staying away from it until I see the show.

[VotePeron]

Posted: 3/21/18 at 4:23pm

I will always listen to a cast recording before I see a show. A part of it is that I'm impatient, but a much bigger part of it is I know I'll get a lot more out of the show when I know the lyrics and am familiar with the sound. It helps shape my knowledge walking into the theater - knowing what to expect musically. 

Just my two cents. I just think it's funny how divided people get on this issue, because I personally can't imagine not listening a cast recording before seeing a show, simply for the sake of "I want to experience it live for the first time." It doesn't make sense to me. The only time it's backfired is when I finally saw Hamilton a year after it opened having memorized the OBCR, I was so disappointed in the production itself, and still find listening to the recording a more satisfying experience than seeing it live.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/21/18 at 4:32pm

I don't think I've ever listened to a cast recording to figure out plot points, at least since the 90s. I just read the synopsis if I really want to know, and then I'll listen after I see it (if possible).

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 3/21/18 at 4:39pm

LizzieCurry said: "I don't think I've ever listened to a cast recording to figure out plot points, at least since the 90s. I just read the synopsis if I really want to know, and then I'll listen after I see it (if possible)."

I don’t necessarily do it intentionally. It’s just how my mind works. If I’m listening to a OBCR over and over, my mind just kind of automatically goes into overdrive trying to decipher the glue (plot) that connects the songs to each other. 

[EMeraldNYC2]

Posted: 3/21/18 at 4:47pm

I also think it depends on the show. I generally try not to hear the music before seeing, but if I know it might be a long time until I have a chance to travel or see it on tour, I'll listen. I'm usually too curious, and it helps me feel like I can still have a clue about new shows come Tony season.

I do have my own take on this rule though - I will never listen to the last song on the album until I see it live. It's worked well with In the Heights, Pippin, Hamilton... and still holding out on the Dear Evan Hansen finale.

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/21/18 at 4:52pm

LizzieCurry said: "I don't say this to brag, but I'm grateful was able to see Wicked before a cast recording came out (I saw it in San Francisco) — same with Dear Evan Hansen (saw it in DC), Come From Away (also DC), and Hamilton (saw it in previews on Broadway). I don't mind being spoiled of a plot point, especially if it's a revival whose plot is fairly well-known, but I can get fairly weary of late-night-TV oversaturation of a newer song in a newer show."

I was really glad i saw Spring Awakening before it moved to Broadway and the cast recording came out.

 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/21/18 at 4:55pm

The only time I'll listen to a show before I see it, is if the waiting becomes unbearable.  That doesn't happen too often though.  I like my first experience to be complete.

 

When I was young, recordings were the only thing I had.

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 3/21/18 at 5:35pm

I’ve listened to the Cast Albums prior to the show for pretty much every one of them that I could get my hands on. I found that during the show it may be difficult at times to understand what they’re singing, maybe because it’s so fast or so high, the orchestra is overeager, or several people singing at the same time, and because I’ve listened beforehand I can differentiate the lyrics a lot easier. And because a lot of the plot points are told in the songs, that’s possibly lost on some of those who can’t understand what’s being sung.

Since I attend only the Broadway National Tours, it also gives me a good idea of what the “original” sounded like, and when I’m attending the show, a reference point to compare what’s in front of me.

It also gives me a chance to get use to what’s coming, as with “RENT”, which is going to be way different from “Waitress”, “Wicked”, or “The Phantom of the Opera”, which all have their own styles. I’ll listen to them for weeks, then watch the show and fully “experience” the music as it’s sung in real life.

Updated On: 3/21/18 at 05:35 PM

[Withonelook2]

Posted: 3/21/18 at 5:56pm

Totally agree with dmwmc

[Jarethan]

Posted: 3/21/18 at 6:31pm

I have reached the following conclusion after many years:

-- If I believe the music is going to be more complex, I actually make an effort to become familiar with the score in advance.  This is particularly beneficial with Sondheim shows.  I have generally not appreciated many of his scores on first hearing.  As a result, I have not enjoyed many of his shows the first time I have seen them. only to end up loving them when I had become familiar with the score.  I made sure to do this with Hamilton, since I anticipated that there would be much more Rap than there actually is, and I was (probably unfoundedly) concerned that I would have a problem following the show if I could not seep up with the Rap.

-- If I believe the score is not going to be complex, e.g., Bandstand, Kinky Boots, Jerry Herman scores, etc., I make no effort to hear the score in advance.  In these cases, I believe I will enjoy the show more if I am a 'virgin'.

-- Now that I live away from NYC and only get there a few times a year, I generally purchase the recording when it is released, since I don't want to postpone possible enjoyment.  That has generally been fine, but has backfired a few times in recent years.  Two illustrations: I enjoyed the recordings to Fun Home and Come From Away more than the actual shows.  This is because the shows were virtually recreated on the recordings, so there was little 'discovery' when I saw the shows, i.e., there was no additional dialogue, there was no choreography, there were no IMO star turns that I had to see to appreciate.  I think I would have enjoyed CFA more had I not already been very familiar with the (straightforward) score; not sure re Fun Home, since I really disliked the show despite really enjoying the recording.

-- This is really weird, but here goers.  There is a final factor...if the show's music received mediocre reviews, I generally listen to the recording in advance because I have discovered over time that a not great score can still grow on me, and I well enjoy the show more if the score has grown on me.