How do you feel about theatre-goers who rush the same show constantly?

[dashingdaisies]

This might be a touchy subject and I apologize if so, my intention is certainly not to offend anyone but honestly to see if I'm alone in thinking this and need some sense knocked into me!

There's a girl I'm aware of who's a huge fan of "Mean Girls," and has seen the show over twenty times since it opened. This show is regularly sold out - I was lucky enough to get tickets for a performance even nearly a month in advance. As far as I know, tons of people line up to rush - so not really a case where if you show up, it's easy to get a ticket last minute. This particular young woman rushes at least once a week, sometimes multiple times, showing up before 4 or 5 am to ensure that she gets a ticket. She's also entered and won the lottery at least once. Any time that an understudy goes on for a principal role that they haven't performed before, she *has* to see the show.

I just can't shake the feeling that there's something...a little icky about this. I know she has every right to see the show as many times as she wants and there's nothing wrong with that, but it gives me kind of a sour feeling that she's likely beating out people who have never gotten the chance to go. Yeah, they could have gotten there earlier or whatever, but it just makes me feel a little bad to think that the first person to not score a rush ticket was beaten out by someone who's seeing the show for the 25th time. If "Mean Girls" wasn't selling out so quickly I probably wouldn't feel that way.

I don't know, I'm just conflicted in my feelings on this and am curious to see how other people feel. The word "unfair" seems super childish, especially since obviously there's nothing that can be done about it, but that's the word that keeps coming back to me. I will also readily admit that this person also does things like send gifts (eg Edible Arrangements) to cast members on a regular basis, and act like she's on a "friends" basis with the cast, so it's possible my viewpoint is skewed because that behavior is creepy to me as it is.

[starcatchers]

I think it’s really not my business as long as no one’s in danger.

[dramamama611]

Almost every show has this person.   Several.  It's become a thing and goes with the nicknames they give themselves.  Many of these peeps simply move from one show to be stuck on to another once their current closes.   We've seen comments on here that a poster "knows" that X show will become their next obsession.

 

That bein said I agree with Starcatchers: it's really none of my business how someone spends their time or money.

[dashingdaisies]

dramamama611 said: "Almost every show has this person. Several. It's become a thing and goes with the nicknames they give themselves. Many of these peeps simply move from one show to be stuck on to another once their current closes. We've seen comments on here that a poster "knows" that X show will become their next obsession.



That bein said I agree with Starcatchers: it's really none of my business how someone spends their time or money."

It has absolutely become a "thing." And I agree with both of you, I don't necessarily care either. It's certainly not causing any harm. I think what's kept this on my mind is that this person is the type to brag about the amount of times they've seen the show and how familiar they are with it. Like I said, I was able to see it once myself, but I imagine I'd feel some kind of way about it if I'd been "beaten out" (for lack of a better phrase) for rush tickets to someone who's seen it numerous times.

Maybe an even better conversation would be the even broader topic of when fan obsessions go too far?

[broadwaynerdnewbie]

I don’t have a problem with it, I mean it’s not my time or money so. I’ve seen dear Evan Hansen like 6 times (granted I’ve never rushed it or anything just bought tickets) everyone has that show that they love and I think it’s cute! Honestly if I lived closer to NY there are serval shows I’d rush a lot

[LesWickedly]

You wrote multiple paragraphs about it, but you obviously don’t care.

[dramamama611]

The same as any other obsession: if it interferes with "normal" life, it's gone to far.   

[GeorgeandDot]

I don't give a sh*t what people do, but I barely lasted till intermission at Mean Girls. Once was definitely enough for me. Lol.

[dashingdaisies]

LesWickedly said: "You wrote multiple paragraphs about it, but you obviously don’t care."

I'd say I care about as much as you cared to write a snarky, rude response to a post that you easily could have ignored. 

[HunterK]

Maybe I am dating myself, but this just reminds me of RENT - 1996 - 2000. People got there 24 hours in advance for certain shows and saw the show almost 4-5 times a week. I was skipping school to spend the night on the pavement in front of Anthony Rapp's photo....many times. 

In my opinion, if you have the money and most of all the time, why should this be a negative? I get calling the cast "your friends" and all that stuff isn't fun to hear or watch, that is a whole different issue that actually frightens me today and when I was in shows. I will not write what most casts honestly think of this, but it is far from positive. Casts keep appearances up to keep people coming back to see the show! It is their job and their main source of income. 

[Cat Guy]

dashingdaisies said: "Maybe an even better conversation would be the even broader topic of when fan obsessions go too far?"

How do you know so much about this person?  Perhaps you are the one with an obsession.

 

 

[hollebolle]

Depends on the show, in my opinion. I ran into this at Jagged Little Pill in Boston, which at that point was sold out for the entirety of its run, and someone got SRO tickets 4 times in 3 days (and I think they had seen it previously). There was a pretty lengthy line, and I'm certain not everyone got tickets. 

I respect that they 100% have the right to see it as often as they can buy tickets. But it still felt weird. 

(It didn't help that this person was kind of stand-offish, which may have influenced my perception of them.)

[JBC3]

dashingdaisies said: "LesWickedly said: "You wrote multiple paragraphs about it, but you obviously don’t care."

I'd say I care about as much as you cared to write a snarky, rude response to a post that you easily could have ignored."

and you could easily ignore people rushing the same show over and over right?

[ArtMan]

I would be more upset with the people in the rush line who allow their friends and family to join the line five minutes before the box office opens.  We all know that happens all the time.  Those are the real culprits who cause a person not to get their rush ticket, that they invested hours waiting in line for.  As long as this girl gets there and waits in line like everyone else, that is her perogative to see the show multiple times.  Her delusions about being friends with the cast is a totally different issue

[ClumsyDude15]

I happen to know the person the OP is referencing and honestly I don't understand why this person (who joined a few days ago no less) decided to take time writing a lengthy shame of someone they barely know. I am friends with the person in question and honestly she has done nothing to warrant this. Yes, she does in fact do the rush weekly and gets up very early to do so, which if one is so concerned about making sure they get a ticket, perhaps following in her lead would be beneficial. I can also attest that she has not won the lotto multiple times and has in fact only won once and has done standing room a handful of times as well after losing lotto. I'm not sure why the OP feels the need to be the police of how people enjoy a show, but how and why people do the things they do is none of your business. It's clear some part of you is jealous or upset by the fact the person in question has enjoyed the benefits of seeing the show multiple times and at the end of the day it is completely ridiculous to drag someone out in the open because of your petty feelings. You want a ticket on Wednesday? Wear pink and get in line like the other people (the person in question being one of many). 

Seems like the OP has their musicals mixed - pink does go good with green, but not with the Plastics, sweetie. 

[Kitsune]

ArtMan said: "I would be more upset with the people in the rush line who allow their friends and family to join the line five minutes before the box office opens. We all know that happens all the time. Those are the real culprits who cause a person not to get their rush ticket, that they invested hours waiting in line for. As long as this girl gets there and waits in line like everyone else, that is her perogative to see the show multiple times. Her delusions about being friends with the cast is a totally different issue"

You said everything I would have. As long as this girl is following the rush rules and being respectful to the other people in line, then what she does with her time and money is her business. The other stuff (claiming to be friends with the cast, etc) is a separate issue.

I met a woman once who got tickets to every performance of a special out of town engagement of a show (I think about 10 performances?). She was lovely to talk to, very respectful to the cast, and I found her enthusiasm for the show contagious. It's really all in how you do it.

[Hairspray0901]

How people choose to spend their time and money is up to them. She probably finds mean girls a very important part of her life at the moment. So if it makes her happy, why not.

I’ve also been that girl before; I have seen a number of shows multiple times (I think the most I saw a show was 28 times over the span of 2 years?) and I used to frequent the stagedoor of those shows. I’ve since grown out of it; I haven’t been to a stagedoor in over a year and the most I’ve seen a show lately is twice.

For some, it’s a phase. For others, it’s a life style. To each their own! :)

[Marianne2]

If they are waiting and paying like everyone else, who cares? Does it suck for others waiting who don't get one? Of course, but they know going in that it isn't guaranteed. And unless they police the line every day for repeat visitors, they are going to have a hard time finding a real case.

I think it only becomes an issue if the person becomes demanding for things they are not entitled to or starts putting other people in danger.

[HunterK]

Is it wrong to say....WHO CARES? I am not trying to be rude or a wiseass. See what you want when you want. It's your own business. People that write a 3 paragraph post about it certainly have more issues with this specific person than was written. The beauty of a lotto or a rush...anyone can enter and anyone can win! 

I just feel lucky to be able to see shows frequently and not maxing out the credit card. 

(oh my god, I have been on this board since 2007 and this is the most I have written...wow!) 

[LizzieCurry]

I really don't care as long as whatever they're doing while waiting isn't so obnoxious that it's annoying everyone else in line (same goes for their behavior inside, and, I assume, the stage door).

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

5 a.m.??  That's kind of a questionable time to be waiting outside a theatre in a major city.  

[UncleCharlie]

If going to see the same show 10, 15 or 20 times qualifies as icky, you've joined a board with a lot of icky people. And if you want to talk about icky, your tracking her behaviors so closely... well that's icky. Unless the show has a rule about how often someone can rush, she likes the show, it gives her pleasure and she's not breaking any rules. You just sound jealous and petty. And I loved the way you asked if you needed some sense knocked into you but as soon as someone pointed out your hypocrisy of claiming to not care as you write an essay about how much her behavior annoys you, you played the "if you don't like it, don't read it" card. How about this? If it bothers you so much to hear her talk about the show and how many times she's gone, stop hanging around her.

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

If you’ve got the money and time to do it, it’s really no sweat off my back. Go for it. I have bigger issues with the fans who think that because their tweet of instagram comment got a reply that they’re truly friends with the actor and allowed to invade their lives.

[HunterK]

UncleCharlie said: "If going to see the same show 10, 15 or 20 times qualifies as icky, you've joined a board with a lot of icky people. And if you want to talk about icky, your tracking herbehaviors so closely... well that's icky. Unless the show has a rule about how often someone can rush, she likes the show, it gives her pleasure and she's not breaking any rules. You just sound jealousand petty. And I loved the way you asked if you needed some sense knocked into you but as soon as someone pointed out your hypocrisy of claiming to not care as you writean essay about how much her behavior annoys you, you played the "if you don't like it, don't read it" card.How about this? If it bothers you so much to hear her talk about the show and how many times she's gone, stop hanging around her."

And now I will bow down to UncleCharlie! Boom! Perfectly put in 1 paragraph! 

[SomethingPeculiar]

If they're seeing the show as respectful audience members, and if their excitement happens to encourage others to attend and help fill the house, then they are great.

This generation, it's Mean Girls, or DEH, or Newsies, or insert-name-here... Years ago, people surely did the same for Mame, Applause, Spider Woman, Millie, etc.