FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME Previews

[NYfanfromCA]

Posted: 9/15/19 at 9:40pm

Previews for Freestyle Love Supreme at the Booth Theatre started on Friday, September 13, 2019, and the show runs through January 5, 2020.  

From the show website:  "More than 15 years after its inception, Freestyle Love Supreme — the original hip-hop musical phenomenon from Thomas Kail, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Anthony Veneziale — arrives on Broadway. Every performance, the crew takes the crowd on a freestyle, hip-hop, improvisational, never-before-seen comedy ride. See it for the first time every time as the performers take suggestions from the audience and spin them into instantaneous riffs and full-length musical numbers. With special — and spontaneous — guest appearances from Lin-Manuel Miranda, Christopher Jackson, Daveed Diggs, James Monroe Iglehart, and more, every night brings the unexpected."

Does anyone know if there is a rush policy yet?  Looks like there is a social media $35 lottery.  I am considering seeing this on Sunday night.  Early reviews appreciated.

[SJAfan]

Posted: 9/16/19 at 9:37am

I won the digital lottery for Saturday night. We were in the first row, far side. Great seats for a wonderfully entertaining night. Our cast included Christopher Jackson and James Monroe Iglehart. So many hilarious jokes/skits. Definitely worth seeing. My friend and I seriously want to see it again. Also, in case you all care about the stage door, it wasn't crazy at all and they all signed (ironically, we did actually stay for this one even though we never do). 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 9/16/19 at 2:02pm

Their performance schedule is odd. 10pm shows on Sunday and Mondays? Do they really expect people to attend those? Tonight's 10pm show has very few seats sold.

[Pose2]

Posted: 9/16/19 at 2:07pm

Considering most of them are working actors, that is the schedule that works best for them. And yes, people will attend them. 

Posted: 9/16/19 at 9:22pm

ACL2006 said: "Their performance schedule is odd. 10pm shows on Sunday and Mondays? Do they really expect people to attend those? Tonight's 10pm show has very few seats sold."

 

There are 9:30 shows at 54 Below and Joe's Pub on those days that sell very well. People will attend.

 

[ccbway]

Posted: 9/17/19 at 10:25am

For what it's worth, I was in the audience for last night's 10pm show and the theater was pretty much completely full. It was a great show, and the improv nature and rotating cast make it highly re-watchable since it's a new show every time. I don't think that it will have too much trouble selling seats. Updated On: 9/17/19 at 10:25 AM

[Jarethan]

Posted: 9/17/19 at 10:55am

I don't have much interest in seeing this show, but I love the idea of a 10:00pm curtain.  As about-of-towner (Florida),it gives the opportunity to add another show, as long as I make sure the first one ends at a reasonable time.  Alternatively, it means that I don't have to eat dinner at 5:30 - 5:00, which I only do when I attend the theatre.

 

[NYfanfromCA]

Posted: 9/17/19 at 1:05pm

ccbway said: "For what it's worth, I was in the audience for last night's 10pm show and the theater was pretty much completely full. It was a great show, and the improv nature and rotating cast make it highly re-watchable since it's a new show every time. I don't think that it will have too much trouble selling seats."

Did you buy in advance or try the lottery?  Where did you sit, any recommendations?

[JSquared2]

Posted: 9/17/19 at 1:22pm

ACL2006 said: "Their performance schedule is odd. 10pm shows on Sunday and Mondays? Do they really expect people to attend those? Tonight's 10pm show has very few seats sold."

 

No they don't -- didn't you know?  New York City (and especially Times Square) shut down after 9:00PM.

 

[ccbway]

Posted: 9/17/19 at 1:38pm

NYfanfromCA said: "Did you buy in advance or try the lottery? Where did you sit, any recommendations?"

I won the lottery and sat first row center orchestra. It seems like the lottery seats are all the first two rows center orchestra. Great seats. That said, it really doesn't matter at all where you are sitting for this show as there are no sets or anything really, just 5 performers on stage and two musicians. The "best" seats are probably the acoustically best seats, which i imagine are about 8-10 rows back center orchestra. But honestly, I imagine the show was pretty much as enjoyable from the rear mezzanine as anywhere else, since sight lines and the stage aren't much of a factor.

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 9/17/19 at 5:32pm

Does anyone want to comment on those Yondr things where they make you lock up your phone in a pouch? I hear they use those during this. Curious how it went.

[ccbway]

Posted: 9/17/19 at 9:48pm

Basically, there are staff stationed at the aisle entrances before you are seated and they are requiring that you hand over your phone (after setting it to silent/airplane mode) which they then seal into the Yondr pouch with a magnetic lock and then hand it back to you for you to hold during the show. This prevents you from accessing your phone during the performance. At the end of the show they are there at the theater aisle entrances/exits with the magnetic key to unlock the pouch so that you can get your phone back before dropping the pouch into a bin as you leave. All in all, it was a pretty easy process and I only heard one or two people griping about not being able to access their phones or take their pictures with the stage, etc. It did slow down both seating and the exiting the show by maybe 10 minutes at most. The closer you are to the stage, the longer it will take for you to exit the theater. As I was in the front row center, I was basically the last person to leave, but it's really nothing to be concerned about, unless you think you're so important you can't be separated from your phone for about 90 minutes.

[VotePeron]

Posted: 9/17/19 at 10:40pm

looks like there are a few people getting around the pouches, I've seen a few stage+playbill pics, but definitely not as many as usual. 

[DoTheDood]

Posted: 9/17/19 at 11:00pm

Seriously, how did they take this? https://www.instagram.com/p/B2fmyrkAVJ6/

Sidenote: The FLS in the middle looks great. Almost like it's floating, even if it's all the way in the back probably.

[NYfanfromCA]

Posted: 9/18/19 at 1:48am

ccbway said: "NYfanfromCA said: "Did you buy in advance or try the lottery? Where did you sit, any recommendations?"

I won the lottery and sat first row center orchestra. It seems like the lottery seats are all the first two rows center orchestra. Great seats. That said, it really doesn't matter at all where you are sitting for this show as there are no sets or anything really, just 5 performers on stage and two musicians. The "best" seats are probably the acoustically best seats, which i imagine are about 8-10 rows back center orchestra. But honestly, I imagine the show was pretty much as enjoyable from the rear mezzanine as anywhere else, since sight lines and the stage aren't much of a factor."

Thanks for the information on your lottery seat location!  I hope I am as lucky as you when I try the lottery this weekend.

 

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 9/18/19 at 8:43am

DoTheDood said: "Seriously, how did they take this?https://www.instagram.com/p/B2fmyrkAVJ6/

A post upthread says the phones get pouched at the aisle entrances. My guess is that the theatregoer acquired a Playbill from the box office or stage door or a previous performance. As that aisle's usher may have been seating other guests, a quick photo could have been taken before the phone was pouched.

 

[SJAfan]

Posted: 9/18/19 at 9:25am

Since we were also in the front row and the last people out, my friend and I took our stage photos after handing back the Yondr pouches. The ushers didn't seem to mind at all, though we had to be quick about it because the stage lights went off right after we took them. 

[Broadway Joe]

Posted: 9/18/19 at 10:08am

DoTheDood said: "Seriously, how did they take this?https://www.instagram.com/p/B2fmyrkAVJ6/

Sidenote: The FLS in the middle looks great. Almost like it's floating, even if it's all the way in the back probably."

These pouches aren't that strong, if you really want to open one it's rather easy. 

[ccbway]

Posted: 9/18/19 at 11:03am

I mean, obviously, if you are super determined to flout the Yondr pouch policy, you absolutely could, but how imperative is it to take that dang picture? Could you somehow pry open the pouch around the magnetic lock? Maybe...but c'mon, what's the point? There a dozen ways to get around the whole Yondr thing if you really wanted to, it's not like they are THAT strict about it, but I think the point is to cooperate with the spirit of the policy rather than deliberately trying to find ways to get around it.

[LxGstv]

Posted: 9/18/19 at 12:30pm

ccbway said: "I mean, obviously, if you are super determined to flout the Yondr pouch policy, you absolutely could, but how imperative is it to take that dang picture? Could you somehow pry open the pouch around the magnetic lock? Maybe...but c'mon, what's the point? There a dozen ways to get around the whole Yondr thing if you really wanted to, it's not like they are THAT strict about it, but I think the point is to cooperate with the spirit of the policy rather than deliberately trying to find ways to get around it."

That’s the problem though, if everyone was willing to cooperate with whatever policy is in place, the pouch wouldn’t even be a thing, people would simply turn off their phones and be respectful, which they aren’t.

[ccbway]

Posted: 9/18/19 at 4:16pm

LxGstv said: "ccbway said: "I mean, obviously, if you are super determined to flout the Yondr pouch policy, you absolutely could, but how imperative is it to take that dang picture? Could you somehow pry open the pouch around the magnetic lock? Maybe...but c'mon, what's the point? There a dozen ways to get around the whole Yondr thing if you really wanted to, it's not like they are THAT strict about it, but I think the point is to cooperate with the spirit of the policy rather than deliberately trying to find ways to get around it."

That’s the problem though, if everyone was willing to cooperate with whatever policy is in place, the pouch wouldn’t even be a thing, people would simply turn off their phones and be respectful, which they aren’t."

I sort of agree, although I think what they are trying to do is enforce a concept or promote an idea about being present for the performance vs. trying to ban people from taking pictures. Like the person earlier in the thread said, it's not like they stop you from trying to take a picture after the show is over. There's no secret or hidden thing about the stage they are trying to keep from the public. It's just a sort of social contract with the audience to stay off their phones for 90 minutes that the pouch just helps to reinforce. Like I said, if you really wanted to get around it, there are a dozen easy ways to do so. Just like with any theater policy, there are always some bad actors, hopefully they remain in the extreme minority. Updated On: 9/18/19 at 04:16 PM

[gray_area]

Posted: 9/18/19 at 11:14pm

Just to add my two cents, they also ask smart watches to be put in the Yondr pouches but the person who handed me my pouch didn't check until I mentioned it. So for what it's worth, they're not strictly enforcing but it is nice that everyone was present for and enjoying the performance. (although can't say the same about the lady who sat next to me and complained the entire time how the whole improv was planted but to each their own!)

[Bbinnyc]

Posted: 9/25/19 at 12:53pm

Any updates to the special guest roster so far? Someone posted that Inglehart and Jackson were there on Sat, 9/14...any updates since then?

[trpguyy]

Posted: 9/25/19 at 1:12pm

One could also use a camera to take a photo of their Playbill.

[quizking101]

Posted: 9/25/19 at 1:28pm

I was there on Flea Market Day (Sunday 9/22 - 7pm)

I got a rush ticket for $40 and I was Row C, extreme left mezzanine. (There is absolutely no blocked sight lines in this theatre). I had a grand old time going in and not fully knowing what to expect. It was symphonic to hear how the audience participated and laughed together without distraction. James M. Iglehart and Christopher Jackson were the special guests that day. Kaila Mullady also made her company debut as Kaiser Rozé, the beatboxed for the evening, HOLY CRAP IS SHE TALENTED! The guest stars never pull focus from the main cast and they truly won’t seamlessly as a unit.

They advertised the show as 80 minutes, but mine clocked in close to 90-100. It really did fly by and I had a lot of fun.

Stage Door: Most of the main crew came out between shows and signed and took pictures, as well as Iglehart and Jackson.

If there were still a Tony for Special Theatrical Event, this would win in a heartbeat. Highly recommend.