Share Your First Time--- (about BROADWAY!)

[NYBroadwayNY]

Posted: 7/18/04 at 5:52pm

AFter reading the MOST WONDERFUL post from DGrant re: jaded, I thought, maybe it's time for some of us to relive our first Broadway show experiences.

This will age me, but many years ago, I was watching 20/20 when Hugh and Babs starting talking about the POTO coming to NY. It caught my attention, but when they showed some scenes, I like, stood up, mesmerized, standing there like a hypnotized robot, saying something like, Must...see...that...Need...to...see...that...
Now, living in AR, the Majestic is just a bit away. So the next day, I found myself on the phone with Telecharge, only because Hugh gave the name. I knew NOTHING about Broadway or how to get tickets. NEWAY, I was surprised to find they had some! I got 4, even though I had not talked to anyone else about going with me!

Eventually, I got my girlfriend to go and two other friends. We also got tickets to CATS and Les Miz. CATS was actually the first Broadway show I saw, the LM, then POTO, even though POTO was the one we came to see.
Now, being new to BWAY, we all thought that everyone dresses up for theatre. So, there were 2 guys and 2 girls in our group. We had on suits, they had on sequin dresses and we went out to see......CATS. Well, I'm lol now, because everyone there was in jeans and T shirts, it seemed to us. The next night, LM. We thought maybe CATS was informal, but this won't be. We dressed to the best again, and again, people in shorts, jeans, you name it. It was August, and we were dying in out suits. So, the next night POTO. We thought, forget all that dressing up! We're going in out shorts and jeans......HUGH MISTAKE!!! POTO had opened only about 3 months before, so EVERYONE there was in Tux's and black formals. I told me friends, TELL NO ONE WE'RE FROM ARKANSAS!!!!!!

[Jon]

Posted: 7/18/04 at 11:51pm

1964 - I was 5 years old. Original Broadway production of OLIVER. I was fascinted by the revolving set. The Artful Dodger was played by a 14 year kid named Davy Jones - later to become one of The Monkees.

[SammyGal]

Posted: 7/18/04 at 11:57pm

I saw Les Miserables.
I must have been 6-7 or so. I had NO idea why these people were revolting or why people were being mean to that lady Fantine, WHAT DID SHE DO!?

hahah but I fell in love with the music, and with the story of young Cosette and used to think it was raunchy to say "ass" in Master Of The House. I learned all the music and my sister used to sing "On My Own" at auditions and it was always in my head.
Years later, I learned about the French Revolution and was like "ooohhhhh! So that's what it was about!"

Then I went back and saw it 2 more times. I've always loved the music, the story, everything and it remains sentimental to me.
"A Little Fall of Rain" is still one of my favorite songs! :) Makes me cry!

[NativeNewYorker]

Posted: 7/18/04 at 11:57pm

I was in the 3rd grade and my dad pulled me out of school to take me to the Wednesday matinee of Peter Pan...I was really into Peter Pan, watched the movie all the time and knew all the songs. It was POURING! rain and my dad was really sick that day...but we still went. I remember how excited I got when Peter flew right over us...

[Britt0913]

Posted: 7/18/04 at 11:59pm

1992~Crazy for You
I don't remember the show at all, but I remember afterwards I went to the stage door. There was a really big crowd (I was 6, so it may not have been that big, but it was to me.)and I worked my way to the front of everybody and got to meet all the actors. I still have the Playbill, I think I even got a few crew members to sign it!

[Britt0913]

Posted: 7/19/04 at 12:00am

sorry i triple posted this! Updated On: 7/19/04 at 12:00 AM

[Britt0913]

Posted: 7/19/04 at 12:00am

Updated On: 7/19/04 at 12:00 AM

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 7/19/04 at 12:02am

a few seasons back- i went on a class trip to see a preview of Rocky Horror Live (how disturbing is that?). Well it certainly worked out well since i have a playbill signed by raul esparza from his b'way debut and a photo of him signing it.

[Broadwaygirl4life]

Posted: 7/19/04 at 12:15am

hmm i saw Beauty and the Beast when i was in 3rd grade but since I saw Movin' Out I've become addicted to broadway. I always wanted to get into acting since I was 5 but that really kicked it off.

[CJR]

Posted: 7/19/04 at 12:16am

4 years old, A Chorus Line at the Shubert Theatre. I don't remember it, aside from vague recollections of the inside of the theatre, and the number Music in the Mirror.

For years, I always thought I was somehow mistaking memories of this with the movie, until my mother told me I actually HAD seen ACL on Broadway.

Im such a loser lol

[J.]

Posted: 7/19/04 at 12:33am

The first Broadway show I ever saw was SUNSET BOULEVARD starring Betty Buckley, Saturday May 11, 1996, 2:00pm.

[MauveRose]

Posted: 7/19/04 at 12:39am

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: 1994, Ash Wednesday, second row. I watched all the kids bopping around and singing and thought...heck I'm better than all of them! I can do this too!

Ah, Memories....

[pab]

Posted: 7/19/04 at 12:47am

It was 1976, the show was "The Wiz" and i've been in love with Broadway ever since.

[BWayBoy88]

Posted: 7/19/04 at 1:29am

1995- I got tickets to Beauty and the Beast for my 7th birthday. I remember I was so fascinated by it. After that I used to listen to the CD non stop.

[Jon]

Posted: 7/19/04 at 7:14am

God, I feel so old!

[kec]

Posted: 7/19/04 at 7:22am

I hear ya, Jon!!! I can't remember for sure what my first show was -- I think it might have been a comedy called Hot-L Baltimore -- It was a class trip (high school). Not the greatest play in the world though. Didn't deter me from seeing other shows though -- thankfully!

[aspiringguy715]

Posted: 7/19/04 at 7:57am

First broadway show was "Cats" in 1999. Even though that's pretty recent, I've seen 9 shows from 1999-the present. As you can see it got me hooked on Broadway. All I remember from Cats was I was 9 and scared out of my wits when the cats came down into the audience, and it didn't help that I was on the aisle!
I don't think Cats is what got me hooked on musicals, I was hooked on that much earlier. When I first saw "The Wizard of Oz" when I was 2 or 3, I was immediately hooked. I think I sang every song from that movie, all in Dorothy's range probably lol and surprisingly on pitch. That's where my hook was. I started doing small musicals in church and was cast in my first show in 5th grade, as Prince Charming in "Cinderella." 8 productions later, including regional and school, I'm still in love. Updated On: 7/19/04 at 07:57 AM

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 7/19/04 at 7:58am

It was December of 2000 and I had quite a few landmark experiences, theatrically speaking. I saw (in order):

Proof. Mary Louise Parker was indescribably amazing and I loved the play too. Have since seen it with Anne Heche and Gwyneth Paltrow, both of whom were great, neither of whom came close to touching Ms Parker's performance.

Contact. Hated Swinging (if that's what it was called), thoroughly enjoyed Did You Move? and absolutely loved loved loved Contact.

Betrayal. While I do not understand why this tedious play is so lauded and revered, my main reason for booking was to see Juliette Binoche, who I adore. And she did not disappoint in the slightest. The final scene was particularly well staged.

Cabaret. This was a religious experience. I had to be forced into seeing it as I had developed an aversion to the show having seen the world's worst amateur production of it whilst at university. Well, am I ever grateful to the people who talked me into it. I managed to get a great seat, second table back from the stage, dead centre. And it was there I was introduced to the delights of Matt McGrath. He was just matchless as the EmCee and Katie Finneran was the best Sally Bowles I have ever seen or heard. Her rendition of the title track was so unbearably moving I felt like I couldn't breathe. Greatest theatrical experience of my life. Ever. No contest.

Posted: 7/19/04 at 8:12am

It was A Chorus Line in August of 1985, my first time remembering being in NYC (I lived in NJ until I was 3.5, but don't remember anythihg about NYC). I was 10 and this was my first time traveling alone to visit my grandparents. I remember walking to the Shubert Theater with my grandparents during the day as they warned me about the area... Ahhh....

[sharonkurland]

Posted: 7/19/04 at 11:06am

It was the fall of 1982...my junior year of high school. I was one of the "smart" kids so I was in the Humanities program at school. Part of the curriculum was going to a few Broadway shows and my very first one was called "Rock 'N Roll! The First 5,000 Years." According to IBDB, it stayed open for a whopping one week (grin).

-Sharon-
Orlando FL

[ponine24601]

Posted: 7/19/04 at 11:12am

i don't remember the exact date, but i saw the grease revival. i was like...5 or 6. something like that. the cast and the sets amazed me. the entire experience was just great!

[staticradar]

Posted: 7/19/04 at 11:12am

Summer of 1997, my grandmother surprised me with tickets for me and my grandparents to go to see Phantom of the Opera on broadway, i was so excited! I was just in awe the whole time. I've always been a big fan of musicals and had never been to NYC, so for my 16th birthday present I got to go! I've since seen 2 other broadway shows (Les Mis and Wicked) and am going to see more this August (Wicked (again), Avenue Q, RENT and Aida).

I love broadway and now that I have more money I'm hoping to get to go to NYC more often. My grandparents live in Philly so when I go to visit them they try to get me up to NYC at least once.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 7/19/04 at 11:20am

I feel old...although in this case I guess I should feel 'richer in theatre experience'...

My first Broadway show was actually off-Broadway. I saw "Godspell" at the Cherry Lane Theatre in 1971. I was 12 and it changed my life!

My greatest thrill as an adult has been introducing my niece to the theatre. She went to her first show at 3 (Beauty and the Beast), and is now 12, and has seen 18 different Broadway and off-Broadway productions. It's our 'special' time together, and we both love it!

I'm also fortunate to live and work in NYC, and I work in advertising - so do alot of client entertaining - and go to the theatre at least 4 times a month. Sometimes more! It's a great 'perk' (even if it's work...), and I love it when I can take a client from out-of-town to a show. Sharing the experience with them can be really special!

Updated On: 7/19/04 at 11:20 AM

[TheGaIsSilent]

Posted: 7/19/04 at 11:26am

Gypsy - I was 8, my litle brother was five. Tyne Daly as Mama Rose. It was incredible, first row, Orchestra.

[WestEndBird]

Posted: 7/19/04 at 11:38am

J&H at the Plymouth...FANTASTIC! I was in high school and went with a choir group from school...a little Iowa girl going to the Big City...it was GREAT!! Have loved Linda Eder ever since!