Broadway in Bryant Park: Worth It?

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 8/3/07 at 9:01pm

I might go to Broadway in Bryant Park on Thursday. I know it's free, but is it worth it to sit out in the ninety-five degree heat for an hour? And are there usually a million people? Keep in mind that both Spring Awakening and Wicked are on Thursday!

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 8/3/07 at 9:05pm

Nope. The audience is extremely annoying and the sound and sightlines are poor if you don't get there really early given the amount of people, many of whom carry on full conversations during the performances.

[little_sally]

Posted: 8/3/07 at 9:05pm

It's fun, and worth it if you like more than one show being featured. I would not want to sit in the heat for an hour just to see three songs. Usually it's not too bad, crowd-wise, but with shows like Spring Awakening and Wicked, it could be a tad hectic.

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 8/3/07 at 9:06pm

What time do you think I should get there?

[TapTapTapioca]

Posted: 8/3/07 at 9:14pm

You should line up right now.

[little_sally]

Posted: 8/3/07 at 9:19pm

Get there an hour, half hour before it starts. You'll also get to hear the soundcheck if you get there early.

[musicalsFan]

Posted: 8/3/07 at 9:19pm

Yeah, there are some people who are inconsiderate and will talk through the performances.

If you can tune out the talkers, then it's worth it.

To get a good seat, I'd say 11pm at the latest considering you'll have the double dose of Wicked and Spring Awakening groupies.

Just be sure to bring sunblock and lots of it.

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 8/3/07 at 9:21pm

Well, you don't know the meaning of Spring Awakening groupie till you've met me, so I think I'll be able to fend off the crowds. Thanks for your help!

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 8/4/07 at 12:22am

I went to Broadway in the Park this Thursday. I wasn't particularly a fan of any of the shows, but it was free and entertaining. You don't even need a good seat, I just spread out on grass and listened. I would definitely attend the week for Wicked and Spring Awakening if I was in town. Keep in mind, the regular actors may not be the ones performing. I've done a couple Broadway in Bryant Park shows, and I've seen lots of understudies/standbys. The full Mary Poppins cast was there this week, and that was fun to see.

[Anakela]

Posted: 8/4/07 at 12:38am

Well, you don't know the meaning of Spring Awakening groupie till you've met me, so I think I'll be able to fend off the crowds.

Wait- aren't you not allowed to see Spring Awakening?

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 8/4/07 at 2:14am

People talk through the performance? The horror! Don't these people (who go to the park every day during their lunch break) know that when Jon Groff is up there, you're expected to behave differently?!

For god's sake, it's a public park in the middle of Manhattan. What next, you'll complain the traffic noise doesn't stop either?

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 8/4/07 at 12:55pm

Anakela, that's very observant of you! No, sadly, I'm not allowed to see Spring Awakening. But the official story is that I'm going to see Wicked perform and Spring Awakening just happened to be there!

[musicalsFan]

Posted: 8/4/07 at 3:08pm

For god's sake, it's a public park in the middle of Manhattan. What next, you'll complain the traffic noise doesn't stop either?

Have you been?

There's a stage, and the seats are arranged in rows facing the stage.

99% of the people are there specifically to see and hear the performances.

One would think that one should be quiet so that the ones who really want to be there could hear the performers and not idiotic chatter.

It's just like those Good Morning America concerts, you know what to expect. It's a concert. The people around you are there to see a performance. If you want to chat, move somewhere else. That's all I'm saying.

Updated On: 8/4/07 at 03:08 PM

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 8/4/07 at 3:25pm

I have been. I've also been to Bryant Park on week days not involving concerts and there are still seats and tables all over the lawn with people eating their lunch, reading, chatting with friends, sunbathing, etc. So I completely disagree with your claim that 99% of the audience is there specifically for the concert. Yes, there are a good number of Broadway fans there solely for that purpose, but there are many people there that just happened to stumble across the concert in their daily routine and shouldn't be held to some ridiculous standard of theatre etiquette. You're in no position to make demands because you're inconvenienced the one or two or three times you ever go to Bryant Park.

[Anakela]

Posted: 8/4/07 at 3:30pm

Anakela, that's very observant of you! No, sadly, I'm not allowed to see Spring Awakening. But the official story is that I'm going to see Wicked perform and Spring Awakening just happened to be there!

Awww, that totally just made me laugh- oh to be young again. :)

[musicalsFan]

Posted: 8/4/07 at 6:15pm

I have been. I've also been to Bryant Park on week days not involving concerts and there are still seats and tables all over the lawn with people eating their lunch, reading, chatting with friends, sunbathing, etc. So I completely disagree with your claim that 99% of the audience is there specifically for the concert.

I have to strongly disagree. There are chairs placed as close to the stage as possible.

It is very obvious what is going on there.

People are singing. They should keep their mouths shut. Just common courtesy.

You don't see people talking during those GMA concerts. If they did, the fans there would probably pummel the talkers.

The people I'm talking about are not the sunbathers. The lunch eaters. They know some of the shows. They're there to see the performances, yet they continue to chat with their friends about heaven knows what during the performances. And they at the end of the song, they stop, and they comment "oh that was a wonderful song" or "oh, that wasn't so good". These talkers act like just because it is a free event that they don't have to keep their mouths shut.

It is COMMON COURTESY to stop talking. If you want to talk, go somewhere else. Updated On: 8/4/07 at 06:15 PM

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 8/4/07 at 6:41pm

It is COMMON COURTESY to stop talking. If you want to talk, go somewhere else.

Or if you want to hear a concert with no noise interference, only attend those held in concert halls, not held outside in an open, public location like Bryant Park.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/4/07 at 6:58pm

Ermm.. the ones set up close to the stage are set up by the presenters are are reserved for their use.. they set up maybe 2 rows are there not "on the lawn". The poeple on the lawn grab their own seats and blankets...
and its a friggin public park at lunch hour. get a grip.

[sognatora]

Posted: 8/4/07 at 7:05pm

keep in mind, GMA concerts are at 8am. Broadway in Bryant Park occurs at prime lunch time. I eat lunch in the park almost every day, and it's packed around the 12p-2p time slot.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/5/07 at 4:29am

OMG, it is a PUBLIC PARK are in the middle of Manhattan! It is a lunchtime series. Most of the people go there to unwind. Are you really that distracted??? It's not like attending a Broadway show...it's very informal. Even the performers are talking.

I've been to many Bryant Park performances, and if I'm trying to pay attention, I just block out the chatter and listen to what's onstage.

Not a lot of chairs are placed near the stage; only a few rows. A lot of people just drag their chairs over.

Seriously, do you expect complete quiet? Should the whole city just stop and be quiet?

God forbid the taxis honk their horns...

"If you want to talk, go somewhere else."

If you're really that distracted, see them sing somewhere else (like the actual show).

[JKlock]

Posted: 8/5/07 at 12:47pm

amen, millie :)

[ActualReality2]

Posted: 8/6/07 at 9:10am

Would the concert be cancelled due to rain, or only if there is lightning?

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/6/07 at 10:56am

The concert is usually cancelled because of rain, even if there isn't lightening. One of the reasons is because they dont want everyone stepping on the lawn when it turns muddy from the rain. Not to mention they don't want the performers performing in the rain.

Sometime if it rains the day before, enough to leave the lawn soggy, they'll either cancel the performances or close the lawn.

[sally1112]

Posted: 8/6/07 at 12:55pm

Yes.

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 8/6/07 at 1:02pm

Millie, I really wish you hadn't said that. Now all I'm gonna be able to do for three whole days is pray that it doesn't rain on Thursday. And, since I'm going to be screaming my lungs out when Spring Awakening magically happens to be there, I'll probably be able to tune out the talkers.