How do you decide what musicals to see?

[dippy]

We recently had BurlyBeaR's "Popular things you haven't seen and probably won't..." which had some opinions about shows people have no interest in but it got me thinking about how you decide what musicals to see and why? What's the logic behind why you pick some things but not others.

Have you got a favourite creative team and enjoy seeing their work? Do you see every Sondheim production in your area?
Are you near a regional theatre, is it as simple as that you see everything that comes to your local venue?
Do reviews or word of mouth help you decide?
Do you follow certain performer's careers and blindly watch them in all the shows they are in even if one is rubbish?
Or are you just someone who tries for example to watch every musical in the West End?

For me as I am sure it is for most of us it's a combination of things. In general though I prefer older musicals to modern ones but then sometimes I see new productions and I'm very happily surprised. For example Groundhog Day, which I only watched because a friend and I thought "why not" if we get £10 preview tickets, which we did and I loved it. Then I'd say in general I like Rogers and Hammerstein musicals but then why haven't I got a ticket for Allegro yet? Maybe because I don't know enough about it and people are saying it's too long and a bit dull. Will I see it? Not sure yet. How will I eventually decide? Absolutely no idea!

There's only one performer I'll watch in whatever he's in, but I have a few performers that if I see they are in something could sway me into seeing something I may not have otherwise.

I definitely do an awful lot of umming and aahing before buying a ticket. It's ridiculous, I'll get it in my shopping basket and then start thinking about if I can afford it, and if I really want to go or not. Often the time will run out and I'll put it back in the shopping basket and eventually I'll make a decision but it can take a couple of hours before I've decided if I'm really going to go.

I always say I'm up for seeing any musical if I was given a ticket but I often wonder how true that is, I would definitely arm myself with ear plugs for some of the ones I wouldn't pick out of choice.

[Deleted]

Every musical that opens, I put on a list. I thoroughly intend to see every musical on the list at the time of putting them on the list. Sometimes I'll be particularly excited by a composer (I rarely miss a Sondheim), sometimes it'll be in a venue I'm fond of (I see most things at the NT or Old Vic for instance), and those ones will get booked sooner rather than later. As for the other musicals, it depends on my availability and how easy it is to get cheap tickets and when the show closes. There are some long-runners I've still not seen, and there are some that have closed early that I just never got around to. But I do *try* to see all the musicals on my list. Even if I'm not very good at it.

[Deleted]

1. Does it have a fit actor in it?

If the answer is yes, I'll go. Every time. No exceptions.

I'm easily pleased.

[Deleted]

I just see what appeals to me, like if a show sounds interesting , has a star I like in it or is just something I have really wanted to see. It depends what you like but I personally to not use reviews as I have seen some things with great reviews that I have hated ( the flick at the national)as well as things with bad reviews and have really enjoyed( miss atomic bomb). If a show sound interesting go to it but don't pay too much as even if you do not enjoy it, your time might not seem to wasted.

[schuttep]

Anything by Sondheim, ALW, Stephen Schwartz or produced by CamMack.

Plus stories/films I've always loved, hence - Flowers for Mrs Harris, The Girls, Groundhog Day, Strictly Ballroom, I Capture the Castle, The Wedding Singer.

[Deleted]

I tend to go with shows that I have an interest in. Whether that be reviews, story, casting or score.

So something like Groundhog Day, I truly only went to see Andy Karl as he is someone I have always wanted to see live and then I ended up loving the show alongside Andy's incredible performance.

[greeny11]

It's all about the music for me - so I listen to cast recordings if one is available. If not, I look around for any snippets I can find of songs from a show (like Tim Minchin's performance of Seeing You from Groundhog Day), to see if I like what I hear.

[Deleted]

There's one musical I will see every production of... I'm usually in it, although for this current production they chose Grace over me! Then there are the other top favourite shows I'll try to see wherever they are. Sunset, Chess, Sweeney Todd, Evita... I love Lloyd Webber and Sondheim and will usually pop along to theirs. I've really enjoyed some of the revivals of old standards like Show Boat. Then there are the venues- I like the Watermill and Chichester and try to see theirs every summer, and then the smaller venues in London, like the Soho, the Union or the Southwark Playhouse offerings. I used to look forward to the Donmar shows but they've gone all hoity-toity now. I like the NT musicals. I like resurrections of shows I saw years ago like Children of Eden and Moby Dick. Sometimes I go for the performer, like Jenna Russell. Sometimes I like the sound of a new one or the theme/idea, as in the case of Urinetown or Miss Atomic Bomb. Then there are those that generate a lot of media interest; there's sometimes a lot of talk about something on here that'll grab my interest. Side Show. Sometimes I'm just a sucker for some nice marketing...! I avoid jukebox musicals like the plague, and usually steer clear of musicals based on a film. But I can be found breaking all my own rules!

[ctas]

A variety of things- composer, subject matter, if there's particular performers in the show, is it affordable. If I'm undecided by the time it opens I'll check my favourite reviewer and see what they think of it. I'll always see a Kander and Ebb show and I tend to not bother with jukeboxe musicals.

[Deleted]

If it's by Gary Barlow shove it in the bin.
Anything else then it's win win win.

[Deleted]

If something fits into one or more of these options I will try and see it:

1. Composer I generally enjoy the work of
2. Actors that I love in a leading role
3. Original/inventive musicals (not jukebox, not based on a film, daring subject matter)
4. Overwhelmingly well received

[Michael]

Modern over classic. After seeing Showboat in Sheffield last christmas and not enjoying the show at all without knowing who or what to blame, I realised that I just don't like old-fashioned and/or classic shows. That's also the reason why I haven't seen Guys & Dolls.

Actors I like. If someone I like or fancy (e.g. Rebecca Trehearn, Rachel John, Ashleigh Gray, Natalie Andreou) is in the cast, I'm almost certainly going. Similarly, if someone I don't like is cast (usually "star" casting some celeb as Ms Walsh), I ain't going.

Everything by Alan Menken. Nothing by Sondheim. I'm a huge Alan Menken fan, and if it's one of his shows, I'm definitely going. Sondheim is the exact opposite: if he's (even loosely) linked to the show (either "score" and/or book), I wouldn't go even if they paid me.

But most importantly score, score and score. For me, the score is the most important part of a musical. The book can be as good as it gets, if the show has a crappy score, I won't be enjoying the show. Likewise, if the score is great I will be enjoying the show irrespective of the book (Rock of Ages, I'm looking at you). If a cast recording is available, I'll listen to it before seeing the show (most recently, Waitress' cast recording saved me from buying a ticket), or I try to find snippets or clips on Youtube.

[whygodwhytoday]

I'm often influenced by what my friends/family want to see. Jersey Boys is a show I had no interest in seeing, but after being dragged along I ended up enjoying it.

Most of the time it depends on what the show is, not the people involved - I'll always choose something new over something I've seen countless times before. If I'm unsure on a show I'll YouTube the creative team and look at some of their work, as well as checking The Reviews Hub (Public Reviews).

Other than that the main thing that drags me into the theatre is an impressive discount. If I can get more than 30% off then I'm in!

XXX

[longinthetooth]

I find my interest has built up over the years. I admit there is someone I move heaven and earth to see in whatever he does, but by having done that, I have discovered other performers I like as well, and so go to see them when they do something new. Those are not the only factors, though. I'm a sucker for old musical revivals (i.e. Show Boat - loved it, Guys and Dolls - hated it, things of that ilk, and can't wait for 42nd Street), regardless of who is in them. If I love it, then I will go back again and again - I've seen Phantom and Les Mis (almost)more often than I've had hot dinners. Those two are down to the music rather than performers.

Some new (to me) shows appeal, too, such as Titanic, of which I knew absolutely nothing but was intrigued, and it completely blew me away. Others, like Aladdin, I hated. It has never entered my head to listen to a cast recording beforehand, I go in cold.

There are several shows I am not prepared to pay full price for, but when a good offer comes along then I will go (I'm too old to dayseat any more!). Others I know I will have to pay full whack (i.e. Gypsy, Funny Girl).

So, reading back the above, I don't have any set criteria - if I fancy it (or him) I'll go.

[49thand8th]

Loosely, I figure it out in this order:

Is there a comp
Who's in it
Who's on the creative team
Does it sound like a trainwreck

[d'James]

I don't really know. It does come down to the cost but also the plot and who it's by.

For example, recently, Titanic. I've always been interested in it and I knew I liked some of Maury Yeston's stuff - although I didn't know the music in Titanic.

I would be very reticent to go to another Sondheim show although I probably should give it another go.

[synchrony]

Aug 15, 2016 16:04:03 GMT dippy said:

Then I'd say in general I like Rogers and Hammerstein musicals but then why haven't I got a ticket for Allegro yet? Maybe because I don't know enough about it and people are saying it's too long and a bit dull. Will I see it? Not sure yet. How will I eventually decide? Absolutely no idea!

As an aside, if you like R&H I'd recommend Allegro. I thought it was a really good production and had some lovely songs (You are never away is now stuck in my head). Not the most fast paced story no, but not too long - I think those comments mostly came before they cut it shorter. The official reviews I've seen have been good.

Anyway! I choose shows based on:

Venue. I increasingly prefer fringe and trust several fringe theatres. I'll go to see most musicals put on in Southwark.

This overlaps with creative team. For example, I wouldn't have been so quick to book Groundhog Day if it wasn't for that. There are some local am dram companies who I know I like and target, and others I avoid.

Whether I've seen it before. There are so many new things to see that I rarely go to see something I've seen before if I can see something new instead. I love quirky obscure shows. I tend to leave it ages before getting around to seeing mainstream stuff as I assume it'll be around for ages.

Avoid jukebox.

The opinions of people I trust (ie people who I know have similar tastes to me). I don't trust official critics so much and will still go to see things that don't get the best reviews.

Occasionally a cast member will entice me, but rarely. It might swing a marginal decision.

[Stasia]

Beggars can't be choosers: I can choose only from the shows that are on on my vacation dates, and I have to book flights months in advance. Meaning that most likely I am missing something very important by a couple of days/weeks. So I can make a long list of shows I would definitely see if I was in London, but I wasn't
When I plan my vacations time, usually I am choosing new musicals, leaving a few slots for return visits to my fave ones, and then add some non-musical stuff
And I do have a certain actor who makes me travel to Leeds to see his shows, but there are not so many of those who can make me part from London!

[HereForTheatre]

Generally more modern musicals. Generally something funny, light or a 'spectacular'.

[Steffi]

Often a case of "Who is in it?" for me. Sometimes the show itself makes me curious enough to book before casting is announced (Groundhog Day). But very often I will look at the cast list and if none of my favourite performers is in it the show will drop to the bottom of my "to see" list.

I have seen quite a few terrible things simply because of the performer(s) in it so I know my way of choosing does not guarantee a great night at the theatre.

[viserys]

Aug 16, 2016 7:54:40 GMT Stasia said:

Beggars can't be choosers: I can choose only from the shows that are on on my vacation dates, and I have to book flights months in advance. Meaning that most likely I am missing something very important by a couple of days/weeks. So I can make a long list of shows I would definitely see if I was in London, but I wasn't
When I plan my vacations time, usually I am choosing new musicals, leaving a few slots for return visits to my fave ones, and then add some non-musical stuff
And I do have a certain actor who makes me travel to Leeds to see his shows, but there are not so many of those who can make me part from London!

Same here... I tend to book one thing miles in advance, then have to arrange things around this.  For example I booked John Boyega's Woyzeck for June 2017 way ahead to get one of the cheap pillar seats at the Old Vic, now necessarily I need to plan a trip with train and hotel around that date and if I miss something exciting by a week or two, so be it.

I am very annoyed right now that I'm missing Children of Eden, Allegro and Groundhog Day, but I just can't justify pushing another London trip into my schedule. 

Generally I am interested in everything that opens in London (and sometimes beyond). Jukebox stuff is the first to be scrapped off my list though, as well as shows I've seen before.  Basically I'm always trying to see new shows, either brand-new shows or revivals of shows I've never seen before, just to add to my "catalogue of shows I've seen".  I also believe that you usually need to see a show live to really judge its merits. 

More recently I found that I've become more "choosy" though, for example Charlie and the Chocolate Factory never tickled me and I never got around to seeing it...  

[danb]

People, Places, Things...

If someone has impressed me before, I'm more likely to seek them out or follow their next production. I was a sucker for Glenn's celebrity turn but found myself enjoying the rest even more.

I'll gladly drive into Bristol or Cardiff to see a tour, but our local theatre has started attracting the touring Kenwrights but I've only ventured to Blood Brothers so far. Footloose and whatever the latest Dreamboats & Twatticoats were of no interest.

Zeitgeisty stuff...is it the new thing that I need to see; will I be expected to have an opinion on it?

[Deleted]

I usually dismiss any shows that are jukebox as not being a priority for me. Actors are rarely a draw for me either, unless it's a friend I want to support.

Outside of that, word of mouth and a quick listen to the cast recording of a show have the biggest influence on my bookings.

[Deleted]

Aug 15, 2016 17:22:06 GMT @theatremonkey said:

Anything that sounds interesting. A "classic" I've never seen, and a new show by a team I admire get top of the list. Someone particular in the cast also pushes a show up a place, as does the venue and other creative in the team.

I can't say it better than that - my criteria exactly.

[waybeyondblue]

Anything not being promoted, to the total exclusion of reality, by Parsley.

Or Chess

Or Rent

Or JCSS

Or anything not called rhyming with Paint Never Dies