A Theatrical Question for mrdreamjeans

[dhbearguy]

When a show opens in a city (touring) there are 3 or 4 day "Preview Preformances" What exactly does this mean? And does it affect ticket pricing?

Comments

[smiley-kiley.livejournal.com]

I'm not mrdreamjeans, but I work in theatre, so I will take the liberty of answering. :-)

Previews are a chance for a show to work out the kinks. For touring shows, that means getting used to the new theatre, making sure the show is all ready to go technically. On Bway, it's also a chance for the creators to rework and rewrite parts that may not be working before the critics come in to review it. Preview prices are almost always cheaper -- also a way for us marketing folks to "front load" engagements, i.e. get as many people in as possible during the first few weeks, so that word of mouth starts to spread as early as possible.

[orange-groves.livejournal.com]

Ever thought of emailing him directly?

HEHEHEHEHEHEEE

[bearfuz.livejournal.com]

And let me add $.02 -- not all touring shows *do* previews; mostly it's the ones doing long "sit-down" runs of, say, a couple of months that will have a preview period of two to four performances. Tours like mrdreamjeans's Evita that are playing a lot of one-weekers won't do previews in those cities, though they might have a preview or two in a place like Toronto where they are staying for a longer period.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Hey Dave! With my problems on LJ, I was lucky I didn't miss your question. When a show opens for an extended run, there are usually a couple of performances labeled previews just prior to the opening night. Opening night is when the show is deemed ready for reviewing by critics, though that is not always the case. Sometimes, opening night is delayed.

Often, preview tickets are a bit less expensive as an incentive to get people to attend the early performances. Since the show isn't officiallly "open", there is the possibility that a set change might go wrong, an actor make a wrong entrance or go up on his lines,etc. Most of the time, as with our tour, there is no difference in the quality of the show; but on preview night we arrive at the theater, meet our dressers 30 minutes before the first show and our sound man has just that long to try to adjust our sound system to a new theater. The local crew in that theater has no rehearsal time. It's just hit it and go...

If a show is a brand new one, like "Mambo Kings", they might be re-writing numbers or changing things right up to opening night trying to find a successful mix. Scenes or musical numbers can be added or deleted on the day of a performance and put into the show the same night. The term "preview" can suggest that the performance will have a bit less polish than otherwise might be expected; however that can have an upside. Sometimes as an audience member at a preview, you see things that no one will ever see again.

Bottom line - a preview is cheaper because things might go wrong. A lesser price gives the cast/production to work out last minute kinks because supposedly the expectations are a bit less. As a performer, I see no distinction. I try to do my best no matter what...

If you're trying to organize a group outing and save on ticket prices to make it affordable for a larger group of people, then previews can be a fun choice and you just may all experience the unexpected. Hope this answers your question.. and sorry for it being a bit longwinded:)

[rnathanwhite.livejournal.com]

Oh my goodness, Tracy Turnblad! Did you get your answer? Gonna take rampagebear to see Wicked?

[dhbearguy.livejournal.com]

I would like to try to get us lottery seats, but we will have to see.

[ibezdechi.livejournal.com]

That usually means that they are running the show to make sure they've got all the glitches worked out. The audiences for these shows are usually media types as most shows won't pay for advertising, but will rather do in-kind promotions for tickets to be given out by the stations for their clients and other VIPs.

Sometimes they do let mortals in at sometimes a discount rate.