5,059 posts
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Post by Phantom of London on Nov 28, 2017 1:00:10 GMT
Mmmmm, just think of it when you are young you drink lager, but the older you get your tastes do Change to Real ale, same for theatre the older you get the more picky you get, I used to see the same show many times, but now prefer to see something new, if I can, sometimes do revisit shows though, especially for weekday matinees when choice is limited.
Mine will be a cider.
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2,778 posts
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Post by daniel on Nov 28, 2017 1:02:51 GMT
I have no problem with seeing things multiple times (evidently), but with regards to seeing things multiple times in quick succession I agree with the above posts - an amazing chance is being missed to see something new! The one exception to that rule is when a show that you love is approaching a cast change/end of a run, then I'm all for cramming in a final few visits. 12 visits in 2 weeks is too much for me, but I did see Heights, Sixpence and Toxic Avenger twice in the space of a week at the end of their runs. But hey, each to their own, do what makes you happy  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2017 1:18:24 GMT
I prefer seeing new things usually, so I never really see anything more than twice. And when I do mostly they are two different productions, or in some cases seeing the tour after I've seen its West End run.
The Wizard of Oz X3 - 2003 Birmingham REP, 2007 Mayflower Southampton and 2011 West End (So technically 2X for the RSC script and 1X for Andrew Lloyd Webber's!)
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang X2 - 2002 West End and 2006 tour
Mary Poppins X2 - 2005 West End and 2008 tour
Little Shop of Horrors X2 - 2009 tour and 2010 Birmingham REP (I've also seen a couple of school/amdrams, but I don't think we're counting them on here, are we?)
Oliver! X2 - 2009 West End and 2012 tour (also a couple of amdrams)
We Will Rock You X2 - 2009 and 2011 tours
One Man, Two Guvnors X2 - 2013 and 2014 tours
A Christmas Carol (Bryony Lavery/Jason Carr version) X2 - 2009 and 2013 Birmingham REP
Avenue Q X2 - 2011 and 2012 tours
Sweeney Todd X2 - 2011 Chichester and 2015 WNO tour
and I'm a bit ashamed to admit this one...
Scooby Doo Live on Stage! X2 - 2005 and 2007 tour
and if I'm digging even further into my childhood...
Bananas In Pyjamas Live! X2 - 2000??? (I just remember seeing this at the Palace Theatre in Redditch, then again a month or so later at the Alexandra in Birmingham)
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1,013 posts
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Post by talkstageytome on Nov 28, 2017 2:30:18 GMT
I saw Memphis in London 11 times (spanning from previews to the closing night) partially to catch different combos of leads/alternates, partially because it was just so much fun.
I've seen a couple of things three or 4 times (Wicked, Kinky Boots, Book of Mormon, Miss Saigon).
The last thing I kept going back to was The Glass Menagerie in Edinburgh and then when it transferred to London earlier this year.
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1,133 posts
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Post by Stephen on Nov 28, 2017 2:45:59 GMT
Blood Brothers 9 times.
Hamlet between 17 and 20 times as I recall when ushering!
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Post by danb on Nov 28, 2017 6:54:35 GMT
Back in the day (coughs) we saw ‘Rent’ 12 times at the Shaftesbury, once on Broadway, once at the POW and twice on tour. ‘Tommy’ eleven times at the Shaftesbury but only twice on tour. Starlight at the AV would be in double figures, likewise Martin Guerre, Les Mis and Miss Saigon. Wicked probably seven or eight times including the tour and Grease at least 6 different times. I also have a huge amount of credit card debt...
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840 posts
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Post by Steffi on Nov 28, 2017 7:19:44 GMT
Saturday Night Fever (back in the days) and Jersey Boys. I will not tell numbers. Lets just say I have seen both A LOT.
I do have quite a few others that I am in double figures with. I've always been a repeat offender if I enjoy a show or someone I enjoy seeing on stage is in a show.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2017 7:50:58 GMT
The most often I’ve seen a show is four times, mostly because I like to see a variety of things and money isn’t a bottomless pit.
The Girls x4
Miss Saigon x4
Wicked x3
Dreamgirls x3
The Bodyguard x3
Funny Girl x3
Mamma Mia! x2 (not by choice)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory x2
Aladdin x2
Kinky Boots x2
Les Miserables x2
Phantom of the Opera x2
Sister Act x2
Side Show x2
Book of Mormon x2
Priscilla x2
Matilda x2
Memphis x2
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1,210 posts
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Post by musicalmarge on Nov 28, 2017 8:24:51 GMT
I think by reading this thread you can guess people’s ages! Or at least when they became real West End Wendy’s.
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1,102 posts
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Post by zak97 on Nov 28, 2017 8:49:01 GMT
Half a Sixpence - 7
The Girls - 6
42nd Street - 3
Miss Saigon - 2
Guys and Dolls - 2
Top Hat - 2
Chatty Bang Bang - 2
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on Nov 28, 2017 8:49:43 GMT
I think of it like your favourite takeaway. Yes, others may be very nice too but at the back of your mind you could be thinking "I wish I'd just stuck to..." Mary Poppins is probably my second most seen at 7 (approx) visits, and that's because my Mum kept booking it. Similarly Blood Brothers at maybe five visits as well as Funny Girl. The only musical that I could see myself going to more than ten times is 42nd Street. But surely like with a takeaway, it's better to try new things as well?! I like pasta for example but I couldn't eat it every day because I just get sick of eating it! It's the same with theatre and films! True but if you can only afford a takeaway now and again and have to travel a long way to get one are you going to stick with what you know or be daring and risk disappointment with a different takeaway? (It's very different if you can afford a takeaway every evening of course). Sorry for all this food talk, it's making me hungry! ☺ |
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Post by danb on Nov 28, 2017 8:52:23 GMT
TKTS makes things a lot easier though, especially now they don’t just sell top price...
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642 posts
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Post by Stasia on Nov 28, 2017 9:10:36 GMT
I have a rule I'm not naming the figures if the number is bigger than my name So I will just say that in 2007-2010? when I was young and had almost unlimited comps and discounts I visited Mamma Mia and Beauty and the Beast on a weekly basis And then there were Russian shows I worked for or had friends in so I guess my Zorro, The Sound of Music, Catch Me If You Can and Tanz Der Vampire numbers are pretty high too. In London my most visited shows are Once (25+5 Dublin ones), In the Heights (20+) and kinky Boots (13 or smth like that). Only seen Memphis 10 times but because I was avoiding the leads and loving the alternates, otherwise it would have been more). |
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2,409 posts
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Post by theatreian on Nov 28, 2017 9:25:11 GMT
I am not so organised as to know exactly how many times I have seen shows but:
over 10 : Blood Brothers, Les Miserables, Sunset Boulevard, Mamma Mia
Over 5: Miss Saigon, Mary Poppins, Wicked,Oliver, My Fair Lady, Footloose
over 2: Lion King, Show boat, Phantom, Aspects of Love, The Bodyguard,Hairspray, Fame, Rent
Probably missed loads out too!
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126 posts
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Post by frontrowcentre on Nov 28, 2017 9:47:21 GMT
My most seen musical is definitely RENT at the Shaftesbury, 30 times including opening night and closing night. Les Mis follows but I can not be certain of how many times exactly, maybe 15, well 15 and a half because I saw just the second act one at the Palace...(I know! really naughty!!)
then is Chicago around 10 times, Miss Saigon at the Drury Lane around 5 and Billy Elliot 4 or 5 times also... Wicked twice in London, twice on Broadway
I don't tend to see anything more than once these days, theres's so much to see!!! Exceptions are Merrily we roll Along, 3 times, and In The Heights 4 times
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294 posts
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Post by dani on Nov 28, 2017 10:28:50 GMT
Les Mis. One of my first ever musicals and the one I'm always tempted to go back to. Not sure how I feel about the BBC making a TV series of it, though.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2017 10:30:28 GMT
I've seen Blood Brothers more times than I can possibly count (most visits were in my childhood before I started keeping records; three times over the last decade), Rent 6 times, and Wicked 5 times. I get the appeal of multiple visits but I can't justify 'em too often, there are so many other shows to be seen!
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840 posts
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Post by Steffi on Nov 28, 2017 11:03:03 GMT
I have a basic list with the number of times I've seen a show and in which city. No details, just a plain number per show. If I started to think about how much money I have spent on certain shows over the years I might stop going to the theatre all together.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2017 11:04:51 GMT
I've seen Les Mis 33 times, but the first time was in 1986, so thats almost the equivalent to once a year. Which isnt that bad at all. Its not something i could see in quick succession.
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1,827 posts
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Post by stevej678 on Nov 28, 2017 11:12:42 GMT
Ironically the show I've seen the most is Once! The original London cast were everything.
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491 posts
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Post by djdan14 on Nov 28, 2017 11:44:22 GMT
My number 1 is Avenue Q 10 times with number 11 planned for next April in New York
After that I have various ones on 3 and 4 times.
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8,157 posts
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Post by alece10 on Nov 28, 2017 11:46:52 GMT
My number one would probably be Sweeney Todd but that's because I have seen numerous productions over the years going back to the NT production with Julia McKenzie. Followed by 42nd Street when you add the 80s production to the current one.
Lost count of Funny Girl but that's slightly cheating as I was working.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2017 11:49:50 GMT
I'm more impressed anyone can watch a show 10+ times and not get bored! If it's spread out enough then it can be almost like seeing a new show again - I've seen Wicked about 14 times (I think - I've lost count), but that's over the course of 10 years and 3 different productions. An average of 1.4 times a year isn't a lot really. Wicked is my most-seen show. I've also seen a few others more than once: We Will Rock You (x7 I think, London and tour) 42nd Street (×2 in London and once on tour) Once (×3 in London and x1 on Broadway) Chicago (x1 on Broadway and x1 on tour) Les Mis (x2 in London) Memphis (x2 in London) Funny Girl (x2 in London) Phantom of the Opera (x1 in London and x1 on tour) Various dance shows I think everything else I've just seen once, but there are other shows that I would have returned to if I'd had the chance! |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2017 12:10:21 GMT
Book of Mormon: 11 times
Les Mis: 9 times
Wicked/Matilda: 5 times
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1,089 posts
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Post by tonyloco on Nov 28, 2017 12:25:35 GMT
In a theatre-going life of around 70 years, starting in Sydney aged 11 in about 1948 with the original non-PC version of ‘Annie Get Your Gun’ I have often returned several times or more to musicals for a variety of reasons which I set out recently in a guest article on the theatremonkey’s blog.
My current favourite is 42nd Street which I am seeing for the ninth time in a few weeks. For me it is a totally immersive musical experience into which I sink in a trance-like state of total pleasure. This is not how I responded to frequent visits to Spamalot or Jerry Springer the Opera where it was the humour that was foremost in my enjoyment.
Anyway, Julian Marsh is right when he says that the two greatest words in the English language are MUSICAL COMEDY and long may we all continue to keep enjoying our visits to them - single or multiple even to the point of mild insanity! Who could ask for anything more?
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