Multiple Visits to the Same Show

I have seen several shows multiple times. I am not so organised as to keep a record of precisely what I have seen and when but Blood Brothers is probably the most seen show.. maybe approaching mid teens. Sunset probably 8ish, similarly Les Mis 8 ish.Chess about 5, Wicked probably 5 or 6, Martin Guerre about 6. There are many shows I have seen a couple of times such as The Graduate, Phantom,Miss Saigon, The Sound of Music, Oliver, Whistle down the Wind... I could go on.
Reasons can be casting sometimes or I have just loved a particular show and not seen it for some time. Most of my multiple visits are to musicals.

I booked to see 42nd Street and was quite looking forward to it but really only booked because it was a classic that I thought I should see.

I was completely blown away and went back 8 more times over the 2 years, if it hadn't closed I'm pretty sure I'd still be going. It just made me so happy at a time when other things in my life were not.

I definitely often go back to a show to take people who haven't seen it before. Some shows I see again because there's been a cast change, or because they've made changes and I'm curious as to what (especially during previews). Sometimes tickets are cheap and I know it's a decent night out. And sometimes shows are just comfortingly familiar - some people reread the same book over and over, some people rewatch the same film, I go back to the same shows. Besides, when you're more familiar with the show then you notice far more of what goes wrong, and that's always fun :') I could never reread the same book or rewatch the same film much, but live theatre is never the same experience twice, even if it's the same production and cast. You never know when there'll be a show stop because the barricades get stuck on stage, an actor will faint mid-show, or someone will forget their entire solo and break down with laughter.

I generally don't see the same production multiple times as there is always something else I want to see. Although I did see the recent Company 3 times but that is an exception to the rule.

I've seen many shows multiple times but that's cheating slightly as I was working in the theatre at the time.
I have seen several shows 3 or 4 times but the biggie for me is 42nd Street which I saw 11 times simply because it made me feel really happy every time I went and was a great pick me up. If it was still going I would probably still be going once a month. Have seen Les Mis probably as many times but they have been different productions i.e original cast, 25th anniversary, staged concert etc.
Have also seen most Sondheim shows multiple times but different productions.

There are several shows I've seen multiple times. I did start to keep a list of what I'd seen back in 2018 as I just realised my memory wasn't as good as I thought it was. I won't give numbers when I can see there are people here who are thinking seeing the same show three times is a lot!

But, of a long time my record was In The Heights at Kings Cross (I missed the earlier incarnation). That was a strange one, as I didn't take to the show at all the first time I saw it, but went back, sat on the front that time knowing the songs and what would happen, and it just worked for me. At the time, I was getting to London once every few weeks and I made an effort to book when I was there, knowing I'd enjoy it. It also helped they had some very good ticket offers. I also like to see different casts, so I made sure to attend fairly soon after cast changes. My regret really with In The Heights is I never got to see Cleve September during the few times he went on as Usnavi.

There are a few other shows I've liked since and made an effort to see multiple times. I've also ended up working in London and with time to fill in the evenings (especially when I spent weeknights in some quite grotty hotels, although I now have my own place), so reliable musicals were also a thing then especially with good pricing. Like others, 42nd Street fit in perfectly there. Then there's always the chance to try and see the covers when they're on. And knowing a show you like is going to close is another reason to fit in a few more visits.

Of the shows that are still open, Jamie is the show I've seen the most and I've got more bookings in before this closes. I've managed to see everyone who has played the lead role (in the UK).

I don't think I've ever seen the same play twice in the same venue. I have occasionally seen the same production more than once (especially for transfers). I've seen The History Boys three times (but over three different productions). I seen three Hamlets, three Macbeths, but that can't be unusual. And many more on film.

Sometimes, when I look at the list, things even surprise me. Like, I've seen Les Mis on three different continents, but I wouldn't put it even in my top 10 favourite shows. Actually, there are several shows I've seen on more than one continent, but sometimes it just happens that you're led by what happens to be showing when you're visiting somewhere.

Now, if I said I'd gone out of my way to a small US town to see the non-Equity tour of Pippin, because my previous viewing of the Equity tour (in Amsterdam) was unfulfilling because it started 30 minutes earlier than it said on my ticket, you might think I was mad. So, I won't mention it.

I guess I'm the exception to this, as the show I've seen the most number of times is The Comedy About A Bank Robbery, which admittedly includes a few songs but is definitely a play rather than a musical. Of course it did run for long enough to go through several cast changes & Mischief shows have musical-levels of understudies going on rather than normal-play-levels.

My reasons vary - as others have said, there are some shows that just make you happy or hit some other undefined spot. For me that was Witches of Eastwick (which I’ve seen 10 times in London as well as the US, UK Tour and numerous amateur productions), though there is also the interest of seeing the show evolve as it has gone through many many changes from opening night at Drury Lane!

Then there are the ‘old faithfuls’ which I’ve seen lots, but still produce much the same emotional reaction each time, so are a good fall back if there is nothing else on (or I can score cheap tickets) - for me, this was Les Mis, Ave Q, Blood Brothers. I also used to visit Phantom, but as that was primarily for the experience of that orchestra (I used get the cheap seats behind the conductor) I’m in no rush to return to the London production any time soon.

Finally I there’s the show I know I won’t get to see mounted again for a while - mostly Sondheim - so I take the opportunity to catch at least a couple of times if possible to get a full impression of the production.

As a bonus, there are the shows that I love but are clearly going to flop hard, so I try to get a few showings in before their inevitable demise - Bat Boy at the Shaftesbury was the most memorable, I think I saw it five times!

I've seen multiple shows many times - cast changes, understudies and just simply a love for the show are all reasons I have for returning to shows.

Right now, I'd be happy to see anything just once! ☹

That's such a lovely theatre. Unfortunately, having moved to London in the 90s, I haven't been for a long time. When I write a mental list of why I should move back up north the Royal Exchange is always on it.

Got into a habit of going to see Kevin Spacey multiple times. I adored him on stage