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Post by leanne23 on Aug 13, 2021 9:55:58 GMT
I saw Bat Out of Hell 32 times across the Coliseum, Dominion, and NYC runs. I was writing my MA dissertation during it's first London stint, and was having a pretty difficult time of it. I saw it for the first time in June 2017. I went to West End Live with my parents to see the cast perform - they'd raved about the show having seen it the week before. They surprised me with tickets for the show that night and I've never had such a euphoric and electric experience in a theatre. The pure unadulterated joy of the show's spectacular encore hooked me. Who wouldn't want to feel that magic rush every night?
I told myself that if I wrote X amount of words each week, I could treat myself to day seats. I saw the show about 8 times that summer and happily wrote my thesis. You really do leave that show feeling as though you can achieve ANYTHING.
I ended up spending two years making Raven, Strat, Sloane and Zahara costumes - I actually met one of my best friends through winning a cosplay contest on Twitter! The cast were so generous with their time, going above and beyond to indulge their fanbase.
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Post by longinthetooth on Aug 13, 2021 10:37:58 GMT
If I fall in love with a show I will happily see it multiple times. I love seeing a show for the first time and coming out thinking, 'I must go again'. Over the years multiple times means anything from twice to over 30 visits. I have my firm favourites and will no doubt go again when the time is right.
Sadly I haven't seen anything since Covid. Travel worries apart, I can't cope with the suspense of wondering whether my show will be cancelled at the last minute and the ensuing hassle of rebooking or refunding tickets.
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Post by fiyerorocher on Aug 13, 2021 10:47:49 GMT
My opinion on a show is often based on whether I would want to see it again after I leave the theatre. If I can find the the time and money to see a show I would like to see again for a second (or third, fourth, etc.) time, then I don't see why I wouldn't! Those saying they would rather prioritise new shows, rather than reattending the same performances, clearly aren't seeing enough theatre - just do both (this is a joke, I'm aware of the restrictions of time/money/having to travel)
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Post by Forrest on Aug 13, 2021 12:25:36 GMT
leanne23, I love your post! I've never heard of that musical (it's a musical, right? Google hasn't accidentally lied to me?) but I totally understand that feeling of something having found you at exactly the * right* time. It is magical. Also, what a great memory that has become for you, and what brilliant things have come out of it! :) I met one of my best friends, and now a frequent theatre companion, over my multiple-consecutive-visits-show too: I took a photo with a cast member, absolutely by random accident ( BurlyBeaR will appreciate that there was no Stage Door-ing involved!), and posted it on Twitter after not having used my account for literally anything in years (and I mean it - I'd tweeted one earlier impression of the same play, seen a month before, and a recipe for a salad someone asked me for in about 7 years of having the account)... She registered on Twitter to get in touch with me, after finding the photo on Google while looking for reviews of the play. The rest is history. :)
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Post by leanne23 on Aug 13, 2021 13:06:06 GMT
leanne23 , I love your post! I've never heard of that musical (it's a musical, right? Google hasn't accidentally lied to me?) but I totally understand that feeling of something having found you at exactly the * right* time. It is magical. Also, what a great memory that has become for you, and what brilliant things have come out of it! I met one of my best friends, and now a frequent theatre companion, over my multiple-consecutive-visits-show too: I took a photo with a cast member, absolutely by random accident ( BurlyBeaR will appreciate that there was no Stage Door-ing involved!), and posted it on Twitter after not having used my account for literally anything in years (and I mean it - I'd tweeted one earlier impression of the same play, seen a month before, and a recipe for a salad someone asked me for in about 7 years of having the account)... She registered on Twitter to get in touch with me, after finding the photo on Google while looking for reviews of the play. The rest is history. I'm so glad it resonated with you, and thanks for sharing your story! Just knowing that Bat was there for me if I'd had a bad day or if I just fancied some serious fun one evening, was such a great motivator. I NEVER cry at films or theatre, but actually burst into tears during the final encore at the Dominion. I genuinely thought that would be the last time I ever saw that show. I just enjoyed spending time with the characters and existing in their world too much for it to be the end. I'm currently waiting with baited breathe to see if the UK tour actually does go ahead as planned on September 11th.
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Post by daisy24601 on Aug 13, 2021 16:33:31 GMT
I usually go multiple times to see a specific performer, and even more so if there limited time left to do so. So I saw Memphis 45 times, originally because I love Matt Cardle, but totally fell in love with the show and as it was closing, I got in as many as I could. I still miss it.
I saw Wicked 20 times while Willemijn was in it in 2017, as she only had limited run.
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Post by CG on the loose on Aug 14, 2021 23:40:04 GMT
I've seen many shows (mostly musicals, but also some plays) more than once - often those on short runs that I've LOVED the first time and want to see again while I can - and a handful many times, simply because they make me happy... Singin' in the Rain at the Palace, High Society at the Old Vic, American in Paris and 42nd Street all fall into that category. But there's always so much I want to see, that I try to balance between the known and the new.
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Post by mistressjojo on Aug 15, 2021 9:09:38 GMT
I see more plays than musicals, but the musicals I do like I have seen multiple times. Once , 4 times in London, twice in Sydney and once in Melbourne. American Psycho - once in NYC and twice in Sydney. Although historically I've probably seen Jesus Christ Superstar more times than anything, as it was the long runner in Sydney during my school years and has made multiple returns since. Play-wise, I saw David Tennant's Richard II eleven times over 3 venues ( SuA, London and NY ), his Much Ado eight times , and Don Juan in Soho six times. I think you can see a theme there...
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Post by David J on Aug 15, 2021 23:56:50 GMT
8 times seeing the original version of Les Mis at the Queens. Once for the 'new' one at the Sondheim. Seen the two Lawrence Connor tours three times. Then the 2019 concert once as well as the 2008 Bournemouth concert.
Have seen Phantom 4 times at Her Majesty's. Once for the 2012 tour.
Old Vic's Christmas Carol is the play I've seen the most at four times.
Saw Play That Goes Wrong for the third time recently and am thinking of seeing it again
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Post by vickyg on Aug 16, 2021 11:36:32 GMT
It's completely normal for me to see both plays and musicals more than once and sometimes a lot more than once. I love to see things in previews and then again towards the end of the run and there are some things I just don't 'get' that I go to a second time to to see if I feel differently. The things I have seen the most are probably Wicked, Mary Stuart, A Woman of No Importance during the Wilde season at the Vaudeville, Chicago and Streetcar at the Young Vic. All very different but I *really* loved them.
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Post by crabtree on Aug 16, 2021 12:15:17 GMT
Well I'll throw in a couple of ballets as my most seen live show. At second place is Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake - about twenty times over it's long history, but first place belongs to David Bintley's Still Life at the Penguin Cafe, which has reduced me to tears of joy and sadness every times, and tears for simply witnessing a masterpiece.
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Post by Dr Tom on Aug 22, 2021 9:51:22 GMT
Sat here thinking I've not been going to the theatre as much as I used to do, then looked at my log and saw that today will mark my 50th show since theatre reopened in May. It does creep up on you!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2021 16:00:58 GMT
Sat here thinking I've not been going to the theatre as much as I used to do, then looked at my log and saw that today will mark my 50th show since theatre reopened in May. It does creep up on you! 50!? That is outstanding. Is it that 50 different shows? I didn't think there was even that many on since May? Haha.
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Post by Dr Tom on Aug 22, 2021 16:25:30 GMT
Sat here thinking I've not been going to the theatre as much as I used to do, then looked at my log and saw that today will mark my 50th show since theatre reopened in May. It does creep up on you! 50!? That is outstanding. Is it that 50 different shows? I didn't think there was even that many on since May? Haha. No, there are repeats in there. And a few of the one-night theatre concerts as well that were popular as other shows waited to reopen. Both of the shows I’ve seen today (Constellations and Be More Chill) are repeats, although a different pairing for the first of those.
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Post by shady23 on Aug 22, 2021 20:00:05 GMT
As someone who doesn't live near London I can often find myself having multiple visits to the same show within a small space of time as a touring production may only be visiting my city for a week.
I managed to fit in four visits to Bedknobs and Broomsticks in the last week but, unlike trips to London, travel is free (the Theatre Royal in Newcastle gives you free metro travel to and from the venue with your theatre ticket) and no accommodation costs because I live nearby. The cost is only the ticket. Decent side stalls seats were available for twenty pounds upwards so it was affordable. I would usually only revisit a touring show once if I really loved it but I think the absence of theatre (the theatre here has only recently reopened and was closed throughout the pandemic) and the pure joy it gave me made it worth every single penny.
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