What Theatre Geeks Do When They Go See A Musical

For theatre nerds, going to see a show is an occasion; an afternoon or evening centered around a live performance. As a theatre nerd myself, I noticed a few things my friends and I do when we take in a show.

Look Up Who’s In The Cast AND Who The Understudies Are

“Ohh, she was in THAT? She must be good.” Looking up and reading about the cast is standard. You want to know who you’re going to see and what they’ve done. A performer’s CV tells you a lot about them and their abilities. Were they an Elphaba? The can belt. Chorus in Newsies? They’re all about the dancing. 42nd Street? They Can TAP.

Follow The Cast On Instagram

Professional musical performers are known for their on-point insta’s so you’ll follow a few to get a glimpse of their backstage world.

Arrive Early

The house opens half an hour before the performance and you are there. You want to be in your seat and taking in the atmosphere and, of course, a cheeky pic in the auditorium with your programme.

Get Excited When An Understudy Come On

Yes, it can be upsetting when the billed lead can’t do a show. For some musicals that actor may be the main reason a lot of people have come to see it in the first place. However, this means that the standby or understudy needs to kill it and they often do. Standby’s are less worked in that role than the lead actor, so the performance will be fresher and they’ll want to blow people away to make up for not getting to see the so-called ‘star’. Plus, they don’t get to do this every day; you can bet they will enjoy every moment they’re on that stage. There’s nothing more exciting than seeing an underdog rise to the top and you’re willing them to succeed.

Look At Your Friends When THAT Note is Hit

Belting, when done right, can electrify a room. It can make people weep or cheer. The power an on-point belt can have Is immense and if you know that there’s a notable note in the show, you look forward to it. Then when it finally hits, POW it’s impressive.

Look At Your Friends When They Option Down

The opposite of hitting ‘that note’ is when they don’t reach it. This could be for a number of reasons, maybe they’re having a hard day or just can’t reach it. Whatever the cause, you still know when it happens and you’ll look at your friend to let them know you know.

Wait Till You’re A Distance Away From The Theatre Before Tearing It Apart

’10 Blocks’ is the US standard. If you’re going to talk about the show and be ever so slightly critical, you’ll not do it as you’re cueing to leave the theatre. You’ll wait until you’re a safe distance away and out of earshot of other people in the crowd for two reasons: one, you can talk freely without people around and two, other people in the crowd may know people in or be involved with the production.