[Lady Jemima]

Okay, silly question, I know! But I haven't been to a theatre show for a long time. I was once told by a friend that even though the view might not be the absolute best, the accoustics are better at seats that are level with the stage. Yet I know some people want Orchestra every time.

Any suggestions where I might want to purchase seats for both CATS and Phantom? Is one seat better than any others generally speaking?

[Roxanne]

I'd think it would depend, at least slightly, on how your theatre is laid out, how close the seats are to the stage, and how high the stage is off the audience floor. In the orchestra section in downtown Jax, where I've seen the show a few times, the orchestra gets pretty up close to the stage, but I'd think that only the first and maybe second rows would be a strain, and that's simply because you'd have to crain your head up to see people who were right 'above' you. I personally prefer sitting way up close (second, third, etc) because you can see the expressions on the actors' faces as they perform, which always adds quite a bit to my experience.

I've heard people argue for sitting far away, because you can see where they all are at once, take in the whole picture, etc. But I'd go for the facial expressions above that.

It really depends on what you like and what you think would enhance your viewing....

Of course, any seats are better than no seats at all. Always.

[Rumblepurr]

I used to hear a type of "rule" for theatre seating that worked as a generalization for musicals, instrumental concerts, chorales, etc. The accoustics, stage viewing, et.al. seemed best in the center section, 5-8 rows from the stage. As Roxanne mentioned, the design of the house creates a variance in the rule.

Respectfully submitted,
Rumblepurr
The Writer Cat.

[Swan]

As far as I am concerned, if the orchestra is in the pit, close to the stage, then I'd go for 4th or 5th row, so the music from the orchestra doesn't cover the voices.
But in shows such as Cats or Chicago, where the orchestra is somewhere else (hidden behind the scenography for Cats, or on the stage for Chicago), if possible I always and only choose the first row. Close to the performers, you can perfectly see their faces, look in their eyes and hear their voices straight from their mouths.

Swan

[Drumdraper]

I always enjoy the front row because in Cats the actors interact with you more. Ditto on all the other stuff said.

[MsJellicle]

If you're seeing the CATS tour, a good place to sit is the front row for interaction. It used to be that Tugger would come out on the right side to pick an audience member to dance with so sitting on the aisle 2-5 rows back would be perfect if you were going for that. However, lately, he seems to only be able to choose people from the front row if there was room to do so. If you want to catch Bustopher Jones' flower, sitting just right of center in the first or second row is best (depends on how far the performer throws the flower). If you want all of the cats staring at you at once during the "There's a man over there with a look of surprise" scene, then you'd want to try for the first row left aisle seat. If you want the cats to pass you during the overture with thier green eyes, then you can choose any far left or right aisle seat. I'm not sure how much the cast goes out into the audience anymore. It seems to be less and less each year. Sitting in the second or third rows will get you some eye contact with the cats as well. However, sitting on the far left or right will also create an obstruction of view. Oh, and sitting center section towards the left or right in rows 2-4 approximately will probably get you some Mistoffelees silver streamers.

~MsJ

[Cassandra]

Just to elaborate a bit on some others' replies... It really depends on the show, the theatre, and, in my opinion, how many times you've seen the show. I'm not an expert on acoustics by any means, so I'll stay away from that topic. I've never had a problem hearing the voices at any show I've attended. However, sitting right in front of a speaker on the far left or right can be a bit distracting and loud.

If it were my first time ever seeing CATS or Phantom, I would sit a few rows back, maybe Rows 5-10 in the center. Like Roxanne said, I'd prefer to get a feel for the show the very first time; take in the big picture. Only after I'd seen it would I want to get up in the first or second rows. The last time I saw Phantom, I was lucky enough to get first row. It was awesome, because I could look at all the lush details of the sets and costumes. But I wouldn't have wanted to be up there the first time seeing it, because it would have ruined the fantasy and overall effect of the show for me.

I'll be watching the CATS tour twice at the end of this month. The first time will be front row center, and the second time will be second row center. I can't wait to see all the expressions and costume details up close. However, I'll have my sister-in-law with me the second time, and it's her first time seeing CATS. I know she'll love being up close, but I hope it doesn't take away the overall feeling of the show for her.

And, as MsJellicle pointed out, the cast isn't coming out into the audience as much anymore. In my opinion, sitting on the aisles for the tour isn't worth straining your neck and losing partial views of the set. If it were on Broadway or London still, I would definitely suggest an aisle seat. The interaction in those productions was much better.

[JemiBoe1981]

I'm so thrilled... I'm seeing CATS again in February and I have second row orchestra seats! Whee! I mean, this past February when I saw it we were in the sixth row and got some interaction (air kisses from Misto, growls from Skimble), but not tons. Second row will be fun. I shall get streamers and eye contact!

[Drumdraper]

I saw it twice recently in costume, and if you go in costume and don't make a fool of yourself you will get the cast's attention. I sat in the third row on the left for the first show and I was in the tenth row back for the second show, though I did move up after intermission.

At the beginning, when the Cats come out with their green eye goggles, several cast members hissed and claws at me. The Rum Tum Tugger came out into the audience and danced with someone on the left side of the theater, though he didn't drift far from the stage.
During intermission Old Dueteronmy stays on the stage and later on some of the kittens come out and interact with the audience.
At both shows, Rumpelteazer kept growling, hissing, and smiling at me, especially during "The Addressing of Cats". We had a small staring contest and when I hissed at her, she clawed at the air and appeared to be mad.
Munkustrap, as we were wearing the same costume, came skidding over to my side of the stage followed by Skimbleshanks and Rumpelteazer and the trio hissed and clawed at me. Then the next show, Mistoffelees came over to me at the end of the show. I was dressed as Misto for that show, he leaned down and we touched the back of our hands together and he was followed by several other cast members doing the same with me.

I tried to get both Misto streamers and Bustopher's flowers, but I only managed to get a small piece of the streamers. I had to reach on stage to get that piece (it was close to the edge) and I tried to get the rest of a small bundle, but it was too close to a speaker and I would have had to put my entire torso on the stage to get it. Dressed in a Mistoffelees costume and already catching the eye of one of the ushers because I had taken pictures and reached on the stage for the small streamer, probably would have gotten me thrown out of the theater and placed a bad name on other Cats costumers later on during the tour. After the show I tried again for the bundle, but it had moved too far from my reach. Stars, I wanted it, but alas I could not climb up on the stage! Oh well, other shows will come.

[*asterix*]

As much as I LOVE sitting front row for most shows if I can get it, and CATs in paricular, after my latest experience with this tour I would advise strongly to call ahead check with the theatre as to what they intend to do with the stage lip/orchestra pit where the tour will be stopping. Are they going to extend the lip/skirt over the pit but leave the set farther back (the last 3 stops I've seen of the tour have had the actual set stop at least 5 - 6 feet back from the edge of the stage) ? How high are the orchestra walls relative to the first few walls of the orchestra seating?

The last time I sat front row for this tour, the Queen E had opted not to remove their first frew rows of seats (as they did previously for this and other tours) and coverred the orcestra pit flush to the stage rather than inclining it at all, nor did they include any ramps by which the cast could get on/off the stage except at thevery far sides. I bought a front row ticket on impulse the first night it was in town, and found myself sitting eye to eye with the orchestra pit wall. I had to crame my neck all the way back to look at the edge of the stage, but could not see the majoity of the cast from the waist down unless they were climbing up on the junk. It was a performance or enthusiastic torsos. Also, they placed a bunch of speakers right along the stage edge so they BLASTED all the voices and music, questionably mixed and balanced, right in my ears and the unfortunate ears of the few other front row occupants with me. It was too loud to even hear all but maybe a few lines actually spoken over the speaker blast. The actors had to look so far down to see those of us in the front rows that they didn't seem to bother much, instead addressing the audience in general much more. The only time a character actually came in to the audience from the stage, because of the height, was when Tugger came down.
Granted, Tugger came down and danced with me, so I'm not totally complaining.

... A few nights later I returned with company and tickets we'd wrangled in earlier sales, about 5 rows back this time, and we were MUCH happier overall. We were on the isle so we did get SOME greeneyes, and we could actually see the performers on stage in the entirety, coul see all the dancing, and were at a much better range to hear the sound mix.

Othertimes, of course, front row has granted myself and company cats in laps, copious amounts of Misto streamers, cats playing with our shoes and the streamers around us, curious cats right up in our faces, prolonged staring contest from the stage, etc...


So... Yes, front row is usually excellent if you can get it, but check ahead if you can.

[sweetjemimakitten]

I sat in the fourth row I believe I was somewhere in the middle of the row, on the right, in full video Jemima costume Mungojerrie kept staring at me, and some of the others would occasionaly turn and look directly at me while singing. 'Twas much fun.

Personally, I think that the best seats are somwhere in rows 3-5, on the aisle. It gives you alot of cast interaction, you can take in the whole picture, and you can still clearly see expressions and whatnot ^_^

I'll be seeing CATS again on 01/26/06 dressed as Victoria Haven't decided which production I'll go for, but I do know I'll go as her Yay! Hope you have fun!

~*SJK*~

[Moongewl]

[MsJellicle]

[MrsJemimaMistoffelees]

If you don't really care about being able to dance with Tugger (you might go in costume, and the actor from what I've heard, doesn't dance with 'dressed up' audience members), or catching Bustopher’s flower...I'd say that anywhere within the first 7 rows from the front are the best.

Veel Liefs,
Jemima

[Lady Jemima]

Oh, my gosh, I'm SO bummed! I checked the seating charts this morning for CATS and there aren't ANY seats anywhere NEAR the front! Arrrg! Are there any secrets to being able to get good seats even when the chart says they're full?

[MsJellicle]

Yes. Try to find when the tickets go on sale and buy them as soon as you can. Also, usually it's better to call the box office instead of getting them online.

~MsJ

[Cassandra]

How many tickets are you trying to get? If it's two or more seats together, that could be one reason why you're having trouble. Most people see shows in pairs or larger groups, so the box offices sell those seats pretty quickly. But, for some reason (where I am, anyway), they'll leave one seat empty in between two pairs of seats. That's how I was lucky enough to get front row for Phantom the last time. I only bought one ticket and went by myself. I actually prefer that, anyway.

If you can, I would try to get only one ticket at a time. You might have better luck. I know it might suck to sit by yourself, but you'd have a better seat, right?

[Roxanne]

There's also the possibility of being allowed to move up if someone near the front doesn't come to fill their seat (not too uncommon). As long as the theatre allows it, anywho. You may have to wait 'till after intermission, just to be sure that no one's sitting in a particular seat, but half the show up close is better than none of the show at all.

[Lady Jemima]

Thanks for the tips, guys. I had forgotten about moving up during intermission (gosh, it's been years since I've gone to a musical! ) I just posted this in my costuming thread, but right now it looks like there are no good seats available (at all) and if I'm going to spend the money, I would rather wait for it to come a bit closer to me when I can call the first day ticket sales open. (I wasn't aware until recently that the show was coming to NJ, which is why I missed out on good seats.) Anyway, thank you all for your tips; I'm going to keep them handy for next time!