Cabaret seating at Studio 54 - huh?

Old Apr 14th, 2014, 12:52 PM
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Cabaret seating at Studio 54 - huh?

I'm looking for good seats - not necessarily a table ... but it seems so many require a $2500 donation. Are the rear mezz seats OK? TIA
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Old Apr 14th, 2014, 01:05 PM
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I found better seats for performances in August.....the first site was stopping at early July.....
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Old Apr 14th, 2014, 01:12 PM
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I'm guessing you found seats at the benefit performance or the opening. Or you are not booking through the official ticket seller.

The way Studio 54 is set up for "Cabaret" is in cabaret-style seating. So you won't be sitting in a traditional theater seat. Rather, you'll be in a set with a little table, and you can actually order drinks and snacks from the bar at your seat (there will be waitresses going around before the performance begins). That's part of the production. Hope you enjoy it.
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Old Apr 14th, 2014, 02:11 PM
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Which site are you looking at by the way? I hope it's this one. I'd hate to think you're buying tickets through a scalper for more than you'd pay direct. The only reason to do that would be if there is nothing available and you have to buy them through a scalper, but I don't think that's the case with Cabaret in August.

http://www.roundabouttheatre.org/tic...aspx?pid=16304
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Old Apr 14th, 2014, 03:49 PM
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Thx to both of you. Yes it was the Round About Theatre site. Many of the good seats in May are as I described --- requiring a $2500 donation. I finally found the August calendar (it's buried and complicated to describe) and did find good seats in August (row AA Mezz) for the regular price, but even at that time many of the seats require that donation. If you're interested book soon! Don't want to miss Alan Cumming.
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Old Apr 14th, 2014, 07:03 PM
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Roundabout Theater has subscribers who buy tickets to performances in different theaters over the 2013-2014 season. Subscribers tickets are not as expensive as box office and the general public gets what is left on any given day, which is why the seat you may want wont be available. The cabaret style seats are in the orchestra. my subscriber orchestra seat was marked $75.00 you are not obligated to purchase food or drinks at the cabaret style tables.

if you cannot be a subscriber, call roundabout the staff is very helpful and see if they can locate a ticket at the price you want to pay without the donation

btw.. it is a terrific production!
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Old Apr 15th, 2014, 03:10 AM
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Thx maxima - interesting. As I mentioned for my May dayes most of the seats were either the Donation ones or wheelchair (a lot of wheelchair actually - I read on broadway.com they sell unsold wheelchair seats day of performance?)

I bought AA Mezz seats based on comments on a broadway.com forum that they have an excellent view (and seat beverage service I think). Very excited!
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Old Apr 15th, 2014, 05:29 AM
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I'm perplexed at why you think you HAVE to make a donation to see Cabaret unless you are looking for premium seating (during the initial run, only premium seats require a donation ... after the subscription period, then the play will revert to regular $250 to $400 seating for premium seats). But you'll notice during the initial months that all the best seats are not available (that's because subscribers get them ... the general public can only get what's left after the subscribers).

But there are a lot of good seats available for May (though I don't know your specific dates). The most expensive seats are $162.

I don't particularly like sitting up in the mezzanine at Studio 54, but the sightlines and you should be fine.
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Old Apr 15th, 2014, 06:06 AM
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For the last production of Cabaret at Studio 54, I sat about midway back in the orchestra. It was OK, but the slope is very slight there and the stage is low, so I really was looking around heads a lot. I've seen a number of shows at Studio 54 from row AA mezzanine. They are absolutely my FAVORITE seats in the entire theatre! Not only is the view perfect, but the sound is great too.

I know a lot of people aren't crazy about mezzanine seating, but to me front row mezzanine is often the best in MOST theatres, particularly for musicals, and Studio 54 is no exception.

(By the way, I've noticed that some theatres, including the St. James for Bullets Over Broadway are now charging Premier prices for front row mezzanine!)
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Old Apr 15th, 2014, 06:44 AM
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Doug - for the dates I was looking at in May the following seats were available on the seating chart. You have to hover over the coloured dots to find out the seat information, as follows:

Blue dots - wheelchair only
Brown dots - Obstructed view
Pink dots - VIP Seating - "This VIP Seat is available now with a tax deductible gift of $2,500 or more"

That's why I KNOW I have to make a donation. And for my dates there was limited general seating at the back of the Mezz or Pink seating (not considering obstructed or wheelchair.) Have a look at the seating charts for specific dates even in August and you'll see many of the best seats are in the Pink category - and require the $2,500 donation.
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Old Apr 15th, 2014, 06:46 AM
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Thanks Neo - I read a similar sentiment about AA Mezz on a broadway.com forum. Are you going to see Cabaret?
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Old Apr 15th, 2014, 06:50 AM
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I think what you'll notice is that the leg room is really awful. But otherwise, the view is great. That's generally a problem in Studio 54. So are sightlines in the orchestra. I'm seeing Cabaret in a few weeks, but it may be after you.
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Old Apr 15th, 2014, 10:47 AM
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I doubt that I'll see it this time around. I saw this production with Alan Cumming and Natasha Richardson. I also saw Alan Cumnmning do it first at the Donmar in London (the production that the Broadway revival he starred in and the current revival were based on. I also saw the original on Broadway with Joel Grey and Jill Haworth as Sally Bowles. And I've seen probably 15 other productions of Cabaret. So think I'll pass this time around.

A bit of trivia -- for the original Broadway production (1966) the great Lotte Lenya and Jack Gilford were nominated for Tony Awards as LEADING actor and LEADING actress in a musical for their roles as Fraulein Schneider and Herr Schultz. Joel Gray WON the Tony -- but as best featured actor, rather than leading -- go figure.

And yes, I will admit that front row mezzanine of most theatres have really lousy legroom -- you can't extend your legs under a seat in front of you, it is something I endure. And often there is at least more "knee room" than in most rows. Incidentally, the much more modern and often touted Vivian Beaumont at Lincoln Center has some of the most uncomfortable seats ever. Because of their stadium style seating, you can't put your feet under the seat in front of you either, but even worse, my knees actually wedge against the seat in front of me!
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Old Apr 15th, 2014, 01:18 PM
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We have seats for Cabaret that were just booked through Roundabout for an August performance. There was no donation requested. There are 4 of us going and the friend who booked them chose the orchestra tables. My preference was for mezzanine as I was concerned about the site lines in the orchestra.

Will look forward to a review of this production.
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Old Apr 24th, 2014, 03:45 AM
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Just bought tickets for Hedwig and the Angry Inch for the night after Cabaret - it got incredible opening night reviews. Interesting back to back shows!.
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Old Apr 24th, 2014, 04:46 AM
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August is after the subscription period (which I believe ends in July), so there won't be any more donations required. They will switch over to regular VIP-style seating and its costs (about double the regular ticket price for prime seats).
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Old Apr 24th, 2014, 04:49 AM
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Doug are you referring to Cabaret? See my posting above based on my first hand experience -- yes the donation IS there in August.
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Old Apr 24th, 2014, 04:51 AM
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Clarification -- for some seats (a lot of the best ones)
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