Wicked seating
 

Do you think front row seats are too close? Have the chance to buy tickets but not sure if it would be better to be further from the stage. Thanks

I used to work in a theatre and some people were thrilled to be in the front row. If you always seem to end up behind someone with a beehive harido, go for it. IMO, I'd rather be at least 5 rows back.

When you're too close, you usually can only focus on one or two performers. When you're farther back, you can see the whole ensemble how they're interacting to create the scene behind the main action. Wicked also has things that take place off the stage deck, like when the witches fly, etc. You'd be craning your neck to see or maybe even miss something.

On the other hand, from the front row, you can see the orchestra and see props and performers being prepared for their entrance just offstage.

Just my two cents.

"On the other hand, from the front row, you can see the orchestra and see props and performers being prepared for their entrance just offstage."

I was ruined for life as a high school student and upcoming theatre fanatic to watch a production of West Side Story, where sweet Maria ran into the wings every chance she got and I could see her assistant hand her a cigarette to take a few drags of. There are some things we just don't want to see in theatre.

No, I wouldn't do the front row for a show like Wicked; you'll just miss too much.

My mother is handicapped and has been for 30 plus years. I took her to see "Miss Saigon" in a vintage 1910-20 theatre in Chicago that has been re-furbished but that had no handicapped facilities because of its age.

SO they set us in the area (she is wheel-chaired) that is actually on the outside of the orchestra pit.

And too close is not good. Besides missing the whole scene action, we actually either could not hear over the music, or if they were too close to our position, we were actually "taking a bath" when they projected.

This theatre no longer puts handicapped into the pit, and has a cleared space on the side balconies instead.

If you are going to the one in Chicago, the balcony locations are fine too.

Sorry to hear that Patrick, but you know what they say about those Catholic school girls when they're set free. So did the incident force you run to a therapist or to wait outside the stage door to meet her? ;-)

I agree with whoever prefers a seat five rows back, but if you can't get a seat five to ten rows back, go for the first row. I sat in the first row to see Angela Lansbury in "Mame" and, years later on Broadway, "Phantom of the Opera," and Christian Slater in "Sideman." All three of these were great experiences. Backstage activity was not visible in any of these three productions.