Broadway - Matinees or Evening Shows

Hon, real people don't go to a matinée.

For most Broadway shows, there is absolutely no difference between a matinee and evening performance. But obviously, a daytime performance will attract a larger number of tourists than would an evening show.

For a very small number of shows, there is a role that is too taxing to perform all evening and daytime performances. A second performer is hired to cover usually 2 performances during the week — normally the matinees, or sometimes one matinee and one evening performance. Everyone is very up front about this — the schedule of performances is made public well in advance.

Evening is better, since you don;t get the gaggle of women who put their plastic shopping bags on their laps and crinkle them every two minutes. Or Flora from Jersey speaking aloud to her friend Marie about her nephew in Flatbush, or commenting on the costumes or set.

I often wonder if actors leave the theater between shows on matinee days. I mean why bother? Just have food delivered in and hang out backstage I say, unless they have something important to go do (like an appearance on a talk show if they're a huge star).

Idina and Kristen did the matinee performance of Wicked when I saw it in 2004, and it was a great performance.

As a performer, I usually say the evening performances are the way to go. Honestly, there's NOTHING worse than a Sunday matinee. The audiences are almost always elderly and hardly seem awake or into the show at all. This makes the actors' energy go down a good deal. Plus, there's a good chance most of the performers just woke up 1 or 2 hours ago, so there's just less energy in general.

You'll still be getting, more or less, the same show, but there will be something about it that's not as great as it could be.

Having worked on Broadway (not as a performer) here's the deal as I've experienced it:

Wednesday matinees are the worst. I hate to stereotype, but the average audience age is about 80. Lots of talking, lots of shopping bag rustling, very little energy in the house.

I was surprised to find Saturday nights can also be pretty bad. Too many drunks who laugh too hard at the first act and then fall asleep in the second.

Sunday matinees are much like Saturday nights. Too much food and too many mimosas at brunch and by the time they get to the theatre at 3, they're already thinking about work the next day. Also, the performers are ready for the week to be over.

Saturday matinees are actually usually pretty good. You get the sense the people there really want to be there, and there's a good energy all around.

I've never liked going to see Sunday matinees. In the almost 20 years I've been going to theater here in New York, I think I've literally only been to see a matinee on a Sunday about 3 times. Saturday matinees are great, though, and I actually prefer them to a Saturday night.

r8 agree Saturday matinees are very good. I saw In the Heights, On the Town and Wicked during Sat matinees and the energy from the audience was great.

[quote]Wednesday matinees are the worst. I hate to stereotype, but the average audience age is about 80. Lots of talking, lots of shopping bag rustling, very little energy in the house.

I'm actually surprised the Wednesday matinee has survived all these years -- you'd think producers would have gotten rid of it years ago just for the reasons cited above (not to mention to help cut running costs for the show). But I guess the money they make off the blue hairs who prefer it is more than enough to make it worthwhile.

Yes, the Wednesday matinees are popular. Even here in Toronto, you see the buses dropping off the seniors outside the major theatres playing Mirvish productions.

Wednesday matinees will never die out, as they are often pre-sold to regional bus tour companies and other large tourist groups.

[quote]R4 I often wonder if actors leave the theater between shows on matinee days. I mean why bother?

To get some air and take a walk. There are local restaurants that offer Broadway performers discounted meals between shows on matinee days. and know they have to be in-and-out. You can go as a group...it's kind of like being back in college and being in the cafeteria with your peers.

I agree with R7 & R8 Saturday matinees are as good as the evening shows especially if it is going to be a long show.