[atagirl123]

Can anyone explain the nature of fandom?

I'm really intrigued. Why do people go to see the same show over and over again? How can they afford it? If they are theatre fans, why don't they spend the money seeing a different show? What do they get out of watching something more than once, or knowing which understudies are on, or the names of everyone in the cast? Why do they hang around stage doors? Why do they like sitting on the front row, one of the worst rows in most theatres?

I'm not judging anyone, I'm fascinated by it. I've worked as a performer for over 20 years and been in a number of shows with a strong fanbase. You see the same people nearly every night at the stage door, and watching the show again and again. Why?

I'd be really interested if someone could explain this for me. Is it like following a football team?

[TheatreMadGoer]

Having seen every Shakespeare play at least twice (and for some 6/7 times), I can say from my point of view it is seeing how different directors approach a play, and finding myself listening to the words and hearing lines that I've probably heard so many times before come across with a new clarity.

For the same show more than once, it is because I find it has something that attracts you back, whether it be the puppets in War Horse, the wonder and beauty of Tim Supple's Dream 2/3 years ago, or trying to understand what the hell the characters were going on about in The Power of Yes.

Theatre fandom is based on never quite knowing what to expect when you see a new play, the joy of finding a new dramatist you like, and the discovery of the a new theatre that you want to revisit over and over again.

[kayemm]

I've seen Wicked six times (not just in London) and can honestly say that it is a different experience every night. I would have seen it a lot more if I actually lived closer to London and not a plane journey away. I've seen 5 different Elphies and 4 different Galindas. Each actor portrays the role in a different way, sings different riffs etc and each time I see the show I notice something new about the set or the lighting or the chorus. I will never tire of seeing Wicked as it just gives me such enjoyment.

However I've seen Chicago three times and don't feel the same way about it as I do about Wicked and Legally Blonde (and We Will Rock You too).

[atagirl123]

Having seen every Shakespeare play at least twice (and for some 6/7 times), I can say from my point of view it is seeing how different directors approach a play, and finding myself listening to the words and hearing lines that I've probably heard so many times before come across with a new clarity.

I can totally understand you wanting to see different productions of a play, particularly Shakespeare, which is potentially open to so many interpretations; but I'm talking about the people who return again and again to the same production!

[annette]

i will admit i have seen some shows several times, sometimes even in the same run, (though i am not as bad as some are though, will usually only see it a couple times)

several reasons i do it is for example with godspell, the main actors alternated roles so one played joseph the one week and then played judas another week so was a good way of seeing different interpretations, another one is rocky horror show, that can be a good laugh and the change of narrators is sometimes really good.

others will be because different people want to come with me, for instance went with one friend to see legally blonde, no one else fancied going, but not long after with all the hype, and sheridans promoting etc on tv, another friend wanted to see it so have booked to go again.

as for plays, saw tony head and richard e grant in otherwise engaged twice as i loved them in it.

then shows such as les miserables, i can happily see time again, as have seen it in london, on tour years ago, on broadway and have booked to see the new tour when it arrives in birmingham

same with phantom, seen on tour, west end and on broadway .

as for cost, dont even want to think about it as have seen in excess of 160 plays/musicals etc, stopped counting! (and i am only 26!) blame my mum, she got me into theatre very young!!!!!!(age 4 with watching pantos, then around 6 with musicals like oliver, annie, cats etc)

[cat123]

For me it becomes about specific performers. I've seen Ashleigh Gray as Elphaba more times than the average person has been in a theatre. I just thoroughly enjoy her performance and never tire of watching her. I suppose it's like watching a favourite film, sometimes you need to know that you're going to enjoy something. I've seen some fantastic productions I wouldn't have otherwise seen because a performer I enjoy watching has been part of the cast.

I do see a wide variey of shows (musicals, plays, dance) maybe just once or a couple of times, then there are a few shows I keep going back to again and again.

[VelmaMaureen]

I've never seen a show more than once or twice, mainly because I have to persuade one of my parents to come to the theatre with me every time I want to go. If I could go and see shows more than once I would, especially musicals, because I would be interested to see how different actors interpret the roles, and how a production has changed over the run.

I think, though, if the choice came down to seeing something I hadn't seen before or seeing something again, I would go for the new thing, unless by seeing something again I would see a cast member I'd wanted to see for ages in a certain role.

[em_vg]

My friends ask me a similar question, having see WWRY 12 times now, but I try to explain that I've never seen the same cast twice, and each performer brings something different to the role. Therefore, if I know when understudies are on, I try to see them to see their take on the role. However, I do make a point of seeing different shows, it is not just a show that I love, I enjoy the whole experience of musical theatre, the atmosphere that is created. I've seen Wicked 4 times in the past year and each time I picked up on something different!

[Weez]

Why should it surprise you that theatre fans want to see the same production over and over? It makes much more sense than film fans watching the same films over and over, or book fans reading the same books over and over (both of which I also do). Films and books aren't going to change, but even the exact same cast in the exact same production will still turn out different performances every night.

Also, theatre is painfully ethereal. There are only three shows I can imagine running for ever and ever and ever; everything else will eventually close, and then we won't have the DVDs or books as a reminder in quite the same way film or book fans do. All that will be left is our memories. Even shows that do end up on DVD - like the Les Mis 10th anniversary concert or the RSC's Hamlet - are never the same as seeing it live in the theatre, either on a literal level or on an emotional level.

TL;DR - 1) because it literally can never be the same twice, and 2) because it won't be around forever. What's not to understand?

[Kathryn2]

Hmm, I suspect this question is really about why people become fans in general! It seems to be that certain people (I include myself in this) are predisposed to become obsessive about things, passionately enthusisatic about then, and derive huge amounts of pleasure from experiencing them again and again - whether that be certain books, authors, plays, playwrites, actors, singers, TV shows and so on.

As Weez says - it's far more understandable to watch a play or a show many times than watch a film or or read a book over and over again, as it will be a different experience each time - even if the cast perform in exactly the same way (which is unlikely), the audience will respond differently, or there'll be a different atmosphere.

I actually have no idea why some people are natural 'fans' and others are quite happy just to see/experience things once. Or why I become particularly 'fannish' about certain things/people and not others. But if it brings pleasure and doesn't get into the realms of stalking or delusions then it's harmless enough.