Broadway vs West End: 8 differences no one told me about!
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- Опубликовано: 7 июл 2024
- During my recent visit to New York City, I went to see two Broadway shows, Chicago & Sweeney Todd. It was a dream come true! But also, I've spotted some differences between Broadway theatre experience and the West End and in this video I'm sharing what those are.
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TIMESTAMPS 🕰️
0:00 Intro
0:17 Tickets
2:50 Programme
3:30 Ushers
4:22 Drinks
5:27 Theatres
7:08 Audiences
8:04 Intervals
8:56 Cast
#broadway #newyorkcity #london #nyc #nycvlog #theatre #theater #newyork #westend #youtuber #vlogger #travel #traveling #usa #uk 
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New York City has so much to offer when it comes to exploring the theatre culture. I've tried to squeeze in as many Broadway related activities and these are my 4 favourites that I think you should check out if you are a theatre lover 🎭 ruclips.net/video/S5ZXjNRjci4/видео.html
One time after a Broadway show, my mom and I were leaving the theater, which was across the street from where a play with Patrick Stewart was playing, which was also letting out, so we hung out to see if he'd make an appearance. He came out after around 10 minutes and must've spent a good 30 minutes talking to fans, posing for pictures, and signing autographs. You could tell he was genuinely happy to do it, he seemed like a real gent.
I love this! I felt the same about Chicago cast - they were so happy to chat to everyone, sign autographs, take selfies. It was so nice to see and honour them as they were incredible! However for Sweeney Todd, a lot of the cast didn’t come out as it was a matinée performance and they only had about an hour left before the next performance.
The reason ticket prices are lower for the West End is simple- theater is government subsidized to lower the prices; no such thing in the US. There are of course grants and government funding for the arts in many ways but not to reduce the price of tickets in “for profit” theatre which is what Broadway is.
That makes sense and the difference really can be felt when it comes to buying tickets. Feeling pretty lucky that theatre is still kind of affordable in London. 🙏🏻
A few things from my experiences with Broadway:
-Intermission is technically designated as 15 mins but can be longer depending on communication between house and stage management.
-$44 is abnormally high- your friend may have gotten a “double” or a particularly expensive brand of wine.
-Clapping at the end of each number is basically mandatory; standing ovations are expected.
Thanks for your comment! So interesting to hear your experiences and insights! ☺️ haha yes that $44 wine ain’t gonna happen again! He’s learned his lesson. 😂
Thank you for uploading. Very informative. The only thing that surprised me was your comment about the applause - in my humble experience West End audiences seem to clap at the end of every song and after every funny line. I look forward to seeing more of your content.😊
Thanks so much for watching and commenting! ☺️ that’s a very interesting observation! I think this definitely depends on the show - as I went to see Chicago and Sweeney on Broadway (both very engaging and at times funny shows), there were so many laughs and spontaneous reactions. West End audiences are amazing too, just maybe Broadway’s came across a bit louder in my experience. 😊
Also, one thing I noticed when visiting London was that the West End shows didn't really have security screenings compared to Broadway... at least for the shows I've seen, I don't remember having to pass through any metal detectors
That's so true! They normally check for bags in West End theatres but there isn't a metal detector like the on on Broadway. Thanks so much for sharing, feel like part 2 of this video might be coming. :)
That’s why I dislike NYC
Yes the drinks prices are insane! Especially since you don't have a choice about the branded cup. Although I like getting a soda or something (usually about $10ish...) to get the cup as well, and you can also then sometimes use that to get refills cheaper (but not always, it seems to depend on the show/theatre)
I couldn’t believe they are SO expensive! But that’s a really good tip you shared ☺️ next time I go, I’ll try and do that instead.
It depends on the theater owner (Jujamcyn/Nederlander/Shubert).... from what I recall Jujamcyn theaters have this policy ($5 off for a refill) but it may have changed after the pandemic.
i've definitely noticed a difference in audience reactions as well! i am from the US and just recently saw my first west end show, and i was shocked both by how much less people clapped but also that very few people gave a standing ovation during bows! maybe i'm wrong and just got a less enthusiastic audience but i feel in the US it's much more normal to give a standing o at the end of professional productions (or any production that you enjoyed for that matter) and it was a difference i was not expecting at all
I think standing ovations are over used these days. I am British and traditionally we would expect to do things like that for something outstanding or a performers last show. It's kind of expected these days no matter how lacklustre the show
@oliveen I also felt like US audiences are more generous with applauses and reactions, it definitely gives a different feel to the the experience - personally, don’t think it’s good or bad, just different.
We Americans have bought into Hollywood hype about what "good" theater means - it means a standing ovation, of course. Regardless of the quality. A true standing ovation is a rarity and a marvel to behold - the audience literally cannot help itself and may not be aware that they are standing. Our general level of artistic discernment has deteriorated to the point of being meaningless.
Standing ovations have gotten out of control in lots of places other than the US. Every year at the Venice film festival, a standing ovation of only 5 or 6 minutes is a big disappointment. They have to stand and applaud there for at least 10 or 12 minutes or it’s not really a success.
I can’t believe you found tickets for 100 apiece. Even the discount sites and TXTS are usually 150+. Same day tickets not guaranteed, and many theaters refuse to sell singles. Nice job!
Oh wow! Sounds like I’ve got very lucky! It definitely seemed less affordable in NYC compared to London. I regularly get 30-40£ tickets for London shows.
A couple of things
Seating - on Broadway seats are numbered odd on one side even on the other.This means your tickets will look seperated eg 1 & 3 will actually be together.Also if there are 3 blocks of seats the centre seats will be numbered 100+ and this means you know you are sitting centre to the stage
Foyers- broadway theatres do not have much foyer space therefore the theatres tend to open 30mins before with audiences queuing outside.This also means there is not much space for bars and merchandising.This may be why intervals are shorter as there is nowhere to go.
Yesssss! I remember that about seating now…I’ve had a major freakout as we were going to our seats thinking I’ve booked us two seats with someone else in between them. 🙈
Such a good point regarding foyers - there’s just a little space at the back for the bar and merch. All makes sense!
Thanks so much for watching the video and sharing your experience! ☺️
I’ve never found TKTS to be cheaper or easy. I use Today Tix for advanced tickets. But the best cheaper seats are the lottery or rush tickets. They usually are $35-$45 max and that including tax. Which might be 30-40 pounds depending on what the exchange is I think. It always says “partial view” but I have personally never had an issue. You might miss a sight line upstage but still be in the orchestra. Sometimes I was in the way back. But hey I have seen over 200 shows so I don’t mind 😅
Over 200 shows! That’s super impressive! 😍 when I was in NYC, TodayTix was a bit temperamental and I couldn’t really find many deals. In London, I can find cheap deals quite regularly through them. But I guess it’s different when you live in the city compared to when you are visiting and have a limited time to see shows. ☺️ what’s your favourite show you’ve seen this year?
It might be just under 200. But I did make a spreadsheet of every show I’ve seen and it’s around 140, but that doesn’t count my multiples or revivals because the multiples I lost count of. I live in NJ the next state over so it’s a quick 1 hour day trip for me. Sweeney Todd is my all time favorite. Saw the original cast with Josh Groban and the newest one with Aaron Tveit and Sutton Foster. They are big Broadway names & I love them!
But I agree I didn’t like when Today Tix didn’t let you pick your seat. For the past few shows over the months it has let me choose my spot. I guess they got enough complaints 😅 But yes our prices are crazy compared to yours which is why I always try for lotto unless it’s super popular and there is a slim chance of winning. I also just sneak in my own snacks and water like a movie. And with the cups a handful of people, like myself and family, we will never buy a drink at the theater. But so many people leave them after the show on the floor in their seats. You just grab them & wash it at home or in the theater bathroom before going home. It would just get thrown out anyway. I’m not a germaphobe but I know others get weirded out by it.
Broadway theatres don't tend to have lobbies so when you go in it's directly into the auditorium.
Very true! It does seem like everything is one big room.
A lot of the stage doors for the theaters in NY are right next to the main entrance of the venue, which is why there were crowds around the sidewalks for stagedooring!
I’ve found that super interesting! In London, you need to go all the way to the back for most theatres…they are pretty hidden, in my experience.
Depending on the theater, some of the ones on Broadway to have a Balcony above the mezzanine and at Lincoln Center they have the dress corcle also
That’s good to know! I went to two theatres on Broadway and both had two levels only. In the West End is more common to have 3-4 levels…don’t think I’ve ever been to a theatre with two levels in London. But that’s just my experience so far. ☺️ thanks so much for watching and commenting!
The way the shows are run also have differences.
I have been a stage manager in the USA for over a decade but worked with UK based troupes when they came to perform over here and regularly speak with UK based stage managers. Some of the terminology is different, there are different titles for different types of stage managers.
When working for some smaller companies, if the booth was close enough to the audience that they could here me if I was loud, I was told to start clapping after each scene to encourage the audience to. It was a strange experience for me but the companies wanted the audience to feel more comfortable and have fun.
Oh wow! This is a whole new level of insight, thank you so much for sharing! 😊
That’s so interesting - I never thought that would be the reason behind it but it makes total sense, especially if it’s a humorous production. I can imagine that going to see a serious play feels much different.
@@KristinaEmilyOfficial The show I remember being the most confused by this happening was Equus, which is not exactly a comedic play.
I never been to New York so I never been to broadway but I heard during the interval broadway don’t sell Ice cream which to me is a must have during the interval!
Omg Marcus! That’s soooo true! Completely forgot about that but I have noticed they don’t sell ice cream. Gotta do an amended verison of the video to make up for this! I agree that ice cream is a must! 😂☺️
On Broadway and throughout the US, it’s called intermission, not interval.
It would be interesting if you explain currency exchange - for example 25 pounds is roughly 31 dollars. If you don't explain that difference, people don't understand just how much more expensive Broadway is.
That’s a really good suggestion, thank you! And yes, it works out almost double what people pay on the West End for the same type of seat.
Stage Dooring on broadway is a huge thing.
There aren't alleys in NYC, so unless it is a big theater that takes up an entire block depth, there isn't really a back door for stage dooring.
So true! It’s interesting how all these things impact the experience of going to theatre. Thank you so much for checking this video our and commenting. 😊
Love your videos. After watching I started to think about the differences , it’s really interesting.
@@ccuda480 thank you so much - I'm so happy to hear that! :) if you spot any additional ones - let me know! I find it fascinating!
If I ever go to NYC I will stand for cheap tickets that sounds good to me lol
I’ve heard that you can get really good deals so definitely worth considering if you are flexible with the shows you’d like to see and have enough time to queue up. 😊 hope you get to go soon!
I love Broadway but have never been to the west end. What are 5 shows I should see on my first trip?
You’d love West End, so much to see and explore. I’ve recommended some classics in this video but if you’re a regular theatre fan you might have already seen them: ruclips.net/video/qpuGEjUiQ1g/видео.html. If you are coming to London in the next few months, Cabaret is a must see!
I don't have any recommendations other than a weekday matinee is always very cheap. I don't know if matinees are a thing in the US but they're an excellent way to see live theatre in the UK on a tight budget.
My recommendations:
-The Mousetrap
-The Play That Goes Wrong
-Matilda
-Guys and Dolls (Bridge Theatre)
-Cabaret at the Kitkat Club
Les Mis, Matilda, 2:22, Book of Mormon and something Shakespeare... or if it's still on, the Great British Bakeoff musical!
Only have been to one West End production - Hamilton. I noticed that the ticket sales are more comtrolled which elimiates resellers. That’s good because scalpers get rich rather than the creatives.
Question for you - Is it only Hamilton that controls the West End sales, or are the same protocols in place for every show, i.e.: show original recipt, same credit card, and ID.
Broadway needs to find a way to eliminate scalpers for popular shows. It should replicate what Hamilton West End does.
Interesting…I think there’s more control for some shows over the others. I tend to book my tickets using TodayTix (and Hamilton isn’t on it so I used Ticketmaster for it I believe). But generally, TodayTix has worked out well for me so far - I think you need to have account to purchase tickets via the app.
I’m sure there’s still room for improvement but I haven’t encountered scammers so far.
@@KristinaEmilyOfficial I think you call them ticket touts in the UK, It’s a big problem for popular shows on Broadway, as well as popular sporting events and concerts.
There are definitely Theatres in New York that have more than 2 levels - The Shubert is one and so is the Hudson.
This was a very informative video, but please make sure your information is correct if you are preparing to state this is the general facts.
Thank you so much for watching and commenting! 🤗This is a really good insight, will make sure to clarify that next time. The video is based on my experiences and tickets I’ve tried to book so it was more of an observation rather than a general statement so will make that clear in the future. ☺️
Yes, some Broadway theaters, and most of the theaters in American cities where you can see national tour productions of Broadway shows, have three levels: orchestra, mezzanine, and balcony. The mezzanine level is called that because it's in the middle! Sometimes the front few rows of the mezz is called the loge, and some mezzanines are divided into front and rear sections. If I recall correctly, the Hudson Theater has a front mezz area they call the "dress circle".
We call it - The West End
*$44??* For a glass of wine? At least we get the branded cup. But still.
I know! I was really surprised - it was a large glass of wine and my friend said he didn’t have a choice regarding non-branded or branded cup. In London, we tend to get a transparent plastic cup and that’s that.