What's the deal with a Preview?

What is a preview?

We get this question a lot. Folks want to know if they'll see a whole performance, or if a preview is really a rehearsal that will stop and start.

A preview is simply one of the first (or in some cases the first) performance for an audience. In most cases, just like in New York, previews are priced less than the later performances, starting with the official "opening night."

So, to answer those common questions:

• YES! You will absolutely see a full production.
• NO! A preview is not a rehearsal that will stop and start. Seeing a preview is seamless to an audience member.

For a locally produced show, it is often the first opportunity for the actors and crew members to gauge audience reaction -- when are people going to laugh? When are people going to applaud? Should that light cue come a half second earlier? Should that music cue be one second later? Large touring Broadway shows also may choose to have previews. These shows already have a good gauge of audience reaction and their technical needs since they have probably performed their show hundreds of times, but they are adjusting to a new space. So, they might need to cue a scenic element to fly in a few seconds earlier or later than they did in their last city, because it has to travel a longer (or shorter) distance.

These minor behind-the-scenes adjustments are to make the cast and crew more comfortable in their new surroundings.

Any comments or questions about previews (or anything else)? Let us know and we'll be happy to answer!

More on student rush offers

We've gotten a few questions recently via email about student rush offers, and so I thought I'd post this response from Nick Smith, one of your friendly neighborhood Ticket Office Managers. This response was to a question as to how someone goes about getting one of the 50% off student rush tickets to The Lion King:

Thank you for your interest in our theater!

On June 3rd the only performance we have scheduled is a 7:30pm showing of Disney’s The Lion King. If you are interested we do have a student discount that is 50% off. This discount is available 90 minutes prior to the performance, with a valid student ID at the ticket office window.

For the latest information on discounted performances you can click this link:

http://www.tbpac.org/ticketoffice/discounts.htm

We look forward to seeing you at the theater!

Nicholas Smith
Ticketing - Customer Service Manager
Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center

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