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There's No "Allowed" To It

Posted by: enoch10 11:00 pm EST 11/17/14
In reply to: How far in advance of official opening nights are critics allowed in to see the a show? - JohninChicago 12:29 pm EST 11/17/14

there aren't any rules.

it would make sense they would want to see it as close to opening as possible so they wouldn't look silly saying something needed to be fixed that was fixed already.


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isnt there a point where the show is "frozen"

Posted by: dramedy 02:08 pm EST 11/18/14
In reply to: There's No "Allowed" To It - enoch10 11:00 pm EST 11/17/14

so critics can review it.


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re: isnt there a point where the show is "frozen"

Posted by: MikeR 02:15 pm EST 11/18/14
In reply to: isnt there a point where the show is "frozen" - dramedy 02:08 pm EST 11/18/14

Yes. And as Ann notes elsewhere in this thread, critics are invited to specific performances (usually the final 3-4 previews). If you want to see the "frozen" show prior to the official opening night, you'll be safe at those final previews.


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re: isnt there a point where the show is "frozen"

Posted by: enoch10 09:15 pm EST 11/18/14
In reply to: re: isnt there a point where the show is "frozen" - MikeR 02:15 pm EST 11/18/14

rules to me implies some kind of enforceable guidelines (a code of regulations). yes there are nights when they're invited and yes they tend to be right before opening - which make sense for reasons noted - but there's no "rule" that they have to attend that night. for example, if they're invited for, say, thurs - sat, and for whatever reason they need to (or just opt to) go wednesday they haven't broken a "rule."

covering an opening night preview for the review would be a breach of etiquette and any editor worth his salt would insist on a disclaimer but even that's not a rule. it's stupid and inappropriate and i wouldn't recommend doing it but no one's going to point out which specific rule had been broken.

i think i'm defining "rule" more rigidly which i tend to do because i like precision in language.


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re: isnt there a point where the show is "frozen"

Posted by: Ann 11:03 pm EST 11/18/14
In reply to: re: isnt there a point where the show is "frozen" - enoch10 09:15 pm EST 11/18/14

It's a rule of being on the list of invited critics.

You could review a performance before the critics' nights, but you would have bought your own ticket (and you probably be taken off the list for comped review tickets from then on, so you would be buying all tickets).

If you'd rather, it's an agreement. Not complying would break the agreement.


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re: isnt there a point where the show is "frozen"

Posted by: MikeR 09:31 pm EST 11/18/14
In reply to: re: isnt there a point where the show is "frozen" - enoch10 09:15 pm EST 11/18/14

There's a system in place where the critics go on the nights they are invited, and receive complimentary tickets in return. In the past, critics have gone around this system by buying their own tickets, but that's usually reserved for extraordinary circumstances (like the 182 previews for Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark).

As for the word "rule," I'll go with what Merriam-Webster says, rather than what the word implies to me. Their first definition is "a prescribed guide for conduct or action," which would seem to apply.


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re: isnt there a point where the show is "frozen"

Posted by: enoch10 09:42 pm EST 11/18/14
In reply to: re: isnt there a point where the show is "frozen" - MikeR 09:31 pm EST 11/18/14

guess it depends on what dictionary you use. the first one in mine is

>> a principle or regulation governing conduct, action, procedure, arrangement, etc.: the rules of chess.


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re: isnt there a point where the show is "frozen"

Posted by: MikeR 09:44 pm EST 11/18/14
In reply to: re: isnt there a point where the show is "frozen" - enoch10 09:42 pm EST 11/18/14

That would also seem to apply.


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There kind of are rules

Posted by: Ann 11:32 pm EST 11/17/14
In reply to: There's No "Allowed" To It - enoch10 11:00 pm EST 11/17/14

If they want to cooperate and be comped, they go when invited, which is the last few (3 or 4, I think) previews, or later.


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re: There kind of are rules

Posted by: JohninChicago 11:42 pm EST 11/17/14
In reply to: There kind of are rules - Ann 11:32 pm EST 11/17/14

Thanks, Ann!


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re: There kind of are rules

Posted by: NewtonUK 11:26 am EST 11/18/14
In reply to: re: There kind of are rules - JohninChicago 11:42 pm EST 11/17/14

Yes indeed. There are designated press nights, at which the point the show is 'frozen'. The actual opening usually is just 'friends and family', as the review embargo is lifted when the curtain comes down opening night - tho many take curtain going up as license to release reviews online


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