Part One: A through G
I came from a family where Dad watched the Indy 500 while Mom went to hear the philharmonic perform. It wasn’t until I was majoring in acting in college that my father begin to love the theater, and now he knows Seth Rudetsky by voice and listens to the Broadway Channel on Sirius Satellite Radio. I’ve polled my theatre and civilian friends and family members for their advice on how to get your date off the couch and into the theatre.
A: Advance Notice
If your date isn’t a frequent theater-goer, springing a trip to Dionysus’ temple isn’t likely to go over too well. Give him a heads up and the whole evening is likely to go more smoothly. Some of my friends have a specific day of each month that is their theatre date, and their partners love it. Others find that choosing the show and date together is more effective. Find out what works best for your dude and make it part of your habit.
B: Be Critical
Some of my friends said they only started enjoying theater when they were given permission to not jump to their feet at the end of every performance. So here it is, permission granted. You don’t have to love (and shouldn’t love) everything you see.
C: Compromise
He loves the Mariners; you love musicals… He loves eating at the Elysian; you love Shakespeare. You’re not quite the Capulets and the Montagues, so make compromising part of the fun of your dating experience. It’s a bit of dating 101, but sometimes we know we want to compromise, but we aren’t sure how. So, one week you join him at Safeco, the next you’re both headed to the Paramount. Or you treat him to his favorite steakhouse before you head off to see Cats. Make the evening something you can both look forward to.
D: Drink
A trip to the theatre is a chance to relax, to celebrate the world we live in and to treat yourself to the original 3D experience. Whether it’s a mimosa before the matinee or Raspberry Lemonade with dinner, get yourself to a special drink before hitting the show.
E: Eat out
See “Drink.” Apply to “Food.” Make your trip to the theatre more than just a rush to get your butt downtown and into a seat.
F: Fringe
Mainstream theatres often have fiscal responsibilities and subscriber bases that prohibit them from taking on edgy projects. While you can catch Book of Mormon or Next to Normal at the larger houses in town, you’ll find edgier shows to by venturing out to the smaller, local theaters. Keep an eye on Annex, Balagan, and Taproot for high-quality productions with a more immediate feel than the 2100 house at the 5th Avenue.
G: Gab
See “Be Critical.” A show at the theater is a complete event: rarely is there a part two or a sequel arriving next weekend. You can’t spend the week wondering what will happen to your favorite characters on the next episode. Use the time after the show to talk about your experience, discuss if you liked the venue, the story, the production itself. You might even discover some hints as to what sort of theaters or shows you should try next time.
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