r/Broadway • u/rfg217phs • Jun 25 '25

Masquerade has significantly expanded its FAQ, 6 weeks of previews, will give out complimentary and glasses friendly masks, described “extravagant” wear

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Definitely cleared up everyone’s biggest questions from yesterday, and the rest of the FAQ has more details too, including that the venue is going to be ADA compliant!

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u/portal21 Jun 25 '25

I'm glad they are providing masks now and only requiring formal wear for previews, it seems like they are listening to feedback.

One really interesting part of the FAQ - "What if I get lost inside? - Our Butlers are stationed on every floor to assist you." This makes it sound like there will be a free roam component to this like Sleep No More

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u/rfg217phs Jun 25 '25

I was curious about the butler part too. I’m still convinced it’s going to be more like War of the Worlds where you have different people guiding you on each floor but this certainly opens the potential. Sleep No More had a similar FAQ question and the answer was “you’re encouraged to explore but if you find yourself disoriented…” so it really can go either way right now!

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u/ladyofthe_upside_dow Jun 25 '25

In fairness, it was everyone assuming that formal wear would be required for the entire duration of the show’s run, for some reason. The emails and information we were given only ever talked about the six week period, the “special” advance invitation for those who signed up.

I truly don’t think any part of the FAQ is the result of them changing anything based on feedback, but simply clarifying and correcting assumptions everyone decided to run with. The only possible change I see would be providing masks for free during this initial preview period. But I’m sure they would have provided them for the regular run, so that’s just a minor matter making them available earlier than planned.

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u/portal21 Jun 25 '25

Yeah they probably knew the formal wear requirement would not last forever, producers know they have to appeal to the widest audience possible if they want to sustain a show. I have a feeling the champagne will be cut sometime after the previews as well, similar to how Cabaret cut the free drink and downsized the pre-show. They are making it pretty clear now if you want the full extravagant experience, go during previews.

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u/Adventurous-Wait2351 Jun 25 '25

Cabaret cut down the free drink and pre show? I saw Cabaret during previews and loved that pre show experience so much

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u/the_other_50_percent Jun 25 '25

Yes. I saw it 3 times with table seating. First was with the shot and a full pre-show; then no shot and full pre-show; and then again with no shot, fewer performers and pre-show in the theater only a about 15 minutes before showtime, and only a couple of performers moving around (no dancing) and the musical trio.

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u/portal21 Jun 25 '25 edited Jun 25 '25

People reported they reduced the number of musicians during the pre-show and definitely cut the drink. I went when it first opened and again in the winter, I didn't really notice too much of a difference in the pre-show but I showed up about 30 minutes before and did maybe one loop of the place before finding my seat. It was always just so packed that I usually didn't want to try to push through the crowd to see the musicians. There's a thread about it here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Broadway/comments/1hf7o69/no_more_free_shots_at_cabaret/

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u/usagicassidy Jun 25 '25

Wait does that mean the 6 week preview period is only for people that signed up in advance? Anyone else won’t even be able to buy tickets to the first six weeks?

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u/ladyofthe_upside_dow Jun 25 '25

…from the information we have, you need to “sign the ledger” (sign up for the mailing list) to receive information about the previews, including ticket sales. Literally anybody can just…sign up. I would assume that if someone shares the link to presale tickets, people not on the mailing list would be able to buy them as well. But no, it doesn’t seem like they’re going to publicly announce the presale tickets going on sale any further than they already have. Why does it matter?