Example: A Season of Broadway Shows (Journal Entries)

The hardest part of starting a theatre journal isn't the writing. It's not knowing what a filled-in page actually looks like. How detailed should entries be? What's worth noting? What does a documented theatre season become?

Here's one theatregoer's season. 7 shows from October through March, covering a Broadway musical, a straight play, a revival, community theatre, and a repeat viewing. Some entries are thorough. Others are minimal. Both approaches work.

The Hadestown entry has three different ink colors. Started with black, ran out, switched to blue mid-sentence. The handwriting gets messier toward the bottom. written on the train home before the details faded.

What You'll Notice

Across these 7 entries, patterns emerge:

Not every entry is detailed. Some shows get paragraphs; some get bullet points.
The "Expectations vs. Reality" prompt shows up repeatedly. It captures something ratings miss.
Community theatre gets the same treatment as Broadway. The format works for any live performance.
Repeat viewings have their own value. Comparing casts is part of the fun.

The journal used here is the Theatre Remembered journal, which has three pages per show: details and cast, reflections and ratings, and memorabilia. Room for 40 productions (enough for 3-5 years for most theatregoers.)

October 14: Hadestown (Broadway Musical)

Show: Hadestown
Date: October 14, Saturday evening
Theatre: Walter Kerr Theatre, NYC
Seat: Orchestra L, Row G
Who I Went With: Sarah, birthday trip

Notable Cast: Lillias White as Hermes (she was extraordinary), Eva Noblezada's replacement as Eurydice

What I Did Before/After: Dinner at Sardi's (touristy but felt right), walked through Times Square after, too buzzing to go home immediately

Experiences: ☑ Program souvenir ☑ Stage door experience ☑ Pre/post-show discussion

Favorite Scene or Quote: "Wait for Me" with the stage floor rotating (the staging made my chest tight)

Post-Show Reflections: This is what theatre is supposed to feel like. The folk/New Orleans sound worked better live than on the recording. Hermes stole every scene she was in. I cried during "Epic III."

Three Words: Devastating. Gorgeous. Earned.

Expectations vs. Reality: Expected good based on the cast album. Got something much more affecting in person. The staging adds so much the recording can't capture.

See Again? Absolutely yes.

[PHOTO: Three-page spread showing the Hadestown entry. Page 1 with show details filled in, page 2 with reflections and the 5-star overall rating visible, page 3 with ticket stub taped in alongside a clipped page from the playbill showing the cast headshots]

November 3: The Lehman Trilogy (Straight Play)

Show: The Lehman Trilogy
Date: November 3, Friday evening
Theatre: Nederlander Theatre, NYC
Seat: Mezzanine C, Row A
Who I Went With: Mark (work friend, first time seeing theatre together)

Notable Cast: Three actors playing all roles (Jordan Donica particularly good)

What I Did Before/After: Quick dinner at a diner near the theatre, nothing fancy. Train home immediately after (3.5 hour show, we were exhausted.)

Experiences: ☑ Program souvenir

Favorite Scene or Quote: The rotating glass box set was hypnotic. Watching three actors play an entire family across 150 years.

Post-Show Reflections: Long. Worth it, but long. Mark dozed during the third act. I was engaged but fatigued. The performances were virtuosic (you believe they're different people across decades.)

Three Words: Ambitious. Exhausting. Impressive.

Expectations vs. Reality: Expected a prestige play. Got exactly that. Nothing surprising, just very well executed.

See Again? No (once is enough. Glad I saw it.)

[PHOTO: Entry showing the different rating pattern for a play. choreography marked N/A, higher score for performances than overall]

December 8: A Christmas Carol (Local Repertory)

Show: A Christmas Carol
Date: December 8, Saturday matinee
Theatre: Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis
Seat: Main floor, center section
Who I Went With: Mom, holiday tradition

Notable Cast: Local repertory company, no names I recognized

What I Did Before/After: Brunch at Hell's Kitchen beforehand (the hash was excellent), holiday shopping after

Experiences: ☑ Program souvenir ☑ Pre/post-show discussion

Favorite Scene or Quote: The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come was staged with just lighting and fabric (simple and terrifying)

Post-Show Reflections: We've seen this production three years running. It's tradition. The Scrooge was new this year. more comedic than the previous actor. I preferred last year's, but Mom thought this one worked better.

Three Words: Warm. Familiar. Cozy.

Expectations vs. Reality: Knew exactly what we were getting. That's the point.

See Again? Same time next year.

[PHOTO: Entry demonstrating community/regional theatre documentation with "Times Seen: 3" bubble filled in at the top]

January 19: Merrily We Roll Along (Revival)

Show: Merrily We Roll Along
Date: January 19, Thursday evening
Theatre: Hudson Theatre, NYC
Seat: Orchestra, Row K (lottery win!)
Who I Went With: Solo

Notable Cast: Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez, Daniel Radcliffe (original Broadway revival cast)

What I Did Before/After: Grabbed a slice near Port Authority, nothing special. Waited at stage door for 40 minutes after (got Groff and Radcliffe.)

Experiences: ☑ Program souvenir ☑ Met a cast member ☑ Stage door experience

Favorite Scene or Quote: "Old Friends" in the context of the backward timeline destroyed me. The final scene, which is the beginning, was devastating.

Post-Show Reflections: I've listened to the 1981 recording forever. This production made the show make sense in a way it never had before. The reverse chronology works so much better when you're watching these specific actors age backward. Jonathan Groff's final moments were shattering.

Three Words: Vindicated. Moving. Perfect.

Expectations vs. Reality: I expected to like it. I didn't expect to sob during the finale. The original production flopped. this one proves Sondheim was right all along.

See Again? Would have seen it five more times if I'd won more lotteries.

[PHOTO: Entry with "Met a cast member" checkbox marked, stage door photos tucked into the memorabilia page]

February 9: Our Town (Community Theatre)

Show: Our Town
Date: February 9, Friday evening
Theatre: Community Playhouse, local
Seat: General admission, third row
Who I Went With: Partner, supporting a friend in the cast

Notable Cast: Friend played Mrs. Webb (she was actually great)

What I Did Before/After: Casual dinner at home. Flowers for the cast after.

Experiences: ☑ Met a cast member (obviously) ☑ Pre/post-show discussion

Favorite Scene or Quote: The funeral scene still works, even in a stripped-down production

Post-Show Reflections: This play is indestructible. Even with community theatre production values, the third act gutted me. Our friend was genuinely good (not just "good for community theatre.")

Three Words: Simple. Devastating. Universal.

Expectations vs. Reality: Low expectations for the production, high hopes for supporting a friend. Exceeded on both.

See Again? Not this production specifically, but I'd see Our Town again in a heartbeat.

[PHOTO: Entry showing more modest ratings with a note about friend in cast (demonstrates journal works for all production levels])

March 2: Hamilton (Touring Production)

Show: Hamilton
Date: March 2, Sunday matinee
Theatre: Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis
Seat: Balcony, center
Who I Went With: Two friends from college, first time for both of them

Notable Cast: Touring cast, no names I knew going in (but Burr was exceptional)

What I Did Before/After: Coffee and bagels before, long drive home after (their first Hamilton (we talked the whole way))

Experiences: ☑ Program souvenir ☑ Bought merchandise ☑ Pre/post-show discussion

Favorite Scene or Quote: Watching my friends react to "The Room Where It Happens" live was almost as good as the song itself

Post-Show Reflections: I've seen the filmed version dozens of times. This is my second live Hamilton, different cast. The touring production was tighter than I expected. My friends were emotional wrecks by "It's Quiet Uptown."

Three Words: Electric. Fun. Shared.

Expectations vs. Reality: Knew the show inside out. The joy was watching friends experience it fresh.

See Again? Would see this show with first-timers any time.

[PHOTO: Entry with "Times Seen: 2" marked, notes focused on experiencing the show through friends' eyes]

March 22: Merrily We Roll Along (Second Viewing)

Show: Merrily We Roll Along
Date: March 22, Saturday matinee
Theatre: Hudson Theatre, NYC
Seat: Mezzanine, Row D
Who I Went With: Partner (their first time seeing it)

Notable Cast: Same principals as January (Groff, Mendez, Radcliffe)

What I Did Before/After: Nice lunch at Le Bernardin (splurge for the trip), walked to the theatre through Central Park

Experiences: ☑ Program souvenir ☑ Pre/post-show discussion ☑ VIP/Premium package (not really, but it felt like it)

Favorite Scene or Quote: "Not a Day Goes By" hit even harder the second time, knowing what's coming

Post-Show Reflections: Different experience seeing it with someone. I watched their reactions as much as the show. Certain moments landed harder the second time. the structure reveals more when you know where it's going.

Three Words: Richer. Emotional. Complete.

Expectations vs. Reality: Expected to love it again. I did. But seeing it with fresh eyes next to me added something.

See Again? Honestly, if it were still running, yes.

[PHOTO: Second entry for same show demonstrating "Times Seen: 2" usage and comparative notes to first viewing]

What Seven Shows Reveal

After one season, the journal shows:

Favorites: Merrily We Roll Along earned two entries and identical 5-star overall ratings. Hadestown was a single transcendent experience.

Patterns: I rate performances higher than production values most of the time. Choreography rarely drives my overall rating unless it's exceptional.

What I value: The "before/after" notes reveal I care about the full experience. dinner, stage door, who I'm with. The show alone isn't the whole story.

Repeat viewings: Seeing the same show twice (Merrily) with different companions created genuinely different entries. The second viewing wasn't redundant (it was its own experience.)

For a complete list of what to document after every show, see our theatre journal prompts. For the full approach to theatre documentation, start with our theatre journaling guide.

The Theatre Remembered journal holds 40 productions. enough for several seasons of entries like these. Three pages per show gives you room for everything: the facts, your reactions, and the memorabilia that proves you were there.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to write each entry?

Most entries take 10-15 minutes. Quick shows with minimal notes (like Our Town above) take 5 minutes. Shows that mattered deeply (like Merrily) might take 20.

Should every entry be this detailed?

No. Some of these are thorough because the experience warranted it. Others are minimal. The format accommodates both without making sparse entries feel incomplete.

What if I see a show and don't love it?

Document it anyway. The February entry for Our Town has modest ratings but still captures something worth remembering. Bad or mediocre shows are data too.

How do I handle repeat viewings of the same show?

Separate entries. The two Merrily entries above show how different the same show can feel with different companions or on a second viewing. The "Times Seen" counter tracks frequency; the entries track experiences.

Do I need to photograph every entry?

Only if you want to. The [PHOTO] placeholders above suggest where images might go in an article like this. In your actual journal, the writing and memorabilia are enough.

What if I see more than 40 shows?

Start a second volume. Some theatregoers fill a journal in 2 years; others take 5+. The 40-entry capacity works for most people across multiple seasons.

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