Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > United States
Reload this Page >

Broadway Banter 2014: Starting off with book recommendation

Broadway Banter 2014: Starting off with book recommendation

Old Feb 18th, 2014, 11:59 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Broadway Banter 2014: Starting off with book recommendation

Time for a new thread. And, I'm starting it off recommending a must-read for theater affectionados. It's called Song of Spider-Man by Glen Berger. It's a most interesting and detailed saga of the much publicized trouble-laden trip of the show through its long, long, long developmental and preview stage to its opening. The writer is the co-author of the show.
I never saw the show and found it interesting (or is the word "fascinating"?).. I can imagine that those of you who did see the show would enjoy it even more.
HowardR is offline  
Old Feb 18th, 2014, 12:57 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 36,842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Well, I'll start the rest of this thread by saying that I mentioned before how much I LOVED After Midnight when I saw it with Fantasia. This weekend I saw it again, this time with k.d.lang. Wow. The two guest stars sing the same four songs but there is not a shred of comparison between them -- they couldn't be more different. But both work, and I'd be hard pressed to say which one is better. I think overall I did enjoy k.d.'s a lot because it was such a contrast to the rest of the show -- not simply because she is the only white performer, but because her style is so completely different from any other performer in the show and so "unexpected".

In any case, I think this is perhaps the best "juke-box" musical ever -- one with no original songs, but rather classics and no real story or plot either.
NeoPatrick is offline  
Old Feb 18th, 2014, 01:16 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,391
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The NYC Fringe festival did a parody of the saga of Julie and Spiderman that was wonderful. I didn't have to go to see the real thing. Two theatre books that I would recommend are The Jets and the Sharks - Our Story and Our Musicals Ourselves. I won't be able to go on Sunday (funeral) but if you can make it way uptown go see Rita Moreno introduce West Side Story (with Spanish Subtitles) here (post has a link to the Jets and the Sharks)

http://thestarryeye.typepad.com/expl...f-culture.html

This post is older but has useful book and essay links.
http://thestarryeye.typepad.com/expl...he-mosque.html
SueNYC is offline  
Old Feb 18th, 2014, 02:50 PM
  #4  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Patrick, your comments only add to my yearning to see After Midnight......just waiting for the snow and cold weather to go away!

Adding to Sue's and my list of recommended reading are these two:

1. Backstage Pass to Broadway: True Tales from a Theatrical Press Agent, by Susan L. Schulman. This is a delightful paperback in which the author recounts her experiences with a host of celebrity performers. A real fun read.

2. Anything Goes: A History of American Musical Theater, by Ethan Mordden. A most interesting history of the musical theater dating back to its American origins. I especially loved the discussions shows that I've seen over the years.
HowardR is offline  
Old Feb 18th, 2014, 04:40 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 36,842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
And speaking of juke box musicals, let me say Beautiful is just that! I always thought of Carole King as a sort of dull female Barry Manilow (and I don't mean that in a good way). But I had no idea about all those dynamite songs she wrote in the 60s and 70s. The show is not unlike Jersey Boys, but a lot better put together in my opinion. Beautiful is breaking records at the Stephen Sondheim.
NeoPatrick is offline  
Old Feb 18th, 2014, 07:37 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,622
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You all are making me want to get back to NYC to see some shows. We go a few times a year but my son has not been doing well so we have not been since last May. These days my husband and I can not be away from home at the same time.

Beautiful and After Midnight both sound interesting. And I am looking for some new reads so will be checking out the books recommended above.

Neo, was this last weekend your anniversary weekend in they city?
emd3 is offline  
Old Feb 19th, 2014, 04:21 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 36,842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yes., emd, which reminds me. I'll go do a trip report now.
NeoPatrick is offline  
Old Feb 19th, 2014, 06:33 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 36,842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
And so I did, but failed to mark it as a trip report. Just click on my name if you want to find it.
NeoPatrick is offline  
Old Feb 20th, 2014, 06:04 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
A small group of us are visiting NY in May and are interested in seeing A Raisin in the Sun at the Barrymore Theatre. Anyone had seats in the rear mezzanine there?
ksera123 is offline  
Old Feb 21st, 2014, 03:13 AM
  #10  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It's not that large a theater, so you should be okay.
HowardR is offline  
Old Feb 21st, 2014, 04:31 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 36,842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
ksera, many people sit in the rear mezzanine of many shows (and Howard is right that this isn't a really large theatre) and are perfectly happy. For me, with a non musical that depends on acting which includes things like facial expression -- I feel I miss too much. From that distance could I see an actor make a "knowing glance" to another actor? Or raise an eyebrow at something someone else says to indicate that he doesn't agree? No way. But the if you're not into the intricate subtleties of acting, you'll certainly be fine.

I'm not sure what else might be available or if it is a matter of cost, but frankly for a more intimate show like Raisin in the Sun, I'd rather be down in one of the front rows even at the extreme side where I can really see faces than up in the back of the mezzanine, but that may just be me.
NeoPatrick is offline  
Old Feb 21st, 2014, 09:23 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Great feedback. Thank you! I hadn't thought about that level of facial expressions. Broadwaybox has rear mezzanine discount seats, so it was a matter of cost. The play itself is the one we all agree to see while we're there. I will likely reconsider the seat selection and fork out the extra money.
ksera123 is offline  
Old Feb 21st, 2014, 11:44 AM
  #13  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
While Patrick has certainly made some good points about those seats, at the same time, don't feel that the seats are lousy. I can say from experience that there have been times when I've thoroughly enjoyed "small shows" from the rear mezzanine of a small theater. And, hey, with the price of theater tickets today, I welcome any discounts offered!
HowardR is offline  
Old Feb 22nd, 2014, 01:26 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 82,683
Received 46 Likes on 17 Posts
I'm so disappointed. I was supposed to be there this week. I decided to cancel, for what I thought was a good reason, but turned out I should have gone anyway.

Back to good stuff - this popped up on my news feed today.

Wish I had been there to see k d in person -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnHyS...sxhjsKGs9uiECA
starrs is offline  
Old Feb 22nd, 2014, 04:47 AM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 36,842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
yep, starrs, she is GREAT! But the show stopper for her is her rendition of the Cab Calloway number Zaz Zuh Zaz.
NeoPatrick is offline  
Old Feb 23rd, 2014, 05:11 PM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 9,613
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Neo, I am glad you enjoyed Beautiful. We saw it in its trial run in San Francisco and loved it. The actress playing Carole King is so talented and I, too, was surprised how many songs Carole had written. I hope she show does well on Broadway.
KTtravel is online now  
Old Feb 23rd, 2014, 08:07 PM
  #17  
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,530
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Wow, thanks for that starrs. My share of it on the other side of the world! Looks fabulous.
Peteralan is offline  
Old Feb 24th, 2014, 04:21 AM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 36,842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
ksera, I just got an email for discounts for A Raisin in the Sun. Did you book yet? If not, go to Broadwayoffers.com (which is Telecharge, the official booking for the show. Enter promo code RSNDRLNDR2 and pick your seats. Discounts extend through May!
NeoPatrick is offline  
Old Feb 24th, 2014, 11:53 AM
  #19  
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 9,613
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Are there any other shows those in the know have really enjoyed recently? We will be there towards the end of April and are hoping to see a few shows. Thanks!
KTtravel is online now  
Old Feb 24th, 2014, 12:03 PM
  #20  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 36,842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Musicals? Plays? Comedy? Drama? Things you like? Things you've already seen?
NeoPatrick is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -