NYC Play Advice
May 12th, 2015, 02:43 PM
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NYC Play Advice
We didn't make it to NYC for spring break this year. However, we are going this summer for a wedding and will plan to see some shows when we are there.
In previous years, I have gotten all my ideas for which shows to see from Fodor's, so I am hoping you can help me this year too.
We will be there in July. We enjoy musicals, but we also enjoy plays too.
Here is a list of plays we have seen and what I thought of them to give you an idea of what I like.
I could no longer plan a trip without the help of all of you. We will be in NYC again for 4 nights in late March and hope to see 4 plays.
I thought it might help if I listed plays I've seen and whether I liked them.
Mamma Mia! - Las Vegas – liked a lot
Movin' Out – NYC – OK
Avenue Q – Las Vegas- liked
Wicked – Chicago – had trouble hearing
Monty Python's Spamalot – Las Vegas – not wild about
Jersey Boys – Las Vegas – really really liked
Mary Poppins –Indianapolis- loved sets- disappointed in changes from classic movie
In the Heights – NYC - really liked
Billy Elliot the Musical – NYC - loved
Rock of Ages – Indianapolis - not wild about
Memphis –NYC - really liked
Million Dollar Quartet - NYC – felt it was slow until the end
Anything Goes NYC. liked
How to Succeed. Nyc. Just ok to me
War Horse. Nyc. Really liked
After the Rainbow NYC. Really liked
Priscilla - NYC - Just ok.
Book of Mormon - Chicago - did not like
Pippen - NYC - Liked
Once - NYC - Loved
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike - NYC - Loved
Peter and the Starcatchers - NYC - Liked
2014
Beautiful - NYC - Loved
Forbidden Broadway - NYC - liked
Bullets over Broadway - NYC - liked
After Midnight - NYC - liked
Kinky Boots - NYC - loved
Mothers and Sons - NYC - liked
In previous years, I have gotten all my ideas for which shows to see from Fodor's, so I am hoping you can help me this year too.
We will be there in July. We enjoy musicals, but we also enjoy plays too.
Here is a list of plays we have seen and what I thought of them to give you an idea of what I like.
I could no longer plan a trip without the help of all of you. We will be in NYC again for 4 nights in late March and hope to see 4 plays.
I thought it might help if I listed plays I've seen and whether I liked them.
Mamma Mia! - Las Vegas – liked a lot
Movin' Out – NYC – OK
Avenue Q – Las Vegas- liked
Wicked – Chicago – had trouble hearing
Monty Python's Spamalot – Las Vegas – not wild about
Jersey Boys – Las Vegas – really really liked
Mary Poppins –Indianapolis- loved sets- disappointed in changes from classic movie
In the Heights – NYC - really liked
Billy Elliot the Musical – NYC - loved
Rock of Ages – Indianapolis - not wild about
Memphis –NYC - really liked
Million Dollar Quartet - NYC – felt it was slow until the end
Anything Goes NYC. liked
How to Succeed. Nyc. Just ok to me
War Horse. Nyc. Really liked
After the Rainbow NYC. Really liked
Priscilla - NYC - Just ok.
Book of Mormon - Chicago - did not like
Pippen - NYC - Liked
Once - NYC - Loved
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike - NYC - Loved
Peter and the Starcatchers - NYC - Liked
2014
Beautiful - NYC - Loved
Forbidden Broadway - NYC - liked
Bullets over Broadway - NYC - liked
After Midnight - NYC - liked
Kinky Boots - NYC - loved
Mothers and Sons - NYC - liked
Thought I was still in the Lounge.
May 12th, 2015, 04:40 PM
#5
I saw a clip of The King and I this morning. I love Kelli O'Hara. That would be at the top of my list. I was lucky enough to see Yul Brynner perform in it and this production is supposed to be wonderful.
May 12th, 2015, 05:30 PM
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I did start looking at Broadway Banter and An American in Paris was on my radar. I wasn't familiar with On The Twentieth Century yet - not that The King and I was an option.
Looking forward to filling up our slate and having more good choices than times available!
Looking forward to filling up our slate and having more good choices than times available!
May 13th, 2015, 03:38 AM
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Rhea58 - you are right. I think Neo's comments are why I picked some of my favorite shows the past few years. Without advice of those here, I wouldn't have known where to start. I've gone from "Let's see a play" on my first trip to "How many plays can we fit in?"
May 13th, 2015, 03:53 AM
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And thanks to you, traveler2005 for giving such a thorough list of what you've seen and how you liked them. It's never really possible to blindly answer a "what should we see" without a little help from the asker!
Even then, it isn't always possible to know someone's taste. My guess is that those who didn't care for Spamalot probably wouldn't like Something Rotten, for example -- kind of the same type of humor and music -- but even then some may love one but not the other.
Meanwhile, I'm sitting at home today. What? A Wednesday and NO matinee in NYC? Well, my ticket for Dr. Zhivago for today was refunded since it was closed this past weekend. And with the horrible and tragic train mess between Philly and NYC this morning, I really don't need to add to the delays and mess with the commuter line.
Even then, it isn't always possible to know someone's taste. My guess is that those who didn't care for Spamalot probably wouldn't like Something Rotten, for example -- kind of the same type of humor and music -- but even then some may love one but not the other.
Meanwhile, I'm sitting at home today. What? A Wednesday and NO matinee in NYC? Well, my ticket for Dr. Zhivago for today was refunded since it was closed this past weekend. And with the horrible and tragic train mess between Philly and NYC this morning, I really don't need to add to the delays and mess with the commuter line.
May 13th, 2015, 06:08 AM
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We were, french family of 3(parents in our '50 et daughter 21 y old) in NY last week.
We saw :
- Chicago with Brandy Norwood : worth the $..It was our 4 times for the parents(at the creation of this production...with Bebe Neuwirth/Ann Reinking,... then with Bebe Neuwirth as Roxie Hart : those 2 were excellent, at the creation the best..
.
We then saw with our daughter it with Christie Brinkley and it was a disaster.She was bad and so was bad all the production.
Nothing bad with B.Norsood : she sing perfectly, move very well...
- An American in Paris : not to miss, but with a "bemol" : it's not a real "musical" : there are a lot of ballet. We like it but some can be surprised...The music is from Gershwin so nothing to complain.
A lot of song are classic, the set and costums very good.
- Aladdin : go with child's eyes...The good part are the Genie's part and James Monroe Inglehart is terrific. The special effects are good , and also the vizir but out of the Genie and the vilains, the part with Aladdin and Jasmine are just good no more.
- On the twentieth century : we liked very much another year anythin goes with S.Foster. For us OTC is not of this quality. It's good but not excellent. The tap numbers are well done but not with brio and quality of Anything goes. And for us S Foster was better...We liked more the set and the story. Not a bad evening but a little dispappointed.We have been not enthousiasmed by K.Chenoweth. Good , yes but not exceptional.
Not theater but for the nostalgic we had an evening at the Rainbow room , their monday's night : diner with orchestra..and it has been an enchantment.
We were affraid our daughter find this too kitsch and in fact she loves that evening..
It's expensive but it's only a day in the year...
Erik
We saw :
- Chicago with Brandy Norwood : worth the $..It was our 4 times for the parents(at the creation of this production...with Bebe Neuwirth/Ann Reinking,... then with Bebe Neuwirth as Roxie Hart : those 2 were excellent, at the creation the best..
.We then saw with our daughter it with Christie Brinkley and it was a disaster.She was bad and so was bad all the production.
Nothing bad with B.Norsood : she sing perfectly, move very well...
- An American in Paris : not to miss, but with a "bemol" : it's not a real "musical" : there are a lot of ballet. We like it but some can be surprised...The music is from Gershwin so nothing to complain.
A lot of song are classic, the set and costums very good.
- Aladdin : go with child's eyes...The good part are the Genie's part and James Monroe Inglehart is terrific. The special effects are good , and also the vizir but out of the Genie and the vilains, the part with Aladdin and Jasmine are just good no more.
- On the twentieth century : we liked very much another year anythin goes with S.Foster. For us OTC is not of this quality. It's good but not excellent. The tap numbers are well done but not with brio and quality of Anything goes. And for us S Foster was better...We liked more the set and the story. Not a bad evening but a little dispappointed.We have been not enthousiasmed by K.Chenoweth. Good , yes but not exceptional.
Not theater but for the nostalgic we had an evening at the Rainbow room , their monday's night : diner with orchestra..and it has been an enchantment.
We were affraid our daughter find this too kitsch and in fact she loves that evening..
It's expensive but it's only a day in the year...
Erik
May 13th, 2015, 05:17 PM
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Neo - Sorry that your play was cancelled. But glad you were able to avoid the transportation problems.
monpetit - Thank you for your comments.
I am glad that you also mentioned the Rainbow Room. That is something that we have never done and hadn't occurred to me. It would be a memorable event.
monpetit - Thank you for your comments.
I am glad that you also mentioned the Rainbow Room. That is something that we have never done and hadn't occurred to me. It would be a memorable event.
May 13th, 2015, 07:39 PM
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On the Twentieth Century will be playing through July 19. I absolutely loved this production, its smart and funny. excellent performances all around too.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time. I will be seeing this in a few weeks, everyone I know who saw this play said it was terrific.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time. I will be seeing this in a few weeks, everyone I know who saw this play said it was terrific.
May 16th, 2015, 02:07 PM
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Looks like we will be there in time to see On the Twentieth Century.
I had wondered about The Curious Incident. I read the book some time back and it would be interesting to see the play.
I had wondered about The Curious Incident. I read the book some time back and it would be interesting to see the play.
May 30th, 2015, 12:09 PM
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Here are my top choices based mostly on advice here and on the Broadway Banter thread. I think we will be able to go to shows from Sunday through either Wednesday or Thursday. We are going to a wedding on Saturday, so don't think we will go to any plays that day.
An American in Paris
Curious Incident
Fish in the Dark (mainly because it is one of the few choices for a Monday night)
Fun Home
The King and I
On the Twentieth Century
Skylight
I am not sure that we can fit in that many, but of course availability may make our choice for us. We normally go to the box offices with coupon codes after we arrive.
Any thought?
An American in Paris
Curious Incident
Fish in the Dark (mainly because it is one of the few choices for a Monday night)
Fun Home
The King and I
On the Twentieth Century
Skylight
I am not sure that we can fit in that many, but of course availability may make our choice for us. We normally go to the box offices with coupon codes after we arrive.
Any thought?
May 30th, 2015, 01:07 PM
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I hope so!!
I have just checked broadwaybox, playbill, and tdf to see what discounts are available.
First of all, I found out that Skylight is ending before we come. So much for that one.
Next, I saw that most of the discounts are only available through dates in June. I wonder if they usually don't show discounts more than a month out or if July is a bad time to get discount tickets.
I have just checked broadwaybox, playbill, and tdf to see what discounts are available.
First of all, I found out that Skylight is ending before we come. So much for that one.
Next, I saw that most of the discounts are only available through dates in June. I wonder if they usually don't show discounts more than a month out or if July is a bad time to get discount tickets.
May 30th, 2015, 02:01 PM
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I wouldn't think so (that it was a bad time), the only bad times are around holidays when they don't need to give discounts. That's usually when I go, so I never can find any. And I tend to go to really popular shows, also.
They seem to have discounts through July 5th when I looked, but I do think they don't post those months in advance because part of it is a reaction to demand, not just because they want to discount tickets all the time.
They seem to have discounts through July 5th when I looked, but I do think they don't post those months in advance because part of it is a reaction to demand, not just because they want to discount tickets all the time.
May 31st, 2015, 03:30 PM
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Yes it's true that discounts are often only offered a month or two in advance. It is rare for a show, once it has opened, to offer discounts then not continue to do so. The only exception to that would be something like a show not doing very well to win a major Tony.
