Best New York Plays
 

Hi
We will be once again in New York in may and would like your advice for good plays and also musicals.
We would like to buy tickets in advance as we did in the past years.
Thanks again

If you have not already sign-up for www.playbill.com - you will get some good offers -- what have you already seen? If you have not seen: Wicked, Jersey Boys, Rabbit Hole -- some suggestions...

The best play currently on Broadway is Doubt. Discount tickets are available on www.playbill.com and broadwaybox.com.
When are you coming? There are some interesting ones openings in April.
As for musicals, the current production of Sweeney Todd is brilliant....but it's not for everyone.

Hi Howard
Last may we saw Doubt, as you suggested one year ago. We loved it. We will be arriving may 13 and staying till may 27.
We also saw Spamalot.
Thanks

You are fortunate, as there will be a possible wealth of riches for straight plays in the spring, listed as limited runs (in alphabetical order):
*Faith Healer, Brial Friel's latest starring Ralph Fiennes and Cherry Jones.
*The History Boys, a hit London play.
*Three Days of Rain, starring Julia Roberts and Paul Rudd.
The latter is already a tough ticket.
In addition, there's the Roundabout Theater production of Joe Orton's Entertaining Mr. Sloane.
On the musical side, as previously mentioned, the revival of Sweeney Todd is brilliant.
Also coming in April is the Roundabout Theater revivial of The Threepenny Opera, starring Alan Cumming, Cyndi Lauper and Jim Dale.

Pajama Game with Harry Connick (my idol!) is playing too starting Feb. 23 til June.....

How wonderful!
I will try to buy today my tickets for Three Days of Rain.
Do you think I should also buy Sweeney Todd in advance?
I will research the other plays in Playbill.

I'd wait a little bit on the Sweeney Todd tickets if you're planning to go to a midweek performance, as there is current a discount offer for midweek performances through mid-March. However, if you're planning to go on a weekend, get the tickets now.

Saw Pajama Game last night. Rollicking good time. Harry is terrific.

I was trying to buy tickets for Three Days of Rain at ticketmaster or telecharge,but I could not find in their sites any phone number to call. Is it still possible to call? Would you have the phone numbers?

Three Days of Rain ticket orders might still be restricted to Amex gold card orders. Check with Ticketmaster.

Oops, that should be Telecharge for Three Days of Rain--211-239-6200 or 800-432-7250.

Three Days of Rain tickets are now open to the public- visit Telecharge.com to purchase.

Rabbit Hole could also be a good one for you, if it's still running (they haven't announced an end date at this time).

If you enjoyed Spamalot and are looking for a similarly fun evening out (as opposed to a serious drama) check out Jersey Boys, Pajama Game, and Wedding Singer (opens in April). Tarzan will also be open by then.

Any of you theatre buffs heard any buzz about "Grey Gardens" at Playwrights Horizon? Limited run I understand, but tickets are selling out. Curious if anyone has seen.

I have some extras for Three Days of rain if anyone is interested

[email protected]

Hi
I have already your previous recomendations.
Have you seen any new plays ?
I am still waiting for tickets offers after april as we will be travelling may 12.

Thanks again.

I'm anxiously awaiting the new musical The Drowsy Chaperone starring Sutton Foster which is already on sale with discounts for May. It has earned mainly rave reviews from its West Coast performances.

A number of good shows have now extended their discounts through the usual sources named above until past your arrival date in May. I would think all of the below shows would be well worth seeing -- and all offer major discounts.

Faith Healer
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
History Boys
Light in the Piazza
The Color Purple
The Wedding Singer

I heard the Wedding Singer is good.

I have been hearing wonderful things about Drowsy Chaperone. From what I understand, it can be a bit "insidery," but if you're a Broadway/theatre fan, you'll enjoy it.

The Wedding Singer got mixed reviews in Seattle, but has been reworked extensively for its Broadway opening. In any case it is by the same people who did Hairspray and there seems to be pretty universal agreement that the sets, costumes, and overall production values of the 1980's show is great fun. It doesn't officially open on Broadway until late April, so there are no true reviews yet.

I have my front row mezzanine seats for mid May. Can't wait.

Right now, Faith Healer and The History Boys are available on discount. I'd be very surprised if Sweeney Todd isn't available soon for those May dates of yours.

Hi carioca! Broadwaybox.com is featuring discounts through May for several of the shows mentioned in this thread, including The Wedding Singer. I would take a look and see if any peak your interest.

My list above was taken from Broadway Box. All those shows currently have discounts through mid May via that site.
Many others were just extended until April 30, presumably it will be a couple more weeks before they extend into May.

If I may jump in here, I've already got tickets for May for Barefoot in the Park and would also like to see a musical. There will be five of us, ages 30-70. Based on ticket availability and some preferences, I've narrowed it down to these:

The Color Purple, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Light in the Piazza, Mamma Mia, The Producers, and The Wedding Singer (I know it hasn't opened yet).

Looking for wide appeal, something fun for several who have never seen a Broadway show before. Ideas?

Thanks,
Barb

Barefoot in the Park is light and frothy and seems a good choice for inexperienced theatergoers.
For musicals, it's a tough call from among the ones you've mentioned for newcomers. A few questions:
*Is the group male, female or mixed?
*Are you looking for a musical that's a fun experience or something more serious?
*Have you considered The Phantom of the Opera?
In any event, as previously mentioned on this thread, most of your choices are available at discount prices. Check out brodwaybox.com and playbill.com.

Barb, out of those, I would pick Dirty Rotten Scoundrels assuming a mixed (m/f) group. I've heard good things about Wedding Singer, but haven't seen it myself. I know DRS is entertaining and a "classic" musical with lots of singing, dancing, good sets etc. The only thing it's missing is memorable music, but it doesn't seem to matter.

Thanks for your quick reply. It's a group of all females, most have never been to NYC before. Yes, I'd say we're looking for a fun, entertaining evening rather than something serious.

One woman has already seen the Phantom on stage, altho not in NYC. I'm not discounting it, but wanted to try for something none of us have seen.

Thanks,
Barb

While Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is fun, I think The Producers is even more so if no one has seen it.

While The Producers is a better show, I think this group might enjoy Dirty Rotten Scoundrels more. My gut feeling is that there's a chance some inexperienced theatergoers might take offense at the humor in The Producers.

featherwatcher, perhaps it would help to know the sense of humor of your group. Whether they would find The Producers offensive depends very much on what they find funny. Have any in the group seen the original Mel Brooks movie (and liked/disliked it)? Or, for that matter, the original Dirty Rotten Scoundrels?

Though the musicalized versions are different, the central stories are similar and may help determine your preferences. If someone is very offended by Monty Python, for example, he/she won't do much better at Spamalot.

I'm pretty much winging it. It's me and a good friend who have been to NYC before, plus a friend and two of her friends I don't know at all. I'm not getting a lot of input, they're just excited to go to NYC and are leaving all the details to me. One has expressed that she didn't care for Monty Python, not offended, just doesn't care for it. So I'm taking all the clues I have to try and find a show. I don't think they will be hard to please so I think any of the ones I've listed will be ok. I'm just checking to see if there are any that stand out as particular fun to those of you who's had more experience with the theater.

Thanks,
Barb

Barb, I think any of the above will provide for a fun evening at the theater. I would also submit Hairspray to the mix, as it's nearly impossible not to leave the show in a bad mood!

If you have any Franki Valli/Four Seasons fans in the group, I would also consider Jersey Boys (if tickets are available). One of my favorites out there right now.

I appreciate all the input! I left out Hairspray because I'm looking for tickets for a Wednesday night and it's closed on Wednesday, and the available tickets for Jersey Boys are way in the back of the theater. There are so many good shows that still have better seats so I checked it off my list. Hehe...yes, I'm kinda going cross-eyed at this point.

Thanks again,
Barb

Correction, Hairspray has been cancelled for the particular Wednesday night I'm looking at. It's Chicago that's closed on Wednesdays.

Barb

I'm surprised that you haven't had anyone "vote" for Mamma Mia. For a group of women it would be a great choice. I personnally don't know of anyone who has seen it and not enjoyed it.

We just saw "Spelling Bee", great show very underrated.

Just my two cents: I would not put Festen on any list of NY Best Plays.

Uh-oh. Just tonight I booked Festen as it is about the only Monday night show there is and it filled my last open slot. Gee, it sure got great reviews in London.

And I also gave up waiting for discounts for Spelling Bee as the only other opening I had was Sunday night so thought I'd better go ahead and book it at full price.

Neo don't worry. I am not a good judge as I do not go to theatre that often. It was not bad..it's just that I think I was expecting more after reading all those reviews from London. The acting is good. I am very curious to hear what you think after you see it. Always like to read your opinions...

Well we've booked 11 of the 12 possible slots during our 9 night stay. Still looking for a possibility for our final Monday night -- probably Confessions of a Mormon Boy if they extend it.

Here's what we're seeing:

Festen
Sweeney Todd
Threepenny Opera
3 Days of Rain
Faith Healer
Wedding Singer
Caine Mutiny Court Martial
History Boys
Landscape of the Body
Spelling Bee
The Drowsy Chaperone

Yes, we've seen pretty much all of the better known stuff and long runs.