It's time for our annual trip to NYC. We would like to have some ideas of new plays and musicals. We have seen Mamma Mia, august osage, phantom.etc. We will be there over a monday and I know that most shows are dark. Any thoughts on what will be one. Is Birdland still open on Monday night for open mike night, we did it several years ago and loved it. Your recommendations have never led us a stray. thanks for all your help.

Are you only here for a Mon. night? If you haven't seen Avenue Q, it's very funny. Next to Normal won the Tony for best new musical although I haven't seen it. http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuz...Broadway_Shows

Jim Caruso's Cast Party is still playing at Birdland. http://www.birdlandjazz.com/

Just got back from my second trip in 2 months (heaven for me). Saw Next to Normal this time and LOVED it. My daughter said she liked it better than Billy Elliot which we had seen last month - said it reminded her more of August Osage - i.e. darker, not a typical "broadway show". As I recall we did have a choice between Monday & Tuesday nights.

Actually, Next to Normal won the Tony for best score (Billy Elliot won for Best Musical) but Next to Normal is my favorite new show of the season.

Rock of Ages has a show on Monday, and I haven't seen it, but I've heard it's a lot of fun if you like 80's music. Avenue Q is great as well, and will be closing in the fall.

If you're in NYC for more than just Monday, I'd also recommend Billy Elliot, In the Heights, and Hair. For off-Broadway, definitely Ruined. God of Carnage is great too, but is on hiatus for August.

Yes, Jim Caruso's Cast Party still goes every Monday night there. They say it is at 9:30, but I don't think I've ever known it to start before 10 so you can go after one of the few Monday night shows, if you have one.

I think it is still $10 cover and worth every penny. The food is pretty inexpensive and not bad either if you want to eat during that show.

Thanks, McLaurie for posting the link -- I didn't go there, but I'm 99% sure my info is still correct.

But even more fun is the open mike "After Party" at the Laurie Beechman Theatre below the West Bank restaurant at 42nd and 10th. That is on Friday nights at around 10:30. No cover. I've found most of the performers to be of a higher caliber overall than most of the ones at Jim Caruso's (and I don't have to endure the old man who tap dances on a piece of masonite!). Beware though it can be a bit outrageously bawdy and lots of over the top gay references and jokes.

"in the Heights" is excellent. Highly recommend.

I've seen "Stomp" probably 5 or 6 times but the venue/cast in NYC is the absolute best.

Hi, poolqueen! You're right that Broadway is dark that night. Birdland is still open on Mondays, so that's an option. Would you be willing to see dance? The Joyce theater in Chelsea has Pilobolus performing this summer. According to the schedule they perform on Mondays. They're a very physical, almost gymnastic-like dance. It's jaw-dropping stuff. I highly recommend it.

Is forbidden broadway still around on mondays? Is 9 to 5 good and is there any chance of discounts on the lion king? thanks again.

Frobidden B'way is still around and updated every so often. I liked 9 to 5 but it's certainly far from the best show on B'way. Lion King is rarely if ever discounted and when it is, it's usually for a kids' offer.

I actually started a thread on "What to do in NY on Monday night?" I'll top it. We ended up seeing Phantom - my D's LOVED it. We saw 6 musicals in 4 days...my Ds are 13 and 16, so there were shows that I would have liked to have seen (e.g. Next to Normal) that I passed up in favor of shows I knew they would enjoy more. We saw Wicked, Billy Elliot, South Pacific, Lion King, In the Heights and Phantom.

You can get discount tickets to In the Heights. It's a lot of fun - great dancing!

Forbidden Broadway in NOT playing any more. Unfortunately, the creator decided to close it a month or two ago.....a definitely loss to the theatrical scene.