Broadway Banter, May and Summer 2013 edition
Jun 6th, 2013, 05:46 AM
#22
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Thanks CPG, I think I am getting row k right in middle of center orchestra, I figure we can't go wrong there.
Really looking forward to it. I read a NY Times article yesterday about how Cicely went to Wharton TX to research for the part. She spent time at Horton Foote's home in Wharton, with his daughter. Apparently Bountiful was based on Wharton. The friend I am going with, who used to be my roommate in Houston, has an aunt who lives in Wharton and we have spent time at her farm there in the past, so this is all coming together. Apparently Cicely had been bugging her agent for many yrs to get her this part somehow, and when she finally got the call, she was so stunned that she dropped the phone. She is 88 now, and this sounds like the role of her long lifetime for her.
Really looking forward to it. I read a NY Times article yesterday about how Cicely went to Wharton TX to research for the part. She spent time at Horton Foote's home in Wharton, with his daughter. Apparently Bountiful was based on Wharton. The friend I am going with, who used to be my roommate in Houston, has an aunt who lives in Wharton and we have spent time at her farm there in the past, so this is all coming together. Apparently Cicely had been bugging her agent for many yrs to get her this part somehow, and when she finally got the call, she was so stunned that she dropped the phone. She is 88 now, and this sounds like the role of her long lifetime for her.
Jun 6th, 2013, 12:07 PM
#23
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Ah yes. Saw The Assembled Parties yesterday and really loved it, especially the acting of Judith Light and Jessica Hecht.
My luck with TKTS continued. I hadn't been able (but have tried many times) to get a "decent" discounted seat on line, but at TKTS I got a sixth row seat almost center (there is an aisle center) at half price. I'm convinced though that really good singles are much easier to get at TKTS that pairs.
My luck with TKTS continued. I hadn't been able (but have tried many times) to get a "decent" discounted seat on line, but at TKTS I got a sixth row seat almost center (there is an aisle center) at half price. I'm convinced though that really good singles are much easier to get at TKTS that pairs.
Jun 7th, 2013, 04:48 AM
#27
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Interestingly, I noticed the last time I passed Duffy Square that not that many shows are discounted 50%. The discounts seem to range from 20% to 50%. That led me to the conclusion that, in many case, those discounts are no better the discounts offered on broadwaybox.com and playbill.com. And, of course, the advantage of utilizing the latter is that you don't have to wait in line.
At the same time, however, it should be noted that at Duffy Square you can sometimes luck in with last minute deals on shows like Once.
At the same time, however, it should be noted that at Duffy Square you can sometimes luck in with last minute deals on shows like Once.
Jun 7th, 2013, 05:06 AM
#28
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Howard, kind of funny. I used to be totally DOWN on TKTS, while you were often praising it. But I seem to have done a turn around. I worked and worked unsuccessfully to get a single decent discounted seat for several shows, including The Assembled Parties and Newsies, but ended up getting wonderful house seats (5th or 6th row center) for both -- and both WERE a full 50% off -- actually way more than that considering they were premium seating! The other shows I got house seats at tickets were for The Nance and The Other Place.
By the way, some don't seem to know. If you want a play and NOT a musical, there is a separate line for that at TKTS and there never seems to be any real wait at all.
By the way, some don't seem to know. If you want a play and NOT a musical, there is a separate line for that at TKTS and there never seems to be any real wait at all.
Jun 7th, 2013, 07:37 AM
#29
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Patrick, your experience illustrates one of my points that you can often reap the benefits of getting great tickets at the last minute (releatively speaking) to some shows.
As for the 50% rate, when I passed by TKTS on Sunday, May 26, the vast majority of tickets for Broadway shows were NOT at a 50% discount rate. That surprised me, as I still remember the days when most of the shows available at TKTS were at the 50% off rate.
Yes, Patrick, that's a good reminder about the short to nonexistent line for non-musicals at TKTS.
As for the 50% rate, when I passed by TKTS on Sunday, May 26, the vast majority of tickets for Broadway shows were NOT at a 50% discount rate. That surprised me, as I still remember the days when most of the shows available at TKTS were at the 50% off rate.
Yes, Patrick, that's a good reminder about the short to nonexistent line for non-musicals at TKTS.
Jun 7th, 2013, 08:10 AM
#31
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No. I just went in for the day, did a nice walk in Central Park, great Thai at my favorite Room Service on 9th, saw the play, then headed back to NJ.
But was standing outside the theatre looking at The Run House and thought -- "hmmm. some time when we're here in the evening."
Howard, I've noticed that also -- about less than 50%, but to be fair, the discount codes seem to be less also. They used to all be 40 percent or 30 percent at the minimum. Now I'm seeing some that are only 20% and many that are only for specific seats -- rear balcony or only last couple of rows or extreme sides of orchestra. The days of the codes being "best seats that are still unsold" and 40 or 50% off seem to be long gone.
But was standing outside the theatre looking at The Run House and thought -- "hmmm. some time when we're here in the evening."
Howard, I've noticed that also -- about less than 50%, but to be fair, the discount codes seem to be less also. They used to all be 40 percent or 30 percent at the minimum. Now I'm seeing some that are only 20% and many that are only for specific seats -- rear balcony or only last couple of rows or extreme sides of orchestra. The days of the codes being "best seats that are still unsold" and 40 or 50% off seem to be long gone.
Jun 7th, 2013, 09:22 AM
#32
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PAtrick, it seems to me that the discount offers usually ran in the 30% area. My tickets for The Assembled Parties were at at the 30% range. But, you are correct that a good number of them are in the 20-25% discount range.
As a New Yorker with the opportunity to take the discount offer directly to the box office, that's my favorite way of doing it. (I hate having to pay the 47-$7.50 per ticket service charge when order.)
As a New Yorker with the opportunity to take the discount offer directly to the box office, that's my favorite way of doing it. (I hate having to pay the 47-$7.50 per ticket service charge when order.)
Jun 8th, 2013, 07:30 AM
#33
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emd3, we were in the orchestra, about two thirds of the way towards the back, and right in the center. We thought our seats were very good. We got them for 40% off through the TKTS booth on a Tuesday night. I hope you enjoy the show as much as my husband and I did!
Jun 8th, 2013, 02:26 PM
#34
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Thank you MareW. I am in Row K so should be close enough to catch Cicely Tyson's subtelties, as CentralParkGirl shared.
I have a true story to share with you.
A few days ago, when I brought up going to see Bountiful with my closest and oldest friend who is going to NYC with me in August (the one whose aunt lived in Wharton where Horton Foote lived) she told me that her aunt was friends with Horton Foote. She told me that once when she and I lived in Houston together and were visiting her aunt in Wharton for the weekend, her aunt was making homemade coffee cakes and that she was going to take one over to Horton's house. I clearly recall her aunt making those coffee cakes as she gave us one to take home to Houston with us as we were leaving that weekend, but I had no idea at the time that Horton Foote was going to be getting the same coffee cake we were taking home.
I loved the weekends my friend and I spent in Wharton. So peaceful and quiet, and such a nice community of people, even if they did live a half mile or more apart (lots of land, old cotton fields, out there). Friends of my friend's aunt would bring over eggs from their chicken coup, butter they had churned, corn they had harvested, etc. My friend's aunt was a very good baker so always had phenomenal baked items to give in kind (her fruit cobblers, with fruit she grew on her land, were the BOMB.). Apparently Wharton was a huge part of everything Horton wrote.
http://hub.aa.com/en/aw/horton-foote...-academy-award
I have a true story to share with you.
A few days ago, when I brought up going to see Bountiful with my closest and oldest friend who is going to NYC with me in August (the one whose aunt lived in Wharton where Horton Foote lived) she told me that her aunt was friends with Horton Foote. She told me that once when she and I lived in Houston together and were visiting her aunt in Wharton for the weekend, her aunt was making homemade coffee cakes and that she was going to take one over to Horton's house. I clearly recall her aunt making those coffee cakes as she gave us one to take home to Houston with us as we were leaving that weekend, but I had no idea at the time that Horton Foote was going to be getting the same coffee cake we were taking home.
I loved the weekends my friend and I spent in Wharton. So peaceful and quiet, and such a nice community of people, even if they did live a half mile or more apart (lots of land, old cotton fields, out there). Friends of my friend's aunt would bring over eggs from their chicken coup, butter they had churned, corn they had harvested, etc. My friend's aunt was a very good baker so always had phenomenal baked items to give in kind (her fruit cobblers, with fruit she grew on her land, were the BOMB.). Apparently Wharton was a huge part of everything Horton wrote.
http://hub.aa.com/en/aw/horton-foote...-academy-award
Jun 10th, 2013, 05:00 AM
#37
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So who watched the Tonys? I thought it was a splendid extravaganza, best in yrs. I love that Billy Porter and Cindy Lauper won for Kinky Boots and Cicely Tyson won for Bountiful. I am so looking forward to seeing her in August. I can't believe she is 88!!!
Any of your favorites win? Comments on the show?
Any of your favorites win? Comments on the show?
Jun 10th, 2013, 06:30 AM
#38
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And Vanya et al won too! If it gets extended til August I am going to squeeze a matinee into our August trip. And Judith Light won for Assembled Parties, high I know a lot of folks posting on this bread liked.
God I love Broadway! My friend who I am going with in August texted me during the Tonys last night and told me the original production of Pippin, with Ben Vereen, was the 1st Broadway play she ever saw.
I think "42 nd Street" was the 1st broadway play I saw, with Jerry Orbach.
God I love Broadway! My friend who I am going with in August texted me during the Tonys last night and told me the original production of Pippin, with Ben Vereen, was the 1st Broadway play she ever saw.
I think "42 nd Street" was the 1st broadway play I saw, with Jerry Orbach.
