How does Once compare to the movie? It was one of my favorites when it came out.

I liked the movie but saw it after it had been pretty hyped so was expecting more than what it was. The musical on the other hand was better than I expected - maybe it is just the "intimacy" of theatre that got to me, but I really felt for the main characters and shed a tear or two. It seemed much more about the dreaams of youth, things turning out differently than you think-and still being okay with it. Very bittersweet. And I'll say again I really enjoyed the very different movement/dance aspect. Maybe I was expecting a more "river dance" thing-which it wasn't and that was a good thing.

We saw February House, Double Feature and The Lyons. Actually left February House at intermission. Great performances but absolutely no plot. Double Feature and The Lyons were great.

Starrs, War Horse, Peter and the Starcatcher and Anything Goes (!) we're among the offerings at TKTS yesterday. Some of the others you mentioned may also have been available, those are the ones I remember. Also Jersey Boys.

Whoo hoo! Just saw this in the Chicago Tribune.

In October, "GRACE" will be on Broadway with the extraordinary Michael Shannon. Keep this show on your radar if you like dramatic plays (rather than musicals). I missed this b/c it was staged in a suburb of Chicago and couldn't be bothered to get up to Skokie, but I'll likely come to NYC for this one.
Kate Arrington and Michael Shannon are fantastic. Here's the link to the article:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entert...3497310.column

Also, posted about 'TJ and DAve' tonight (monday night) at the Barrow street Theatre. Great show if you can catch them and if they're not sold out. (They sell out in Chicago almost every Wed.)
http://barrowstreettheatre.com/index.asp

starrs - We had free tickets for Potted Potter. It was torture!!! Somehow I was hoping for a very small cast doing something clever like the 39 Steps. Not clever, not funny. Don't waste your time.

Thanks for the advice. I won't.

I just came across this wonderful set of video clips on the Playbill website. It's a series of award-winning performances from previous Tony shows, including excerpts from Kiss of the Spider Woman, Evita, Hairspray, The Boy from Oz, Les Miserables, Dreamgirls and others. My two favorites are Jennifer Hudson's incredible redition of "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" from Dreamgirls and Hugh Jackman's performance of "Not the Boy Next Door" from The Boy from Oz.
To view them, log on playbill.com and then scan down "Latest Newz" to the item called "THE SCREENING ROOM: Tony Award-Winning Performances (Video)."

TKTS question - are the same tickets available at all site (aside from matinees not being sold at Times Square). i.e. are they selling from the same pool of 'virtual tickets' or are there different seats available at each location?

thanks

Since all tickets are done electronically, I assume they'd all come from the same pool of tickets. Following that line of thought, it would seem to make no difference which TKTS outlet you went to.

HowardR is correct. I remember a time when TKTS actually had "real" tickets that had been preprinted and bound together with a rubber band. I used to love going to the booth at the World Trade Center since hardly anyone went there and you could often get much better seats. No more. Now everything is released by the theaters electronically, and the same tickets are in the pool and available to any purchaser regardless of which outlet they go to.

The only difference (and it can be an important one) is that you can buy matinee tickets the day before at the Seaport and in Booklyn. You can't get matinee tickets the day before in Times Square, and to be honest, I don't know why. Probably just the ticket lines. When they were real paper tickets, this made sense, but since they are electronic, you're just getting an earlier shot by not going to Times Square. But the lines at the Seaport can be pretty long, and there's very little shade, so keep that in mind.

February ouse was about a real time and place and the extraordinary artists who lived in the house. Not much plot? perhaps but the music was superb. Short line for Shakespeare in the Park today. Will report back tomorrow. We'll see how the weather holds.

What is a short line for Shakespeare in the Park, Sue? I heard those were 5 hours long on a good day. True?

a question for all those who saw One Man Two Guvnors: were you familiar with Commedia del'arte beforehand? My understanding is that it is based on that and knowing about it enhances the experience. I know little about it, but my D saw it after having studied it, and loved it, but I'm wondering if I'll feel the same? I have to assume that one doesn't need this knowledge, otherwise it wouldn't have much of an audience, but I thought I'd ask here anyway.

No, you don't need a strong background in Commedia del arte to enjoy One Man, Two Guvnors. Just go expecting to laugh a lot!!!
I am familiar with the technique, but I really don't think that it was necessary for me to enjoy the show as much as I did. My wife had no previous knowledge of it and enjoyed the show as much as I did!

Short was I arrived just before 1 and the line was maybe a block or so long -- well before where it can turn to go across the north end of the great lawn. Early preview on a weather iffy day that turned out quite nice .I don't have to try this again until August but there is other fun free Shakespeare to be had...

http://thestarryeye.typepad.com/expl...e-2012-is.html

I remember the real tickets too - and always went to the booth at the WTC. Late on the night of 9/10 I was planning a trip to NYC and I closed the laptop I thought "I'll just get tickets at the WTC". My last thought before I went to sleep. Such a surreal feeling the next morning.

Well now I have a quandry. Just found out that the War Horse tour is coming to my city. I didn't see the movie because I wanted to see the play (and the puppets) first. So, new question - see it at Lincoln Center or on the road? That would open up a slot for another "only on Broadway" show during my Broadway week. Input?

Once just won a Tony for Best Director.

Well the tonys are all about figuring out which ones I can miss.