We will be visiting NYC for 2 nights in early October the 11-13th. My question is whether to buy tickets to a Broadway musical or not.

We have a couple of complicating factors-my mother-in-law is coming with us and she is French so the only real options would be musicals that she could follow fairly easily without language (like Rent/La Boheme) or something like Riverdance....we thought Forever Tango would be fun but it has gone on tour.

The other thing is that the 11th is a Sunday and the 12th is a monday (when theaters I think are petty much all closed) and we will be driving up to NYC from Washington DC and would have to make a 7PM show on Sunday.

So-what do you guys think-is it worth it? And if so, any ideas or recommendations for choices.

thanks in advance!

I go to NYC every couple of years (I live halfway across the continent) and I must see as many musicals as I can while I'm there! Do go. Perhaps upon arriving at the theater, you can find a synopsis of the story in the playbill, or program, and translate it for your mother-in-law. Hopefully, music is the universal language...Have a great time...

I go to NYC every couple of years (I live halfway across the continent) and I must see as many musicals as I can while I'm there! Do go. Perhaps upon arriving at the theater, you can find a synopsis of the story in the playbill, or program, and translate it for your mother-in-law. Hopefully, music is the universal language...Have a great time...

I go to NYC every couple of years (I live halfway across the continent) and I must see as many musicals as I can while I'm there! Do go. Perhaps upon arriving at the theater, you can find a synopsis of the story in the playbill, or program, and translate it for your mother-in-law. Hopefully, music is the universal language...Have a great time...
I don't know what is playing at the moment , but others should come to your aid...I'm sorry if this is posting several times; either Fodor's or my computer is messing up!

I vote for making the effort to see something while you're there. I've always contended that I dislike musicals in general (primarily based on my exposure to movie adaptations). I took my 16 year old daughter (who is a serious musical theatre buff)to Manhattan last summer and we saw Annie, Les Mis and Rent. I loved it (surprise!) and will attend as often as I can afford to when I return to NYC. Some shows do play on Monday (bear in mind, however, that some have Sunday matinees but no evening performance). www.playbill.com should be of some help. I'm not sure when the TKTS booth closes on Sundays but it's worth checking - discounts are typically 30-50%. "Rent" is very loosely based on La Boheme (VERY loosely). The music and drama are excellent but it's closer to rock than musical theatre in many parts and the clever humour of much dialogue might escape those for whom English is not a native language. I should mention that I noticed tourists from a variety of European countries (and Asia), many of them obviously not terribly fluent in English, attending all the shows that we went to.

Hi-It is Columbus Day weekend--and tickets maybe a little harder to get--Try for the Sound of Music-The Lion King will be difficult, but you may be able to get tickets through a broker-I would stay away from Rent or Ragtime (because there is too much of a story to follow, but see it yourself-its spectacular) As a fan of musical theatre don't underestimate the ability of people to "tune in"-musical theatre music goes across all language barriers...

No trip to NYC is complete without seeing a show. Since so many Broadway shows have touring companies throughout the world, your mother-in-law probably will be familiar with many of the shows. Most theatres are dark on Mondays, so a Sunday matinee will probably be your only choice. If you can't get tickets to a show, it won't be the end of the world, but do it if you can.

Thanks for tall the feedback-it sounds like it is unanimous! We will get tickets-does anbody happen to know if the TKTS booth is even open on Sunday-especially the World trade center branch-it sounds like it may be worth just buying through ticketmaster to have them in hand since we are arriving that day....

thanks again!

This Wyoming country boy spent 3 days in NYC in late June. It was a wonderful experience. "How you gonna keep em down on the farm"
I think you should consider taking the train up from DC, much less stressful. You get off at Penn Station in Mid Town, right where you need to be.

See whatever you can!!! I just returned from a serious theater junket (eight shows in seven days) in New York and saw just about every musical running. Many theaters offer headsets with simultaneous translation into a number of languages but they must be requested in advance (I believe 48 hours, but check with the theater). Personally I recommend Ragtime, Phantom of the Opera, and Titanic. All three are excellent! E-mail me if you need any more info. Hope that helps. Good luck and have fun!!!

While I would certainly never pass up an opportunity for theater, I wouldn't kill myself to get there. You are VERY limited if the only time you can see a show is Sunday evening. There are only 2 or 3 shows available at that time. I doubt very much you could get decent seats for any of them over a holiday weekend. However, why not look into something at Lincoln Center or The Metropolitan Opera House. Carnegie Hall too. A concert would be just as nice, given that the facilities are also of historic and tourist value. Lincoln Center is a wonderful place to wander in the evening.

I recommend Les Miserables. It's in english but it's set in France. And the music is wonderful!!!

Not even an option...GO TO BROADWAY! Find a ticket broker if you cannot get tickets for Lion King. Rent the vidio before Oct. and have your mother-in-law view it with someone explaining it to her. Have a fun time.

I don't think that being able to purchase tickets at scalper prices from a broker is the issue here. I believe that if "J" is not going to arrive in Manhattan until close to 7pm on Sunday, he is going to miss just about every show. Most Broadway shows are at 2 and 3 pm on Sunday, only 1 or 2 in the evening and on Monday. Under those circumstances, being a holiday weekend, I doubt you would get decent seats to whatever is available, even through a broker. Personally, I'd rather pay $85+ for a decent seat at a Carnegie hall or Lincoln Center, than for a bad seat at the theater. Just a thought.

Hi!

For better or worse-we got tickets! We are going to Rent-it is one of the few that has a 7PM time on Sundays...we went ahead and bought tickets via the ticketmaster site $35/ 6th row back center mezzanine-didn't strike me as too bad.

My mom in law is a socialist-so I think she will like the story and I think I will buy the CD and tape it so we can be familiar with the musice/story before we get there-also I will check with the theater to see if we can get French "earphones" per chance.

Anyway, thanks for the push to get tickets-I think you are right-it hard to pass up Broadway in Paris!

Jeanne

PS Sorry I sign jparrent-that is wht I am used to on the net and forget to put my real name!

You won't be sorry you made the effort Jeanne! Rent is a great show - my daughter and I went to the Sunday night show last summer - most of the actors were the understudies and if they are that good I can only imagine what the regular cast is like! The Nederlander is a very small theatre - those seats should be just fine. Have fun! P.S. I paid $75 per ticket to sit downstairs (all that was available) and would have gone to see it again the next day if I'd been able to

Owen-thanks for the feedback! Do happen to know if the Nederlander provides "langauge translation" earphones-and has anyone used these or had friends use them? Just curious...

Jeanne

PS-Any thoughts on a light meal before?

My vote would be Les Mis... I have seen them all... and I love Broadway. But, since you are in town on a sunday and Monday most of the good shows are closed! Although, there is a great musical I suggest to anyone. Its called "The Fantastics", it is the longest running off-broadway show. Liza Minelli, Jerry Orbach...a lot of stars have been in it over the years. Tickets are $35 dollars and I think they perform on sunday. You mother-in-law WILL understand this show, it is simple and very good! I've seen it at least 10 times!

Have Fun! Broadway is great!