Hi

Three of us are off to NYC for a weekend break on jan 10th and we're desperate to see a broadway show as we all work or have worked in theatre here in the UK.

We want to try and get some cheaper tickets - whats the best way? we're looking at shows like Chicago, throughly modern millie, la boheme, 42nd street.

Any other suggestions for great places to see/eat/enjoy welcomed!!!

Thanks
Lainie

Lainie, have you tried Telecharge.com? Or Ticketmaster.com. For the shows you want, you may be able to get tickets. Just click the "hold at box office" option and pick them up at the theater before the performance. Also, the TKTS booth is an option too, if you don't know about TKTS you can do a search here, there's plenty of info about it. For food before the show there's a great barbecue place called Virgil's in the theater district. Since you're from the UK I'd recommend this to you, it's a REAL authentic American place with fantastic American barbecue. You will need reservations though. Have a great trip.

Lainie,

I think your best bet is to get tickets from the TKTS booth on the day of the performance. When I was there the Saturday night before Christmas, which I would consider a peak time, half-price tickets were available for Chicago, Cabaret, 42nd Street, Phantom, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and many other shows.

Of course, if you are interested in current hits such as LaBoheme, Mama Mia, Hairspray, or The Producers, they are not available at TKTS.

I saw Thoroughly Modern Millie and loved it. The cost: $52.50 for 12th row center orchestra. A real bargain.

While Chicago is great, the London production is a pretty exact clone, so I wouldn't bother with it in NYC. But 42nd Street and Millie are really good options, and you can get both at half price booth. The same with Cabaret -- although it started at the Donmar in London, this production is really superb and in a perfect setting, sort of like an actual cabaret. La Boheme must be great, but you'll have to get full price tickets I'm sure by going through ticketmaster or telecharge. I'd think you'd love Hairspray, and you might try going to the box office when you get here and see about returns, but you won't get any "bargains".

I sent theatre friends of mine from the UK to Virgil's and they loved it so much they ate there three nights out of five. Good recommendation, junebug.

You will be in luck because the post-holiday January period is a quiet one for Broadway shows. Tickets for at least Chicago, 42nd Street and Millie should be available at TKTS. La Boheme is a possibilitity for weekday performances.

We loved Thoroughly Modern Millie, don't miss it.

TKTS is the best way to get tickets. There are two locations. The one near Battery Park in front of the American Indian Musuem opens earlier and has a much shorter line. You definitely will get tickets there. The subway drops you off right there.

The other location is at Time Square. It opens later, the lines are longer, but you will get tickets to a show. Some of the theatres do public rush also, so if there aren't any tickets for anything that interests you, check with some of the theatres an hour before the show.

In November, I took some visitors from England to Virgil's Real Barbecue, and they absolutely loved it. Be sure to try the biscuits. The restaurant is on 44th St., between 6th Ave. and Broadway. We had a 6:00 reservation (essential!) and had a terrific dinner before an 8:00 showtime.

The downtown TKTS booth is now located at the South Street Seaporand not near Battery Park.

Thanks everyone - thats a great help! I think we are going to go for throughly modern millie or chicago!

thanks again

lainie

Don't know if I would call Virgil's authentic American barbecue, more of a NYC tourist trap, but then I am from the South living and working in NYC, so my standards are a bit higher concerning BBQ than most new yorkers.

I consider myself a barbecue lover, and somewhat of an expert. I lived in North Carolina for several years, have spent a lot of time in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and Texas. I have eaten at most of the major barbecue places in Kansas City, Dallas, and tons of little hole-in-the-wall places in the Carolinas, Alabama, and Georgia.
I am well aware of the differences in the rubs, cuts, styles, and condiments for various regions. I like most of the various styles, except for that mustard stuff they put on them in some of the deep south joints.
I've eaten at Virgil's about 6 times. I'd match its barbecue to any other I've eaten anywhere. The only thing that is truly different is that the atmosphere is a little more "slick" than a true barbecue joint, and of course since it is in midtown Manhattan, the prices are really high. I'd certainly not call it a New York tourist trap, as usually I'm there for lunch and the lines are clearly nearly all local business people -- not tourists.

TRY E-BAY. You'll be surprised at how many tickets are for sale, especially short term

Join playbill.com. It is free and they off discount tickets to NY shows.

Playbill.com has a special on Chicago that I just got an e-mail on today. Join (it is free) and they will send updates on special ticket prices.

I've had my best luck on ebay.com when people have last minute cancellations. This is where I always turn to first since most of my trips to NYC are somewhat last minute. I love Broadway plays!