Need help deciding which Broadway/off-Broadway plays to see in August
 

Heading up to New York for a weekend & trying to decide which shows to try to get tickets for. I'm open to Broadway or off-Broadway, musical or not, comedy or drama -- no specific preferences there. Am leaning toward "Contact" and "The Syringa Tree" and would like to see one or two others. I would love to see "The Seagull" but have heard it's very hard to get tickets for. Any tips on that? I read on a website that tickets are given out at the Delacourt Theatre or at the Public Theatre, and have heard that for the Delacourt you have to be in line by 4:30 am to get tickets but have not heard of anyone trying to get them at the Public Theatre -- has anyone out there done this? Does anyone have other plays they'd recommend? <BR>I have already seen the following: <BR>The Producers <BR>Proof <BR>Les Miserables <BR>Dinner with Friends <BR>The Lion King <BR>One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest <BR>The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life <BR>Phantom of the Opera

Vagina Monologues is a great off broadway show. <BR>

Forgot to mention that I already saw "The Vagina Monologues" also (and I enjoyed it too).

Stones In His Pockets is very clever and entertaining. It is usually on twofers. Read some reviews you might find it to your liking. Also liked the Music Man alot.

Forget about "The Seagull' <BR>I've seen the lines and both places, on a couple of different days, and gave up. <BR>I wish I could just pay for the tickets!

Forget about The Seagull! Even getting there by 4:30 a.m. doesn't assure you of getting tickets! <BR>I'll also recommend Stones in His Pocket, a delightful show with two very talented actors. You should definitely be able get half-price tickets at TKTS for that one. <BR>Other recommendations, basides what you're already planning to see: Cabaret, Chicago, Kiss Me Kate, The Full Monty.

I'd definitely go for Contact, if you haven't seen it, in part because time is running out for seeing it with the original cast (and in part because it's such a terrific show). I have not seen te Syringa Tree, but it sounds really interesting and has garnered very impressive reviews; the writer and original performer has just left and been replaced, though, so I don't know what difference that will make. I agree with Howard's recommendation of the Full Monty, which was a very funny and entertaining evening. <BR> <BR>P.S. Lisa, since I remember you mentioning loving the Gotham Bar and Grill prix fixe lunch, you might want to check out www.restaurantweek.com . Some very good places are running their $20.01 specials either through Labor Day or to the end of the year, though I don't know how many do weekend lunch. Look for the asterisks in the listings; one for Labor Day, two for all year.

I would try to see the following: Chicago, I Love You You're Perfect Now Change (off-b'dwy), or contact. Stay away from Dinner With Friends--it wasn't that great. Make sure as suggested above to check out the half price line-TKTS--get there early. The lines in the summer time are long. There is also another TKTS location on wall street, check it out on citysearch.com. Have fun, and enjoy NYC!

Caitlin -- OH NO! The whole reason I wanted to see "The Syringa Tree" was because I had heard Pam Gien was amazing! I had no idea she's not in it any more. That is very disappointing. I don't think I'm interested in seeing it now. Is it a temporary change or permanent? <BR> <BR>Thanks for the restaurant tip. <BR> <BR>And thanks everybody for your suggestions.

I also liked Stones in His Pocket, but again I believe the original cast is leaving soon, and I read somewhere that Bronson Pinchot is being considered as a replacement. If you decide on this one, you might want to check who is in it - I'm not sure I would want to see Balki on Broadway.

Husband, 14-year-old daughter and I just returned from a weekend about a month ago. We saw and loved the following: Tale of the Allergist's Wife (Linda Lavin, Michelle Lee and Tony Roberts -- Lavin is absolutely brilliant); The Full Monty (the music is clever and the plot follows the movie closely, and they managed to improve a lot of the characterizations, we thought); and The Music Man (hard to get Preston out of your mind, but Eric McCormack does a credible job; Stroman's choreography is delightful). I would also recommend I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, but that's probably because I was in a Wisconsin production for 7 months! It is a wonderful show that everyone can relate to. We would still be doing it, if the actors could have gotten out of prior commitments (who knew it would run 7 months?!) Have a great time. Try a restaurant called Pietrasanta. They hand out flyers by TKTS and we tried them. Wonderful and reasonable. They're located at 683 Ninth Avenue (corner 47th Street) Right in the heart of the theatre district. Phone (revs recommended) 212-265-9471.

Thanks so much for all the advice! Now the hard part. I have 6 shows on my wish list and can only see a maximum of 5. Help me decide which one to skip this time: <BR> <BR>Contact <BR>Stones in His Pockets <BR>Chicago (huge Jennifer Holliday fan) <BR>42nd St. <BR>The Full Monty <BR>Cabaret (any reviews since Brooke Shields took over? I can't picture it.)

Lisa, here is what I read in this week's NY Magazine re the Syringa Tree: "Now--a book and movie deal later--Gien is heading off to tour England and South Africa, but the show will continue. Atlantic Theater Company vet Kate Blumberg has just moved in to fill her considerable shoes." <BR> <BR>I have not seen any reviews of Brooke Shields in Cabaret and also can't quite picture it. Re your conundrum, I'd elimintae Cabaret. I haven't yet seen 42d St. or Stones..., but both have very good reviews and word-of-mouth. You should definitelt see both Contact and the Full Monty. Chicago and Cabaret are both here to stay in long runs, and change casts reasonably often. Since you love Jennifer Holliday and Brooke Shields is certainly an unknown quantity as Sally Bowles, I'd go for Chicago while Holliday is in it, and sve Cabaret for another trip.

Caitlin's made some very good points. However, I believe that Cabaret is scheduled to close next spring. So, unless you're planning to return by then, you may miss out on an outstanding production! Unfortunately, there has been no mention at all about the quality of Brooke Shields' performance. <BR>It is indeed a tough decision, and I'm not sure what show I'd advise you to skip. I would definitely put Contact and Chicago at the top of the list. After that, it's a tossup. I've seen all but 42nd Street and would highly recommend all five. Still, 42nd Street has received excellent word-of-mouth! Of course, the good news is that you can't go wrong no matter what you decide. <BR>

I've seen them all, and Cabaret twice (although not with Brooke). I did see Brooke in Grease and she was okay. The only show I have a negative comment on is Stones. Not that it was bad, most people loved it. I just had a really, really hard time understanding the dialogue what with the heavy Irish accents. I had that same problem with Beauty Queen of Leanane (sp?). Some people have no problem at all, but for me it was a real issue. If I wasn't up front as close as I was, I probably wouldn't have caught any of it. Just something to think about.

Thanks for the advice everybody! Decisions, decisions... Heading out the door momentarily -- I'll post a report when I get back.