I have to agree with the consensus - Billy Elliot is fantastic. Definitely in my top 5 favorites of all time.

Just a little note to anyone looking for hard-to-get tickets: I find that with nearly sold-out shows, you can generally snag single tickets. So, if two people are going and you can't get a pair together, its definitely worth it to try for two singles.

TT for this great thread.

We will be in NYC for for 4 days in early July. We are looking for uplifting, comedy or happy themes. We would be grateful for any recommendations you may have.

About five years ago I came here and you all recommended one of the most amazing and unique examples of theatre we have ever experienced.

I hope that you can point me to another for our visit in July.

Your recommendation in 2004 was Avenue Q.

I would recommend Waiting for Godot. Great reviews - a superb cast and Ben Brantley of the Times calls it the most important play of the 20th century. It is Beckett's version of the Seinfeld series - about nothing - yet about a lot - and funny at the same time.

jroth - and I know people who have walked out of WFG despite the accolades. You have to like Beckett; it's not for everyone.

Good_Will - Many new shows are not 'light.' "Reasons to be Pretty" and "Next to Normal," were very good and different, but not light.
"Blithe Spirit" was wonderful - great cast and light and Noel Coward done beautifully. Angela Lansbury is excellent.

Hubby and I saw In the Heights last month and we loved it. It was very upbeat with a great storyline.

Saw Jersey Boys in September - it was fantastic. Great music!

I loved In the Heights - I was hesitant to recommend it without the original lead, but I'm glad to hear it is still fantastic! Really upbeat and fun with terrific choreography and good music.

Do you like 80's music? Rock of Ages got decent reviews, and is by all accounts quite fun, though I haven't seen it. 9 to 5 seems to be a crowd favorite (similar to Mama Mia), but got mixed reviews - though I would see it just for Alison Janney, who is supposed to be great.

I also agree with Centralparkgirl - if you're at all willing to go to a show with darker themes, Next to Normal is fantastic with what is, IMHO, the best score of the year and an incredible cast. But it is definitely not a musical comedy.

bethke14 - I would call 'Next to Normal' a rock drama. I too thought the cast was great, but I felt that most tunes sounded alike. Because they sang so much of it, I found it hard to separate different melodies.

I'll back up the "In the Heights" recommendations. My wife and I saw it two weeks ago, and it was fantastic. It's what I would call a wonderful American story. Very hip, with terrific rap, but with more traditional music as well. There is some mild language and some mild suggestive stuff, but it would be fine for a 13 year old.

I'm not sure where to put this but there's a great documentary on the making of "In the Heights" on public broadcasting. Fun to see the behind the scenes of developing the show.

What is the best way to book "In the Heights" online from Australia for a date in mid-July. Thank you for any advice you have on this.

You get tickets on Ticketmaster. They email you a link to go to in order to print out the tickets. I assume that you can use a Mastercard, etc., and they will do a currency conversion.

This is great. Saving for October, our plan is not to plan. So love to hear all the reviews. I know for my then teenager of 16, she enjoyed, in fact LOVED We Will Rock You (which she has now seen 3 times) but did not enjoy Wicked as much, she would enjoy Jersey Boys, (which I loved in London)and may still take her to Melbourne to see.

My 45 yr old DH didn't mind Jersey Boys (we both weren't so thrilled with Billy Elliot, again in London)but I'm not sure he would like Wicked (he hasn't seen it). So I'm checking out all your recommendations for October.

Keep it coming.

Without seeking to offend either side of the Atlantic, should we see Jersey Boys in New York or London ? As Australians visiting both London and New York in July we are interested in your views.