Non-Broadway Shows in NYC
 

I'm headed to New York next weekend with three other girls. Two of them have tickets to a matinee of "Anything Goes," but the other two of us are feeling kind of meh about spending Broadway bucks on a show. (I've seen quite a few West End productions, so not only am I spoiled by those somewhat cheaper tickets, but I figured the experience wouldn't be all that new for me. Plus I'm not dying to see anything in particular. My friend feels rather "meh" about big plays/shows in general. So we'd both rather spend the money on other things.)

I do, however, think it'd be fun to see something unusual, maybe off-Broadway (or off-off-Broadway, or whatever). As an example, said friend had someone recommend "Sleep No More*" to her, but that seems just a little <i>too</i> out there for me to spend a hundred dollars on. (For $40, though, I'd totally do it just because it sounds bizarre to my Southern sensibilities.) <u>My main point:</u> Is there a show that's "uniquely New York" (whatever that means), with cheaper ticket prices, that we could still get tickets to for next weekend? I realize that we're leaving this till incredibly late, and if we don't find anything that's available and sounds good, we won't be heartbroken. I just figured if anyone would know of anything, it would be you fine folks. I mean, I think we'd be good with going to a random show in some tiny theater over a bar or something if it's either a) really a great show or b) provides excellent stories to bring home.

* Review, in case you (like I) have never heard of it: http://theater.nytimes.com/2011/04/1...el-review.html

A friend of mine went to Sleep no More when it was in Boston last year and loved it. She went twice, because its hard to see the whole show in one visit and really thought it was fabulous and totally different.

So one other totally New York show, that I loved, is Avenue Q. I'm not sure what the tickets go for these days, but its off Broadway anyways. And hilarious.

Here are some shows that offer either lottery or rush tickets for their shows -
http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuz...-Only-Policies

Here's the list for off-Broadway shows -
http://www.playbill.com/events/listing/2.html

Not uniquely NY but enjoyable is Love, Loss and What I Wore

check here to see who is in the cast for when you'll be there
http://www.playbill.com/search/?q=lo...&input2=Search

Discounts are available for a lot of off-Broadway shows (including Avenue Q). Check out broadwaybox.com and playbill.com for info on them.

Broadway Box has Love, Loss discounts for $49.50

Addams Family (with Brooke Sheilds) = $47

check the list on the left side of broadwaybox.com for more ideas

Another idea - go to Don't Tell Mama - either to the piano bar or see a show at the cabaret
http://www.donttellmamanyc.com/

<RED>WOW!
I'd do this in a heartbeat. I was looking for Barbara Cook performances and found this -

http://feinsteinsattheregency.com/calendar.php

<i>Go see Betty Buckley!!!

Damn, I wish I could go :-(

Here's BB singing Memory from Cats - she won the Tony
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPGB_...eature=related

She was the step-mom in Eight is Enough

http://www.playbill.com/news/article...-at-Feinsteins

Holy mackerel! I saw 9 responses in less than an hour and thought "What horrible argument did I start?!" :) Thanks so much, y'all, for the tips! Clicking straight through on Playbill, looks like Avenue Q would still be nearly $100/person. I'll definitely check out those sites and ideas thoroughly, though.

china_cat, looks like Sleep No More is totally sold out for October, so even if we wanted to change our minds we've probably missed the boat on that one. Part of me does want to see something that sounds totally bizarre!

Avenue Q tickets are $55 with the Broadwaybox discount

Awesome! Thanks, starrs. I'm alternately trying to finish up at work and getting really distracted by the ol' world wide web, so I haven't been as thorough as I need to be yet. :)

Here is a whole world of theatre, dance, and music you have not considered. Most visitors never consider off-Broadway or off-off Broadway dramas and revivals.

These are stories to take home.

http://newyork.timeout.com/arts-culture

Here is a small intimate theatre that gets brand name actors:
http://www.classicstage.org/

Thanks, Aduchamp! Unfortunately it doesn't look like anything is playing at Classic Stage next weekend, but I hope someone else sees this and decides to go - that schedule looks fantastic. I did see a couple things from Time Out that I'm hoping my friend is excited about. :) If not, she might go for Avenue Q.

Well enjoy yourself whatever you do.

Check out NYMF - http://www.nymf.org/ - New York Musical Theater Festival. Runs through Oct 16. 30 new musicals presented in smaller theaters, some shows have some pretty big names attached but you get to see everything/everyone up close.

Off Broadway at New World Stages (West 50th St near 8th Ave): Freud's Last Session.

At the Triad on the Upper West Side: Celebrity Autobiography.

Ave Q, Rent and Million Dollar Quartet have all moved from B'way to Off (and 2 of them had been Off'B'way prior to B'way) but I don't know that any are necessarily the unique experience you mentioned.

spring212, both Freud and the festival sound GREAT. Thank you! Avenue Q or something along those lines would definitely be fun (I've seen Rent, though it's been awhile), but I think something like the others would be my personal preference.

I have heard great things about Freud's Last Session. Would be very unique experience!

stephh, I'd love to see it too - wish it had worked out for this trip, but maybe next time!

spring212, just wanted to thank you again for the NYMF suggestion! We just booked tickets for a show Saturday night (to be followed by midnight brunch at Bubby's, at least under the current plan).

I like fuerza bruta.
http://fuerzabrutanyc.com/press.html

Sorry if this is too late, Jen. Two shows that we loved in NY are Steve Cohens Chamber Magic. It was AMAZING and I got to help with one trick. Still can't figure it out. The other is Celebrity Autobiography. Hysterical!

http://www.chambermagic.com/

http://www.celebrityautobiography.com/index.php

Thanks, TC! Our schedule is pretty dang full for this weekend (and our bank accounts are not :) ), but I'll come back to this thread for suggestions if there's another trip in the near future. I'm definitely discovering that there's way more to do and see than we'll have time for!