Any suggestions on a good play to see in NYC? I am considering "The Lion King", "Chicago", "The Blue Man Group".

Hi Wil:
My all-time favorite is Chicago.

Wil, the other poster is right on Chicago is great. We are very lucky to have alot of great stuff on B'way right now. So depending on when you are going to be here, you have alot of options.

We saw The Lion King recently and Aida and both are wonderful. The Lion King really has moved theatre forward with the amazing costumes and the innovative staging.

If it were between Lion King and Chicago, I would be hard picked to choose.

Also when you are here, you might try to get a second nite of half price tickets of something in previews there will be alot of previewing in the next few weeks/months. TKTS is located in Times Square and 2 World Trade Center.

Have a great time while you are here.

tweedy

I would recommend Cabaret and, if you want to do some off-Broadway, the revival of Blythe Spirit at the Pearl Theater.

It depends greatly on what you like. Lion King is a "visual" feast. While something like Cabaret has more of an "edge". Chicago is also good--more stylized with quite a bit of dance. Another wonderful current show is Contact which is entirely dance. Blue Man Group is more performance art.

I would add "Kiss Me, Kate" to the above suggested list.
Check out the Playbill website (playbill.com) for discount tickets, midweek, to "Chicago" and "Cabaret."

Just saw Kiss Me Kate a month ago. It was wonderful down to the last detail. I was just listening to the CD on the way to work this morning--same cast. It's a great revival. I recommend it highly.

Am also looking for suggestions as I will be in NYC with my 16 year old daughter. She is interested in seeing RENT. Can anyone recommend that? Thanks.

Liz - I personally love RENT and took my 18 year old niece to see it last spring. I think taking your 16 year old to see it depends on her maturity and what you are comfortable with her seeing. It deals with adult themes - AIDS, drugs, homosexuality - but in the end, I think it really just deals with love and friendship and how that's what really matters in the end. I think it's very entertaining and hip. The music's great - more of a rock opera than traditional Broadway tunes.

Hi Wil,

I've seen and highly recommend Cabaret, Rent, Lion King, Les Miserables and Miss Saigon. Of these 5, Rent was my least favorite, but still better than other shows I've seen. My suggestion is that if you're seeing any of these to get the music beforehand so that you're familiar with the lyrics. I've found that if I know the music, I'm able to focus on watching the action on stage instead of wasting energy listening for the lyrics. Rent was the only show of the ones listed that I went to having not heard the music before, so maybe that's why I liked it the least. Whatever you decide; have a great time!!

Hi Wil,

I've seen and highly recommend Cabaret, Rent, Lion King, Les Miserables and Miss Saigon. Of these 5, Rent was my least favorite, but still better than other shows I've seen. My suggestion is that if you're seeing any of these to get the music beforehand so that you're familiar with the lyrics. I've found that if I know the music, I'm able to focus on watching the action on stage instead of wasting energy listening for the lyrics. Rent was the only show of the ones listed that I went to having not heard the music before, so maybe that's why I liked it the least. Whatever you decide; have a great time!!

I, too, have seen the 5 plays mentioned above. I have to say that none of them were bad, they were all great! However, my most favorite play is Phantom. If you have not seen that, it is a must.I truly love musicals.

I was just in New York over the weekend and saw "Aida." It was OUTSTANDING. Tony winner Heather Headley has the voice of an angel. Check it out if you can.

Fosse is a good one too. There is more dancing and no singing or dialogue. If you want to do something really fun, check out Chicago City Limits. There web site in www. [email protected]. You can see a hillariously funny improv show for about $20 a ticket.

just saw Rent this past summer with my daughter and loved it (i'm 50 and harken back to the days of Hair). From what I could tell, the audience was made up of a good deal of young people and from their reaction they really loved it and knew the music. I would suggest listening to the music ahead of time so when you finally see it (or another show) you really appreciate the performance that much more.

Lifegame is a great off Broadway show.

The Full Monte is on Broadway now. I didn't see (saw the movie) but friends of mine saw it last weekend and said it was great (musical).

I was in New York this past weekend and saw "Annie, get your gun," "the best man" and "Swing." My favorite was "The Best Man." The cast was outstanding and if you don't know better or do your research, you will be amazed at how many people in the cast you will know. Cheryl Ladd was extremely good in "Annie, get....." and swing was very good although there is really no story line. I will say outside of Broadway, the best show I saw was "Letterman" when Gov Bush was there. James Brown was great.