NYC Theater Last Minute Options or Returns
 

Hey Everybody,

Sorry I didn't post this with my transportation question, but it just occurred to me that you all might know how to research this question.

We're flying in around 5 pm tomorrow night and have not bought tickets for a musical just-in-case we have flight problems & don't arrive until later Friday night.

So, what I'm hoping is that we might be able to pick up 3 tickets to one of the musicals at the last minute.

Do any of you know how to go about finding out about last minute theater options or return theater tickets?

I'm so appreciative of all of your help--THANKS!

~~Mandie

There is no clearinghouse that gives that kind of information.
Since your plane doesn't arrive until 5 p.m. (or later if there are the usual delays) and I assume you'll be going to a hotel, you're not going to be scouring for tickets probably until 7 at the earliest. (Incidentally, there's little chance of avoiding traffic at that hour even though you are going in the opposite direction of the city commuter exodus.)
At that hour, there usually is a short line or none at all at TKTS. So, if you are not that fussy about what you want to see, you might find something there.

Also, check at the last possible minute the availabiity of tickets on Ticketmaster or Telecharge (whichever one is used), for any particular shows you are intersted in. If they have avilavle, say the morning of or night before, you may be able to go straight to the box office and purchase one (at the full price).

Very helpful--THANKS!

I'll go "research" these options.

THANKS

~Mandie

Of course, a key question might be: What show(s) were you hoping to see? Knowing that, we might be able to give better advice!

Hi All,
We're fairly open as to which shows. My teenage daughter will be seeing RENT in January & my sister has seen Phantom several times. My guess is that Avenue Q may be a bit too inappropriate for my daughter, but please let me know if you think differently.

Since we haven't done any NYC shows, it'd be great if the show was exciting, fun & lively.

I'm not familiar with so many of the shows, and would certainly be open to any suggestions anybody has.

Do you all think the following shows might fit the "exciting, fun & lively" criteria" or do you have other suggestions?
* I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change
* Bush is Bad: Impeachment Edition
* The Wedding Singer
* Chorus Line
* Chicago
* Wicked
* Jersey Boys (not sure if "exciting" enough)
* Hairspray (we recently saw the movie so we'd probably prefer something else)

What do you all think?

THANKS

~Mandie

P.S. Apparently our hotel is very close to the theaters---a 5 to 10 minute walk, so if our flight arrives by 5 pm, is it reasonable to think that we could be at the hotel by 6 pm? The closeness of the hotels to the theaters should hopefully help us make this exciting option of NY theater happen :).

Thanks again for any help you can give us!

~Mandie

Mandie - your plane arrives at 5pm (in which airport???), so the likelihood of your being at your hotel by 6pm is IMHO practically nil. First you wait for your bags (which could take 45-60 minutes) and even if that takes less time, you'll be in rush hour traffic, which is horrible. Arriving at your hotel an hour after your flight arrives would take a certifiable miracle #-o.
((S))((*))

I would seriously doubt that you will arrive at your hotel by 6:PM. By the time you get your luggage, join the taxi line, and get into the traffic and then navigate traffic into Time Square, I would think you would be pushing 7:30. If you do arrive before 8:00, I would directly to the theatre to see if you can get a last second ticket. We did this in London for a very popular show and it worked out, but it is certainly doubtful that you will get a ticket to Avenue Q.

If you do end up arriving a bit early, I would certainly try to make it TKTS and buy a ticket for a show, many of the remaining tickets at that hour will be off-broadway.

"Bush is Bad: Impeachment Edition"

Sounds interesting but wouldn't you rather see something fictional?

(Sorry, couldn't resist.)

We're flying into JFK. Because this is an unfortunately only a short week-end trip, we'll have carry-on bags & won't have checked luggage.

Still, it still sounds like it's not realistic to get from JFK to 6th Avenue is an hour. Okay, I guess I'll have to reluctantly think about 7 pm as being a more realistic arrival time to our hotel. Oh well :)

That being said, I guess our theater experience should not begin before 7:30 pm and it'd be better to find a show that starts at 8 pm.

Any musical or play suggestions?

THANKS!

~~Mandie

Ha ha NeoPatrick!!! Very funny

Taxi from JFK to 6th Avenue at 5 pm on Friday afternoon is still the fastest way, do you think?

Or, maybe subway is faster, depending on traffic?

~~Mandie

Forget A Chorus Line, Wicked and The Jersey Boys. (If there happen to be an returns for those shows, they'd be long gone before you got there.) The Wedding Singer and Hairspray are definite possibilities at TKTS. Chicago is a question mark.
I would not eliminate Hairspray just because you recently saw the movie. In fact, that in itself should be an added reason to see how they turned it into a musical.
I agree with the others who say "no way" will you get to your hotel by 6. Be happy if you're there by 7. Further, don't assume that your plane will be on time.

I don't think you stand a chance of getting in anywhere near 5pm with the weather we are expecting tomorrow. Thunderstorms, high winds and RAIN tomorrow, which means all the airports will have problems with arrivals and departures.

I think you may have to settle for having a nice dinner out.

OH and bring WARM clothes, we are having the first freeze this weekend.

Hey All,

THANKS for your wisdom. While I'm optimistic, I think that you all are right & w/ the possible weather "issues", we should just plan on enjoying NYC tomorrow night & do a show on our next trip.

What would you all recommend that we do as a way to get to know a bit of the city tomorrow evening? We've not been to NYC before & it's a short trip, so I thought it'd be fun to walk around (with our warm weather clothes!) & see the Christmas decorations & the city.

We're staying at the Hilton on 6th Ave. Are there nice walks that give us a sense of NYC in that area?

THANKS!

~~Mandie

You'll be very close to Rockfeller Center, which is really beautiful at Christmas time. You can watch the ice skaters and hop into a cafe for some wine or hot cocoa. You can walk up along Fifth Avenue in front of the Plaza Hotel. You will then be at the south end of Central Park. If the weather is okay, you can watch the ice skaters at Rockerfeller Center.

Alternately, you can walk to Times Square and just walk around all the sights there.

Great Ideas. THANKS!!!

~~Mandie