We will be in New York the last week of December, and would like to see Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and possibly some other shows.
I have checked the BroadwayOffers.com, and no discounts apply to Dirty Rotten Scoundrels for this week. The regular price tickets are $81 and $111 (from telecharge.com), so I am considering rear mezzanine seats, which are cheaper. I was wondering if anyone knows the Imperial Theater to give me an idea if we will be able to see OK from those seats.
I was there years ago (I think for Les Miserables), but do not remember if the theater is big or not.
Also, looking for suggestion on other shows/plays (maybe off-Broadway). I’ve seen most of the older big blockbuster musicals either previously in New York, or in London, or in Chicago where I am from. I am looking for something more unique – interesting thought provoking play or maybe a play with a major star in it.
Thank you for your help!

I doubt you'll be able to find much in the way of discounts over the holidays, but it's always possible.

Check the Broadway listings on Playbill.com. They have seating charts, current cast lists and synopses of everything currently playing on Broadway and off-Broadway.

If you want to know what shows are most likely to have discounts, check the "Broadway Grosses" section. Shows that are playing to a low percentage of capacity are definite contenders.

DRS is a great show. How many people are you buying tickets for? If it is just for two people, I suggest paying the extra $60 total and getting good seats. I have never enjoyed a show from rear mezzanine--need to be at one with the performance and see the expressions. Off-broadway, consider A Mother, A Daughter, A Gun with Olympia Dukakas or See What I Wanna See with Idina Menzel (Wicked). Or, the wonderful new concert version of Sweeney Todd with Patti LuPone and Michael Cevaris.

Definitely spend the extra money for the good tickets to DRS. You'll miss a lot sitting that far back. Seeing the two stars up close is definitely worth the higher cost.
I would also second the recommendation for Sweeney Todd.
As for other shows, Doubt is the best straight play on Broadway right now, and discount tickets are available for the show. Check either Playbill.com or BroadwayBox.com.

There is currently a discount listed on playbill for $76.25 (plus fees) for the $101 tickets that's good from 14 Sep 2005 to 26 Feb 2006. The code is DRPBX85 and can be used on broadwayoffers.com or call telecharge (my perference) at 212-947-8844 and mention code: DRPBX85 Details are here

http://www.playbill.com/club/offers/...etail/871.html

but you'll probably have to register for free to get the page. It's an absolutely delightful show and you'll love it. If you've tried and they're not offering tickets at that discount for that week, I'd say it depends on how badly you want to see the show. I personally don't ever like to sit in the rear mezz., but that's a personal decision.

For something "thought provoking" I highly recommend "Doubt" which has won lots of awards. That also has discounts available through Jan 8 '06 on playbill.

bugswife, frequent theater goer and poster here, recently raved about "The Color Purple." There's a discount for that on playbill but only thru Dec 15.

mclaurie, you didn't read the fine print in the Dirty Rotten Scoundrels offer. It's not good December 26-31!

You're right, Howard. I forgot the fine print

That's okay, mclaurie, I don't think you'll get banned for that!

Oops, but I hope I don't get banned for correcting you!

Thank you very much for such quick replies and all these suggestions. Yes, I have checked all special discounts before I posted the message, and unfortunately none of them applies for week of 12/25 – 12/31. We picked a wrong week! J
I will follow the advice to pay a full price for better seats for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, I think it makes sense.
I checked both suggested off-Broadway shows - A Mother, A Daughter, A Gun with Olympia Dukakas or See What I Wanna See , but unfortunately both will be closed by the time we will be there. Some new shows are coming though, one of them ‘Waiting for Godot” by Samuel Beckett sounds good (I red a book long time ago).
The Doubt and Sweeny Todd sound good also!
Thanks again!

Hello! You're right, the holidays are not the time to find discount tickets, unfortunately.

I actually saw DRS from the very last row, and thought it was just fine. The theatre is on the small side, so while you don't see the actor's facial expressions, you can see all of the action and get the full scope of the set.

We paid $60 for our seats, and I was very pleased. It really depends on what's important to you when you see a show- for my money, if the theatre is on the small side I would rather pay less for the rear mezz and get to see or do something else with the money I've saved.

Sweeney is definitely thought-provoking, so that could be a good additional choice for you.

I'm going to NYC for Thanksgiving, and had the same situation -- none of those discount deals were any good during that holiday season, either. I am going to DRS because I really like John Lithgow. I always pay for the best seats I can because I don't get to do that very often, so I want the best experience. I don't like to go to the theatre or any performance if I can't see very well, I'd just as soon not go. To best honest, the extra money for 1-2 Broadway shows a year doesn't make any different to me in my overall budget, so it doesn't matter to me. If I were going to those kinds of shows a lot, then I'd start having to decide more, I guess.

I am also going to Doubt as a serious show. Another one that is opening 12/8 you could consider is A Touch of a Poet with Gabriel Byrne at Studio 54 (Roundabout Theatre). I'm going to that one, also.

I did consider the Olympia Dukakis show as I really like her as an actress, but every review I've read since it's opened has made it sound dreadful to me. Another one I would have chosen if I hadn't filled up my time which has gotten fairly good reviews is the new one at Lincoln Center with Diane Wiest and Charles Durning -- that is Third by Wendy Wasserstein. Those are two actors I really like, also, and I'd go to see them if I had time. The play's gotten decent reviews, even though I know the synopsis may be a bit predictable.

sorry I just checked and Third is closing 12/18, but the others will be running, I think.

Thank you very much again for all your input! I love Fodors!
Christina, if you could post a review for 'Touch of a Poet', that would be great! I was thinking of that one also.
And TarheelslnNj, I am with you. I always try to save as much as I can, and go more often. We live in Chicago, so we have very good theater scene, so we go pretty often. Of course, big stars like John Lithgow are not very often here (even though we saw him here in 'Sweet smell of success' in pre-Broadway engagement a few years ago), so maybe in this case I'll splurge