Headed to NY for our annual "Girls Do Broadway". We have tix for Billy Elliot, West Side Story and Guys and Dolls. Have room on our schedule for two more shows, but nothing is really sending me over the moon with the current reviews as a must see.

What Off, or Off-Off -Broadway shows might we add to our line-up? Something that may well be headed to Broadway in furture years.

What would you recommend and why?

On Broadway, South Pacific, In the Heights and 2 non musicals, Blithe Spirit and God of Carnage got great reviews. There are also several shows that haven't opened yet like 9 to 5 with Alison Janney, Accent on Youth with David Hyde Pierce. Off B'way, Ruined is said to be up for a Pulitzer and Marvelous Wondrettes is just good fun. Have heard Our Town is very good too.

Thanks, Mclaurie. We go to NY every Spring, so have seen South Pacific (amazing!) and In the Heights (loved it) last year. Have also seen August, Osage Cty., Chicago, Hair, Lion King, Mamma Mia, Phantom, Wicked and most anything else that has been running for more than a few months. That's why we're leaning toward something Off-Broadway this year. Will definately keep an eye on 9-5 and Accent on Youth or consider Blithe Spirit, God of Carnage, The Philanthropist, or Joe Turner if the reviews and ticket prices are good. But I am interested in your opinions of the Off-Broadway considerations for now. Thanks again.

We saw Stomp Off-Broadway and enjoyed it very much. It's in a tiny little theater - we were in the second row and the first row could have propped their feet on the stage.

Thanks, Twina49. We have seen Stomp many times and Blue Men and Tony & Tina, etc. --- all the old standbys. Looking for something new and exciting that might be headed to Broadway, but thanks for your suggestion.

From the many mailings I get, these would be my Off-Broadway pics currently.

Primary Stages' premier of Tina Howe's new play -- Chasing Manet, which sounds like a delightful comedy. And Tina Howe is very clever.

Happiness, a new smallish musical at the Mitzi Newhouse at Lincoln Center. With collaboration by the Grey Gardens song writers, and Susan Stroheim and John Weidman, and cast including the amazing Joanna Gleason and Hunter Foster -- I'd LOVE to see it.

Ruined at Manhattan Theatre Club. Intersting story set in the Republic of Congo, but I know little about it.

Thanks, NP. I will definately look into the first two. Ruined, while up for a Pulitzer, sounds a wee bit depressing in it's content.

TC, don't you get it? Pulitzer MEANS depressing! LOL

Happiness did not get very good reviews.

Review of Chasing Manet from tomorrow's NY Times. I haven't read it yet. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/10/th...20manet&st=cse

Whoops. It's today's.

I've heard good reviews about Fuerza Bruta, an off Broadway performance. Checking their website it's possible to have an idea of how it is.

While it is true most of the reviews of Happiness were pretty dismal, this one by John Simon (whose opinions I often share more than most critics) is a rave including his opening comment:

"Yet “Happiness,” at Lincoln Center Theater’s intimate Mitzi E. Newhouse stage, does more than just offer 110 minutes of flawless, nonstop entertainment. It amazes."

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...fc&refer=movie

I still say -- with Joanna Gleason, Hunter Foster, and Michael Cervantes (whom I left out before) -- I'd happily sit through it even if it were otherwise pure drek!

Patrick, you have an interesting point about your willingness to sit through a bad show and in order to watch and enjoy talented people. From my my experiences, I've had it that way at times, while at other times, the performances by favorites didn't compensate for a bad show (and I would wonder whatever possessed to do the show!).
Your comment about John Simon puts us in opposite camps!

Howard, we were already in separate camps with critics. I know you think Ben Brantley walks on water -- me, not so much.

That was too quick an answer. What I should say is that one thing I've always loved about John Simon is that he's not afraid to say "this was just fun". Brantley and many of the others seem to want to apologize for half-way enjoying themselves at a show that didn't solve any major problems of the world or didn't reach out in some earth-shattering new way. Sometimes theatre is best when it is simply fun and you don't have to rationalize that!

I agree with most of what you said, Patrick. However, I don't think that Brantley walks on water! I happen to think he's both a good critic and a good writer! My problem with John Simon is that he's too much into himself. He thinks he walks on water!

PS: In the interest of full disclosure, I must confess that I thought Simons' review of West Side Story far more closely matched my view of the show that Brantley's review!
So, no, I don't think Brantley walks on water....well, at least some of the time!

"Our Town" at the Barrow is a hot ticket. It's a transfer from Chicago (where I saw it) by a much praised director new to New York, David Cromer.

I also saw "Ruined" in Chicago, but I think it's about to close in NY. It was excellent, but definitely about a dark subject. Well, "Our Town" is about death, of course.

If you want upbeat, "Rock of Ages" is something new that's getting a surprising amount of praise. Must be a very fun evening.

I saw "God of Carnage" a couple of weeks ago. It is lively and entertaining, and generating a lot of buzz. Personally, I'd rather have seen "Ruined," which has some amazing young actresses in it.

Also you could consider "Reasons to be Pretty," a show that recently moved onto Broadway from Off. It would provide a lot of discussion topics for a girls weekend group.