JJ5

Hey, even my guy (SO) who after Mama Mia, refuses to go at all- still appreciated Les Miserables. I saw it with him in NYC- and we came out into a pouring rain. We got by the umbrella selling crew and were still so in thoughts etc. that we hardly knew we got soaked until we were back at the hotel.

I've seen it 3 times, in different decades and in different cities, and I'd go again tomorrow.

I used to know all the words but don't know all of them anymore, just most of them. It was very operatic. "Bring him home" just kills me.

SusanM

Now Les Miz - I've said it before, it's my all-time favorite. Nothing has come close to it for me. Talk about being invested in the story!

I've seen it 8 times, and only paid once or twice. I belonged to the Saints in the early 90s, a volunteer theatre group in Chicago. We ushered at the Auditorium, Chicago Theatre, Steppenwolf, all the biggies, and got to see everything free. Guess which show I signed up for the most!

Gina_07

Any tips how to get discount tickets for the NYC show? I have been trying to get them for a while but the lowest price quoted is $125 and we are a family of four.

JJ5

SusanM, the first time I saw it was at the Auditorium, just exactly when you state- you could have been there. That time I brought a handicapped friend when she was still walking but it was ROUGH getting her there- but she still talks about it. It sure was worth it.

NeoPatrick

Gina, discount tickets for Wicked on Broadway? Not likely to happen for another year or two at least. It is still wildly popular.

Someone once posted insisting they got half price tickets for it at TKTS. Many doubted that. It might have been true, but it was a very, very rare fluke if so.

JJ5

I think it has been literally 4 years, and still Wicked tickets in Chicago aren't a reduced HOTIX item either. But I did hear that it is coming to an end in 2009, regardless.

Gina_07

You are right, NeoPatrick. We just have to pay the $500 and go see it on a special evening. I hope it's worth it.

My friend got her tickets at such a ridiculously low price in L.A. But, I guess, Broadway is a different story.

ncounty

I paid $108 for my seat after all fees were added. It was up close but far left.

Gina_07

Where did you get them from?

volcanogirl

Another Les Mis fan - seen it over and over and would love to see it again.

HowardR

SusanM, for the record, you are not alone in not enjoying Wicked. No one in our family--both young and old--liked it! However, we have always admitted that we are in the minority!

ncounty

Gina- sorry, I saw it in Chicago 3 nights ago. I got it from ticketmaster online. If your dates are flexible and you plan far enough in advance, it should be fine even in New York. Also, it helps if you are willing to sit apart. There are often single seats available. I went by myself.

kswl

Our whole family went to see Wicked on Halloween night in Atlanta. DS2 and I both read the book a few years ago (and the sequel, "Son of a Witch") by Gregory Maguire and LOVED it. The play was a vicious truncation of the book, with some play characters amalgamating several of those in the book, and the plot changed 180 degrees. We were especially disappointed in the ending, which was completely different. **Edited at Starrs request because I gave away the ending without thinking about readers who may not have seen the play before reading this thread. Sorry **

I liked two of the songs but felt that the emotion in the others was forced and contrived. My mother and daughter thought it was so-so, and my husband was the only one who really liked it a lot.

DH's favorites are old Rogers and Hammerstein---State Fair, Oaklahoma, etc. DS2's faves are West Side Story and Les Mis. (Personally, if I ever have to sit through Les Mis again I will take a Kindle and read during it.) DD's taste is more High School Musical and Legally Blonde. Me? I have my little list... I still like Gilbert and Sullivan best

Judyrem

ncounty, yes he did sing "Can't take my eyes off you". We saw it in Toronto (fab),,the production company was superb! Not your typical 1 or 2 week ensemble..you know what I speak Neo. In fact, the it was extended till Christmas. I loved it, abd I was not huge of a 4 Seasons fan. BTW, My DH who is not a prude at all, thought there was just a bit too much "foul" language for his comfort level. I am also a HUGE fan of Les Miz, I cry every time I see it.

volcanogirl

Cats is the one I didn't "get" - I have no idea why people loved it so much; I was bored out of my mind, but everyone I know raved about it.

starrs

I'm a huge Wicked fan. I discovered the music first (after a performance of "For Good" at a caberet) so I already knew the music. Had it memorized in fact. I have lots of CD for long cross-state drives and the Wicked CD is the only one I seemed to be able to listen to over and over again. I love them all and enjoyed the song NOT on the CD (and in the show).

I've seen it numerous times. So many it's pretty much a joke. Four times in a couple of weeks during the Atlanta tour. Yes, it's an ode to friendship between two girls/women but I don't think it's a "chick flick" kind of show. Since I've seen it so many times I watched a lot of different aspects of the show AND the audience. The men around me really seemed to enjoy the show. The last show I was with someone who had read the book and was peppered with questions before and during intermission. I just said the book "inspired" the show. Kind of like "Under the Tuscan Sun". The only similiarities between the movie and the book is that a woman went to Italy. LOL!

I've been a huge fan of Wicked on this board and the only "negative" remark ever made to me was from HowardR who shared that he did not love the show. We've joked about being on opposite ends of the Wicked spectrum.

I really enjoyed the Behind the Emerald Curtain tour the last time I was in NYC. And, if you have any real Wicked fans to buy for at Christmas, consider buying the Grimmerie. It does a great job of giving the backstory of the production. Makes a great gift.

I've seen the national tour (twice), LA and Broadway. It just celebrated its 5th anniversary on Broadway and still selling out the largest theatre for every performance. Considering that permanent productions in LA and Chicago have been ongoing as well as the national tour, it's been a huge success.

kswl

I did buy two Wicked umbrellas to give as gifts. I thought (hoped) they are distinctive enough not to leave behind

starrs

I didn't "get" Cats either. Fell asleep actually. I saw it in LA so I could blame the time change, but I really blame the show

Austin

Overall I thought Wicked was very good. I thought the "Bad Witch" (forgot her name!) was amazing. Just perfect.

starrs

Elphaba.
The name = the initials of L. Frank Baum, the author of "The Wizard of Oz".
L-F-B = El-fa-ba

The not-so-wicked-witch.