Need advice on NYC Broadway shows please!

[tazz23]

For my boyfriends 21st birthday present, I want to treat him to dinner and a broadway show.

I've just had a look on the internet and theres about 20-30 shows to choose from, I don't know where to begin!

Has anyone seen a show in New York and have any advice they could give me?

The details should you need them: We're both from England and both over 21 (Im already 21 and his birthday is in May). We are celebrating our university graduation by flying to Newyork on the 18th June- 22 June 06 and then flying down to orlando 22nd june-6th july and spending 2 weeks at POP century/HRH. For this reason, I don't really want to book a disney show in new york. I have about $200 budget for dinner and the show for the two of us- Is this realistic?

I have not heard of most of the other shows and I have no idea what restaurants are good in New york, Any help would be appreciated!

Tammy

 

[scarlett873]

I haven't been to see any of the shows actually IN New York, but I have seen the touring production of Wicked. It's fantastic!!! I would highly recommend it!

I'm not sure about the budget question...hope somebody can help!

Have fun!!

 

[FergieTCat]

Since Broadway tickets cost $100 per ticket nowadays, you might want to limit yourself to shows that are discounted. You can check www.broadwaybox.com to see if there are discounts. You can order the tickets online and pick them up at the box office if you prefer.

 

[salmoneous]

You've got two options with Broadway shows:

1) Pick the best possible show and buy full price tickets ahead of time. The problem here is that two full-price tickets and a nice dinner could easily bust your $200 budget.

2) Don't buy tickets in advance. Go to the TKTS booth to buy discounted tickets that day. Take a copy of New York or The New Yorker magazine with you and look over the descriptions and reviews as you wait in line. Make your choice on the spot for the shows that are available that day.

If you decide to go with the first option, I'd recommend Mama Mia. I've seen it on Broadway twice and touring shows 4-5 times. Every night 99% of the crowd had a great time. It's a can't miss kind of show.

Personally, my favorite currently running show is Avenue Q. But some people just don't "get" the show, making it a bit riskier than Mama Mia.

 

[ElizaB39]

$200 will be low even if you get discounted tickets. However, if you eat cheaply, you might squeeze it all in.

We just saw Hairspray and it was GREAT! Diana DeGarmo from American Idol was Penny, the sidekick friend and was fabo! We were in left orchestra, third row, great seats for the most part.

Have heard absolutely wonderful things about Wicked, takeoff of the Wizard of Oz, and of course Phantom is a good standby too.

Good Luck!

There is also a discounted TKTS location right in Times Square, you go there the day you want to see a show, see what is available and pay about half price for a ticket. However, it is just whatever is available on that day. I have no idea what days are better to get better tickets though.

 

[luvwinnie]

LOVED LOVED LOVED WIcked. I hear The Wedding SInger is great too.

 

[Nancyg56]

You can go to TKTS in Times Square to get 1/2 price tickets. Two tickets were a little over $120. There is no guarantee what will be available that day, (we go to the matinee, but the evening shows are on sale at 2 PM, I believe, 10 AM for the matinee, get there earlier than that the line is long but moves fast). I just saw The Producers, and it was very good. Hairspray is supposed to be good. A lot of people like RENT, I did not. Cabaret is good, Beauty and the Beast was there on sale, that is a good choice for a DIS fan. Wicked is playing with Carol Kane. I heard it was good. Phantom of the Opera is very good.

If you want to pay full price, the Odd Couple is playing with Nathan Lane and Mathew Broderick.

You can go to the TKTS website and see what was available for the last 4 days, choose 3 that you think you would like, and take it from there.

NYC is very expensive. A hamburger can cost $17, an open sandwich is around $22, but there are plenty of mid priced meals available. The deli sandwiches can be split because they are huge, although ther may be a sharing fee imposed. Whatever you do, enjoy yourself.

 

[JMD]

It really depends what kind of show you are interested in seeing. There are so many good shows to choose from, try to narrow it down a little. Tickets can get a bit pricey, so $200 my not be enough for a show and dinner. There are alot of "off-broadway" shows that are really good and may be less expensive.

I just saw the Pajama Game with Harry Connick Jr last month, and it was excellent. I would recommend that one, but tickets were about $150 each.

Considering you are from England, have you looked at Spamalot?

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

We got tickets for Wicked for July from Ticketmaster a couple months ago. I refused to wait and pay scalper prices online ("brokers"). They sell them for 3 times what we paid. If it was just DH and I we might see Spamalot too.

We also did NOT want to see Disney while in NY this time. We will be at Disney again in a few weeks anyway.

 

[cats mom]

I know Wicked is a fabulous show, but isn't it sold out pretty far in advance? Would the OP be able to get tickets for their dates? Going through a ticket broker and paying those prices would definitely break the budget!


I think Mama Mia is a great suggestion. It's a really fun show!
I bet you'll be dancing in the aisles.

 

[MorganLeFey]

The entire limited run of "the Odd Couple" sold out before the show even opened.

"Wicked" has been around awhile, there may be some availability "Hairsrpay" and "'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" were also great. the hot ticket is still "Spamalot", you probably won't find tickets but if you can get them, go! I'm hearing good things about "the Wedding Singer" and "The Drowsy Chaperone", but I haven't seen either of those yet.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

Wicked is sold out through ticketmaster for your dates. Tickets would be available through a broker, but outrageous. Lots of other good suggestions on here.

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

Definitely use www.broadwaybox.com. I've seen Avenue Q, Chicago and my favorite, Rent. I'd recommend Rent -- the music is fantastic and it is Tony and Pulitzer prize-wining show. Chicago is ok, but, honestly, I liked the movie better.

Also, your budget will be a bit low for an upscale dinner in Manhattan. Why not have an "experience" and eat at the Carnegie Deli (77th at 5th)? Big ol' pastrami sandwiches and cheesecake near the theater district. DH and I did that one night before seeing Rent because we didn't have time for a two-hour dinner and he loved it.

Also, if you take the subway, there's a funky little peanut butter shop in the Village (I think it's on Sullivan) called Peanut Butter & Co. that has awesome sanwiches (love the Fluffernutter).

The first licensed pizzeria was in NYC, too, in 1905. The original shop isn't there anymore (it closed and was reopened down the block). It's on Spring Street. There's also Totonno's on Coney Island, the oldest continuously operated pizzeria in its original location. Both have coal-fired pizza (coal-fired ovens have since been banned, but these were grandfathered in).

Sorry I got off topic, but there are some options for you. I really LOVE Rent.

 

[mtemm]

Loved Avenue Q. We saw it last october and thought it was hysterical.

good luck with whatever tix you go for, and have fun!

 

[tazz23]

Thank you for your replies!
Didn't realise shows were so expensive- you can get great seats in London for about $60 each, so I based my budget on that!

I've already seen Phamtom and Mamma mia in London- They were great shows!

I went on Broadwaybox and they have reduced tickets for lestat for $59? Anyone heard of this show, it has music by Tim Rice and Elton John- it sounds quite interesting?

What are the story lines for Avenue Q or Spamalot?

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

The entire limited run of "the Odd Couple" sold out before the show even opened.

"Wicked" has been around awhile, there may be some availability "Hairsrpay" and "'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" were also great. the hot ticket is still "Spamalot", you probably won't find tickets but if you can get them, go! I'm hearing good things about "the Wedding Singer" and "The Drowsy Chaperone", but I haven't seen either of those yet.

Oh you can get tickets to Spamalot, but they are easily $200 each! I've been dying to see it but haven't found decent priced tickets yet.

The Producers is hilarious. I thought it was one of the funniest things I've seen. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is also very funny. Chicago is ok, not bad but nothing special either.

TKTS is a great way to get discounted tickets. Just get there EARLY! I stood in line for about an hour and a half in December. Most tickets were sold out before I got to the window. I ended up getting tickets to The Woman In White. I never even heard of it before but I went anyway. I was quite impressed. It was a very good show. The scenery was something you've never seen before and the story was intriguing. I really recommend it.

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

Avenue Q is a coming of age story about a guy named Princeton who moves to NYC (on Avenue Q) after college in search of his purpose in life. It's told partly through human actors and puppets (think Sesame Street) WITH human actors. Very creative. Many of the creatives behind it were former Him Henson/ Disney (think Bear in the Big Blue House)/ Sesame Street puppeteers, writers, etc.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

http://www.montypythonsspamalot.com/
There are $110 tickets available for Spamalot, but it is coming to London soon.

Wicked tickets start at $50 and go up to $110 and higher for premium, but they are sold out.

 

[Oh Kay!]

I went on Broadwaybox and they have reduced tickets for lestat for $59? Anyone heard of this show, it has music by Tim Rice and Elton John- it sounds quite interesting?

Lestat (based on Ann Rice's Interview with Vampire) is getting really bad buzz; I would skip that.

 

[mtemm]

good description of avenue q...and while yes, muppets are used, its pretty much an R rated version, not exactly sesame street.