Need advice on NYC Broadway shows please!

[salmoneous]

Avenue Q is set in a world very much like Sesame Street (do you get that in the UK?) complete with a mix of people, puppets and monsters. It deals with the struggles of a new college grad trying to find his way in the big world - dealing with love, sex, one's purpose and longing for the simpler days of college. All very funny. If you know anyone who might have the Cast Album, see if you can't borrow it. Great songs, even if you don't end up going to the show.

Spamalot is essentially the Broadway-musical version of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. But it doesn't stick to the story of the movie and veers off into all sorts of silly Python-esc tangents.

 

[tazz23]

Yes we get sesame street in the uk! Avenue Q sounds good, but I can't find any tickets cheaper than $110, are any discounts likely to come out?

How about restaurants/cafes near the theatres? Are there any that are worth mentioning?

Thank you again for your help!

 

[tazz23]

OK i went on the Spamalot website and they have Row A of the balcony for $160 for the both of us for June 21st. I assume the front of the balcony is ok? They also have Row T in the front orchestra, but that is $222 for the both of us.

Let me know what you think.

 

[salmoneous]

I'd take first row balcony in a heartbeat. Nobody in front of you. Often a bit more leg room (broadway theaters tend to be old with tight seating). Back of the orchestra is under the overhang of the Mezzanine and always feels "closed in" to me. Even ignoring the lower price, I would choose front-row balcony.

 

[momrek06]

We are from MA. My DH was offered a temp Engineering job for 4 years in NYC 2000-2004. We spent EVERY weekend seeing a show on Broadway. Let me tell you to experience a show on Broadway is a THRILL alone. There is nothing in this country like NYC and Broadway. We miss it every single day. We go back from time to time to just walk in Times Square and just marvel in it the excitement in the air in NYC.
Les Miserables (which will re-open briefly)
The Phantom of the Opera
RENT
LION KING
Producers
Mamma Mia
Chicago
42nd Street
Beauty and the Beast

Go on www.playbill.com (a great site) and also try looking on EBAY for tickets.
Also, if you wait until THAT day to purchase tickets, TKTS is a great option.

AND DON'T FORGET THE MUSEUMS all over NYC...Fabulous

 

[MorganLeFey]

ther'es lots of casual dining in the theater district. I like John's,on 44th street, they have the best brick oven pizza in the city. a lot of people love Carmine's, also on 44th I think, for Italian -- but the wait for a table there can be very long. I also like Ellen's Stardust Diner -- it has a 1950's theme, and it's the home otf the singing watstaff -- they sing while you eat. there are chains -- Planet Hollywood, Bubba Gump, the Olive Garden, Applebees. TGI Friday's.

 

[Tabetha]

I have to second the recommendation for Peanut Butter & Co. Awesome. Order the S'mores.

I'm also going to recommend The Drowsey Chaperone. I haven't caught the Broadway version yet, but I saw it way back when at the Toronto Fringe Festival before the Mirvishes worked their theatre magic on it. It's a very funny show with a lovely history. The show was written as a bachelor party/wedding gift for Bob Martin (starring as "The Old Man in the Chair) and his wife Janet Van de Graaf by their theatre/comedy friends (they met and fell in love as actors at The Second City), and then sort of took on a life of its own and went on to the Toronto Fringe, a professional mounting here in Toronto, a run in LA and now finally on Broadway. Bob's wonderful in it, catch it if you can.

 

[Christine]

You might check out this show: http://www.altarboyz.com/

It is Altar Boyz . My DD's high school group went to NYC a few weeks ago and this was on of the shows they saw (they also saw Hairspray). This is an off-broadway show, but it was their favorite. My DD really enjoyed it because she spent several years at a Catholic school and I think this show sort of "spoofed" that experience.

Anyway, I believe it is a lot cheaper to go to one of these. Give it a try!

 

[Nancyg56]

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.

We always get there before the window opens, and stand in line about 1 hour. This is for the matinee though. Producers was offered, and I think I remember seeing Wicked on the marquis. I just go to their website, and then click on the show. It will usually bring you to the show website to check out the storyline.

I agree that some of the best plays we saw were limited runs, and not on out "hit list."

 

[Eeyore Addict]

You might check out this show: http://www.altarboyz.com/

It is Altar Boyz . My DD's high school group went to NYC a few weeks ago and this was on of the shows they saw (they also saw Hairspray). This is an off-broadway show, but it was their favorite. My DD really enjoyed it because she spent several years at a Catholic school and I think this show sort of "spoofed" that experience.

Anyway, I believe it is a lot cheaper to go to one of these. Give it a try!

I adore Altar Boyz... seen it 35 times myself and would recommend it to anyone. The cast is AMAZING and you are bound to have a good time with it. plus with the right discount code you can get the best seats in the house for only 35 dollars a piece.

On Broadway I recommend the following:
Dirty rotten scoundrels
Ave Q
Wicked
Spelling bee

Sadly $200 dollars isn't a lot when it comes to Broadway so you should think about student rush/Lotto. Most of the Broadway houses employ some type of rush policy. Some have you line up and it is first come first serve while others have a luck of the draw set up. I personally don't have the time nor the will to sit outside any theater for 3-4 hours so I tend to lotto most of the time.

Lotto is when you show up 90 mins to 3 hours before (depending on the show) a show and you are given a piece of paper to write your name on and how many tickets you want (usually limited to two) after a 1/2 hour of sign up names are drawn and those people are offered heavily discounted tickets. and most of the seats are the front row of box seats

I am a huge theater fan ( I am at a show 1-3 times a week- I am also a theater major) so I like to get my tickets as cheap as possible. Using the lotto I have seen Hairspray 3 times for 25 a seat. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels for $26.25 Wicked for 25 a seat (this one is really hard to win though). Spelling Bee twice for 25 dollars a seat, Ave Q for 26.25 a seat. and many others as you can see it has saved me a lot of money rather then me paying $100 a seat for each of those shows.


To find out the rush policies for each theater you can go to http://www.talkinbroadway.com/boards/

And if you time it right you can do up to 3 or 4 lottos in a night....
my friends and i usually start at hairspray which is 3 hours before then go to wicked or Ave q which is 2 hours and then on to spelling bee which is 90 mins before. and if we win none we then go to the TKTS booth which i hate and haven't had to go to yet ::knock on wood::... problem with TKTS booth is that they sell you ok seats for the same price you could get them with a discount code.

On the lestat thing... i saw it and I wont lie i LOVED it ..... but it isn't for everyone ... and it is a downer you cant go in there hoping to leave humming a happy tune cuz you wont ... but I think the reviews were very harsh.

One more thing before i stop (i am sorry i know this is LONG)

Dinner: the city is really expensive (I live here and I realize it is horribly overpriced) But there is one place I just love and I want to recommend: Ellen's stardust diner. It has a reputation for being very touristy but you will have a ball. It is a small diner on the corner of 51st and Broadway, when the kids where 50's style clothing and dance and sing Show tunes and pop music. The talent in there is amazing and you are bound to have a great time.

Alright so in recap...
Discount codes
lotto
Ave q
dirty rotten scoundrels
Spelling bee
Altarboyz
Ellen's stardust diner

OH and I just loved Woman in White it shouldn't have closed it was truly a different but good show.

All done now if anyone needs more advice PM me please i love talking about this stuff as you can see

 

[kaygela]

We saw Lestat last weekend and enjoyed it. Hugh Panaro as the lead was wonderful. The story is based on Anne Rice's "Cronicles of a Vampire." We went expecting very little because the reviews were harsh so we were pleasantly surprised.

Many of the suggestions are good ones. Spamalot and Wicked are the toughest shows to get tix for and would be expensive. Ave Q (which was one of my favorites) is available, discounted through Playbill.com which is a free website to join. I use it alot. The Drowsy Chaperone is getting great reviews but I think the discount only applies until 5/28. The Producers is a sure crowd pleaser and so is Dirty Rotten Soundrels. I believe they are both on Playbill.com as well. Phantom of the Opera is almost always listed and is a classic. RENT is another favorite of mine and has a huge fan base but is honestly not for everyone. It is a modern day rock opera based on La Boheme and is very loud so you would have to decide if that is something appealing to you. Good luck and enjoy yourselves. It sounds like you have a wonderful vacation planned.

 

[joanchris]

HI, I just saw this post and had to reply.....(didn't read other replies so forgive me if I repeat something).....I live only 1 hr from NYC and NEVER go to see shows, hardly ever get in to visit either. Not that I wouldn't like to but babysitting, transport to the city, tickets, etc.....too much to add up!

So, about a month ago a friend mentions that she and some friends were planning to go to NYC on Thurs (it was Monday when she asks) to see Spamalot......but one couldn't go and would I like to join them. I ask how much.....$100 for tickets... I think about it (briefly) and say YES!
We had a GREAT time, I haven't laughed so hard in ages. We decided to do this 2x a year. Right across the street from the theatre where Spamalot is was Sardi's restaurant, WOW! What great food and service! I was truly impressed.

So, I have no other recent experience of shows in NYC (went to see a show 25 yrs ago--Annie! Yikes), but the one I had was great.

Have fun!