NYC hotel near Broadway

[erincon23]

Subscribing -- great info! DS19 is leaving college at the end of the semester to (hopefully) begin his professional musical theatre career (I know, , makes me ) and wants us (him and me) (he and I?) to go to NYC for a few days so he can do some auditions and see some shows.

 

[thewebbs5]

Don't stay in Times Square. You'll... be in Times Square. It's just a disaster.

The Beacon is nice, it's on 74th and B'way though - two blocks from the train, which is one stop from Times Square. There's also the On The Ave. hotel in that same area, the Library Hotel is very nice, there are a bunch of nice hotels down in SoHo to check out...that's an awesome neighbourhood, great to walk around (as is the Upper West Side, where the Beacon and On The Ave. are), shopping, restaurants, and Times Square is really accessible from everyplace - you just don't want to spend any time there. You want to get in and get back out.

Especially, especially, stay away from the Marriott in Times Square, it's a death trap, someone is always getting killed or mysteriously flying out of the windows of that sucker. It's a trashy mess.

As for shows - if there's something specific she wants to see, book now. If she just wants to see some shows - go the TKTS route, it's fun. They can take the train down to John St. (Do not go to the TKTS booth in Times Square) in the afternoons and pick up tickets from whatever's available at the booth for that day for like half price.

As for travelling, always fly into Laguardia, it's closest and simplest. DO NOT rent a car.

To get here from the airport you can take a cab (not too expensive from LGA) or the big blue shuttle and to get around the city, you can take the train, buses and cabs. Don't limit yourself - train is fastest.

Also, plan some out-of-the-way stuff. See Columbia University, take the Staten Island ferry, tour the Tenement Museum, go see what's at BAM, etc.

For tourist stuff to do - the MET, do go to Central Park, do go to the Empire State Bldg. (as late at night as possible, they're open nice and late), Wollman Rink, you can eat at Serendipity's, heh.

Stay away from - Statue of Liberty, WTC (unless it specifically means something to you), Rock Center (unless you just go at like midnight to peek at the tree, do not attempt to skate there), etc.

I disagree with not staying in Times Square. As a matter of fact, we stayed in the Marriot. No one flew out of the window or was killed while we were there. I've been to NYC 3 times and will go a 4th time next summer and we have only been able to stay right in Times Square once and it was fabulous. The other 2 times we have been close. We spend a lot of time down there. We love it.

 

[cornflake]

Subscribing -- great info! DS19 is leaving college at the end of the semester to (hopefully) begin his professional musical theatre career (I know, , makes me ) and wants us (him and me) (he and I?) to go to NYC for a few days so he can do some auditions and see some shows.

Eek. Is there a reason he won't stay in school and study theatre? We have schools here that, you know, do that, heh. NYU has a competitive theatre program, Marymount Manhattan has a very well-known theatre program...

He probably knows but just in case, if he wants to go to auditions, find some in Backstage.

Has he found an agent? Does he have a union card? Does he have head shots in bulk? Has he thought about these things or is he like, just planning on coming, auditioning at cattle calls and getting a job? Because... many of the other thousand people who arrive a week with that goal have those things. I'm not at all disparaging the idea of theatre as a career (I know people who've worked in theatre and went to school with some people who hit) and on occasion, the miracle happens but... in reality, it's beyond insanely competitive and education, training, an agent - these things are very basic requirements to be competitive at auditions.

 

[erincon23]

Cornflake, we've discussed all that with him... he thinks this is the right decision for him for right now. He knows we agree with you, that school could be very helpful (and as I'm sent him the link to this thread for the NY info, I have to watch what I say...). He's leaving a musical theatre school where he started training, and is planning on continuing dance and acting classes and voice lessons on his own. He's got a start on the headshots, but I don't know if he's thought about looking for an agent (Greg, get on that, ok?), and in Chicago, it isn't necessary to have your union card to get the majority of jobs, he tells me. But thanks for the link to audition site.

 

[Kitzka]

Cornflake, we've discussed all that with him... he thinks this is the right decision for him for right now. He knows we agree with you, that school could be very helpful (and as I'm sent him the link to this thread for the NY info, I have to watch what I say...). He's leaving a musical theatre school where he started training, and is planning on continuing dance and acting classes and voice lessons on his own. He's got a start on the headshots, but I don't know if he's thought about looking for an agent (Greg, get on that, ok?), and in Chicago, it isn't necessary to have your union card to get the majority of jobs, he tells me. But thanks for the link to audition site.

It's a very exciting time for you and him! This may make you feel better, a family friend got a full scholarship to study dance at rutgers. He and hisfamily had to pay zero cash for tuition, books, board, etc. It was a renewable scholarship as long as he kept his grades up.

He finished his first year last year and really grew. He loved musicla theater and continued his music and acting lessons. On a whim he went to a cattle call audition for touring company of cats. Well, he got the part and is taking time off from school to tour the country! He didn't have an agent and was just thinking about taking some time off to audition. But you never know. You are only young once. This young man is taking 2 online courses to stay on top of school and will eventually finish but it's not for everyone right away.

Lara

 

[erincon23]

Not meaning to hijack the thread here, but we're gritting our teeth and supporting his decision. He's used all the college money we had saved up for him, so in a way, this isn't a bad decision -- he's not happy at college for various reasons, and would be taking loans (and searching for lots of scholarship money) to do something he really isn't interested in doing. I think that in a couple of years (if he doesn't make it doing what he wants to do) he'll return to school on his own with a renewed interest. But for right now, he has the drive and determination and realistic viewpoint to do what he needs to do. College isn't always right for every kid, and not always right when they turn 18! He's had two professional auditions in the last week alone, and a couple earlier (and he's had at least a callback with almost every audition he's ever had, so I know he's not deluding himself that he has talent).

ANYWAY -- is there a website that shows all the Broadway (and off) shows that are available? In Chicago we have the "Broadway in Chicago" site that is a one-stop shop type of thing -- anything like that for NY?

And it's interesting to hear the comments about the Marriott Marquis -- the only time I was in NYC was 25 years ago, and I stayed there, but the hotel had just opened, and it was beautiful!

 

[cornflake]

Not meaning to hijack the thread here, but we're gritting our teeth and supporting his decision. He's used all the college money we had saved up for him, so in a way, this isn't a bad decision -- he's not happy at college for various reasons, and would be taking loans (and searching for lots of scholarship money) to do something he really isn't interested in doing. I think that in a couple of years (if he doesn't make it doing what he wants to do) he'll return to school on his own with a renewed interest. But for right now, he has the drive and determination and realistic viewpoint to do what he needs to do. College isn't always right for every kid, and not always right when they turn 18! He's had two professional auditions in the last week alone, and a couple earlier (and he's had at least a callback with almost every audition he's ever had, so I know he's not deluding himself that he has talent).

ANYWAY -- is there a website that shows all the Broadway (and off) shows that are available? In Chicago we have the "Broadway in Chicago" site that is a one-stop shop type of thing -- anything like that for NY?

And it's interesting to hear the comments about the Marriott Marquis -- the only time I was in NYC was 25 years ago, and I stayed there, but the hotel had just opened, and it was beautiful!

I dunno if there's a specific site like that - we tend to use print media more (least ppl I know and no, we're not all olds ) - The Times list of all current shows, searchable by on, off, etc. There's also Time Out NY and NY Mag's Theatre listings.

The Marriot Marquis was once beautiful? Heh. Next you'll tell me Donald Trump was once not annoying and had taste. Bloomberg was once not annoying and was tall. Nah...

Btw, when you're here, check out Ellen's Stardust Diner, where maybe your son can get hisself a job (it employs many of his ilk). If you go for breakfast, ask for Erin to be your waitress.

 

[drinkme]

OP here.

Thanks everyone!! I just booked the air and hotel. Got the Marriott Marquis. Yes, I did read the reviews of the deaths, but I figured it would be okay...lol.

I had cashed in most of my disney movie rewards points and got $250 off a Delta vacation. This gave me a good price on airfare ($162 round trip!!!), and less than $300 a night at the hotel. It was the only good hotel through Delta Vacations in that area that had 2 double beds. All the rest were one king.

Anyway, now dd just has to decide which plays she's going to see. They are staying 4 nights, so she wants to see 3-4 plays. I'll post back and let you know which ones she decided on!

I've been trying to book my Universal Orlando trip for me & ds11, and it seems it's going to cost me almost as much as the NYC trip!!!

Thanks again!!!!

 

[beansmom]

OP here.

I've been trying to book my Universal Orlando trip for me & ds11, and it seems it's going to cost me almost as much as the NYC trip!!!

Thanks again!!!!

I'm feeling the same way about our Platinum Pkg we're doing this week...for one night, it makes sense for me....but they cancelled dh's epcot diving tours...and that was a huge part of the value and fun for us. We COULD go back but the pkg minimum stay changes to 3 nites on Jan 1 and frankly, for the $3k or more it would cost to do that, we can go to Hawaii and do some real diving.

*sigh*