Poll: Which Broadway Show Should We See?

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I'm in NYC for the weekend with my best friend and we have some discount coupons for 4 Broadway shows (we can't afford to go to one without a discount!). We can't decide which one to go to - which one would you choose and why??

 

[ntburns22]

I voted for RENT because that is the show my parents always want to see but there is never discounts available. But they are seeing it tonight in Cleveland.

 

[ely3857]

Phantom of the Opera is AMAZING!

Rent is dreadfull

I havnt seen the other 2 but cant imagine Chicago Is a 'must see' live performance, I doubt it loses anything by been a film

B&TB is probably great but I cant comment



Jodie

 

[TLinden16]

I highly recommend Rent. The music is fantastic, and the show is very moving. They have a lottery for the front two rows in the theatre before each performance, and if you win the lottery, you can get up to two tickets for $20 each. Basically, you go to the theatre two hours before the show, and write your name on a card. They have a total of 32 tickets available. Back when they first started doing the lottery, there were hundreds of people there. Now, it's not so bad.

They also do this for Wicked and many other shows. Avenue Q does it, and this is another fun show. If you go to www.playbill.com you can find information on which shows offer this kind of deal. Search for lottery or rush policy and you can find the info.

 

[Planogirl]

Beauty and the Beast is great and of course so is Phantom of the Opera. I would say one of those but then I've never seen Rent or Chicago. I can only suggest deciding whether you're in the mood for a musical fairy tale or a more dramatic show..

 

[T1130]

I have seen all of them. I would pick Beauty and the Beast. Enjoy your trip.

 

[BillSears]

I've seen Rent, Beauty and the Beast, and Chicago on Broadway. They're all good shows but I'd choose Rent to see again. Chicago is very minimilistic compared to the movie version but it is good. Beauty and the Beast is fun. But for some reason Rent popped into my head as the one I'd want to see.

I've never seen a live version of Phantom but I saw the movie and wasn't impressed at all.

 

[minkydog]

I loved Chicago on the big screen,don't care about B & B, hate the Phantom, and have no interest in Rent, so my vote went to Chicago.

 

[hmgolden]

Personally, you couldn't pay me to see Phantom. I think its way overrated.

Have you seen a broadway show before? If you haven't, I would say see Beauty and the Beast - its more in line with traditional Broadway shows with lots of spectacle. If you have, then I would suggest Chicago.

I love RENT, I thought it was a great show when it came out in 1996 when I was 16. At this point, while I am still a huge fan of it because it was the broadway show that sort of 'defined' my group of drama geeks in high school, its funny how dated it has become in 10 years, so at this point I would skip the Broadway ticket price and see the movie instead.

 

[anewvance]

I voted for Rent... I love love love that show!!!

 

[wvrevy]

You can't go terribly wrong with any of them. I'd vote (and will) for Rent, just because I happen to love the music from the show. Not a huge fan of the broadway Chicago, but it's still a pretty good show. Phantom is awesome, and Beauty and the Beast is exactly what you expect....Honestly, you can't go that wrong no matter which one you pick.

(BTW...If you can manage to see it - and as long as it's just adults going - don't miss Avenue Q if you get a chance...Unless the original cast of Wicked decides to come back, Avenue Q is the one show I'd definitely recommend to everyone).

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Keep the votes coming!

Actually I would love to see Avenue Q but will have to wait for another trip for that one.

I have seen one show before on Broadway - "The Producers" and loved it. I honestly wouldn't mind seeing any of the shows above. I'm much more of a Disney nut than my friend but they wouldn't mind B&B either. Decisions, decisions!!

 

[PoohBearLovinMama]

Of your choices, I've only seen Phantom and Chicago. So I voted for Chicago. I thought it was great and it's a nice small theatre so you would be hard pressed to get a bad seat.

 

[aprilgail2]

Phantom was awaesome..Beauty and the Beast was really good...rent was just Ok....and I haven't seen Chicago yet. You really don't need the discount tickets...you can go tot he TKTS booth right in Times Square the day of the show and walk up and buy whatever tickets are left over for half price! They usually have a good number of shows up for sale and if you are flexible rather than wanting to see just one show then it works awesome! I can get 2 tickets for 75.00 for my daughter and myself there....

 

[LeesyUD]

I have seen all but Phantom...personally I was not impressed with Beauty and the Beast...though alot of it was that the lead girl was really bad when we went...but I feel like its not worth seeing as much as some of the others. Watching the play to me was not much more exciting than watching the movie which I love. I would only suggest to see Beauty and the Beast if you are dying to see it bc it is only on broadway for a few more months. Rent is one of my 3 favorite broadway shows. Wicked is #1!!! And Rent is tied with AIDA for 2nd! I have seen all 3 of those 3 times each and I would go see Rent a million more times. It is such a high energy show bc of the music...however Rent is not for everyone as it deals with a sensitive subject. Chicago I have seen one and a half times. The half was bc I made the mistake of getting last minute cheap seats all the way up top...they were very high and I do not deal well with heights so I had to leave halfway thru bc I was getting dizzy and I was not enjoying it at all. The second time I went I had great seats and I loved it!! Again Phantom I have not seen but have heard it is wonderful. I own the newest movie musical on DVD and love that so I would like to see the Broadway Show. Rent is my vote though...I think it has the best music out of all of them. Also if you want to see Avenue Q you should check out www.theatermania.com if you sign up you can get secial discount codes for it and other shows. I have not seen that either but it is on my list. There is also a discount for the Producers on there and that is great too. If you decide you want to see Rent...like someone else mentioned they have a lottery a few hours before the show where you could possibly get front row seats for $20.00. They basically take people's names and put them in a hat and if they call you you can get 2 tickets at that price. There are several other shows that have lottery's like that as well. Chicago has one where you just need to go and wait in the morning and you can get tickets for $20...and our seats were really good...they were off to the side in the first couple rows but i could see 99% of the stage. If you go here: http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/article/82428.html you can get a list of the policy's for lottery and rush tickets. Whichever you see I am sure you will enjoy!! Also as far as TKTS you can get 50% off tickets...but if you have a discount that is close to that you may want to consider paying an extra few dollars. It just depends on the day but sometimes TKTS can get really crowded! There are times where I waited over and hour or two....and others only a few minutes. But in the cold that is coming over the weekend I don't know if I would chance it.

 

[puffkin]

I have seen 3 of the 4 on stage.

I didn't see RENT on Broadway, but I did see it on tour. I liked the play, but it seems to be a love/hate type of show. My mom and aunt absolutely hated it. The movie is fairly good although not quite as good as the stage version.

I saw Beauty and the Beast on broadway and it was wonderful. The costumes, special effects and everything were great. You can't go wrong with that show.

I have never seen Chicago on stage, but I have seen the movie. I don't think that I really have any desire to see it on stage after seeing the movie.

The Phantom of the Opera I have seen twice in Philadelphia. Both times it was very good. I also really enjoyed the movie, it seemed to "flesh out" the characters more.

So, if I had to pick one, I would choose Phantom only because it is a really good stage show, and I think everyone should see it at least once on stage. A close second would be Beauty and the Beast because I thought it was well done. However if you like the subject matter in RENT, that may be the way to go......Gee, this isn't much help afterall.

 

[POB14]

They're all good, but hey, I'm a Renthead. I would put them in this order:

1) Rent - the best of the four plotwise, very rock-style music
2) POTO - three or four great songs, but act II kind of, well, blows
3) Chicago - very satirical, excellent if you like that sort of thing, but musically not up to the standards of the others
4) Beauty - yeah, okay, I love Disney too, but this isn't what I go to a B'way show for. Now if I was taking the kids - definitely this one!

 

[DisneyJen0504]

I have seen all 4 and voted for Beauty and the Beast and I will tell you why. It is just an amazing show. Second choice would be Phantom. Rent, while great, is a downer, it deals with real issues and I was bummed out after. Chicago I didnt care for.

 

[icebrat001]

I saw rent a few years ago and enjoyed it. I recommend Rent.

 

[Kimberly815]

I have seen Phantom of the Opera, and Rent.

I LOVE Beauty and the Beast. So I vote for that one!