The Broadway show thread where we discuss all things Broadway

[MissDisney121]

I'm very excited because today is the announcement event for my local civic center's broadway season. I'm like 80% we will get Pippin and Kinky Boots because the civic center is an investor for both shows (which I would love to see) but I am excited to see what else we get.

So I think we ended up getting a pretty amazing season. We got:
Kinky Boots
Pippin
Motown the Musical
Cinderella
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat
and then the add on's of:
Evita
The Lion King
Book of Mormon
and A Night with Audra McDonald

All in all it sounds great.

 

[My2Cinderellas]

So I think we ended up getting a pretty amazing season. We got:
Kinky Boots
Pippin
Motown the Musical
Cinderella
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat
and then the add on's of:
Evita
The Lion King
Book of Mormon
and A Night with Audra McDonald

All in all it sounds great.

Can't wait!! See you there

 

[TifffanyD]

So I think we ended up getting a pretty amazing season. We got: Kinky Boots Pippin Motown the Musical Cinderella Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat and then the add on's of: Evita The Lion King Book of Mormon and A Night with Audra McDonald All in all it sounds great.

Nice!! I was sold after the first 2!

We are letting our tickets lapse for the first time in YEARS!

 

[ez]

I havent been to a broadway show but saw All the Way this past weekend with Bryan Cranston. They were collecting donations for a charity and when the cast took their bows they said anyone could come backstage and talk to the cast if they made a 1000 donation. I was wondering if this is something that is commonly done now on broadway (and no we didnt do it too pricey for us)

 

[JenM]

I havent been to a broadway show but saw All the Way this past weekend with Bryan Cranston. They were collecting donations for a charity and when the cast took their bows they said anyone could come backstage and talk to the cast if they made a 1000 donation. I was wondering if this is something that is commonly done now on broadway (and no we didnt do it too pricey for us)

Yep. At least twice a year, Broadway shows raise money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. They do anything from buckets to donate whatever you can, selling autographed posters and Playbills, and other memorabilia.

Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig did stuff like that when they did a play together. Hugh's auctioned stuff at all of his shows and raised a ton of money for BC/EFA. Daniel Radcliffe has done the same. Usually if a show has a big star, they pull out the stops for fundraising.

It's a great cause that helps a ton of charities, so I love that they do it. I'm not at the 'go backstage' tier of fundraising (if only!), but I have some cool autographed posters and CDs, and I always try to donate when I can.

 

[elgerber]

I havent been to a broadway show but saw All the Way this past weekend with Bryan Cranston. They were collecting donations for a charity and when the cast took their bows they said anyone could come backstage and talk to the cast if they made a 1000 donation. I was wondering if this is something that is commonly done now on broadway (and no we didnt do it too pricey for us)

I'm guessing it's for the aids charities Broadway Cares? It's done once or twice a year at theater productions around the country. I got a signed playbill from the cast of rent by making a donation several years ago.

 

[rebeccam31]

Are you excited to see Pippin at least?

Oh, very! I love that show.

 

[rebeccam31]

We are getting both in our season next year! We were going to see Kinky Boots this summer in NYC, but I think we will wait now, so we can see other things. For NYC people, we are going in mid July, and we are deciding what to see. I know tickets should probably be purchased by now, but I haven't been able to yet. We have tickets for Queen with Adam Lambert so that means we can only see 1-2 Broadway shows now. Since it is just starting can I assume NPH will still be in Hedwig in July? We are leaning towards that show, dd LOVES him. What else would you recommend? We have seen Wicked, Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia, Rock of Ages, Book of Mormon, Once. Thinking of Newsies, but what else would you suggest? Thanks!

We're seeing Newsies on Friday. I LOVED Matilda enough that I'm seeing it again this weekend.

 

[rebeccam31]

Leaving in couple to see tonite's performance of If/Then. Just wish it wasn't pouring rain.

Oh! How was it?! I'm seeing it in June.

 

[rebeccam31]

I saw If/Then when it was in DC, I would love to see how it's changed since then. Amazing show! Some one mentioned taking kids to The Heathers, when I was at Ghost on 4/5, there was a 8/9 year old behind us and for one she couldn't sit still or shut up, but for another kept talking about the "kissing scenes" and such. It's like please do your research before you take your kid to a show! The season was just announced for The Peace Center in Greenville, SC and so THRILLED Wicked is coming closer than 6 hours away from me again! Yeah I know I have seen it 32 times, but I have seen it every year since 2010, and ironically I saw it in Greenville the first time in 2010 and plan to try and go back on my 5 year anniversary! I look forward to Pippin, Kinky Boots, Annie, Cinderella that's coming to Durham. Renewed my season ticket for next year!

We had young children in our local tourin performance of Rock of Ages. Ummmmm, no.

 

[elgerber]

We had young children in our local tourin performance of Rock of Ages. Ummmmm, no.

Yeah, it's always amazing to me. I saw lot's of young girls at Chicago. And I had a 7 year old girl sitting behind me at Rent. My dd was 12 when I saw Rent, and I left her at home because I didn't think it was appropriate (to this day that makes her nuts because I saw Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp).

 

[bananasplitkids]

We are getting both in our season next year!
We were going to see Kinky Boots this summer in NYC, but I think we will wait now, so we can see other things.

For NYC people, we are going in mid July, and we are deciding what to see. I know tickets should probably be purchased by now, but I haven't been able to yet. We have tickets for Queen with Adam Lambert so that means we can only see 1-2 Broadway shows now.
Since it is just starting can I assume NPH will still be in Hedwig in July? We are leaning towards that show, dd LOVES him. What else would you recommend?
We have seen Wicked, Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia, Rock of Ages, Book of Mormon, Once. Thinking of Newsies, but what else would you suggest?

Thanks!

I would definitely suggest Lady Day at Emerson's Bar Grill. It's with Audra Mcdonald and it has gotten rave reviews making tickets hard to come by, but I did see that they just extended it to August. I don't know how old your daughter is but this does focus on her last performance before she died of alcohol and drug addiction. If you think your daughter could handle it, this is definitely the show to see. Audra gives a breathtaking performance of Billie Holiday.

 

[JenM]

I'm guessing it's for the aids charities Broadway Cares? It's done once or twice a year at theater productions around the country. I got a signed playbill from the cast of rent by making a donation several years ago.

Here's the list of charities the money raised goes to:

https://www.broadwaycares.org/_your_money_at_work

In 2001, they raised money for the firehouse in the theater district that lost most of its crew on 9/11 and related charities. It's really great.

 

[JenM]

I have Hedwig tickets for June 6th! I saw the original show at the Jane St theater 5 times...can't wait to see it again.

 

[rebeccam31]

I have Hedwig tickets for June 6th! I saw the original show at the Jane St theater 5 times...can't wait to see it again.

I'll be there one week after you! Tell Neil I'm coming.

 

[JenM]

I'll be there one week after you! Tell Neil I'm coming.

We will let him know!

 

[aprilgail2]

I'll be there one week after you! Tell Neil I'm coming.

He was great in the show-my daughter said "wow this is raunchier than Rocky Horror" LOL- crappy rainy night last night to be in the city though! Before the show my daughter went for a callback on an audition she did Thursday for a commercial and today they called and booked her!

 

[sallysmom]

Saw If/Then Tuesday nite in a packed theater. It was Incredible! Idina Mendzel was Fabulous and i loved the rest of the cast, too.

It reminded me a little bit of Rent in that it was so nice to see a contemporary-set show.

LOVED IT!!

 

[gometros]

We're going to see Aladdin on Easter Sunday! I haven't been to Broadway in almost a year, can't wait! Hope to also see Central Park starting to bloom.

We'll be there Easter Sunday, too!

Looking forward to you reviews. we see it in June, but two friends of ours both saw it recently and were underwhelmed. I have to wonder if hey were Broadway fans or let their Disney bias influence them.

 

[JenM]

Looking forward to you reviews. we see it in June, but two friends of ours both saw it recently and were underwhelmed. I have to wonder if hey were Broadway fans or let their Disney bias influence them.

I've heard there are a lot of changes from the movie: there's no Abu (Aladdin has 3 best friends instead), and Iago is a person instead of a parrot. There are some new songs and some of the songs Howard Ashman wrote for the movie have been added. "Proud of Your Boy" is back in, I love that song.

My friend who works at the theater warned me when I was getting the tickets not to expect a replica of the movie because it's a bit different.

But I heard the guy who plays the Genie is amazing. I love the two songs they showed on TV this week - especially "Arabian Nights", that looked incredible. So I'm really looking forward to it.