The Broadway show thread where we discuss all things Broadway

[JenM]

As of right now, I'd say yes, it will be extremely difficult to get tickets. 60 Minutes, had a 15 minute interview tonight with the playwright/star of Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda. They showed clips of the show, and talked about how Obama, the V.P. and Dick Cheney all saw him performing Hamilton. They also did a little bit of a biography on Miranda. It was great footage and an even better ad for Hamilton. Even I'd be interested in seeing it now, if I didn't detest rap so much.

My folks don't have a clue about rap music and they loved Hamilton. My mom's seen it twice. It's rap and all kinds of contemporary music, but it's also very much traditional theater music. When we saw it this summer, my mom compared it to the first time she saw Les Miserables back in the 80s.

Definitely don't let the rap part hold you back, it's an amazing show.

 

[SingingMom]

Did anyone go to the 60th anniversary screening of R&H OKLAHOMA! last week? Kristin Chenoweth hosted an introduction to it, filmed at 54Below in NYC.

We had a very sad week, with my 13 year old niece passing away after a long illness. I went with my sister & brother in law to make the arrangements and came home so sad, that DH didn't hesitate to suggest we attend, to take my mind of things for a bit. Hubby found the dream ballet quite bizarre, but I adored seeing Gordon MacRae on the "big screen". Unfortunately, there was only one other couple in the movie theatre. Wish more had come to encourage these types of screenings. I know it wa just what I needed that evening.

 

[ladyelizabeth]

DD23 and I are going to NYC next week on a spur of the moment mother/daughter trip. Basically, it doesn't look to me like Spring Awakening will get an extended run (not that I know how that works, but it was way too easy to get last minute tickets). She has been talking about it for MONTHS as a fairly fluent ASL signer who is hoping to go to Gallaudet for grad school, so I decided for that show, it's now or never. We're also seeing Hamilton (ridiculously expensive scalped tickets, but I'm very excited to see it.) Never been on a mother/daughter only trip, so

I just saw Spring Awakening last week - absolutely incredible! It was even better than the original Broadway production in my opinion. It was a more moving and the integration of ASL was phenomenal. I left wanting to sign up for an ASL class. It was also just a visually stunning performance.

I'm hoping this brings more ASL to Broadway theater - I think it can have such a lasting impact on the audience because it is such an emotionally demonstrative language.

Also, this cast was awesome about coming out and meeting audience members to sign autographs and take photos (I got to meet Marlee Matlin!!). I haven't experienced a cast being so thankful to audience members waiting outside in such a long time. The show is on a strictly limited engagement because the musical Waitress (based on the film and music written by Sara Bareilles) is booked for the same theater to open in the spring - that's why it won't be extended.

Enjoy your trip and the shows!!! I just bought tickets to see Hamilton in April - can't wait!!

 

[crazymama]

I'd work on getting those Hamilton tickets now, for sure. Otherwise, you're going to be sold out or stuck paying scalper prices.

Wow... thanks for the heads up. I figured the furor would have settled down by then but I had better not take any chances!

 

[tasha99]

I just saw Spring Awakening last week - absolutely incredible! It was even better than the original Broadway production in my opinion. It was a more moving and the integration of ASL was phenomenal. I left wanting to sign up for an ASL class. It was also just a visually stunning performance.

I'm hoping this brings more ASL to Broadway theater - I think it can have such a lasting impact on the audience because it is such an emotionally demonstrative language.

--snip--

Good to hear a review from a non signer. I wondered how it would be . . . It will be interesting to see how my experience compares to my daughter's. Kind of an aside, but we both just watched the tv show Fargo, and Russell Harvard plays a deaf assassin in that. I missed this as a non signer, but a lot of what was verbally translated by his companion was purposefully incorrect (mostly to be less offensive and rude).

 

[Imzadi]

Got em--4 front row of the rear mezzanine. My computer stalled in server overload land once, but it wasn't horrific.

(and thanks for the info about 60 minutes--DD and I watched it on cbs.com last night.)

Congrats on getting such great tickets!

 

[leebee]

Has anyone seen Misery?

 

[BrdwayBoy]

Good to hear a review from a non signer. I wondered how it would be . . . It will be interesting to see how my experience compares to my daughter's. Kind of an aside, but we both just watched the tv show Fargo, and Russell Harvard plays a deaf assassin in that. I missed this as a non signer, but a lot of what was verbally translated by his companion was purposefully incorrect (mostly to be less offensive and rude).

There was an article that was basically made up of different mini-reviews of the production by hearing-impaired people; It was a very interesting read; fascinating to see how the production is viewed from that perspective. I'll see if I can dig it up and link it here.

Edit: Here's the article: http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/oct/29/spring-awakening-broadway-deaf-viewers-give-verdict

On a completely separate note - Is anyone here familiar with the show Nice Work If You Can Get It? I saw it when it was on Broadway, and it looks like I'll be directing it this spring. I think it's a good fit for the school but there is one "effect" that I'm not sure we'll be able to achieve/handle. I think I have an alternative solution ,but I'd love to pick people's brains if anyone is familiar and willing to discuss - please feel free to PM me!

 

[Imzadi]

Has anyone seen Misery?

I'm wondering too. It must be tricky to try to produce the kind of terror & have the audience believe she really is wacko insane. In the movie, they were able to do closeups and zoom in at crazy angles. But, I think a stage production needs just the right amount of tension & craziness for the audience to stay engaged for the whole hour and a half.

 

[Imzadi]

Here is the 15 minute Hamilton interview that was on 60 Minutes this past Sunday.

http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/hamilton/

 

[NJlauren]

I saw Allegiance tonight.... I think it would have done better as a straight play. However anytime I can see Lea Salonga and Telly Leung sing I'll take it.

With out getting political I found the message vey moving and quite relevant. Overall I'm extremely happy I made the last minute decision to see the show.

 

[elphaba91]

I just booked tickets to see Hamilton next September! The first piece of my trip booked! That's right, I booked tickets to a Broadway show before booking flights or accommodation...or even working out our dates! Oops...

However, I know that a) if I leave it I won't be able to get seats for anything resembling an affordable price (we got $177 seats literally right next to $477 seats, so even though we're sitting on total opposite sides of the theatre I'm happy!), b) that's approximately the time we want to be in New York as the Broadway flea market is likely the weekend prior and Audra McDonald returns to Shuffle Along the day before and c) if we can't make it I'm sure I will have no trouble reselling them (for face value of course - I hate scalpers!).

 

[elphaba91]

There was an article that was basically made up of different mini-reviews of the production by hearing-impaired people; It was a very interesting read; fascinating to see how the production is viewed from that perspective. I'll see if I can dig it up and link it here.

Edit: Here's the article: http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/oct/29/spring-awakening-broadway-deaf-viewers-give-verdict

On a completely separate note - Is anyone here familiar with the show Nice Work If You Can Get It? I saw it when it was on Broadway, and it looks like I'll be directing it this spring. I think it's a good fit for the school but there is one "effect" that I'm not sure we'll be able to achieve/handle. I think I have an alternative solution ,but I'd love to pick people's brains if anyone is familiar and willing to discuss - please feel free to PM me!

I saw a production of Nice Work If You Can Get It earlier this year - it was fantastic! It was done by a company that does 3 shows each year with professional performers but short runs and rehearsal times and smaller budgets than a full-scale show. I'm guessing you're talking about the bubble bath scene? I'd be happy to help as much as I can! I'll send you a PM.

 

[DisneyGuy]

For those asking about "Misery", I saw it last Saturday afternoon. Let me start by saying I had only seen the movie once, thought it was good - but never watched it again, but when I saw this was coming to Broadway and starring Laurie Metcalf (who I like, and have seen in another show a few years ago on Broadway) and Bruce Willis I thought it was the perfect cast for this show and was really interested in seeing how it would be done. The show was enjoyable, the set was cool and while I won't put a spoiler in here, I'll just say that by walking in the theatre to my seat that the atmosphere was already set - completely awesome! The show is only an hour and a half with no intermission and for the most part it was fast paced with only a few slow spots. Laurie was awesome and I knew she would do well playing Annie. Bruce was good, although he really doesn't have as much to work with as Laurie in terms of character. I'm glad I saw it and would probably see it again but the tickets were pricey so I don't know. The set was great and the show is pulled off by only 3 actors.

 

[Daisy62]

Just noticed this thread! Anyway I decided to give my mom for Christmas a weekend to NYC in March. I booked the room, bought the train tickets and also got 2 tickets to Book of Mormon. I've heard it's funny but wanted to see if anyone has seen it here. I got great seats I think 5 rows from stage aisle. Can't wait to surprise her !

 

[shoney]

Just noticed this thread! Anyway I decided to give my mom for Christmas a weekend to NYC in March. I booked the room, bought the train tickets and also got 2 tickets to Book of Mormon. I've heard it's funny but wanted to see if anyone has seen it here. I got great seats I think 5 rows from stage aisle. Can't wait to surprise her !

Book of Mormon is very funny. We really liked it, but we love crude humor.
We were in the second to last row in the upper level, being that close would be great! Enjoy...sounds like a fantastic gift!

 

[leebee]

DD and I saw Misery on 11/12. She couldn't decide what she wanted to see, but as soon as she heard about Misery and read who was in it, she knew what she wanted to see. The set is FANTASTIC. It's set up on a rotating base so you can see the outside of the cabin, the bedroom, and the living/kitchen area, depending on which scene is happening. Bruce Willis was fine, but Laurie Metcalf was amazing as Annie. One thing that bothered my daughter was that the audience chuckled quite a bit. I pointed out to her that some of the lines were quite funny, but with further though am wondering if perhaps Metcalf is more accustomed to a comedy delivery style and so that's why people were laughing... or maybe we were just expecting more darkness and horror than what we saw. Anyhow, it was a good show and I didn't think $70 for mid-mezzanine level seats was too bad.

ETA: I was surprised to see so many "big names" on Broadway right now: James Earl Jones, Cicely Tyson, Laurie Metcalf, Bruce Willis, Al Pacino, to name a few. There have been times we've been to NYC and haven't really recognized ANY of the actors in the shows. I know if we lived closer and were more "in the loop" we'd recognize more actors, but the current shows have a lot of actors that anyone who's watched TV or movies will recognize!

 

[wilkeliza]

So saw Hamilton for the 5th time this week. I've been very fortunate in that. I will caution anyone that the last 5ish rows are partial view. It isn't bad and I was fine since I've seen it before but just know if the mezzanize overhang is above you the second level of the stage is cut off. Thankfully not a lot goes on up there but I just thought I would warn people who are trying to get tickets.

Seeing the Color Purple tomorrow and am very excited!

 

[elphaba91]

So saw Hamilton for the 5th time this week. I've been very fortunate in that. I will caution anyone that the last 5ish rows are partial view. It isn't bad and I was fine since I've seen it before but just know if the mezzanize overhang is above you the second level of the stage is cut off. Thankfully not a lot goes on up there but I just thought I would warn people who are trying to get tickets.

Seeing the Color Purple tomorrow and am very excited!

Have you sat in the seats on the sides of the front orchestra? I bought the seats in either end of row A. Hoping that as the seats next to us are $300 more that they will be okay!

 

[lovemygoofy]

Just noticed this thread! Anyway I decided to give my mom for Christmas a weekend to NYC in March. I booked the room, bought the train tickets and also got 2 tickets to Book of Mormon. I've heard it's funny but wanted to see if anyone has seen it here. I got great seats I think 5 rows from stage aisle. Can't wait to surprise her !

I saw the traveling version of Book of Mormon this weekend. Honestly I wouldn't see it again. I felt like I paid $200 for a live version of South Park. I understood it would be explicit and vulgar but wasn't really prepared for the crudeness. In the end I'm glad we had a nice date night out and did see the show but this show is not for everyone and there were many unhappy people in the theater when the lights came up.