The Broadway show thread where we discuss all things Broadway

[SingingMom]

Getting very excited about the Hello, Dolly! revival!
I love Gavin Creel, Kate Baldwin and of course, BETTE!

We'll probably look to see this if it lasts. Want to see Anastasia and Miss Saigon before that. I like Kate Baldwin (she was terrific in Can-Can at Paper Mill) but I wouldn't have cast her as Irene Malloy. Just doesn't fit the role for me. I'd almost wait a few years and let her play Dolly. lol

 

[compshu]

Wow, I can't believe I've only just now discovered this thread. Ironically, I stumbled upon it while watching BWay videos on Youtube. I was watching Phantom with Norm Lewis. I gotta say, I loved him as Javert, but I don't think he was right for the role of the Phantom. He just doesn't seem to have the power or range for it. Maybe it was just a bad night that he had, but he was much better in Les Mis.

 

[SingingMom]

Wow, I can't believe I've only just now discovered this thread. Ironically, I stumbled upon it while watching BWay videos on Youtube. I was watching Phantom with Norm Lewis. I gotta say, I loved him as Javert, but I don't think he was right for the role of the Phantom. He just doesn't seem to have the power or range for it. Maybe it was just a bad night that he had, but he was much better in Les Mis.

We saw Norm as Phantom and he was fabulous! We were in the front row and were mesmerized, even though we had seen the show before. We also saw him as Javert and loved him in that too. We had the great pleasure of attending a very intimate concert at Drew University two years ago with him and Sierra Boggess. We were in the front row for that, too! DH ran into him on the men's room line (with Rob McClure!) at the one night benefit concert of "Parade". They had a great conversation! lol

 

[MinnieMouse84]

Broadway is my LIFE. I've seen several shows over the years, many of them multiple times. Next up is Kristin Chenoweth's solo show. Soon after that I'm seeing Fiddler (for the 4th time), Sweet Charity (Off-Broadway), and Falsettos.

 

[SingingMom]

Broadway is my LIFE. I've seen several shows over the years, many of them multiple times. Next up is Kristin Chenoweth's solo show. Soon after that I'm seeing Fiddler (for the 4th time), Sweet Charity (Off-Broadway), and Falsettos.

We are seeing Kristin Chenoweth TONIGHT!!

 

[wilkeliza]

Anyone going to flea market tomorrow?

We have a friend in from our of town so seeing a bunch this weekend. Saw Waitress for the 2nd time and it is still great. Such a cute little show. Last night we saw Holiday Inn. It was old fashion Broadway at its finest and I loved it! The tap dancing, the singing, the over the top characters. Just loved it. I think they made some smart decisions to bring it to an acceptable place now. Everyone in our group was definitly worried about the mammy character knowing that it belonged no where in a production now. I loved the handy woman to death so that went well.

 

[crazymama]

We saw Norm as Phantom and he was fabulous! We were in the front row and were mesmerized, even though we had seen the show before. We also saw him as Javert and loved him in that too. We had the great pleasure of attending a very intimate concert at Drew University two years ago with him and Sierra Boggess. We were in the front row for that, too! DH ran into him on the men's room line (with Rob McClure!) at the one night benefit concert of "Parade". They had a great conversation! lol

We saw Norm as Phantom in 2014 and he was fabulous! Just saw Phantom again this August with the understudy Jeremy Stolle. He was very good but Norm rocked it!

 

[gemini2727]

My MIL wanted to give me, DH and our kids tickets to Something Rotten as a gift. Do you think a 13 year old boy would enjoy it?

 

[merlib]

Anyone going to flea market tomorrow?

I did! Boy what a zoo! My DD and I had fun going from table to table but have to say it was hard actually getting close . We saw Hamilton the night before (finally, having bought the tickets 9 months earlier) and stayed in town just so we could go to the flea market. Not sure I'd do it again.

Two weekends ago, by DH and I saw Fiddler on the Roof. I bought the tickets during Broadway 2 for 1 time and was thrilled when we got there to find we were in the 2nd row! The show was fabulous and I cried at the end. Danny Burstein was very good as Tevye.

As I eluded to in the 1st paragraph, this past Saturday we went to Hamilton. My DD is ready to see it again, but both my husband and I feel once is enough. You have to really pay attention and listen hard because everything is so rapid fire. The entire cast did an absolute fabulous job, but once is enough.

The next shows I want to see are Front Page and Falsettos. I love going into NYC for shows since we are so close!

 

[wilkeliza]

@merlib We went as well and it is getting more congested and much pushier every year. You aren't lying about barely being able to get to the tables. We would be looking at something and someone would come shove their way to the table and even take things out from under your hand while you were touching it. This year was made even worse by the fact they weren't able to shut a single street down. Making it still 1 lane streets meant there was no where to walk that wasn't congested.

It is a sad trend we have been noticing. We tried to stage door to meet Zachary Levi a couple months ago and I was pushed off the barricade even though I was standing there longer and had been waiting patiently after the show. These older ladies kept being told to move behind everyone else because they couldn't be on the street and after being told that 4 or 5 times by security they loudly said they were going to be on the front so pushed me out of the way! A similar thing happened this weekend at Waitress. My friend asked Christopher Fitzgerald if they could take a photo and he said sure and 2 other people shoved their camera in front of him and Mr. Fitzgerald who hadn't asked nor seemed interested before that and so when my friend tried again he was told to hurry it up. I felt so bad for him.

We were at Sleep No More last night and so much is going on there now that was not like it was when it first started. We found so much trash and it was trash not stuff put there by the production (modern candy wrappers, duene reade receipts, bar receipts, etc) and people just destroying stuff. We were in one scene and people were standing on anything and everything like the pool table in the bar area that or the examination table in the autopsy room stuff on pews in the confession room etc. Also people just didn't care if you were standing there watching the show they would just step right in front of you even if they were taller and could have clearly seen over you. It made what use to be a fun experience so frustrating.

 

[gometros]

Just got off the DVC Member Cruise on Sunday. The last night, they had a special show with Ashley Brown, Josh Strickland, Kissy Simmons, Alton Fitzgerald White and Bobby Creighton all performing Disney on Broadway hits backed by a live band. It was awesome

 

[SydSim]

DH, DD and I spent two days in the city last month. We were able to get rush tx for Rock of Ages and absolutely loved it! Only got to the box office about an hour before opening and scored $37 orchestra seats.

Got $50 Something Rotten tx the next afternoon and absolutely loved that too!

Spent the night in a newer hotel in the fashion district (Homewood Suites - although small, it was a "suite" with a sofabed and full kitchen). They also served a wonderful breakfast, lemonade and cookies during the afternoon, and an evening reception (chicken tenders, potatoes, salad, garlic bread, soft drinks and cookies) so it was a full dinner for us! All for around $200 (must have been some sort of special).

Enjoyed it immensely!

 

[ctinct]

Saw Heather Headley in her final performance of The Color Purple Sunday. Wonderful. Third time Ive seen the show, and it still is mesmerizing. I've seen something new every time. No more shows till December though, when I've got Holiday Inn booked.

To the poster up thread who asked about Something Rotten for a thirteen year old boy, I'd say it depends. I saw it with my 22 yr. old daughter this summer with the OBC, and we both thought it was hilarious. It's a wee bit corny, though. Does he like stuff like that? Also, there are a lot of references to other Broadway shows in the show, and if you know a little bit about other shows, it makes this show way funnier. I'd say most kids would probably enjoy it, but if he's "too cool", he might think it a bit hokey. We loved it, though.

 

[AdamEfimoff]

has anyone seen Harry Potter in West End?

 

[rebeccam31]

has anyone seen Harry Potter in West End?

My good friend (a huge Harry Potter fan) has, and she really loved it.

 

[xApril]

Traveled to Austin to catch the final showing of Newsies this past weekend. Great energy and I will definitely miss the show.

I saw the Illusionists the other day. I was skeptical about it since it's not really the traditional Broadway show but they did a $30 online ticket lottery so I got mezzanine tickets for cheap. It was a pretty good show and I'd see it again if they came back, but not for full price.

I'm driving down to Fort Lauderdale tomorrow to catch the 20th Anniversary RENT tour.

I mainly have tickets for shows in Tampa (cheaper than Orlando), but if Orlando does lotteries or student rush, I'll definitely see some shows there. Planning on the Wicked lottery in January/February in Orlando/Tampa. Book of Mormon is coming to Jacksonville and Fort Myers and is one of my friend and I's favorites, so we'll definitely drive for that.

We are guaranteed to see Into the Woods, Something Rotten, The King and I, Finding Neverland, and Little Mermaid over the next 9 months, so we've got a pretty exciting show selection coming up.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

Anyone have any tips about getting cheap tickets from a box office at the last minute? I know about rush and lottery, but just wondering if going to the box office within an hour or two of a show might be worth it to see if I can get a deal.

 

[SingingMom]

We saw Norm as Phantom in 2014 and he was fabulous! Just saw Phantom again this August with the understudy Jeremy Stolle. He was very good but Norm rocked it!

Oh...Jeremy Stolle! Holds a special place in our hearts. We got to know him a little through our friend, composer Michael Mott. He is one of the sweetest guys and a lovely family man. We were lucky enough to attend one of his own concerts, as well as see him perform at one of Michael's concerts, and in Hunchback at Paper Mill. What a nice person and talented artist!

 

[Kimberle]

Anyone have any tips about getting cheap tickets from a box office at the last minute? I know about rush and lottery, but just wondering if going to the box office within an hour or two of a show might be worth it to see if I can get a deal.

Most unsold tickets go to the TKS booths the day of the sale. I've never seen them with a discount less that 50%. You can get the TKS app on your smartphone. Watch sites like broadwaybox.com and playbill.com for discounts. Note, "hot" shows aren't going to have discounts. They may have a few tickets for a "rush".

 

[wilkeliza]

Anyone have any tips about getting cheap tickets from a box office at the last minute? I know about rush and lottery, but just wondering if going to the box office within an hour or two of a show might be worth it to see if I can get a deal.

TodayTix is a good option. Sometimes (and it is very rare) you can go up to the box office closer to show time and ask about any unclaimed rush or lottery tickets. If they have then they will offer them to you for the rush/lottery price. However, some shows like Wicked just sell lottery tickets for a higher cost to the cancellation line if they aren't claimed. You'll only get that deal on shows that don't have an active cancellation line so don't expect it at something like Wicked or Hamilton.