DC & NYC - here I come!

[bob8rich]

Posted: 9/11/14 at 4:55pm

Got myself all booked for a theatre trip across the Pond in November!

Flying to Washington on Nov 3 and have booked to see the new Flaherty & Ahrens musical THE LITTLE DANCER at the Kennedy Center (seriously excited about seeing that!).

Then taking the train to New York on Nov 5 (flying home on Nov 11) and have already booked to see THE BAND WAGON (City Center Encores), THE LAST SHIP, Sondheim's SATURDAY NIGHT (York Theatre Musicals In Mufti) and SIDE SHOW (seriously excited about that one too!).

Planning to also see IF/THEN, ALADDIN, ALLEGRO and one other show.

If anyone else from The Board is by any chance planning to be in New York around that time, let me know - would be great to get together.

[exedore]

Posted: 9/11/14 at 6:12pm

In DC but not NYC...

[bob8rich]

Posted: 9/11/14 at 6:28pm

Exedore - I'll have some free time during the day on Tues Nov 4 (before seeing The Little Dancer in the evening). If you're gonna be in DC and free that day, send me a PM and we can try to meet up.

[promisespromises2]

Posted: 9/11/14 at 9:04pm

I live just an hour south from DC. Have a GREAT time. I'm looking forward to seeing Little Dancer! I just haven't picked a date yet. The Kennedy Centre is a beautiful place, it's my favorite theatre to go to in D.C.

Enjoy!

Updated On: 11/15/14 at 09:04 PM

[exedore]

Posted: 9/11/14 at 9:09pm

I have such a love/hate with the KC. It's beautiful inside, but looks like a hideous airport terminal outside. It's also the most expensive place in town to see a show.

[promisespromises2]

Posted: 9/11/14 at 9:45pm

^See, I love airports so I never mind it. The tickets are definitely Broadway-priced, but I have gotten cheap tickets that were under $60 before for productions.

I have yet to see a show there that I wasn't amazed by though, so it's always been worth it for me.

[bob8rich]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 7:03pm

All set to go now in 2 weeks' time. As well as my ticket for THE LITTLE DANCER in Washington, have also now got my NYC shows booked:

Wed Nov 5 IF/THEN
Thurs Nov 6 THE BAND WAGON
Sat Nov 8 mat ON THE TOWN
Sat Nov 8 eve THE LAST SHIP
Sun Nov 9 mat ALLEGRO
Sun Nov 9 eve SATURDAY NIGHT
Mon Nov 10 SIDE SHOW

Have left the Friday night slot free as I'm still hoping I can manage to find a ticket for ALADDIN - the cheapest ticket I've been able to find online is $200 (and those aren't even "good" seats) so praying for a miracle nearer the date. If that does not pan out, I'll try for CABARET or IT'S ONLY A PLAY.

I'll post my thoughts on the shows as I see them.

[bob8rich]

Posted: 10/25/14 at 8:43am

Just filled my final theatre slot for my trip (on Friday Nov 7) - saw that THE FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE had extended at The Public Theater so booked straight away and got a great front row seat! Have been reading wonderful things about this show and I'm also a big fan of Adam Chanler-Berat - so very excited about seeing this!

Updated On: 10/25/14 at 08:43 AM

[bob8rich]

Posted: 10/25/14 at 8:43am

Updated On: 10/25/14 at 08:43 AM

[rjm516]

Posted: 11/4/14 at 10:09am

Have a great trip! I'm glad you decided against It's Only A Play. It's a great cast but it would have been a shame to waste your last slot on that show. If by some chance you do get a chance for another show, see Cabaret with Michelle Williams while you still can. Also, Gentleman's Guide, if you didn't last year, is amazing.

[bob8rich]

Posted: 11/5/14 at 11:37pm

The first two shows of my trip totally blew me away.

THE LITTLE DANCER was a beautiful piece of theatre - gorgeous Flaherty & Ahrens score, magical staging by Susan Stroman and stunning performances from the entire cast - the principals in particular were fantastic (Tyler Peck, Rebecca Luker and Boyd Gaines.) Pretty much musical theatre perfection.

And IF/ THEN was also amazing - I was already totally in love with the score from the CD but ALS loved the book - clever & inventive writing. Brilliantly staged by Michael Greif and the set was incredible. And another set of wonderful performances from the entire cast, and I thoughtIdina was awesome. ALWAYS STARTING OVER in particular was mindblowing.

Rjm156 I did see A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE last year. I enjoyed it but did not find it in any way amazing - was stunned that it won the Tony to be honest.

[dgjbear]

Posted: 11/6/14 at 9:41am

Great reviews....Little Dancer sounds great

[bob8rich]

Posted: 11/6/14 at 11:40pm

Tonight completed a hat- trick of fantastic nights at the theatre with THE BAND WAGON. Tracey Ullman was a revelation; Laura Osnes was, as always, vocally exquisite; Brian Stokes Mitchell proved yet again that he has pretty much the best baritone voice in the business and also showed that he's a genuine hoofer; and Tony Sheldon stole the show!

And the show was packed with Schwartz & Dietz vintage songs that will put a shine on your shoe and a melody in your heart, complemented by a genuinely witty book and stunning Kathleen Marshall choreography. Now - THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT!

[bob8rich]

Posted: 11/8/14 at 6:40am

Did not,know quite what to expect. With THE FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE - booked it mainly because it had great reviews & had extended its sold out run at the Public Theater but thought that maybe it would turn out to be a disappointment. But it was absolutely incredible!

Powerful, inventive, groundbreaking musical theatre with a score full of stunning harmonies performd by a phenomenally talented cast. And both the leads - Adam Chanler-Berat and Kyle Beltran - were astonishing.

[bob8rich]

Posted: 11/9/14 at 12:09am

Just saw my fifth 5 star show in 5 nights. Absutely adored THE LAST SHIP! Beautiful, haunting score; beautifully written book; superb performances from everyone; brilliantly staged by Joe Mantello with stunning choreography (as always) from Steven Hoggett.

[ggersten]

Posted: 11/9/14 at 12:45pm

Thank you for these reports!

[bob8rich]

Posted: 11/10/14 at 12:34am

Another 2 fantastic shows today!

ALLEGRO - vintage R & H revisited by John Doyle in a superb actor-muso staging with a faultless cast. Have always adored the score but is was my first time seeing the show performed & I genuinely think it's a neglected masterpiece that shows, in particular, Hammerstein's genius as a creator of musical theatricality.

And York Theater's "Musicals In Mufti" products of Sondheim's SATURDAY NIGHT was an absolute delight - with an all-round amazing cast, led by Ben Fankhauser (Davey inn Newsies on Broadway), Margo Seinert (Adrian in Rocky on Broadway), Andrew Keenan-Bolger (Crutchie on Newsies on Broadway & the original Jojo in Broadway's Suessical) and Linday Mendez (Rose in Dogfight Off-Broadway & Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway).

Margo Seibert especially blew me away with her immense charm and natural charisma - I am now officially in love with her voice.

[bob8rich]

Posted: 11/11/14 at 12:06am

Rounded of my week of musical theatre heaven in DC & NYC with SIDE SHOW - and it was yet another awesome show. I've always loved the score since first hearing the OBC album some years ago - so great to finally get to see this revised version of the show on The Great White Way. Loved it! I think this time it may be around for quite a while.

It's been an amazing week. Can honestly say it's been the best visit to New York ever theatre-wise and even the best succession of shows I've ever seen in my life of theat-going. Out of the 9 shows I saw, 8 of them totally blew me away.