So I'm planning a big trip to NYC in April and have booked a somewhat insane number of shows. I was hoping you could help me pad and finalize the list.
Here is the schedule
Friday 8pm - Fun Home 10pm - MAYBE Hedwig if I find out Fun Home is only officially 90 minutes
Saturday family wedding to attend
Sunday 5pm - New York Spring Spectacular (my first time seeing the Rockettes so I think its worth it). 7:30pm - Finding Neverland
Monday 8pm - Finding Rotten
Tuesday 7pm - Gigi
Wednesday matinee - OPEN 8pm - An American in Paris
Thursday 2pm - OPEN - maybe Phantom but I'm not sold on this cast 8pm - The King and I
Friday 8pm - On the twentieth century
Saturday 2pm - Curious incident of the dog in the nighttime
evening - fly home
For my open slot, Wednesday matinee I'm thinking of The Visit or On The Town at present. Of course I would love to see Hamilton, but I know my chances are slim to none on winning the lotto.
I've seen pretty much all the older major musicals and most of them tour Toronto as well so maybe I am looking for something a little different cause I have a lot of revivals on there. Suggestions appreciated.
While I obviously haven't seen it yet, I wouldn't miss The Visit. I'm seeing it at the end of April (along with Fun Home, Grounded and The King & I) and I absolutely can't wait.
Or see Hamilton on that Sunday. Most of the Hamilton Sunday matinees start at 1pm in April, meaning youd be fine for the 5pm Rockettes. I have heard many people having success with the cancellations line.
Gstrus2 - technically I'm supposed to be spending time with family members the day after this family wedding so I probably shouldn't add a third show. However I'm still hoping I can try for the 1pm Hamilton lottery:)
N2nbaby - am thinking of The Visit for sure, especially as it is supposed to be Chita's last broadway show and it's 90 minute time will fit in nicely to my Wednesday matinee while leaving room to hit a museum in the city between shows.
Bwayphreak234 - opps...yep I meant Something Rotten for Monday:) I am jazzed that it is playing on a Monday night when pickings are usually pretty slim.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
Regarding Fun Home: It used to be 90 minutes, but I think the Broadway version is having some material added. Telecharge puts it at 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Also, regarding Hamilton: The lottery has been really crowded, with about 100 people showing up for 10 or 11 tickets. So the odds are not great. (Of course, you can get lucky!) I tried to do the standby line twice. Once there were six tickets sold, and the other time there were zero tickets sold. I don't know how often you get into the city, but maybe you can plan on seeing it after it moves to Broadway? It's a little bit of a detour to get down to the Public from Midtown (although not hard at all on the N or the R), so it may not be worth it for you.
If I were you I would call Telecharge and move Fun Home to Wednesday afternoon, and see The Visit at 8 pm and Hedwig at 10 pm on Friday. The Lyceum is a 3 minute walk from the Belasco, and you will get to see 3 shows instead of 2.
Be warned if you choose On The Town, it is not like anything else. It is a very nice dance recital first and foremost, a beautiful musical orchestration second, and a very poor book/story. It is definitely my least favorite musical I have seen on Broadway in the last several years, but it is a very polarizing show ... as we all know some people really like it. There is probably no way to know which camp you will fall in ahead of time so I would pick a show with better odds.
Your choices sound good so far, TorontoBroadwayFan. I live on the west coast, but I'm visiting New York at the end of April/early May. Here's my line up (in no particular order):
Fun Home (saw it at the Public - one of the best musicals I have seen in years) The Visit (saw the earlier Signature production; The show is dark and different, but it's Kander and Ebb and Chita - wouldn't want to miss) Aladdin The King and I On The Twentieth Century Hand to God American in Paris Something Rotten Finding Neverland Hamilton Grounded Curious Incident Wolf Hall 1 and 2
I have one more open slot which I was considering GiGi, Dr. Zhivago (both of which I'm luke warm about), On The Town or It Should've Been You (didn't get great out of town review but it's a good cast cast). Was interested in Hedwig if John Cameron Mitchell extended, but he leaves the day before I get there.
I saw Honeymoon at Paper Mill (It was light fun). I saw The Audience and Skylight through National Theatre Live in HD. They are both exceptional theatre with exceptional actors, but I figured I've "seen" them.
Let us know what you finally decide, TorontoBroadwayFan
StageDoor3: I would suggest you fill that last slot with Gigi! I realize, at least in its out of town tryout, it hasn't been the most popular show among everyone and I've been championing this show more than others. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the show in DC, even though I didn't have very high expectations for it. Vanessa Hudgens is magical in the title role, the cast is very strong, the design is gorgeous, the choreography is distinctive and fun and impressive, and the plot was entertaining. I had very few minor issues with the show and I feel confident that those, as well as the issues other people pointed out, will be resolve by the time this opens in New York. It had a lot of potential and was very good during its first week of previews in DC, so I think it's worth seeing! I hope you have an enjoyable trip!
Thank you, acekatherineplumber2. As you stated, GiGi did not get the best word of mouth in Washington. But I am a fan of classic musicals, so it is high on my preference list. I saw a workshop of Zhivago at LaJolla Playhouse in San Diego and while I like Lucy Simon and the show was okay, seeing it again just doesn't interest me that much.
One show I didn't mention was Act of God with Jim Parsons which sounds entertaining, but I would rather spend my money on a musical.
Actually I think word of mouth was pretty good! The audience when I saw it was extremely enthusiastic and immediately gave it a standing ovation and I know several other people who saw it on other days and heard people praising it. But I'm getting off topic now. Anyway, if you like classic musicals then you should seriously consider Gigi. I don't know if you saw the 2013 R&H Cinderella, but in tone this production of Gigi feels very similar in that they're both fairly whimsical classic shows that have been updated slightly to feel more modern.
Thanks everyone so much for all the opinions and advice.
I'm strongly leaning towards The Visit, for Chita, because it is short 90-95 minutes so I'll be ditching my hubby for less time during the peak daytime tourist time, and cause I can get a sweet deal with my Audience Rewards points. I also doubt The Visit is something that will tour and is very different from a lot of the revivals song and dance numbers that I already have picked out.
JPeterman - I was totally thinking of the same thing! Having The Visit and Hedwig back to back. But since I saw Hedwig with NPH last year (though I'm sure JCM is AMAZING in the role), and I can get The Visit for only $30 with audience rewards points but only for the Wednesday, it might be better to save a little cash and not see Hedwig a second time.
Oh and Toronto story, John Cameron Mitchell was at a special free TIFF screening of Hedwig last fall and I got to meet him and get his autograph! He actually signed my Hedwig playbill that was already signed by Neil and Lena! So my desire to see JCM is sated a little. And I got a hug!!!
I also decided on Gigi just today because of audience rewards points making it a great deal. Plus I saw a production of it at the Stratford festival a few years back and fell in love. I hear great things about the cast as well. Even though its a classic like The King and I, I figured I would enjoy it!
StageDoor3 - I like your choices, they are very similar to mine. But I see you have Hamilton on there. Very jealous. I'm hoping that it transfers and is very successful and I can see it during fingers crossed next year's annual trip (though with the Canadian dollar tanking, this trip is costing a lot more than usual
I'm also hoping to catch Fiddler next year (one of my all time favourites, love that soundtrack), and the School of Rock musical. I can't help it, I really love that movie, cheesy as it is.
I saw Aladdin at its pre-Broadway Toronto tryout last year and wasn't that impressed. Of course, James Monroe Iglehart was amazing! But they had Aladdin three friends narrating a lot of the story and I found they didn't not weave the story together very well. However, I heard that they punched it up and fixed some of the storytelling aspects when they brought it to Broadway, so hopefully it is a lot better now.
Seems like the verdict was mixed on "On the Town" so I think I will give it a pass this time. Again, I'm seeing a lot of great dancing in my other productions and fun period costumes so hopefully I'm not missing too much.
Lots of votes for The Visit as well...thanks everyone!