First time seeing a broadway show

[DianaD3]

Which show would you recommend to someone who has never seen a Broadway show before or any theatrical performance? The person is 20. 

[persephone88]

Hmm, what kind of movies do they like? Drama, comedy, fantasy, Classics, musicals? That would be my first guide. Most people have seen The Wizard of Oz, and thus, Wicked is an easy choice if they were a fan of the Oz movie. For a 20 year old, Mean Girls or Dear Evan Hansen might appeal since they have youth centric themes, but it really depends on the person's interest. I'd probably skip something like Gary or Lear if they were not Shakespeare fans, but otherwise, ask them what appeals. Elaborate spectacle? A simple, moving story? Familiar music? There's a huge range of shows...

[uncageg]

Phatom of the Opera, if they like musicals.

[Impossible2]

uncageg said: "Phatom of the Opera, if they like musicals."

You want to turn them off theatre for the rest of their lives?

[dramamama611]

There is no one universal answer.

[Robbie2]

DianaD3 said: "Which show would you recommend to someone who has never seen a Broadway show before or any theatrical performance? The person is 20."

WICKED

https://wickedthemusical.com/

[uncageg]

Impossible2 said: "uncageg said: "Phatom of the Opera, if they like musicals."

You want to turn them off theatre for the rest of their lives?"

No. That was not my intent. I gave a suggestion based on what I thought might be a good show. 

 

[Scarlet Leigh]

Robbie2 said: "DianaD3 said: "Which show would you recommend to someone who has never seen a Broadway show before or any theatrical performance? The person is 20."

WICKED

https://wickedthemusical.com/

"

I second this. I am taking my BF to his first Broadway show later this year and I thought long and hard about it, settling on Wicked as well. It's got good spectacle, it's a modern classic, the fact that it's based off Wizard of Oz which is it's own classic helps because they likely will come into it with SOME background in the material without needing to explain things to them ahead of time.

[Chowd95]

Come From Away. It's fast paced, has an incredibly moving story and will show a newcomer how a talented cast and brilliant creative team can have the power to transport you to another place and forget your troubles for a few hours.

[Theatrefanboy1]

For a twenty year old I’d definitely suggest Mean Girls, Book of Mormon, Wicked, Lion King ... Harry Potter if you can get tickets ... and I agree Phantom is such a classic that in my opinion it’s a sold first.

[Wick3]

uncageg said: "Impossible2 said: "uncageg said: "Phatom of the Opera, if they like musicals."

You want to turn them off theatre for the rest of their lives?"

No. That was not my intent. I gave a suggestion based on what I thought might be a good show.”

 

I think Phantom is a good show for a first broadway show. It’s the longest running broadway show for a reason. It’s a hit and most people have heard of the show.

Try to pick one of the shows that have staying power on Broadway like Phantom, Chicago, Lion King, Wicked, or even Hamilton. They’ve been on Broadway for a long time for a reason and it’s nice to always look back on your first bway show to know it’s a hit.

[dramamama611]

I would never send anyone to Phantom -yet alone for a first show.

[CT2NYC]

I saw Phantom when I was 18, and it made me fall in love with musical theatre, so it will usually be my first recommendation. I suppose Wicked and The Lion King are decent choices, but I wouldn't send a Broadway newbie to the Gershwin or the Minskoff for a first show, just because they're charmless spaces. The Majestic is a proper Broadway house. However, if the person in question is a Harry Potter fan, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a must-see, and I would put it at the top of the list. Heck, even if they're not big fans, it really is a great introduction to theatre, and what it can achieve.

[Impossible2]

What sex is said 'person'?

I would tend to take someone who has never been to the theatre to something that they can identify with if you are trying to turn them onto it.

Phantom of the Opera is dated, BADLY and musically it is more operatic than traditional musical theatre. It's boring, I didn't care about any of the characters and frankly it looks cheap and nasty. Personally it would've turned me off theatre for life it'd been the first thing I'd even seen.

I wouldn't go for Wicked either. Despite the interesting concept of the show (which btw would be totally lost on anyone who isn't a fan of WoO) it bored me rigid too.

There isn't a lot of choice atm, I'd probably go for something like The Prom which is at least a musical comedy, that way if they don't like the music at least they'll get a few laughs and at least it's modern musical theatre done well.

Come From Away as stated above is also another excellent choice.

Book of Mormon is fun, but it's extremely adult and maybe not age appropriate.

[SFFrontRow]

persephone88 said: "Hmm, what kind of movies do they like? Drama, comedy, fantasy, Classics, musicals? That would be my first guide. Most people have seen The Wizard of Oz, and thus, Wicked is an easy choice if they were a fan of the Oz movie. For a 20 year old, Mean Girls or Dear Evan Hansen might appeal since they have youth centric themes, but it really depends on the person's interest. I'd probably skip something like Gary or Lear if they were not Shakespeare fans, but otherwise, ask them what appeals. Elaborate spectacle? A simple, moving story? Familiar music? There's a huge range of shows..."

I second this opinion. It’s not just the quality of the show you pick, but how the show fits with the interests of the individual. We have all seen shows that surprise us, but for a first ever B’way show, I’d try and pick a good show that fits into their interests.

[RWPrincess]

Lion King, Aladdin (also a beautiful theater), Wicked, Chicago

If they are a Harry Potter fan and open to a play, definitely Cursed Child

[hak5]

I'd let them read the synposis of several shows and have them pick based on what they are drawn to....

 

[Lot666]

Impossible2 said: "uncageg said: "Phatom of the Opera, if they like musicals."

You want to turn them off theatre for the rest of their lives?"

No, we want to turn YOU off.

[yesraccoons]

If they enjoy comedy Book of Mormon. Very funny but also has traditional musical elements in it.

[haterobics]

DianaD3 said: "Which show would you recommend to someone who has never seen a Broadway show before or any theatrical performance? The person is 20."

There is no answer to this. Similarly I wouldn't know what concert or standup comedian or movie to send someone to because they are 20.

[uncageg]

So, DianaD3, wanna help us out with a bit more info and answers to questions asked in the tbread you stared?

[Jarethan]

Phantom is the longest running show by far in Broadway history, for a reason.  Chicago is the longest running American show in Broadway history for a reason.  Either one would be a perfect introduction to the theatre.

[dmwnc1959]

Just because a musical has been “longest running” doesn’t mean it’s for everyone. Again, as mentioned before, it’s better to find out what the person likes or dislikes to narrow down the field. If they're not sure, entry-level shows might be best. Some of the ones mentioned like WICKED, THE LION KING, BOOK OF MORMON (with a warning of the adult language content), WAITRESS, COME FROM AWAY, ALADDIN, and even MEAN GIRLS might be better suited . But first, get a feel for what they like. And sometimes, they might not even know. LOL.

[JudyDenmark]

I think Book of Mormon is the best choice, assuming the person wouldn't have content issues. It's hilarious, i.e. appealing, and very much a love letter to musical theatre, so an excellent intro to the genre. 

[Pose2]

I disagree about "The Book of Mormon" being a love letter to theater.  I think it's what people see when they don't want to see a traditional Broadway show.

New friends who ask me about this are always directed to "Wicked".  I think it's a great first show because it has everything someone seeing a show for the first time would want to see. I have not seen it in a decade but it seems to be holding up well.