Show suggestions!

[SpookyFish13]

Posted: 6/27/19 at 5:01pm

Hey folks, first post here so be nice I’m planning a trip to New York this August, and need some recommendations on what shows to see!

Originally I was planning on going to My Fair Lady, Kiss Me Kate, The Prom, The Ferryman, and Gary, but unfortunately they’re all closing before I make it to NY. (Hence why I desperately need recommendations!)

I love the contrasting opinions I’ve been reading on these boards, so I’m excited to see what shows you all recommend! As a broke Canadian university student I’ll be trying to keep costs low, so the best bang-for-your-buck shows would be ideal. I think the only show i’m 100% going to is Oklahoma! (Mostly due to how divisive it seems to be. That really sparked my curiosity.)

On my last trip I saw Mean Girls (It was alright!), King Kong (Hot garbage, but I’m a sucker for animatronics lol) and Avenue Q (the entire reason for my trip!)

[Kitsune]

Posted: 6/27/19 at 5:12pm

Hadestown unfortunately is really expensive at the moment, but is *is* really good. If you think you're going to be back to New York in the next year or so, you may want to wait until prices go down.

-Come From Away is my go-to recommendation these days. The central topic is serious, but it's a show that leaves you feeling good about humanity in dark times. I think there's a discount code through September, too.

-If you haven't seen Waitress yet, that's another "good bang for your buck" show which is really fun.

-I don't remember if What the Constitution Means to Me will still be open in August, but I thought it was fantastic (assuming you don't mind that the subject matter is American!)

Updated On: 6/27/19 at 05:12 PM

[DoTheDood]

Posted: 6/27/19 at 5:22pm

Kitsune said: "I don't remember if What the Constitution Means to Me will still be open in August, but I thought it was fantastic (assuming you don't mind that the subject matter is American!)"

The show is lasting til Aug 24th. 

Also along with the shows Kitsune mentioned, Wicked is a classic, Chicago seems to another good one, and I heard BJ is pretty fun.

[SpookyFish13]

Posted: 6/27/19 at 5:24pm

Thanks for the recommendations, Kitsune! I really wanted to check out Hadestown but like you said, it’s a bit pricey... I may try my luck at a rush ticket or the lottery. I was debating on either Dear Evan Hansen or Harry Potter as my one big splurge on a ticket (ugh the exchange rate kills me). 

And I have know almost nothing about the story/music of Waitress, so I may go check that out (especially since it’s Todrick Hall and that Miranda Sings chick playing while I’ll be there. That should be interesting.)

And “Constitution” seems really interesting! I’ll be there during its last week so I may end up checking that one out too!

 

[Pose2]

Posted: 6/27/19 at 5:32pm

Kiss Me Kate was never running past June, just an FYI.

For cheap tickets, you want shows that are very easy to get tickets to, so the less popular shows for the most part and there are some great off Broadway shows as well.  Come From Away is a great show, so I second that.

[SpookyFish13]

Posted: 6/27/19 at 5:39pm

Pose2 said: "Kiss Me Kate was never running past June, just an FYI.

For cheap tickets, you want shows that are very easy to get tickets to, so the less popular shows for the most part and there are some great off Broadway shows as well. Come From Away is a great show, so I second that."

A part of me wasn’t hoping that Kiss Me Kate would have picked up steam after the Tonys and extended their for the rest of the summer, but I guess that’s not happening... And Come From Away looks interesting too! Don’t know why I haven’t really considered that one before. Thanks!

 

 

[Pose2]

Posted: 6/27/19 at 6:37pm

Kiss Me Kate has been selling well since it started in February and was always a limited engagement due to everyone's schedules. They did not need a boost to stay open after The Tonys.  The closing day was announced months ago. 

[Lot666]

Posted: 6/28/19 at 8:13am

Kitsune said: "Hadestown unfortunately is really expensive at the moment, but is *is* really good. If you think you're going to be back to New York in the next year or so, you may want to wait until prices go down.

-Come From Away is my go-to recommendation these days."

While Hadestown prices may drop a bit further down the road, waiting runs the risk of missing Andre De Shields and/or Amber Gray. Just a thought.

I wholeheartedly second the Come From Away recommendation, and would also add Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and maybe Dear Evan Hansen.

[victoriafr]

Posted: 6/28/19 at 10:38am

My recommendations are:

Tootsie: this is one of the only recent musical adaptations of movies that I'm a fan of. It's hilarious! Santino Fontana is an amazing performer and definitely deserves his Tony.

The Book of Mormon: basically a Broadway staple, I don't really need to say anything else about this.

Hadestown: an absolutely stellar show in every way. It's unique and the music is fantastic. The cast is amazing!

Come From Away: there is nothing bad I can say about this show: it's a whirlwind. I laughed and cried.

[astorian_ofthe_heart]

Posted: 6/28/19 at 10:48am

I would definitely recommend the following for decently-priced tickets:

Beetlejuice - just plain fun.
Come From Away - heartfelt story, quick show, such a fun time
Oklahoma! - edgy, dark take on the original; won't be everyone's cup of tea but damn the performances are so good
The Book of Mormon - raunchy, hilarious and super fun


If you want to splurge, here are my suggestions:

Hadestown - It's the hottest ticket in town for a reason. Definitely the best show this season, and you will not be disappointed for splurging if you can find a ticket.
Moulin Rouge - beautiful set and the performances are supposed to be breathtaking
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - definitely a spluge, but wow it's such an amazing show.

 

Updated On: 6/28/19 at 10:48 AM

[taylortrensch]

Posted: 6/28/19 at 10:50am

i'm also going to be traveling to NY in august! i also planned on seeing MFL & the prom, though both are closing before i get there as well. 

just like the other commenters, i suggest waitress! it truly is a bang for your buck show - & the late august cast (coleen, todrick, alison) is stellar. i saw waitress on my last trip to the US & i enjoyed it so much that i'm going to be seeing it again. 

since you're willing to splurge - save your money you're considering spending on CC/DEH & spend it on hadestown instead! i purchased tickets before the prices went up, though even if i didn't i would still buy them. if you're still interested in dear evan hansen, you should see it's canadian production as you're coming from canada & i can imagine prices up there are cheaper as that production is going to close. with the majority of their OBC gone, there's no cast (tour, canada, bway) that's better than the other anymore - which is why i think you should splurge and see the hadestown OBC instead!

[haterobics]

Posted: 6/28/19 at 10:56am

For cost, the Tootsie lottery is pretty hard to not win, and the theater is nearly entirely full view. Frankie and Johnny is already struggling to get butts in seats, but I can't weigh in on whether its any good until Sunday night, when I have my cheap TDF ticket.

For quality, Hadestown can't be beat.

I'd mainly stick to lotteries and see what happens. Between that, rush, and TKTS, you can do pretty well on the cheap. If you win the Friday Forty, seeing both Harry Potter would be fun. 

[SpookyFish13]

Posted: 6/28/19 at 11:21am

taylortrensch said: "i'm also going to be traveling to NY in august! i also planned on seeing MFL & the prom, though both are closing before i get there as well.

just like the other commenters, i suggest waitress! it truly is a bang for your buck show - & the late august cast (coleen, todrick, alison) is stellar. i saw waitress on my last trip to the US & i enjoyed it so much that i'm going to be seeing it again.

since you'rewilling to splurge - save your money you're considering spending on CC/DEH & spend it on hadestown instead! i purchased tickets before the prices went up, though even if i didn't i would still buy them. if you're still interested in dear evan hansen, you should see it's canadian production as you're coming from canada & i can imagine prices up there are cheaper as that production is going to close. with the majority of their OBC gone, there's no cast (tour, canada, bway)that's better than the other anymore - which is why i think you should splurge and see the hadestown OBC instead!"

That’s a really good point about splurging on Hadestown to see the OBC. I did that for the Book of Mormon back in 2012 and was so happy I did.

I originally was turned off on Hadestown for some reason (last time I saw Reeve Carney was in Spider-Man.... Enough said), but after listening to bits of the cast recording I was definitely won over! I’m probably gonna try my luck at lining up for a rush ticket!

 

[MikeK3]

Posted: 6/28/19 at 1:27pm

TodayTix has $30 rush tickets for the Yiddish-language "Fiddler on the Roof." It is a beautiful show, and they have a Thursday matinee, so you might be able to add an extra show to your schedule without breaking the bank.

And, echoing so many others on this thread, "Hadestown" is absolutely extraordinary.  I hope you have good luck with the rush line!

[SpookyFish13]

Posted: 7/19/19 at 9:16pm

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone!

I ended up getting tickets to Harry Potter, Frozen, Oklahoma! and Beetlejuice, and The Book of Mormon. I’m going to try my luck at lining up for Rush if Hadestown at 6am for a Wednesday matinee and am also going to see if I can manage to score a cheap ticket to a Chicago shortly before curtain (I arrive in manhattan around 5PM so it’s a risk)

I also have ONE more slot left, and am debating between The Prom and Be More Chill. Anyone have any ideas on which I should go with? Neither of them really appeal to me, but the fan bases are so passionate, I really want to see what the fuss is about!

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 7/19/19 at 9:25pm

THE PROM!!!

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/19/19 at 9:34pm

Between the two...The Prom.

But I'll also suggest you consider the off bway Fiddler on the Roof. Wont be duplicated.

[RWPrincess]

Posted: 7/19/19 at 10:51pm

The BMC lottery seems like it may be easy to win. Cost with fees is $42.

Yiddish Fiddler has $30 rush tickets on TodayTix that you can usually snag well into the afternoon.

Both shows and The Prom should be on TKTS as well.

I haven’t seen The Prom but I enjoyed Be More Chill and I think it’s worth seeing once if you can find a cheap ticket.

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/20/19 at 12:13am

The Prom.