Your recommendations

[HopeChanged]

Posted: 10/12/19 at 4:38pm

Am thinking of an Oct. or early Nov. trip from Maine to NYC to see Linda Vista & The Sound Inside. As a Tennessee Williams fan, had also thought of hitting The Rose Tattoo. But after reading your consistently lousy takes on it (despite being in early previews) I think I will skip it. So ... would love to find 1 or 2 more plays &/or musicals. I tend to like meaty, substantial plays that let you feel, think, & stay with you. Wondering about Betrayal & To Catch a Mockingbird, & would love to hear about any others that floored you in a good way. Is Waitress just fluff? Or is there more to it, with beautiful music? Examples of plays I've loved: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf; Other Desert Cities; Admissions; Our Town;  Examples of Musicals I've Loved: Next to Normal; Spring Awakening; Once. Thanks in advance!    

Updated On: 10/12/19 at 04:38 PM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/12/19 at 5:36pm

Waitress has a bit more substance than fluff. Mockingbird is terrific, and Im seeing Betrayal next weekend.

[gibsons2]

Posted: 10/12/19 at 5:49pm

I think you would love Waitress. It's has beautiful music and the story many can relate to. I have seen it three times and have some friends who saw it 5-6 times and planning to again before it closes in January. 

[HopeChanged]

Posted: 10/12/19 at 6:07pm

Thank you. I did enjoy Waitress as an indie movie, which is why I asked about that one. Really appreciate your responses so far & hope to hear more.  

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 10/12/19 at 6:47pm

Waitress has fluffier parts but I think the humor is there to balance out the darker elements. There's a great deal of depth in the portrayal of Jenna. 

I haven't seen them but have you considered Slave Play or The Inheritance? There's also Soft Power, Bella Bella, for all the women who thought they were Mad, Molly Sweeney, Dr. Ride’s American Beach House, and revivals of A Bright Room Called Day and for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf off-Broadway.

Sorry I don't have better recommendations. It's concert and opera season for me. 

[jbird5]

Posted: 10/12/19 at 8:30pm

Hadestown and Oklahoma! Were my two favorite musicals this year. I’ve seen Waitress multiple times and have a ticket for the final weekend in anticipation of Sarah B. Coming back. I’d try to make another trip to see it with Sarah if possible.

[Rosette3]

Posted: 10/12/19 at 9:18pm

HopeChanged said: "I tend to like meaty, substantial plays that let you feel, think, & stay with you. Wondering about Betrayal & To Catch a Mockingbird, & would love to hear about any others that floored you in a good way. Is Waitress just fluff? Or is there more to it, with beautiful music? Examples of plays I've loved: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf;Other Desert Cities; Admissions; OurTown; Examples of Musicals I've Loved: Next to Normal; Spring Awakening; Once. Thanks in advance!"

For a musical I highly recc'd Oklahoma. I typically am not a fan a classics and prefer unconventional, contemporary, rock leaning musicals (Spring Awakening is my all time fav) but really loved the Oklahoma revival. It's hits a good balance of high energy jovial comedic musical and dark thought provoking themes. It's not an obvious choice but in this production they completely tip the classic on its head and adapted to feel relevant in today's world. There's a more contemporary score, addresses issues of toxic masculinity, misogyny, sexual harassment and only through the staging and direction since they kept original script and lyrics unchanged. I saw it almost 4 weeks ago and am still playing the OBCR on a daily basis and reading every review/op-ed I can find. 

For a play I'd recommend considering Slave Play. It deals with race, power imbalance in relationships and left me in a meta feedback loop of my own thoughts and experiences drawn from the play. I'd only go if you are genuinely interested. It was a lot to process and unpack an a play but you'll still be thinking about weeks after. It is a divisive play marred in controversy but I think a lot of the negative feedback comes from viewers who may have only took it at face value and it went over their heads or didn't go with open mind.

TKAM is fantastic but IMO mostly due in part to the exceptional performances of the cast. Hands down the some of best acting I've seen on stage, loved the staging, the set and incorporation of music. I appreciated the shifts in perspective from Alan Sorkin but I didn't leave the theater with any new profound feelings I didn't already have going into the play (other than being blown away from the individual acting) as I thought if that makes sense? It was still a great performance and I'd recommend it but I may have gone in with too high of exceptions

Waitress I saw on tour a few years ago so take this for what' its worth. It was fine but nothing to write home about. Music was catchy but I didn't leaving wanting to listen to the cast album after, even though I am Sara Bareilles fan. Sara Bareilles came out at the end of our show for cast karaoke which was the best part of the night lol Some people reallyyyy love it so it's all preference. They are stunt casting and cycling through leads. I read some feedback that Jordin Sparks though has great vocals, her acting and chemistry was lacking. I'm sure others can speak to her performance first hand. 

Another important note to mention: feasibility of getting tickets

TKAM is the main show that will be hard to get tickets. It is in final weeks of OBC so rush is pretty much your only option. I went 3 weeks ago and got to box office 1.5hr before opening for SRO tickets there was already 15 ahead of me. I would imagine the wait will get longer leading up to OBC final performance (11/3?) with everyone trying to see it last minute . 

Oklahoma will be easy to get tickets. If you enter the digital lottery and lose, they send you a code for $59 seats. I was able to sit on the stage at the tables through this promo which was a really fun and immersive experience. You are inches away from the cast and feel like you are a part of the show.

Slave Play, I won my tickets through the digital lottery and I never win lotteries so it may be indicative of high probability. There's also promo on TodayTix. 

Other shows worth noting but I haven't seen personally, The Inheritance and off-broadway For Colored Girls Who Considered Suicide/When Rainbows Are Enuf at Public Theater. Tickets were all sold out when looked in November but you may luck out given you are in town earlier. 

Updated On: 10/12/19 at 09:18 PM

[Susanswerphone]

Posted: 10/12/19 at 10:20pm

To Kill a Mockingbird and Betrayal are both wonderful! Don't miss!
The Sound Inside I liked very much and, unlike others, enjoyed The Rose Tattoo, having the original film as context.
Oklahoma is dark and wonderful!

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 10/13/19 at 6:51am

I would highly recommend The Sound Inside. It is one of the best new shows so far this season IMO.

[magictodo123]

Posted: 10/13/19 at 9:49am

For a musical I'm with everyone who has recommended Oklahoma! I agree. I saw it downtown, and while it wasn't my favorite, It definitely stayed with me. I'd recommend it for that reason-and the leads performances. 

As someone who has seen both the movie and the musical of Waitress numerous times, I would definitely recommend it. No matter who the cast is when you see it (although if you're coming within the next month, it seems like you'll most likely see Jordin Sparks, who I've heard good things about!). 

Off-Broadway I'd recommend Seared at MCC. I didn't realize it was running until December 1st, so you'll be able to make it. https://mcctheater.org/tix/seared/

[HopeChanged]

Posted: 10/13/19 at 4:17pm

You guys are AMAZING. Thank you so much. The Sound Inside, Linda Vista & Betrayal are now my top 3 picks. May or may not add one more (depending if I stay 2 or 3 nights). Time to start booking this trip. Your time & thoughts are greatly appreciated!!!   

 

[magictodo123]

Posted: 10/13/19 at 4:21pm

HopeChanged said: "You guys are AMAZING. Thank you so much. The Sound Inside, Linda Vista & Betrayal are now my top 3 picks. May or may not add one more (dependingif I stay2 or 3 nights). Time to start booking this trip. Your time & thoughts are greatlyappreciated!!!

"

Honestly this thread made me think about seeing The Sound Inside as well! 

[hak5]

Posted: 10/15/19 at 11:21am

i would reccomend HADESTOWN

it's not fluff and the music is gorgeous