Dreaming Zenzile vs Last minute rush/SRO?

[mcsquared]

Posted: 5/26/22 at 11:00am

I changed my ticket to arrive in NYC a day ahead of the storms so was trying to figure out what to see tonight. I can get a comp to Dreaming Zenzile but it's in East Village at NY Theatre Workshop and am not familiar with that part of Manhattan and whether it's safe at night. It also has only so-so reviews. My other options are seeing if I can get rush at Romeo and Bernadette or maybe even standing room at Music Man which seems overpriced and which I may not have a chance for anyway if I could only get to theatre an hour before at 6. Or maybe there are other last minute rush options that might make for a better show?

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 5/26/22 at 11:22am

You could always check out the 20at20 offerings. I will say NYTW is not in a bad area at all. Totally safe at night. 

[52889j]

Posted: 5/26/22 at 11:34am

The theater district is demonstrably more "dangerous" at night than the east village, in my experience

[BMcGregor]

Posted: 5/26/22 at 11:50am

I saw Dreaming Zenzile in its first production in St. Louis last year. I enjoyed it, and there is some remarkable music, but thought the narrative was somewhat messy. I would assume it has been tightened up some in its subsequent iterations. Definitely would recommend catching it if possible. 

[mcsquared]

Posted: 5/26/22 at 12:08pm

What about Islander musical? Haven't gotten much word but it's on TKTS...

[JBroadway]

Posted: 5/26/22 at 12:19pm

I think it’s a pretty safe neighborhood even at night, but I’m a young white male so my perception on that topic is somewhat skewed.  Even so, you’ll be surrounded by other patrons leaving the theatre, and once you got off 4th street you’ll be on major avenues which will be well-lit, and probably fairly busy. 

I haven’t seen Dreaming Zenzile (have tickets for later), or Romeo & Bernadette.

Might be worth looking through the digital rush options on TodayTix, and see what catches your interest. It’s not THE busiest time for Off-Broadway, but there’s a fair amount of cool stuff going on right now, and coming up in June. 

I liked Islander a lot! 

For Music Man, you just have to decide if you feel it’s worth it to wait in line and see Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster. Aside from that star-power factor, there’s not much other reason to see the show unless you happen to be a big fan of The Music Man. Everyone has a different idea of whether it’s “worth it,” so no one can make the decision on your behalf. 
 

[willep]

Posted: 5/26/22 at 12:34pm

If you’re getting there an hour before curtain I would think Music Man would be long gone.

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 5/26/22 at 1:46pm

VintageSnarker said: "You could always check out the 20at20 offerings. I will say NYTW is not in a bad area at all. Totally safe at night."

I had no idea that 20at20 was back and happening now (albeit almost over). Not that I would even pay $20 to see any of that junk.

[mcsquared]

Posted: 5/26/22 at 10:40pm

Thanks everyone for your help. I ended up checking out digital rush on TodayTix and found out Islanders was still available so went for that though I had totally missed it on the 20at20 list and could have saved on the extra fees and upcharge (when did TodayTix start costing more?).  It was only two blocks from my late matinee show, Andre and Dorine, and started at 7:30 instead of 7 so it was nice being able to walk over there and having time for a leisurely dinner and recharging my phone before the show started--somehow I hadn't really taken into account the matinee ending at 5:30. I liked it though I really should have read the program first to keep track of all the characters played by the two actresses. Even with an extra day in NYC I ended up feeling like there are way more shows than I can stuff inside a limited visit but at least I can watch a real Miriam Mbeka concert online or get her CD even though I missed its recreation in Dreaming Zenzile. 

[mcsquared]

Posted: 5/28/22 at 11:53pm

As a postscript, a couple I met at Islander recommended a festival in East Village going on this weekend. Much of it was rained out but they're streaming their indoor events at https://theaterforthenewcity.net/ Since I was in the  neighborhood I managed to see Dreaming Zenzile which was interesting though not as enjoyable as I was expecting.