Hi, I am going to be visiting NYC this coming holiday weekend. Can someone suggest a good store to buy Broadway Cast CD's and/or DVD's, as well as sheet music, vocal selections or vocal scores? A place that has reasonable prices. I appreciate any info that I can get. Many thanks.
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
Now that I see it, it certainly was a misleading title. Next time, I'll be clearer. It did make me laugh, though because I never thought of that. Too many CD's on my mind - not real estate.
Go to Virgin Megastore in Times Square for music - they have everything.
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird
Virgin Megastore (Times Square, Union Square) seem to always have a cast recording sale, so you can't go wrong there. Correct me if I am wrong, but Colony, while the best place for sheet music, is a complete rip-off for buying cast recordings.
On 48th between 6th and 7th (if I remember correctly), there are about 10 music shops. A few varieties of Sam Ash, most with sheet music, as well as a few other stores whose names are escaping me...
Colony is insanely overpriced. Their CDs are priced at two to three times more than you would pay just about everywhere else. They do have an amazing selection of broadway sheet music, but again, way overpriced. They routinely mark Broadway piano/vocal music up from the manufactur's retail price that is printed on the back cover! There are many on-line stores that offer the same sheet music, and even with shipping charges are still less expensive than Colony. I've no idea how they manage to stay in business. Must be the tourist trade that has no idea how much they are being ripped off.
An example about Colony: they had the new Josh Groban Xmas cd there this past Sunday for $22.99. Bought it at Target Tuesday for $12.99. Beside the price difference, how were they even selling it since Tuesday was the release date ??
Believe it or not, the best place (and the cheapest) place to obtain everything you're looking for is simply at your fingertips -- online. Not only are the prices much lower than in the city, but you don't pay sales tax and sometimes shipping is free.
I'm in the city several times a year and I never buy theatre related stuff when I'm there, unless it is one of those rare 'sold only at the theatre' stuff. Need that rare or out-of-print CD? Ebay has always come thru for me.
You can buy online ALL the souvenir programs for every show as well other show merchandise like t-shirts, mugs, magnets, window cards, etc.