46 posts
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Post by emmy on Aug 1, 2022 23:30:35 GMT
I'm in New York for August and would really appreciate some advice on shows to see. Will definitely be trying to see Into the Woods, Music Man, Funny Girl and Little Shop of Horrors, but would love any recommendations of other good musicals, plays, especially Off-Broadway stuff, opera, concerts etc. If it's been in London I'll have probably seen it, but otherwise will try pretty much anything. And any other recommendations of things to do in NY as a solo visitor would be fab - have tried most of main touristy things before so looking to branch out! Thanks in advance
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Post by LaLuPone on Aug 1, 2022 23:41:36 GMT
Those are exactly what I’d choose to see to be honest (in fact I saw Funny Girl and Little Shop back in April)! I’m sure other members will have some recommendations but I’d say that’s probably four of the best shows to see on/off Broadway right now.
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Post by harrietcraig on Aug 2, 2022 0:33:37 GMT
If you’d like to try the Shakespeare in the Park experience, there’s a production of As You Like It that starts performances on August 10. It’s a musical adaptation that “brings together its diverse ensemble of both professional actors and community members from around New York”. I didn’t see it the first time around, in 2017, so I can’t speak from personal experience, but from this YouTube clip it looks like a very loose adaptation indeed: Anyway, it’s free, there’s a digital lottery on TodayTix if you don’t want to stand in line in Central Park, and it could be an enjoyable way to spend an evening if the weather is nice (a big “if”, the way this summer is going). More info at publictheater.org/programs/shakespeare-in-the-park/free-shakespeare-in-the-park/ |
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Post by stagebyte on Aug 2, 2022 1:19:14 GMT
Hi I’ve just come back from a solo theatre packed trip. Little shop was excellent with Christian Borle worth the ticket price alone. Try for lottery or a deal from Today’s Tix or the TKTS booth it is a very small theatre so you can see perfectly from any seat so don’t spend too much on a ticket Music Man - Hugh and Sutton are the draw here but I hate to say it the show was very old fashioned and dare I say it a bit ... dull by today’s standards. Prices are insane and the show is sold out every day. Allow two hours of your morning to get a $45 rush seat. Any less time spent in the queue you just won’t get one. This was advice from the BO lady. I got lucky the second time by arriving 30 minutes earlier than I had the previous day and got the last one. It’s on the shady side of the street in the morning so just take a book and a towel to sit on and you’ll be fine. Into the Woods. Couldn’t get near it. Completely sold out unless you want to pay top $. Similar story at the hot ticket in town MJ the musical. Although I couldn’t work out from the blurb whether this was a legit musical or another version of that much maligned west end musical Thriller. Might have more luck in August as most American schools re open then and maybe less to compete for tickets. Funny Girl: they couldn’t give tickets away in the TKTS queue. Think the bad reviews have really impacted this. Loads of offers. Not sure when Lea Michele is on board but if it’s Beanie’s understudy I would grab a ticket. Only heard great things. Would recommend Hadestown: deals at TKTS or lottery at LuckySeat.com My favourite of the whole trip was Punchdrunk’s Sleep No More. Meant to be experienced alone.. A one of a kind original theatre experience for sure. Ignore the advice online about not researching it too much. Going in too blind and you won’t have a clue what’s going on! Freestyle Love Supreme - another different theatre going experience. Theatre merch shops: 1 Schubert Alley. Theater Circle Gifts. There’s a Hamilton store also. The Drama Bookshop co owned by Lin Manuel Miranda was another good find. All very small though. However for a place famed for Broadway I thought NYC was decidedly short on different theatre stores or ‘experiences’ other than shows. When we were there a couple years ago we tried this which was a bit theatrical experiencetheride.com/?gclsrc=aw.ds&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrMHUkIGn-QIVRajVCh1vqgyYEAAYASAAEgJIQ_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.dsHave fun! |
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Post by viserys on Aug 2, 2022 6:15:03 GMT
I second Hadestown, which I'll see in September (or rather, see again, I did see it in London, but it changed quite a bit since) and I'm also planning to see Little Shop of Horrors. Christian Borle leaves on 28 August, but I'm in it for Lena Hall mostly. Note that Hadestown doesn't seem to be on TKTS anymore (at least not when I checked) but they do dynamic pricing on Seatgeek and prices go down a lot one week in advance and you can pick up front stalls for $109 or something (and single seats are always available). I wouldn't bother with Music Man unless you can get a seriously discounted ticket or win lottery. It's very old-fashioned and... I don't know, I LIKE Hugh Jackman, but there was something grating about the staging that always pushes him center stage as "look, our leading man and superstar!" I also canNOT stand Sutton Foster, I disliked her when I saw her live in Anything Goes last year and she gives the same kind of phoned-in dead-eyed performance here. Personally not that interested in either Funny Girl or Into The Woods, but it should be easy to get discounted tickets for Funny Girl in these interim weeks in August before Lea Michele starts. Glad to hear the Drama Book Store is open again, I love that place. Theater Circle Gifts is a bit better than One Shubert Alley - at least these places exist while London doesn't have any kind of nice merchandise store (yes, there's the new tiny one at the end of Monmouth Street but I've never seen anyone inside!). At least "this fall" (whenever it will be), the Museum of Broadway will open, which should be nice: www.themuseumofbroadway.com/Personally I don't bother with "touristy things" in New York City anymore, it's not that attractive a town really. What I did enjoy was visiting the Museum of the City of New York (it amused me that I immediately recognized the statue outside as Alexander Hamilton) followed by a walk in the upper reaches of Central Park, which are much "wilder" than the lower part that every tourist strolls through. Gave me a bit of a tiny idea of what Manhattan may have been like centuries ago before everything was buried under concrete. Whatever you do, have fun! |
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Post by stagebyte on Aug 2, 2022 6:46:29 GMT
I second Hadestown, which I'll see in September (or rather, see again, I did see it in London, but it changed quite a bit since) Be interested to see what you think of the NYC version. I also saw it originally in London and I thought It was played much broader on Broadway, especially Orpheus. The ‘ending’ seemed slightly different too. Couldn’t work out whether some bit of the set had failed or whether it’s been restaged that way. Still enjoyed it though. Definitely agree about MM. At every opportunity Hugh was front and centre giving it ‘Greatest Showman’ and while Sutton was amusing her voice does have a hard edged whiny quality in this. Audience lapped it up though. I wish I’d seen Lena Hall in Little Shop. I just couldn’t get on with Tammy Blanchard’s interpretation of Audrey. I couldn’t work out if she was going for tough broad Alkie. Or tough broad druggie. It was a very strange take that’s for sure. If you’re expecting Ellen Greene’s iconic breathy fragility this wasn’t it. |
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Post by viserys on Aug 2, 2022 7:08:09 GMT
Be interested to see what you think of the NYC version. I also saw it originally in London and I thought It was played much broader on Broadway, especially Orpheus. The ‘ending’ seemed slightly different too. Couldn’t work out whether some bit of the set had failed or whether it’s been restaged that way. Still enjoyed it though. Anais Mitchell wrote a wonderful little book during lockdown (Working on a Song - The Lyrics of Hadestown) about her writing process and a docu by the excellent "Wait in the Wings" YouTube-Channel also mentioned her "Orpheus Problem" in the early stages of the show, in which the character came across as a major dick (leading to the poor performer getting trashed although it wasn't really his fault) and that she changed the character a lot for Broadway (and Eurydice a bit too). I definitely find his new colour palette much better than the blue jeans hipster look in London. Anyway, so I've really been wanting to see it again while at least three of the original leads (including Eva and Reeve) are still in it to see how they developed since London. I'm also very tickled by the rumour that Lilias White will take over Hermes! I fell completely in love with Lena Hall when I saw her as Sloane in Bat out of Hell and have been slogging through Snowpiercer on Netflix mostly for her Miss Audrey. Her joining LSH now was the last nudge I needed to book my plane tickets! |
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Post by squidward on Aug 2, 2022 9:31:22 GMT
I'm in New York for August and would really appreciate some advice on shows to see. Will definitely be trying to see Into the Woods, Music Man, Funny Girl and Little Shop of Horrors, but would love any recommendations of other good musicals, plays, especially Off-Broadway stuff, opera, concerts etc. If it's been in London I'll have probably seen it, but otherwise will try pretty much anything. And any other recommendations of things to do in NY as a solo visitor would be fab - have tried most of main touristy things before so looking to branch out! Thanks in advance Having come back from NY recently myself, I’d highly recommended A Strange Loop at The Lyceum Theatre. It deservedly won Tony Awards this year for Best Musical and Book ( plus a Pulitzer Prize) and is without doubt one of the best new musicals I’ve ever seen ( unless you’re easily offended). It’s a smart,funny,touching and very thought-provoking show with the most brilliant cast. Of all the shows running in NY this year, I’d say that’s the one not to be missed! Have a great holiday. |
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Post by theglenbucklaird on Aug 2, 2022 9:46:41 GMT
Warm in NYC at this time of year?
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Post by Steffi on Aug 2, 2022 10:10:56 GMT
Non theatre wise I can recommend these walking tours: freetoursbyfoot.com/de/new-york-tours/My friend and I have done a couple of them over the years and have never been disappointed. Great way to spend a few hours and get to know different parts of the city better. |
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Post by stagebyte on Aug 2, 2022 10:20:20 GMT
Warm in NYC at this time of year? 28-30 but felt much much warmer |
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Post by yokollama on Aug 2, 2022 11:14:33 GMT
I've not had the opportunity to catch these myself but it seems to have generated some good word of mouth: Beetlejuice (especially for the staging and Alex Brightman's performance) and POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive.
Not sure if you had caught the original Hadestown run at the National, but Reeve Carney's performance seems to have regressed.
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Post by anthony40 on Aug 2, 2022 11:25:30 GMT
If I can give a recommendation as a solo traveler, try Big Apple Greeter \https://bigapplegreeters.net/visitor/register
Basically, this is a service run by volunteers who are proud of their city of New York and are willing to meet you at your hotel and will spend as long, or as little time with you as you want.
I have used the service, as have my parents when they went.
What you do is register with them to tell them the dates and where it is that you're staying. You also need to tell them what area of NY you wish to see. If they can, they'll send someone round at an agreed time and that's it.
It's a walking tour so wear comfortable shoes.
When I did it with a mate, we just bought them lunch, which is a small price to pay for such a service.
They may also afterwards ask you to complete a feedback form.
Hope that is is helpful.
Travel well. Be safe.
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Post by Mark on Aug 2, 2022 11:49:39 GMT
but would love any recommendations of other good musicals, plays, especially Off-Broadway stuff I highly recommend Titanique off-Broadway if you're a Celine and/or Titanic fan. I found it absolutely hilarious. They also do a 5pm Saturday and also a Sunday evening show. Discount codes available on Playbill/Broadwaybox and also on Todaytix. titaniquemusical.com/ |
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Post by stagebyte on Aug 2, 2022 13:21:25 GMT
I've not had the opportunity to catch these myself but it seems to have generated some good word of mouth: Beetlejuice (especially for the staging and Alex Brightman's performance) and POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive. Not sure if you had caught the original Hadestown run at the National, but Reeve Carney's performance seems to have regressed. Agree. Orpheus has gone from wide eyed innocent to village idiot in the US version. Enjoyed Beetlejuice. Alex Brightman was great. Got a great Today’s Tix offer on that. Smack bang in the centre. It’s another theatre wherever y you sit you’ll get a great view. |
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Post by emmy on Aug 3, 2022 2:35:22 GMT
Thanks for the advice everyone, really really appreciate it! Looking forward to trying your suggestions (have booked a couple so far, will rush some others and try the tours at the weekends) - saw Into The Woods tonight so that's certainly set my trip off to a good start!
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Post by emmy on Aug 3, 2022 2:44:42 GMT
Not sure if you had caught the original Hadestown run at the National, but Reeve Carney's performance seems to have regressed. Haha, I did see Hadestown then (for £7.50!), really rather disliked it and Reeve Carney was certainly a not insignificant factor in that (though I didn't really warm to the direction at all either, which was a surprise considering how much I loved Great Comet) - suspect I would have liked it a fair bit more with Damon Daunno though  But interesting to read that the author recognised the issues with Orpheus and at least tried to make changes, maybe I'll give it another go if it returns to London and has decently priced seats. |
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Post by viserys on Aug 3, 2022 4:32:32 GMT
Agree. Orpheus has gone from wide eyed innocent to village idiot in the US version. Enjoyed Beetlejuice. Alex Brightman was great. Got a great Today’s Tix offer on that. Smack bang in the centre. It’s another theatre wherever y you sit you’ll get a great view. LOL, so should I hope that the understudy is on when I see Hadestown? The perils of staying too long with a show, I guess, getting bored and not caring anymore. How was the new Lydia? I saw Beetlejuice when it first opened with Sophia Anne Caruso, who was great, but there was that mysterious departure and she's gone completely quiet since. Brightman is great though and definitely worth seeing - hope he'll open the show in London, too. Titanique was streamed last year, enjoyed it a lot more than I had expected, also a good recommend! Enjoy your stay, I can't wait for my own trip  |
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Post by stagebyte on Aug 3, 2022 8:06:43 GMT
Agree. Orpheus has gone from wide eyed innocent to village idiot in the US version. Enjoyed Beetlejuice. Alex Brightman was great. Got a great Today’s Tix offer on that. Smack bang in the centre. It’s another theatre wherever y you sit you’ll get a great view. LOL, so should I hope that the understudy is on when I see Hadestown? The perils of staying too long with a show, I guess, getting bored and not caring anymore. How was the new Lydia? I saw Beetlejuice when it first opened with Sophia Anne Caruso, who was great, but there was that mysterious departure and she's gone completely quiet since. Brightman is great though and definitely worth seeing - hope he'll open the show in London, too. Titanique was streamed last year, enjoyed it a lot more than I had expected, also a good recommend! Enjoy your stay, I can't wait for my own trip Lydia was an acquired taste. Very mannered acting but maybe that’s a directorial choice. She certainly had a great voice. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2022 11:12:11 GMT
If I can give a recommendation as a solo traveler, try Big Apple Greeter \https://bigapplegreeters.net/visitor/register Basically, this is a service run by volunteers who are proud of their city of New York and are willing to meet you at your hotel and will spend as long, or as little time with you as you want. I have used the service, as have my parents when they went. What you do is register with them to tell them the dates and where it is that you're staying. You also need to tell them what area of NY you wish to see. If they can, they'll send someone round at an agreed time and that's it. It's a walking tour so wear comfortable shoes. When I did it with a mate, we just bought them lunch, which is a small price to pay for such a service. They may also afterwards ask you to complete a feedback form. Hope that is is helpful. Travel well. Be safe. I wholly second this recommendation, the Greeters are fantastic. I had a brilliant time and saw some places and heard some stories I would never otherwise have experienced. Mine refused to let me buy her lunch! I've found Free Tours by Foot to be a bit hit and miss - one tour was great but the second time I used them the guide was really poor and the group was too large. If you're at all interested in history and sociology I would highly recommend one of the tours at the Tenement Museum in Lower Manhattan - it's a fascinating insight into how tough life was for various sectors of NY's immigrant population. There is usually something interesting at the New York Public Library too, and I never get bored of the Met. |
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Post by sph on Aug 3, 2022 11:52:12 GMT
Theater Circle Gifts is a bit better than One Shubert Alley - at least these places exist while London doesn't have any kind of nice merchandise store (yes, there's the new tiny one at the end of Monmouth Street but I've never seen anyone inside!). THAT'S a theatre merch store?! I've walked past it and never knew! It honestly just looks like one of those standard ticket booths you see around Leicester Square. It's not very well branded! |
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Post by viserys on Aug 3, 2022 11:59:11 GMT
Theater Circle Gifts is a bit better than One Shubert Alley - at least these places exist while London doesn't have any kind of nice merchandise store (yes, there's the new tiny one at the end of Monmouth Street but I've never seen anyone inside!). THAT'S a theatre merch store?! I've walked past it and never knew! It honestly just looks like one of those standard ticket booths you see around Leicester Square. It's not very well branded! Yes, it's apparently linked to the Theatre Café oder the people who are behind Theatre Café: www.thetheatrecafe.co.uk/merchandise/I've peered through the window at the shelf of mugs but found none I was keen to have and since it was otherwise empty, I felt awkward venturing inside just for a nosey. They should definitely use the shop windows for better purpose! |
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Post by lucyhoneychurch on Aug 3, 2022 13:17:02 GMT
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