help a college kid on a limited budget decide which shows to see this summer

[starfromafar]

Posted: 6/3/04 at 12:34am

Hey Ya'll I have been reading the message boards for a while, but this is my first time to start a post so I am kinda nervous. yall remember that i am new to this so please be nice to me:)

Anyway, I am going to be in the city this summer and I would love to see every show on broadway...but since I am on a limited budget that isn't gonna happen. so...i was hoping that yall could help me decide which shows to see. I want to see something that will make my cry, something that will make me laugh, something that will make me want to dance and something that will totally disturb me...so any suggestions will be helpful..thank you!!

[~FloweryFriend~]

Posted: 6/3/04 at 2:03am

I think you'd be safe to post this on the main board. And you'd probably get more responses there.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 6/3/04 at 2:14am

Welcome to the board! It might help to know how old you are and what kinds of things you like. WICKED seems to evoke these emotions from most people who post here, but for different reasons. Some cry cuz they can't stand it!

[DAME]

Posted: 6/3/04 at 2:28am

Hairspray seems to satisfy most people . It is alot of Fun. I would balance that with a play like Frozen ( which you can probaly get at tkts for half price). And then if you still have the money and want to see something with a little more bite to it; but is still a musical; I would check out Assasins.

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 6/3/04 at 3:47am

I'd also go with Assassins. You have to see Sondheim. Another good pick would be Caroline, or Change....a show that is unlike anything I've seen before, especially on Broadway. If you look around (and Playbill.com is as good a place to start as any), you might find discount codes to use when you order tickets. I use them all the time, and it helps keep the cost of going to the theater down. Both Caroline and Frozen have codes available right now.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 6/3/04 at 10:19am

Check out www.talkinbroadway.com (sorry to post about another website! EEEP!). They have a listing of all SRO/Rush ticket policies. Many shows (specifically the musicals) have a day-of-performance rush ticket policy and these are often student only, so don't forget your student ID. Hairspray, Rent and Avenue Q all do it lottery style (does Wicked?) so your chances aren't as high with them (or, at least, it won't be any better if you're there earlier). Also never forget the TKTS booth.
My own experiences have been better by just wandering up to a theatre and asking specifically for rush or standing room.

[mominator]

Posted: 6/3/04 at 6:10pm

I'd also suggest Assassins (to make you think)as well as Avenue Q (to make you laugh) and Mamma Mia (to make you dance)
B

[MusicMan]

Posted: 6/4/04 at 11:32pm

Avoid Assassins and Caroline, or Change: pretentious, poorly-executed storytelling conceits, uninteresting scores, second-rate 'ideas' and little appeal. The talented actors don't make up for the shows' deficiencies.

[Wicked_Elphie]

Posted: 6/5/04 at 1:13am

I would suggest Wicked for a big expensive classic Broadway musical, Avenue Q for pure genius and hilarity and then The Normal Heart because it is a truly heartwrenching and incredible play!

[nystateomind04]

Posted: 6/5/04 at 1:19am

do not avoid caroline or assassins, see them (if you can) then decide whether you find them to be "pretentious", or that other word that some use for these shows: "brilliant". decide for yourself, but either way make sure to at least see one show that is pretty universally enjoyable (maybe hairspray or the producers)

[Corine2]

Posted: 6/5/04 at 1:24am

Kid-
On a limited budget I would try for student tickets and the lotteries:
1. Avenue Q- Tough lottery but try!(Laugh and cry)
2. Hairspray- Lottery is easier a must (Dance)
3. Wicked- Lottery only (Fun)
4. The Normal Heart- The Public Theater(Cry and moving)
I loved Caroline or Change (Wonderful will make you cry in a good way)
Assassins is also wonderful and disturbing.
Look into something called High five tickets. Also a must is Wonderful Town.
If you are spending the summer I would see all of these student tickets are usually 20-25 dollars. You could also look into standing room for Hairspray. I saw Hairspray in standing room the first month it opened and it was a blast. Updated On: 6/5/04 at 01:24 AM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/5/04 at 1:29am

is this your first time to broadway?

want to see something that will make my cry: phantom? aida? nothing has really ever made me cry.
something that will make me laugh: avenue q
something that will make me want to dance: hairspray
something that will totally disturb me: assassins

Hairspray does standing room on first come first serve basis when the box office opens if the show is sold out. Their lottery is later in the day (around 5 or 530 for an 8oclock show) for seats in the last row of the mezzanine.

[nystateomind04]

Posted: 6/5/04 at 1:47am

im really late, but i just bought the hairspray cd and i love it! i cant wait to see it (somday)

[newyorkuniq]

Posted: 6/5/04 at 2:28am

I suggest trying to get student rush:)