Back to Broadway, finally! What should I see?

Hello fellow Broadway World chatters,

It's not that, technically, I've been away from Broadway. For six months I worked at 43rd & Broadway, having moved to New York from the DC area for a new job. After many years of commuting every month or two for a Broadway weekend, I thought I'd get to see shows every week. Turned out, between my schedule and exhaustion, I saw all of three shows the entire time. For a variety of reasons, I ended up moving back to the DC area earlier this year. It's all been a financial catastrophe, which is one of the reasons I haven't been traveling and buying theater tickets most of this year.

Finally, though, I'm heading up for Thanksgiving weekend. It's a bit of a last-minute decision, but I'm hoping to see at least three shows. I'll be going over the message board, other sites and reviews but thought it might be expedient to ask what you'd recommend. I see more musicals than plays, but I love both, especially plays that have a political or philosophical undercurrent.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Hello, Dolly!, without question, and there are some $229 seats available for Bette's shows this weekend. Right mezzanine seat A 8 is an especially excellent seat that's on Telecharge for Saturday at 2:00 p.m.

There's no railing, but, unfortunately, it looks like that seat is gone. Most of the other options this weekend are in the rear orchestra. However, right mezzanine seat B 8 is available for Sunday. To answer your question, though, the view from the front of the mezzanine is spectacular.

Updated On: 11/21/17 at 05:38 PM

Darn, there's a discount through Telecharge Offers for Donna's performances. $99 for mezzanine seats, and 2 seats, A 103-104, are available in the front row center mezzanine for Friday. If you're so inclined, you can call Telecharge 212-239-6210 and ask them if they'll upgrade you using the discount. It's definitely worth the extra $20, and it can't hurt to ask. BTW, Donna's amazing!

Updated On: 11/21/17 at 05:54 PM

No problem! Orchestra seats are $109 with that discount, and there are also some excellent choices down there, but I sat in A 104 in the mezzanine, and the view was perfection!

Updated On: 11/21/17 at 06:00 PM

I sat in the mezzanine, but I think you should be ok off to the side. If you have to be far house left or far house right, I think house right is preferable, since less action takes place on that side.

I'll be far enough back and off-center in the orchestra to feel detached, too, I expect. On the other hand, I have seen many shows from high up and once I'm into the expire ce I don't tend to think about where I am in the theater. And I have a good little pair of opera glasses if I want to see something more clearly. Once upon a time, before ticket prices went crazy and when there were no restrictions on discount codes (an orchestra code applied to all orchestra seats, for instance), I sometimes sat in what are now premium center-orchestra seats for about 60 bucks, sometimes less. Now you're lucky to get an upper balcony ticket at that price.

Oh, one more question: Four shows have Thanksgiving performances. I've seen all but the revival of "Cats." I saw the original but remember little about it, beyond some of the iconic music. I'm not sure I have a particular desire to see it, but there are quite a few tickets available. Have you seen in and would you recommend?

I just looked. So your other options are Chicago, Phantom of the Opera, and Waitress.

I would hands-down vote for Waitress, especially since I am guessing you have seen the other options before. Plus, something about Waitress just speaks Thanksgiving to me. After all, it’s partially about food and community. Lol

Of course, based on last week’s grosses, it may be hard to snag a ticket to Waitress. It’s a hot ticket again now that Jason Mraz is in the show. In that case I might suggest looking to see what’s playing off Broadway? Although Phantom of the Opera might be worth another visit now they don’t have a sex offender playing the Phantom. I have to admit though that I’m also not a big fan of Phantom.

I actually love Chicago, but I’ve heard that the production is just not what it used to be although its box office lately has not been stellar so you could probably snag a decent seat.

Updated On: 11/21/17 at 07:29 PM

Thank you! It kills me not to have seen "Dear Evan Hansen" yet as I was not only working very close to the theater, the wife of a man I worked with is the show's wardrobe manager (or whatever the title is... taking care of wardrobe). So I really should have managed to get to it. It's still on the list.

I did get a ticket for "Hello Dolly!" though not with Bette Midler. Happily, though, Donna Murphy is also getting great reviews. And even though I'd like to see Bette, I've always wanted to see the show.

Fortunately, I saw "Waitress" last year, before my disastrous move to New York. I liked it a lot. "Come From Away" has sort of been on my list. It sounds like you enjoyed it, but not as much as the other shows. As for "Sweeney Todd," I saw the Broadway revival years ago and didn't love it. It sounds like the off-Broadway version is different. And it's actually one of six off-Broadway shows with performances on Thanksgiving. So I may check it out.

Thanks so much for sharing.

I agree, it would be "Waitress" for sure, except I've seen it. I enjoyed it, but not sure I want to see it again. Actually, "Chicago" wears very well. I've seen it three or four times. No interest in "Phantom." I'll go back and look the off-Broadway list. Nothing jumped out at me at first, but you've suggest "Imbible" and someone else recommended "Sweeney Todd." I didn't love the Broadway revival, but this sounds a bit different.

Oh, as for "Cats," I think I liked it so many years ago (would have been 87 or 88, I think) as I was a young and largely inexperienced theatergoer. I expect I'm far less likely to enjoy it at this point, having seen so many incredible shows over the years.

Thanks so much for all your help today. :)