Chicago: Spelling Bee VS. Spamalot

[Brokenlizard14]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 1:02pm

Ok guys, I need help. I just saw Spelling Bee for the first time ever in Chicago on Saturday and I'm DYING to go again.

The only thing is, my dad and I had been planning on going to see Spamalot. He says that if I really want to see Spelling Bee ( I ADORED it) again, we're not going to do Spamalot.

So my question is, which is better? I know this can change for everybody, but in YOUR opinion, which is better.

Also, I have two questions:

1) Does anybody know the cast for Chicago's Spamalot?

and

2) How easy is it to do Spelling Bee's lottery on a Saturday night? Like...how many people are there/how easy is it to win?

[respeck]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 1:22pm

Spelling Bee will be here. Why not just come back after Spamalot has moved on?

And yes, the lotto is pretty crowded, even on Tuesday! I went three times before I won, and that was during previews. Now I think it's worse. I'm not exactly sure but that's what I've heard.

Again, I'm not sure where you live exactly, but Spelling Bee will be here if you can make it back.

[Brokenlizard14]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 1:32pm

It's not the distance that's bothering him, it's the ticket prices. We can't afford both shows, as I just went to NYC over Spring Break, and we have our third trip to LA so that I can PA for an actor friend of mine in December.

I was wondering though, what are the chances that Spamalot will NOT get a sit-down production, or at the very least come back, to Chicago?

[Fosse76]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 1:41pm

Spamalot will not get a sit-down production in Chicago. The cast that's in Chicago is the touring cast. I'm sure it will return, but Spamalot isn't Wicked. It doesn't have the staying power without it's marquee cast.

[Brokenlizard14]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 1:42pm

Who's in the touring cast of Spamalot?

Also, the sit-down cast of Wicked is different than the tour cast.

[respeck]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 1:47pm

Not to mention Spamalot previewed in Chicago, so I'm not sure how much more business it can do here.

There must be a website. Google Spamalot Tour.

[Brokenlizard14]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 1:48pm

"So how much more business can it get here?"

well...Wicked toured in Chicago and look at how that's doing.

[respeck]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 1:51pm

That was one right after another. Not to mention Wicked is a family show and Spamalot is.. not.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 2:03pm

Read my words: Spamalot will NOT have an open-end production in Chicago. In fact, now that it's marquee cast has left Broadway, it's easier to get tickets (not easy, just easier). Wicked doesn't need an all-star cast to sell. Spamalot wouldn't have done nearly so well without the names Tim Curry, David Hyde Pierce and Hank Azaria. Wicked and Spelling Bee are produced by David Stone, who absolutely loves Chicago. If it weren't for him, neither Wicked nor Spelling Bee would have open runs.

[Brokenlizard14]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 2:52pm

OK...anyways, nobody technically answered the question. It wasn't, "What should I see?", it was "Which, in your opinion, is better? And why?"

[Stagerage2003]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 2:59pm

My friend Christine is Loganne in Spelling bee. I say Go see Spelling bee again and help pay her! hahaha...all jokes aside I loved spelling bee too, but See spamalot I mean you've already seen spelling bee, go to something different.

[respeck]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 4:24pm

Ok. Spamalot because over time I think you'll have a greater chance to see Spelling Bee again than Spamalot and it seems like one of those things you might kick yourself for in the future for not seeing.

I could be wrong of course, but my two cents!
Updated On: 5/1/06 at 04:24 PM

[ILoveMyDictionary]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 5:23pm

I've only seen the NY productions of both. And I perfered Spelling Bee to Spamalot. Spelling Bee is my fav. B'way comedy.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 5:24pm

The lottery isn't that bad (compared to Wicked). My mom and I did it for a Saturday matinee and my mom won for us. I would say there were less than 40 people there.

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 8:13pm

Go see Spamalot. Spelling Bee is great but you've already seen it. Expand baby expand.