SHUFFLE ALONG tells an essential story with a brilliant cast, and its choreographic high points rate among the most amazing sequences ever staged. No contest.
I've seen all 3 and loved each one. She Loves Me is overall the best IMO, however, the cast of Shuffle Along is extraordinary and seeing Audra McDonald perform live is a wonder. Daddy Long Legs is a quaint little musical with Megan McGinnis being the standout of the whole thing. I'd go with She Loves Me as I think it is one of the best revivals I've ever seen!
Well I didn't want to get into it, but he's a Satanist.
Every full moon he sacrifices 4 puppies to the Dark Lord and smears their blood on his paino.
This should help you understand the score for Wicked a little bit more.
Tazber's: Reply to
Is Stephen Schwartz a Practicing Christian
Shuffle Along easily for me. She Loves Me is the more "perfect" production, but it's certainly less interesting and less thrilling. Shuffle's original cast is also something of a once-in-a-lifetime lineup.
Echoing ChildofEarth, the first two are closing relatively soon while Shuffle Along should be running for a while. Putting Shuffle aside, the other two choices are both good shows, just different. Do you want an ensemble and a bigger production and a more complicated story? Or do you want a two-hander with a simple but I think also beautiful set and a fairly straightforward story? Though now that I think about it, they're both love stories involving a secret/unidentified character and letter writing. In that sense, I think DLL works better. As with every time we answer these questions, it's really up to you.
I have to go with Daddy Long Legs. It has become one of my all time favorite musicals. The music is fabulous and Megan's character and the whole story are so inspiring. I got chocked up by the beauty of it all every time I saw it. It will close in June (they have around 20 performances left), so depending when your trip is you might miss is
In that case I'd go with She Loves Me. It's a beautiful show with a gorgeous production and a fantastic cast.
Shuffle Along I saw a week before it opened so I'm not sure how much it changed since, but when I saw it, while not bad or uninteresting, it was a mess and so weird. Many of the scenes were staged in a really strange way (actors saying "I did this and this and then I did that" instead of just playing it), and I couldn't get an emotional connection with any of the characters for that reason. I don't think I ever left the theater so confused.
As has been noted, DLL and SLM will be closing sooner than Shuffle Along so seeing one of those might be recommended. Especially if there's a chance you'll be back in the city later.
DLL was wonderful. A smaller musical with a two person cast, quaint, intimate, melodic and charming. I'm glad I saw it.
SLM, with the beauty of its music and the absolute high level quality performances of its cast is IMO the "don't miss" of these first two though.
I saw DLL because I had pretty much seen all the Broadway musicals I had on my list at the time and had heard great things about it. Again, glad I saw it. But would give the nod to SLM.
Throw in SA though and it complicates the decision a bit. I loved the show, and didn't exactly find it the "mess" that some have called it on here….and I saw it early in previews too.
Nor was I confused by it.
I understand it might not be played out in the way some would like it, but I'm okay with that kind of storytelling on occasion. Even the rather long title suggests that there might be some storytelling behind it. Had it just been called Shuffle Along, then I would think it might lean more toward being a revival of sorts of said show. But the additional use of wording in the title makes me think that they will be telling a story. So I wasn't totally taken aback by it.
I think the theater star power this show has brought together on stage, the music, the performances, and that choreography (!) gives SLM a run for its money when it comes to choosing between the two. They are very different though, including the way the stories are "told." But I didn't find that to be the same level of hindrance in SA that others on here have noted.
It depends on how often you get to NYC, how close you like to sit and if money is a concern.
If you come back to NYC before August, I would go to DLL because it's closing soon, it's not expensive and there's no bad seat. It's so adorable. Shuffle and SLM are both good but for Shuffle, I think you should be close to fully appreciate it. You will like any of them but I still think DLL is the best bang for your buck and will show you that off Broadway is doing great work.
I didn't know Shuffle Along was true story, WOW. Thinking about history I was sad at the end, in 100 years all will be forgotten until a play comes along to tell the story.