Fela! help needed

[sroderick2]

Posted: 7/24/08 at 2:26pm

Hey everyone-

Here's the deal: I just found out from Time Out NY that I'm going to be in town for Fela! off-Broadway. As an ethnomusicology major, I've studied lots of African popular music over the last year, so this show is essentially required viewing for me. Only problem is that I already have a list of shows I wanted to see, and I only have time for seven on my upcoming trip. The current seven options are:
1. In the Heights
2. [tos]
3. Boeing-Boeing
4. South Pacific
5. Gypsy
6. Equus
7. Forbidden Broadway

Here's the dilemma: in order to see Fela!, I have to give up one of those shows. My head is exploding, and I have NO IDEA which one I should take out, so I'm coming to you guys. Which one do you think I should skip to see Fela? My initial choice is FB, because I saw it last year, but it's almost completely different now, and I'd get more of the jokes. ITH and [tos] are must-sees. HELP.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 7/24/08 at 2:33pm

Skip FORBIDDEN BROADWAY. It is so snooze-inducing, unfunny, and disrespectful of Broadway actors' careers. Not to mention it's going to be playing for another twenty years. You're not missing anything.

[EugLoven]

Posted: 7/24/08 at 2:33pm

I'm going to look at this as logically as possible, leaving bias of preference aside.

You're coming to Broadway with a wonderful mission of tackling some VERY well-received and always-a-good-time kind of productions.

You're not making this easy, but your passion and interest in investing in seeing a new off-Bway dance/African-American focused show, for the purpose of your education is VERY admirable.

1. IN THE HEIGHTS goes hand-in-hand with your interest in ethnomusicology. Tony winner aside, this is Latin-infused music on Bway (a rarity). *Keep It*

2. TITLE OF SHOW is "catnip for showqueens" and a great show to see for anyone wanting to immerse themselves in this crazy world of musical theatre. It could also use all the Word of Mouth power as possible (despite cheap running-costs, it is still low on grosses) *Keep It*

3. BOEING BOEING big hit and a barrell of laughs. Also, if it has plans of sticking-around a while, the likelihood of its current cast staying intact may be rare. *Keep It*

4. SOUTH PACIFIC is a big glamorous 3-hour epic, and the fact you possess tickets at-all is a luxury. *Keep It*

5. GYPSY one of the best musicals ever written for the American stage (okay, so that wasn't impartial) with a triple-crown cast of Tony winners? *Keep It*

6. EQUUS: Bottom line is you have tickets and you will not be able to see this again because it's a limited engagement and getting tickets now or in the future is like a gay couple trying to adopt... impossible. *Keep It*

Which, sadly, leaves me thinking....

7. FORBIDDEN BROADWAY is always around. 25 years and running, recycling old material with its ever-changing new material and fodder for laughs. It's wonderful to see its each new yearly incarnation, but affordable to miss now and re-see upon your next visit. *Scrap It*

[sroderick2]

Posted: 7/24/08 at 3:11pm

Thanks for the advice and kind words, EugLoven :). That was a good idea, to break it down like that w/ as little bias as possible (a rarity on this board). You're right, FB will be around for a while and will be there when I come back.

The ethnomusicologist in me will be very happy on this trip!