Finalizing a great NY trip!

[Dan6]

Posted: 11/3/24 at 12:27am

As a transplanted New York native and lifelong theater geek, I come to NY with my almost-as-geeky wife from LA 2-3 times a year to pack in as many shows as we can over the course of a long weekend or a week. We're heading there on Wednesday for a trip that I'm particularly excited about, both because of the longer-than-usual duration (12 days) and the exciting slate of shows that we've put together (with great assistance from the users of this board). We managed to unload tickets we had gotten early for Tammy Faye, Romeo + Juliet, and McNeal, and our schedule now includes Maybe Happy Ending, S**t.Meet.Fan, A Wonderful World, Our Town, Gatz, The Counter, Ragtime, Big Gay Jamboree, Yellow Face, Sunset Blvd., The Roommate, Death Becomes Her, Teeth, Hills of California, and Swept Away, as well as the Grand Hotel 35th anniversary at 54 Below.  

We have one slot left. Candidates are Babe, Bad Kreyòl, The Blood Quilt, Vladimir, Cabaret (saw the Mendes production several times in both incarnations and loved it, really want to see Neuwirth and Skybell and interested in seeing Lambert, but hated the Tonys number and have a feeling I'll hate the direction), or a return visit to Suffs (which we loved) before it closes. (Assume we've seen everything else of interest on Broadway on previous trips.).We welcome any suggestions, and thanks to all the users who have helped guide us in hopefully making this the best trip yet! 

Updated On: 11/3/24 at 12:27 AM

[willep]

Posted: 11/3/24 at 8:25am

Sounds like a fantastic trip! I saw Gatz yesterday and thought it was fabulous, so I’m glad to see that included!

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 11/4/24 at 10:08am

I highly recommend Water for Elephants and Mattress before they close.

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 11/4/24 at 10:14am

Mattress is going to LA next. They can see it there.

[gibsons2]

Posted: 11/4/24 at 10:14am

Under no circumstances miss Oh, Mary!

[Jvj24605]

Posted: 11/4/24 at 10:23am

Another vote for Oh, Mary!  Unmissable with the current cast especially.

[Dan6]

Posted: 11/4/24 at 12:12pm

Thanks! We saw both Oh Mary! (loved it) and Water for Elephants (not so much) on our last trip, and will be seeing Mattress when it transfers to LA in December. Would love any feedback on the listed options! 

[gibsons2]

Posted: 11/4/24 at 12:16pm

Dan6 said: "Thanks! We saw both Oh Mary! (loved it) and Water for Elephants (not so much) on our last trip, and will be seeing Mattress when it transfersto LA in December. Would love any feedback on the listed options!"

It's too bad you've unloaded the McNeal tickets. It's not a great play, but seeing RDJ is definitely an experience. He's an incredible actor. Sell Maybe Happy Ending tix, this show is a dull bore (sorry to all the fans).

[Melissa25]

Posted: 11/4/24 at 2:06pm

I’d go with Bad Kreyòl as I hear the performances are wonderful or a 2nd visit to Suffs.

[yyys]

Posted: 11/4/24 at 2:10pm

I felt McNeal was mostly a waste of time...

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 11/4/24 at 2:44pm

If you're interested in this production of Cabaret, don't let the Tony performance dissuade you. I've seen it with both Redmayne and Lambert, and it's much better with Lambert, who doesn't do Redmayne's stupid over-the-top shtick. It really is worth seeing just for Skybell/Neuwirth alone. Some of the directorial choices really still don't work, but the production just shows the material is strong enough to withstand them.

The second time I went with a couple friends who hadn't seen it with Redmayne. They really enjoyed it, and wanted to know why I thought Redmayne was bad. I sent them the Tony performance, and they were horrified. So yeah, the show is much more bearable with Lambert, who is great in the role.

[inception]

Posted: 11/4/24 at 3:55pm

There's also the show playing at NYTW: We Live in Cairo.  I saw a couple complementary comments about it on Reddit and prices are inexpensive.   I couldn't make it work for my trip next week.

Right now I'm more worried about what I'll do if any stars of shows I have booked call out sick.  During my March '23 trip two shows had stars call out.  I changed plans when I couldn't see Lea Michele, but saw Sweeney Todd without Josh Groban.  This trip I have probably 4 shows that I would I only want to see with the top billed actors

[gibsons2]

Posted: 11/4/24 at 4:44pm

yyys said: "I felt McNeal was mostly a waste of time..."

Polarizing show for sure. 

[yyys]

Posted: 11/4/24 at 5:44pm

Also, I would skip Swept Away from your list. 

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 11/4/24 at 6:29pm

Don’t waste your time with the Cabaret revival. Unfortunately, it is truly awful. 

[Dan6]

Posted: 11/5/24 at 2:25pm

yyys said: "Also, I would skip Swept Away from your list."

Have heard mixed things, but my wife is a huge JGG fan so that one's non-negotiable. Adding Walden and We Live in Cairo as options. 

[scripps]

Posted: 11/5/24 at 3:18pm

The reviews for We Live in Cairo weren't great. I saw it in early previews and thought I was being reductive when I told several friends that it very earnestly wanted to be a new RENT, but a few of the reviews I have came across echoed the same. I wouldn't recommend it unless you have exhausted all other options.