Fishing for Show Recommendations!

[goovermon]

Posted: 8/14/19 at 11:42am

Hey everyone!

Me and my boyfriend are headed to NYC this October to see some shows. Unfortunately 2 of the shows we were planning on seeing (BMC and Prom) recently closed. So I still have yet to book Broadway shows for a few nights (3 to be specific).

Shows Ive seen on Broadway:

Hello Dolly
Anastasia
Waitress
Phantom
Mean Girls
Pretty Woman

Shows Ive seen many times elsewhere:

Wicked
Aladdin (at the Hyperion)
Frozen (at the Hyperion)
Lion King

We try to avoid the Disney shows because we live in California and see many Disney shows at the parks and surrounding theaters (he works for the company.) Im sure they are spectacular but if I’m going to fly all the way to NYC I want to see something unique!

Any and all recommendations are extremely appreciated. I need 3 shows to fill 3 nights that are currently blank on my vacation itinerary.

Updated On: 8/14/19 at 11:42 AM

[haterobics]

Posted: 8/14/19 at 11:57am

Money is no object? Want to rush?

Hadestown for sure, David Byrne may be playing by then, Tina and Lightning Thief will be open then...

[Kitsune]

Posted: 8/14/19 at 11:59am

My go-to recommendation these days is Come From Away. For all that it's subject matter is dark, it's an incredibly uplifting show.

Hadestown is a pricey ticket, but well worth the money IMO.

From the shows you've listed, you may also like Moulin Rouge, but I can't personally vouch for it (yet).

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 8/14/19 at 12:08pm

Gaging your interests based on what you’ve seen plus what is in my upcoming itinerary plus what’ll be open by time you’re there, I recommend (assuming $$$ isn’t primary decider):

Hadestown
Moulin Rouge!
Little Shop of Horrors
Tina

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/14/19 at 12:17pm

Hadestown
Come From Away
Moulin Rouge (if you like spectacle)
Little Shop (off)

[RWPrincess]

Posted: 8/14/19 at 12:37pm

Based on what you've posted, I'd suggest:

Tootsie (if still open)

Little Shop of Horrors (Menken/Ashman music but not Disney)

Beautiful 

Tina

Rock of Ages (Off Broadway)

Come From Away

Also, the Broadway versions of Frozen and Aladdin are different from what's at the Hyperion but you'll be able to catch them both on tour locally. 

Updated On: 8/14/19 at 12:37 PM

[goovermon]

Posted: 8/14/19 at 12:47pm

These are all great recommendations!

Silly me forgot to mention that I'm already seeing Beetlejuice on one of the nights. 

I'm banging my head against a brick wall that somehow I didn't know Little Shop of Horrors was getting another revival?? I'm a huge fan of that show and have never seen it on (off) Broadway. Unfortunately the previews are all sold out for the weekend I'll be in the city. Darn!!!

[RWPrincess]

Posted: 8/14/19 at 12:48pm

There is a Pasadena revival coming this Fall as well starring George Salazar. I think there is a thread on here about it.

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 8/14/19 at 3:32pm

RWPrincess said: "There is a Pasadena revival coming this Fall as well starring George Salazar. I think there is a thread on here about it."

 

yeah dont waste a slot on Little Shop here go see it at Pasadena Playhouse

I would check out America Utopia if it is playing by then. Linda Vista if you want a play.

 

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 8/14/19 at 3:38pm

I was excited about America Utopia when I thought it was a musical based on Byrne’s music, but it is a concert, correct? That was not as enticing for me given that I’m already seeing 3 concerts on my trip.

[Dkinny23]

Posted: 8/14/19 at 4:59pm

I agree with a majority of what's been said so far on this thread:

Hadestown if you have the money - very unique

I've heard Moulan Rouge is really beautiful and awesome set design - may be up your alley since you're used to Disney shows and the bigger/flashier ones

Come From Away is my go to recommendation for everyone no matter what age/gender/race/etc. It is, to me, a perfect show and just checks off every box for me. It's simplistic in it's set design but that's almost what makes it special. Their use of story-telling is amazing

I agree go see Little Shop in Pasadena since you live near there. I actually bought a ticket (and plane ticket to LA) once it was announced that George Salazar was starring in it haha

Would also always recommend Dear Evan Hansen if you haven't seen it, although it tours and I think it's in LA so you may be able to just do that there when you have a chance. 

Would recommend Tootsie too. It was hilarious 

[Skip23]

Posted: 8/14/19 at 5:59pm

AGAIN - I don't get the negativity about BEETLEJUICE!  Glad you're seeing it.

 

 

[goovermon]

Posted: 8/14/19 at 7:21pm

Skip23 said: "AGAIN - I don't get the negativity about BEETLEJUICE! Glad you're seeing it.


"

 

I actually really love the OBC recording! And I love everything I've seen so far in the promo clips. I'm somewhat obsessed with the characters of Barbara and Adam already... Lol. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/14/19 at 7:39pm

Negativity? Who said anything negative?

[goovermon]

Posted: 8/14/19 at 9:42pm

I'm concerned about Tootsie. I want to see it because I feel like we should see at least one flashy comedy show on our trip but I've heard a lot about the trans controversy, and I'm also not really impressed with the score. Although I'm guessing the experience is much different in person. Thoughts? 

Updated On: 8/14/19 at 09:42 PM

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 8/14/19 at 10:02pm

goovermon said: "I'm concerned about Tootsie. ... but I've heard a lot about the trans controversy, and I'm also not really impressed with the score. Although I'm guessing the experience is much different in person. Thoughts?"

The trans controversy with Tootsie is like the umbrella controversy in Hadestown or the cheesecake controversy at a Juniors.  Much ado about nothing.

A great book and a solid cast.  I recommend Tootsie.

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 8/14/19 at 10:43pm

to be fair American utopia is going to me more of a thematic live music experience so it will fall somewhere between a concert and a musical just more abstract and I mean seeing Byrne in such an inttimate venue 

[Dkinny23]

Posted: 8/15/19 at 12:05am

goovermon said: "I'm concerned about Tootsie. I want to see it because I feel like we should see at least one flashy comedy show on our trip but I've heard a lot about the trans controversy, and I'm also not really impressed with the score. Although I'm guessing the experience is much different in person. Thoughts?"

I found absolutely nothing about Tootsie controversial. In my opinion, if you were able to watch the Mrs. Doubtfire movie without feeling offended, than you should have absolutely no problem with Tootsie. 

The score isn’t the best, especially when listened to as a stand alone thing, but it really worked on stage and with the rest of the story. I just remember smiling and laughing the entire show, it was such a fun night out. It’s a lot of eye rolling humor so if that’s not your thing than skip, but overall I was very pleasantly surprised by it.

[bear88]

Posted: 8/15/19 at 2:39am

Tootsie isn't the best musical out there, and its sitcom style is a bit dated, but there's really nothing wrong with it unless the man-in-dress plotline will bother you. Plus, it's an easy ticket to get at a discount, and the theater is comfortable (if a bit sterile). The score is, with one exception, forgettable, but I didn't sit there watching the show thinking how awful it was. It's a conventional show with a talented cast and some pretty funny jokes.

My reason for suggesting it is that the money you save can be devoted to Hadestown, which, if the money isn't a dealbreaker, is the unique show you seem to be seeking that won't be the same on tour. You get to see the original cast and staging that can't be replicated. It was the most successful show I saw during my recent trip (I also really liked the Oklahoma! revival, but I'm basing my recommendations on the shows you have seen and enjoyed - and this doesn't seem to fit with the rest of your list.)

Moulin Rouge! is another expensive show that's got a lot of spectacle, from what I've read. (I haven't seen it.)

Come From Away is a solid, well-directed one-act musical that I didn't like as much as many others did. But it's a good show.

[OneSingularSensation2]

Posted: 8/15/19 at 4:06pm

I logged into my account just to say: Come From Away.

Absolute must-see show, in my opinion, and that so many of the original cast are still in it? See it here if you can.

[Owen Parker]

Posted: 8/15/19 at 5:07pm

Beetlejuice is very fun and a great show!

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 8/16/19 at 8:12am

I’m gonna suggest

Come from away
Moulin rouge
Tina
Hadestown
Little shop

[jagman1062]

Posted: 8/17/19 at 5:06pm

goovermon said: "I'm concerned about Tootsie. I want to see it because I feel like we should see at least one flashy comedy show on our trip but I've heard a lot about the trans controversy, and I'm also not really impressed with the score. Although I'm guessing the experience is much different in person. Thoughts?"

The "controversy" is overblown, but you're right, the music is not impressive.  The sets and production numbers are uninspired.  However, the show has some very funny laugh-out-loud lines and the overall book is pretty good.  There are fine performances from Fontana and several of the featured cast.  It's a cute show, but not compelling theater.  Based on your theater history and interests, I think you might enjoy the show.

[goovermon]

Posted: 8/18/19 at 12:02am

I got tickets for BeetleJuice and now Moulin Rouge...

Still 2 nights that are empty so far... decisions decisions... x) I'm still bummed Little Shop of Horrors sold out before I realized it will be playing previews when we get there. 

[hak5]

Posted: 8/18/19 at 9:21am

HADESTOWN is a MUST see w/ the original cast and staging

and I'd say see Oklahoma! as it's a classic with an exciting staging