Good Last Minute Option

[mmFan]

Posted: 5/20/16 at 9:21am

We're coming to NY for our 15th wedding anniversary the end of June.  Thanks to suggestions from here, we bought tickets to see Something Rotten.  Normally we pre-book two shows, but since this cost us over $400 (we're Canadian so the exchange didn't help), we have not pre-booked anything else.

So I'm wondering what you recommend for last minute tickets incase we end up wanting to see another one on discount (meaning TKTS....unless there is some other way to get discount close to the performance).  We are looking for a modern musical with catchy music. 

If we went, it would be tickets either for a Saturday night, Sunday matinee or Sunday night (which I know not everything plays that evening). 

Suggestions?

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/20/16 at 9:54am

You might have luck getting tickets to Something Rotten. Good fun. Most of the original cast is still intact

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 5/20/16 at 10:00am

If you'd prefer to get discounts ahead of time, check Broadway box or theater mania. Those are the cheapest options if you want to sit in the cheap seats. TKTS is the cheapest option for good seats because they discount off the top ticket price, so all the tickets cost the same. (So for example, when I went to American psycho my friend and I had similar orchestra seats, and I paid about $20 more for mine through Broadway box than she did through TKTS... And her seat was actually better than mine because it wasn't eligible for the discount code. But I could've gotten a rear mezzanine seat for a lot less than her TKTS ticket with my discount code.)

 

As for which show to see, I guess it depends on what you mean by modern. American Psycho is definitely the most modern show out there. It's very different and unusual, and the score is 80s synth pop. However not everyone enjoys it as it's pretty dark and twisted. I really liked it. It also has Sunday night shows most weeks so if you wanted to go on Sunday night it's one of the relatively few options. 

 

My personal favorite right now (well second to Hamilton which obviously isn't an option for discount tickets) is Bright Star. It's a new musical with a bluegrass inspired score (but I don't think you need to be a huge bluegrass fan to like it). Steve Martin wrote the music. It's sweet and heartfelt. It's set in the 20s and 40s so it's not modern in that sense, but it is a new musical. You can listen to the music online for free. http://www.npr.org/2016/04/21/474678104/first-listen-original-broadway-cast-recording-bright-star (For non-spoiler songs that will give you a sense of the score without giving too much away, I recommend If you Knew My Story, Woah Mama, Asheville, and Pour Me Another Round.). I am addicted to the score and for me it's the kind of show I could watch over and over again. In fact I recommended it to a friend on Tuesday and even though I'm seeing it again in June, I couldn't resist joining her. (She loved it and said she plans to recommend it to everyone she knows who comes to New York.)

 

Another good option would be The Color Purple, which again is not a new story, but it's stripped down modern staging. The performances are amazing. 

 

Finally Fun Home would be another good option. I loved it, although not as much as I know some other people on these boards did. Unlike the others, it is a modern story. I don't know that I'd call the score catchy but it is lovely. The story is emotional and touching and very sad. The staging is quite cool, as its in circle in the square which is in the round and the most intimate theater on Broadway. It's going to tour, but I think it will be different in the big touring houses. 

 

Whatever you choose, enjoy!!

[MISH2]

Posted: 5/20/16 at 10:00am

mmFan said: "We're coming to NY for our 15th wedding anniversary the end of June.  Thanks to suggestions from here, we bought tickets to see Something Rotten.  Normally we pre-book two shows, but since this cost us over $400 (we're Canadian so the exchange didn't help), we have not pre-booked anything else.

So I'm wondering what you recommend for last minute tickets incase we end up wanting to see another one on discount (meaning TKTS....unless there is some other way to get discount close to the performance).  We are looking for a modern musical with catchy music. 

If we went, it would be tickets either for a Saturday night, Sunday matinee or Sunday night (which I know not everything plays that evening). 

Suggestions?

 

Fun Home.

Beautiful

She Loves Me! (not really "modern," but so beautiful...and Laura Benanti!)

If you want a non-musical, The Humans

Half-price tickets may be more difficult on Saturdays.

I suggest you download the TKTS app on your phone.  It is real-time and you can check the app every day before you leave to get a sense of what is available on Saturdays and Sundays.



 

 

"

 

[mmFan]

Posted: 5/20/16 at 10:03am

Mr Roxy said: "You might have luck getting tickets to Something Rotten. Good fun. Most of the original cast is still intact"

We bought tickets to Something Rotten.  Usually we pre-buy two shows but because of the cost, we only got one.  So looking for another good one that we can get as a last minute.

 

 

[mmFan]

Posted: 5/20/16 at 10:17am

ChiTheatreFan, thanks.  American Psycho could be in interesting one.  Not sure Bluegrass is our thing. 

By modern...I really like music from Wicked, Rent, Something Rotten (have downloaded the music). Not sure about Fun Home as I've heard it's a downer.

Thanks MISH2.  I forgot about the TKTS app (had it on my last phone).  I have downloaded it now.  Good to know that Saturdays are harder for cheaper tickets (we'll be going out for a nice dinner for our anniversary so it depends what night we pick...leaving the other options for a possible extra theatre show).  We're looking for a musical...unless someone famous  that we like is in a play.

What is Disaster like?  I suppose too it depends how shows do at the Tonys (which is a just before we come)

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 5/20/16 at 10:18am

Disaster closed 

[mmFan]

Posted: 5/20/16 at 10:23am

BroadwayNYC2 said: "Disaster closed 

 

"

Oops.  Scratch that one then.  Guess it was a Disaster...lol

 

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/20/16 at 10:26am

She Loves Me is a great choice. Disaster was a rip.

[_IrisTInkerbell]

Posted: 5/20/16 at 10:45am

She Loves Me is a beautiful show, but it's really an old classic so I'm not sure it fits your bill.

Based on the shows you mentioned I would suggest School of Rock. It's definitely modern, it has catchy tunes and it's fun and upbeat.

Bright Star is another excellent option. Do listen to some of the music if you're unsure about the "Bluegrass" of it all. I'm not a big fan of either bluegrass or country music, and I love this show and cannot stop singing the score. If you don't like it, fair enough, but give it try before you discard it based on that.

Waitress is another modern show with modern, catchy music. It's very much Sara Bareilles, so if you like her pop music you'll like this score. This is probably the hardest to get (cheap) tickets to though, out of the ones mentioned.

Edit: Oh, also On Your Feet! if you like Gloria Estefan's music. It's good entertainment for sure.

Updated On: 5/20/16 at 10:45 AM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/20/16 at 10:46am

Fun Home will not be hard to get on TodayTix (and probably TKTS). I highly recommend it.

[mmFan]

Posted: 5/20/16 at 1:57pm

PThespian said: "School of Rock all the way. I promise you you won't be able to get "Stick It To The Man" out of your head. 

It's just a really fun, entertaining 2 1/2 hours. And there is a Sun night show. 

 

"

 

Thank you.  I've noted this one as a possibility.

 

[little_sally]

Posted: 5/20/16 at 1:58pm

School of Rock or Bright Star. Don't count out the latter because of the bluegrass. The score is fantastic.

[mc1227]

Posted: 5/20/16 at 3:53pm

Bright Star and Waitress were two of my favorites this spring. You can definitely get discount tix to Bright Star.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 5/20/16 at 5:14pm

For modern I'd say American Psycho and for catchy I'd say Bright Star. The problem is I think based on your taste, the show you'd really like would be Hamilton.

I would not count out Tuck Everlasting unless you really have no desire to anything directed towards younger audiences. Waitress might be good but I haven't seen it to be able to comment.

[theatreguy12]

Posted: 5/21/16 at 12:29pm

I agree with Sally and Iris Tinkerbell…..bluegrass isn't what I would have considered to be one of my favorites in genre either, but this show is just great!!!  The music included.  

I was in NY over spring break and saw She Loves Me, Hamilton, Shuffle Along, The King and I, Fiddler on the Roof, Daddy Long Legs (off Broadway),  Loved them all in each their own way.

I returned to NY last week to see American Psycho, Waitress and Bright Star.

Somehow I knew I'd like both American Psycho and Waitress, but Bright Star was the pleasant surprise of the weekender.  A VERY pleasant surprise.

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 5/21/16 at 4:07pm

Fun Home isn't really a downer.  It's got dark subject matter, but it isn't really bleak at all.  It's a great score and a great moving story.

She Loves Me is sweet and gorgeous.  It's a classic, but it doesn't feel moldy oldy at all.  It's very happy and lovely.  You'll leave the theatre smiling.

[Hellob]

Posted: 5/21/16 at 4:53pm

What kind of shows have you both previously enjoyed? It might be hard to get decent last minute tickets to SLM, TCP & similar newer shows. If you want to play it by ear, wait until you get to town and are concerned with cost, you're probably going to limit your options to older shows (American in Paris, Les Mis for example) or ones that aren't performing well. Since you have a month before visiting, I'd suggest looking at theatermania and Broadway box for codes. You may be able to get good seats to a newer show for not much more than the booth. Plus, you'd know where you're sitting. 

Eta- why were the SR tickets so much? That sounds like a lot for 2 at this point in the run. I figured there are tons of codes?

Updated On: 5/21/16 at 04:53 PM

[@z5]

Posted: 5/21/16 at 7:29pm

I'd put your options between American Psycho and She Loves Me, which you can get last minute for. Also, throwing Aladdin out there, but cannot get last min tickets for it.

[mmFan]

Posted: 5/21/16 at 8:58pm

Hellob said: "What kind of shows have you both previously enjoyed? It might be hard to get decent last minute tickets to SLM, TCP & similar newer shows. If you want to play it by ear, wait until you get to town and are concerned with cost, you're probably going to limit your options to older shows (American in Paris, Les Mis for example) or ones that aren't performing well. Since you have a month before visiting, I'd suggest looking at theatermania and Broadway box for codes. You may be able to get good seats to a newer show for not much more than the booth. Plus, you'd know where you're sitting. 

Eta- why were the SR tickets so much? That sounds like a lot for 2 at this point in the run. I figured there are tons of codes?

 

"

Thanks for all the suggestions.  Shows that I love?  Mamma Mia, Wicked, Les Miserables, Rent, Matilda, Newsies....all ones that I listen to over and over.

As for Something Rotten...I bough a few months ago when we booked our trip so discount codes didn't get go out that far.  Didn't buy the crazy premium but got 2nd row so still second price range.  Then add on Canadian exchange and it came to $423 Canadian.  Ouch...but if we went I wanted good seats .

[Jarethan]

Posted: 5/21/16 at 9:16pm

icecreambenjamin said: "Fun Home isn't really a downer.  It's got dark subject matter, but it isn't really bleak at all.  It's a great score and a great moving story.

She Loves Me is sweet and gorgeous.  It's a classic, but it doesn't feel moldy oldy at all.  It's very happy and lovely.  You'll leave the theatre smiling.

 

"I thought it was one of the dreariest shows I have ever seen.

 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 5/21/16 at 9:16pm

icecreambenjamin said: "Fun Home isn't really a downer.  It's got dark subject matter, but it isn't really bleak at all.  It's a great score and a great moving story.

She Loves Me is sweet and gorgeous.  It's a classic, but it doesn't feel moldy oldy at all.  It's very happy and lovely.  You'll leave the theatre smiling.

 

"I thought it was one of the dreariest shows I have ever seen.