Hair, N2N or 9 to 5?

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 7/5/09 at 3:56am

I know,I hate these kind of threads too, but which one of those 3 shows would you pick if time allows only one show?

[staticradar]

Posted: 7/5/09 at 4:01am

Hair was probably the greatest time I've ever had in a theater! I love the show and the cast!

If you can't see Hair then I would go for N2N.

[emilyfaye48]

Posted: 7/5/09 at 4:48am

although I'm obviously a huge 9 to 5 fan I'm gonna say Next To Normal. It's the kind of show you've got to see with the original cast

[CyCoSpAz2]

Posted: 7/5/09 at 6:08am

Hair
9 to 5
Next to Normal

[jordangirl]

Posted: 7/5/09 at 7:34am

Honestly I would say next to normal. It's original, and there's nothing out there like it again. The cast continues to take it to higher and higher levels, even when it doesn't seem like they can take it further. It's also (per theatre people I know at church and overheard discussing various shows) "the talk of the town" right now.

I really didn't care for Hair ~ found it completely dated when I could even understand what they were saying. Could not wait to get out of that theater. Yeah...I'm not drinking that kool-aid.

As far as 9 to 5... When the cast recording comes out, just get that, rent the movie, and insert the songs where they'd go and you'll save yourself a lot of monet.

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 7/5/09 at 11:15am

Hair, without a doubt. In no way is Hair outdated. One of the things about Hair that's so special is how shockingly relevant it is to today. Hair, all the way.

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 7/5/09 at 11:16am

next to normal. I would say it's between Hair or that and I say N2N because you have a better chance of Hair being around a lot longer.



EDIT: I've also seen all three, and still say next to normal.

Updated On: 7/5/09 at 11:16 AM

[CapnHook]

Posted: 7/5/09 at 11:26am

HAIR or N2N. Those two are equal options over 9to5 and if you choose 9to5 over those two, you will definitely regret that decision. That being said, 9to5 was actually mildly enjoyable and better than what I was expecting. 9to5 will probably tour, so if you're not based in NYC, then skip it knowing you can catch it later. But if I would never had seen it, I wouldn't have missed out on anything.

HAIR is a VERY high-energy show with its moments of drama. Definitely draws you in and is a theatrical experience like none-other. I would want to see it again and again. And you can sit ANYWHERE in the theatre (Literally!) and will have the same experience. Front row orch to last row orch, front row mezz, last row mezz, and even the lottery box seats (which will get the most actor interaction).

NEXT TO NORMAL, on the other hand, is a great original piece and Alice Ripley's performance is not-to-be-missed. If you see N2N, I would suggest sitting anywhere downstairs and NOT in the mezz. You'll want to sit 15-20 rows back for this one to get the full picture of what the lighting designer (Kevin Adams) has done with the set. It's very visual and if you're too close you will definitely miss a lot of that.

[scott68]

Posted: 7/5/09 at 11:31am

You can't go wrong... as long as you don't go to 9 to 5.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 7/5/09 at 11:42am

N2N if you want a Lifetime movie special set to music with a tacked on ending. Hair if you want to see a vibrant electric show which resonates through time with a spectacularly relevant message!
9 to 5 is you want to see a cute dated screen to stage adaptation.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/5/09 at 12:12pm

Hair is all-around fun. There is a lot of cast-audience interaction, but it can generally be avoided if you don't sit on the aisle seat or front row. The music is great and the cast is having a blast. Despite Hair's serious themes, it made me happy, and I had fun.

Next to Normal is a completely original piece with (from what I hear) stellar performances. If that is what you crave, go see that.

9 to 5 is pure, fluffy fun with a fun score.

Note: I have not seen 9 to 5 or Next to Normal, so I can't fairly judge those. I made my comments based on what I have heard from others.

[Robert Taylor]

Posted: 7/5/09 at 12:14pm

Hair over N2N. By only a hair though.

[obsessedjb]

Posted: 7/5/09 at 12:16pm

Hair

[iflip4musicals]

Posted: 7/5/09 at 1:21pm

I've seen all three (well n2n at second stage and arena) and I say it depends on what you're in the mood for.

I really, really liked 9 to 5, and I know I'm like the only one. If you're in the mood to see something just fun with incredible dancing and staging, that should be your pick. The music is really fun and all the leads are fantastic (and the ensemble members are on a whole other plane of incredibleness)

If you're in the mood for a fantastic, original show that will make you question and think, see next to normal. The music is Tony winning fantasticness, and no one should miss Alice Ripley's performance. However, if you're in the mood for a fun, feel good show, don't see it.

Hair, was incredible. Wonderfully done, incredible cast, staging, it's what everyone's been saying and more. If you want to see one of the best shows of the year, run to Hair. It has the fun and sillyness you can find at 9 to 5, with the serious moments you'll find at next to normal.

I guess by my blurbs, go with Hair!

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 7/5/09 at 1:43pm

Ouch, I decided to go with N2N, but I can only afford to see it from the back of the mezzanine =(
So I'll go with that one. I hope that won't ruin my experience.

Thanks everyone!

[CapnHook]

Posted: 7/5/09 at 2:04pm

Are you not eligible for student rush?

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 7/5/09 at 2:06pm

Have fun, you made the right choice, in my opinion.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 7/5/09 at 2:13pm

CapnHook, the issue is that it's 3 of us going, and no one wants to go and wait in line, and we have only 2 days in NYC.
Im eligible for student rush seats, but my friends aren't.
Is it that bad? And we got the last row BTW, by I figured that the Booth theatre is kinda small and intimate. We are spending a lot by seeing Billy Elliot and WSS, so I wanted to be cheap when it comes to the 3rd show.

[MrJNLong]

Posted: 7/5/09 at 2:16pm

If you're anything like me, you definitely made the right choice. I saw all 3 shows and loved N2N. 9 to 5, although not bad, wasn't really anything of consequence. Wish I would have seen something else instead... And as for Hair, I totally thought I was going to love it, but ended up kind of not getting it. Lots of energetic people "sticking it to the man" but somewhere I missed something as far as a coherent plotline and character arcs. Gavin Creel and Caissie Levy seemed to be the only ones really interested in telling some sort of story. But hey, that was just me and I am obviously in the minority...Really enjoyed seeing passionate performers though...
But N2N had even more passionate performers, plus it had a storyline and well-written characters with character arcs! So, moral of the story: I hope you are anything like me, because then you will be glad you made the choice you did.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 7/5/09 at 2:17pm

"I really, really liked 9 to 5, and I know I'm like the only one."

No, you aren't!


You know, you guys don't HAVE to sit together...

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 7/5/09 at 2:52pm

I know, we don't have to sit together, but THEY want to.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 7/5/09 at 3:06pm

Capn ~ the next to normal rush is NOT limited to students. It's general.

[claudioislove]

Posted: 7/5/09 at 9:26pm

HAIR HAIR HAIR HAIR HAIR.

Honestly, the greatest theater experience of my life.

[rokyerhartout]

Posted: 7/5/09 at 9:55pm

HAIR- no doubt about it!

[kyle.]

Posted: 7/5/09 at 10:43pm

west side story is AWFUL! have you bought tickets to that yet? if not ditch WSS for 9 to 5. you will have a FAR better time at 9 to 5. WSS is very hard to sit through, just plain boring and bland in every way.