Help Selecting Musical

[mmFan]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 8:00am

We have a last minute trip to NY and so need help selecting a Broadway musical.  In general, I like fun, modern musicals with catchy songs that you keep singing when you leave.  To give you an idea, my musicals that I really enjoy are Mamma Mia, Wicked, Rent, Something Rotten, Waitress, Matilda. Coming with my husband so want good for both of us.

Any suggestions?  Ones offhand that look like possible options: Dear Evan Hansen, Groundhog Day, A Bronx Tale, Amelie, Charlie and Chocolate Factory.

Thanks.

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 8:11am

DEH has great music, but more serious themes, so not sure I'd call it fun.

The obvious two would be Sunset Boulevard and Hello Dolly.

[mmFan]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 8:16am

PThespian said: "School of Rock is definitely fun, definitely modern, and will have you clapping and singing along at the end and humming while you leave the theater. 

GHD and ABT probably not so much. 

DEH is a beautiful piece of theater. It's modern and quite funny in parts. 

However it's a very hot ticket right now, and I don't find the songs (which are great) "catchy" in the same way something like "Stick It To The Man" from SOR is. 

Charlie is...not that good.  At all. 

I haven't seen Amelie, but I have heard and read mixed reviews about it. 

 

"

I just listened to Dear Evan Hansen, seems modern story and loved the music already....but did a search and looks like no tickets so say.  Too bad.

Too bad about Charlie and CF.  I quite like Christian Borle

So from your list, it looks like only School of Rock would fit?  Will need to look into that one.  Not sure my husband would like that (but may have more to do with the movie as he doesn't like Jack Black)

 

Updated On: 4/12/17 at 08:16 AM

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 8:21am

If you can snag Hello Dolly! tickets that'd fit your bill although it's not modern. It is very catchy and fun though. Come From Away might be a good choice. 

[mmFan]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 8:26am

Not sure about Hello Dolly and Sunset Blvd as these are old school musicals.  Not sure my thing.

Come From Away actually started in my city (Toronto) so almost seems funny to catch it in NY.  

 

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 8:30am

If you have your heart set on DEAR EVAN HANSEN, and don't mind paying above face value, you can always look for tickets on StubHub. When is your trip?

[South Florida]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 8:36am

If you haven't seen Hamilton I would check the cancellation line thread, depending on the day you go, and if you don't mind waiting in line a few hours... it could happen.

[mmFan]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 8:43am

Hamilton I didn't even bother looking as I know it's super hot.  We're only coming from Fri - Sun (including travel time) so don't want to spend hours waiting.  

CT2NTC, we're coming Fri Apr 28 - Sun Apr 30.  Is StubHub legitimate?  I don't mind paying a bit more but not crazy.

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 8:58am

mmFan said: "Hamilton I didn't even bother looking as I know it's super hot.  We're only coming from Fri - Sun (including travel time) so don't want to spend hours waiting.  

CT2NTC, we're coming Fri Apr 28 - Sun Apr 30.  Is StubHub legitimate?  I don't mind paying a bit more but not crazy.

I've never used StubHub, but others have said it's safe to buy from there. Also, it looks like they've been releasing some seats for DEAR EVAN HANSEN four days before each performance. So, for Friday 4/28, they might release seats on Monday 4/24, Tuesday 4/25 for Saturday 4/29, and so on. If that pattern of releasing seats continues, you might be fortunate enough to get tickets. Just keep checking Telecharge.

 

[mmFan]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 9:13am

CT2NYC said: "mmFan said: "Hamilton I didn't even bother looking as I know it's super hot.  We're only coming from Fri - Sun (including travel time) so don't want to spend hours waiting.  

CT2NTC, we're coming Fri Apr 28 - Sun Apr 30.  Is StubHub legitimate?  I don't mind paying a bit more but not crazy.

I've never used StubHub, but others have said it's safe to buy from there. Also, it looks like they've been releasing some seats for DEAR EVAN HANSEN four days before each performance. So, for Friday 4/28, they might release seats on Monday 4/24, Tuesday 4/25 for Saturday 4/29, and so on. If that pattern of releasing seats continues, you might be fortunate enough to get tickets. Just keep checking Telecharge.

 

 

"

Thank you.  I just did a search on broadway.com and yo're right...today (Wed) there are some tickets showing for this Sat matinee..no other dates, but some seats do show in mezzanine up.  Strangely the seats to not show on Telecharge.  

StubHub is too much $500-600 US but we're Canadian so even more for us.  Yikes. 

 

PS - I take that back.  If try to select the broadway.com tickets (after presenting them) , it says not available.  Anyways, will look out and maybe w book last minute...whatever we see.

Updated On: 4/12/17 at 09:13 AM

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 9:23am

Of course, there are other good shows to see, but DEAR EVAN HANSEN is such a sensation right now that I would suggest making it your first choice. 

[mmFan]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 9:32am

Yeah...it seems to be the only one that we haven't seen that is standing out at the moment.  Will keep checking but doesn't seem likely we'll get tickets.

Have listened to School of Rock on you tube and although my husband I both love Rent, the music in SOC isn't catching me. Not sure what else....BUT we can't come to NY and not see a show.  

[hak5]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 11:27am

COME FROM AWAY is amazing, a MUST see!

[HSky]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 12:28pm

If you can get a ticket to Dear Evan Hansen or Come From Away, I'd rec those two.

[mmFan]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 2:52pm

So what's the best strategy for trying to get tickets to Dear Evan Hansen?  I'll keep looking online..especially in the days leading up to the performance.  Anything else?  Try the box office 1hr before?  That morning?  Are there rush or lottery seats?  I'm assuming chances are pretty low that it'll work out but perhaps (for the first time ever) we don't pre-purchase show tickets before our trip and if it doesn't work out, we'll try TKTS for last minute of something else.

[bear88]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 6:40pm

If you want to see Dear Evan Hansen, I would follow the advice given by CT2NYC. The four-day 'rule' seems to work pretty well, but check Telecharge a lot during that day, beginning with the morning. It worked for us. We got tickets Saturday morning and are seeing it tonight.

There are plenty of good options. You might need to be a little flexible.

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 7:02pm

Also, for DEAR EVAN HANSEN, and getting those 4 day prior tickets, you'll have a better chance if you leave the possibility open of sitting separately. I'm not sure if this is something you would consider, but the single seats last longer on Telecharge than those that are together.

[mmFan]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 8:12pm

Thanks.  Will try then at the 4 day mark.  I just checked for the fun of it now, and in 4 days tickets did pop up...but at $399 each.  Yikes.  Hopefully will get lucky later.  And yeah, we should be ok sitting separately if need be.

 

bear88, enjoy the show!  

[eugenia2]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 9:26pm

Great Comet.  Nothing else like it on Broadway.  A phenomenal show -- actors, staging, costumes. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 9:35pm

While not the BEST new show, Groundhog Day seems to fit your criteria.  Just caught it over the weekend, thought it was adorable.

[Butter Broadway]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 9:36pm

Honestly, if you're taking your husband, I'd go with Groundhog Day, Bronx Tale, or Bandstand. Three really great musicals that seem to be falling by the waist side this season. It also won't be hard to get tickets for them either. They're also always up on TKTS and sometimes TDF. Appropriate musicals that men and women enjoy. 

Updated On: 4/12/17 at 09:36 PM

[goldenboy]

Posted: 4/12/17 at 11:55pm

Just caught Bandstand tonight. There is plenty of hummable music. Some very exciting staging. Engaging performances. And we there are discount tickets available.  Check it out.

 

It was trashed on this board so my expectations were low and boy was I pleasantly surprised. Quite enjoyable.

[mmFan]

Posted: 4/13/17 at 6:17am

Butter Broadway said: "Honestly, if you're taking your husband, I'd go with Groundhog Day, Bronx Tale, or Bandstand. Three really great musicals that seem to be falling by the waist side this season. It also won't be hard to get tickets for them either. They're also always up on TKTS and sometimes TDF. Appropriate musicals that men and women enjoy.



"

Not sure Bandstand is my thing as I like modern music. But Groundhog Day or Bronx Tale are on my possible list.

What is TDF?

Also, never done TKTS. For an 8pm show, what time do you need to line up without losing hours of time standing in line?

[hmaybway]

Posted: 4/25/17 at 10:39pm

TDF is Theatre Development Fund (who run the TKTS booths) - you can become a member if you meet certain eligibility requirements and then they offer $47 tickets to a bunch of different events! https://www.tdf.org/nyc/10/TDF-Membership

It's been a long time since I've visited the TKTS booth in Times Square because of the lines. I've had better luck at some of the other locations with shorter lines: https://www.tdf.org/nyc/8/Locations-Hours