Help me pick 7 shows!

[CapnHook]

Posted: 4/22/09 at 9:11pm

I need help!! I am having the WORST time deciding on shows to see. Here are the slots I need to fill:

May 13 (Wed Mat):
May 13 (Wed Eve):
May 14 (Thurs): WEST SIDE STORY* (already booked)
May 15 (Fri):
May 16 (Sat Mat):
May 17 (Sat Eve):
May 18 (Sun):

Here are the other Broadway & off-Broadway shows I am deciding between:

1) HAIR
2) EXIT THE KING
3) 9 TO 5
4) NEXT TO NORMAL (I have seen this at 2nd Stage)
5) BLITHE SPIRIT
6) REASONS TO BE PRETTY
7) BILLY ELLIOT (I have seen this already but it is my FAVORITE and I **REALLY** want to see it again!)
THE LITTLE MERMAID (Still haven't seen this one)
9) WEST SIDE STORY (Seeing Thursday)
10) RUINED (scheduled to close May 10 so this may not be an option)
11) ALTAR BOYZ
12) HAPPINESS
13) WHY TORTURE IS WRONG AND THE PEOPLE WHO HATE THEM (scheduled to close May 10 so this may not be an option)

***OPEN TO OTHER SUGGESTIONS***

SHOWS STILL RUNNING THAT I HAVE ALREADY SEEN:
THE 39 STEPS
AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY
AVENUE Q
BILLY ELLIOT
CHICAGO
IN THE HEIGHTS
JERSEY BOYS
THE LION KING
MAMMA MIA!
MARY POPPINS
NEXT TO NORMAL (at 2nd Stage)
SHREK
WICKED
BLUE MAN GROUP

Updated On: 4/22/09 at 09:11 PM

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 4/22/09 at 9:12pm

Exit the King
9 to 5
Next to Normal
Blithe Spirit
Ruined
Hair

[legally_popular]

Posted: 4/22/09 at 9:16pm

All good choices, but I would choose:

Hair
Exit the King
9 to 5
Next to Normal (you need to see the changes since 2nd stage)
Billy Elliot
Blithe Spirit or Happiness

[CyCoSpAz2]

Posted: 4/22/09 at 9:31pm

Definitely consider The Norman Conquests, they play all 3 performances on the Saturday AND the Sunday you will be there

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 4/22/09 at 9:40pm

Hair
9 to 5
Blithe Spirit
The Norman Conquests

[CapnHook]

Posted: 4/22/09 at 9:41pm

OK, this is getting dangerous. If a Sat/Sun show has a 1pm or even 1:30pm performance, I could see that AND the trilogy of NORMAN CONQUESTS plays. That's four shows in one day!! YIKES!!

[sgv123]

Posted: 4/22/09 at 9:42pm

I would choose:

HAIR
9 TO 5
NEXT TO NORMAL
REASONS TO BE PRETTY
BILLY ELLIOT
HAPPINESS

[Jersey Girl2]

Posted: 4/22/09 at 9:43pm

Rock Of Ages

[teka21]

Posted: 4/22/09 at 9:46pm

Hair
Next To Normal (much better now than at 2nd Stage)

[jagfkb]

Posted: 4/22/09 at 9:56pm

May 13 (Wed Mat): Next to Normal
May 13 (Wed Eve): Little Mermaid (Don't do a matinee, but go see Faith!)
May 14 (Thurs): WEST SIDE STORY* (already booked)
May 15 (Fri): 9 to 5
May 16 (Sat Mor): The Norman Conquests: Table Manners
May 16 (Sat Mat): The Norman Conquests: Living Together
May 17 (Sat Eve): Hair (Trust me, you'll want to do this after such an eventful day)
May 18 (Sun Mat): reasons to be pretty
May 18 (Sun Eve): The Norman Conquests (It's best to spread them out, you'll get exhausted by the end. Also, read them, it helps)

Here are the other Broadway & off-Broadway shows I am deciding between:

1) HAIR
2) EXIT THE KING
3) 9 TO 5
4) NEXT TO NORMAL (I have seen this at 2nd Stage)
5) BLITHE SPIRIT
6) REASONS TO BE PRETTY
7) BILLY ELLIOT (I have seen this already but it is my FAVORITE and I **REALLY** want to see it again!)
THE LITTLE MERMAID (Still haven't seen this one)
9) WEST SIDE STORY (Seeing Thursday)
10) RUINED
11) ALTAR BOYZ
12) HAPPINESS
13) WHY TORTURE IS WRONG AND THE PEOPLE WHO HATE THEM

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 4/22/09 at 9:59pm

Definitely see Next to Normal, 9 to 5, amd Blithe Spirit.

[Just_John]

Posted: 4/22/09 at 10:00pm

May 13 (Wed Mat):BLITHE SPIRIT
May 13 (Wed Eve):THE LITTLE MERMAID
May 14 (Thurs): WEST SIDE STORY* (already booked)
May 15 (Fri):EXIT THE KING
May 16 (Sat Mat):HAPPINESS
May 17 (Sat Eve): 9 TO 5
May 18 (Sun):HAIR

[Geridith]

Posted: 4/22/09 at 11:33pm

N2N hasn't been having Wed mats, FYI

But my for sure votes are for:
Billy Elliot
Hair
N2N
9 to 5

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 4/22/09 at 11:38pm

9 to 5
The Little Mermaid (if you want/are (going) to see it- go before Sierra leaves. I personally enjoyed it.)
Hair
Next To Normal
Billy Elliot

Updated On: 4/22/09 at 11:38 PM

[Eris0303]

Posted: 4/22/09 at 11:39pm

I'd skip on Mamma Mia for now. It'll still be there later.

1. Blithe Spirit
2. Billy Elliot
3. Hair
4. West Side Story (flawed but worth seeing once)
5. Happiness
6. Altar Boyz
7. 9 to 5

I'll, also, throw in a recommendation of the Marvelous Wonderettes. Love the show and everyone I've recommended it to has loved it as well.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/22/09 at 11:40pm

Whatever you do, SEE HAIR!

[BlueforBroadway]

Posted: 4/22/09 at 11:41pm

I don't see Rock of Ages on your list. Come on now, it is fun.

Try the Thursday show and you can get a discounted ticket. They don't have codes for the weekend shows now.

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 4/22/09 at 11:47pm

Th poster's Thursday slot is booked...

[Lohania]

Posted: 4/22/09 at 11:59pm

Is it fair to say if you like Hair you might like Rock of Ages? I really want to see Hair if I can. Rock of Ages is one that looks interesting but there are people who seem to not like it. I'm going to NYC in one week so it's good to see these lists.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 4/23/09 at 12:04am

Lohania, I think the atmosphere of Rock of Ages is what's turning off the more traditional theatre goers. Heck, it's exactly what's keeping me from going. I, personally, don't like that whole rock concert atmosphere. The drunkenness, the singing along, etc. If you don't mind that or enjoy it then you'll probably have a better time at something like RoA.

[Dangerous Divine]

Posted: 4/23/09 at 12:07am

Hair and Next to Normal for sure.

[yay_gerb]

Posted: 4/23/09 at 12:21am

your trip would do you no justice if you don't see Next to Normal and Hair. go see them both! and if for some reason they extend Why Torture is Wrong again and you can see it, go for it. it's hilarious.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 4/23/09 at 7:56am

Of the ones I've seen...

next to normal (as has been said, so different from 2econd Stage) is the only one I recommend without reservation. If it extends, Why Torture is Wrong... is good (though it did lose me in the last 20-30 minutes).

I cannot in good conscience recommend reasons to be pretty (especially since they supposedly cut the monologues, which were the best part imho) or The Little Mermaid. Even though the fans on here don't think it was possible, my family caught Billy Elliot on an off-night, and that really dampened my excitement about that show.

The others I haven't seen yet. I'm being dragged taken to some later in May, but I can't comment on what they're like yet.

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 4/23/09 at 8:45am

See Guys and Dolls its amazing! As an avid theatre goer I wasn't dissapoited in this great show. Also Billy Elliot is amazing.