Is this a bad Summer season?

[Dave13]

Posted: 6/18/16 at 10:27pm

For years, I have been coming to NYC twice a year to see about 8 shows each time.  Typically come in the winter and summer.  Usually when I come, I have trouble narrowing down the list of shows to 7-8.  

This year I am struggling to fill my 8 shows in July.  I have seen all the shows out before January that I care to see.  So I am only looking at newer shows. Either my tastes are changing, or this is a really weak year.  So far on my list is Hamiton(which will be my 4th time), Privacy, Waitress, Shuffle Along, Color Purple and then that's it.  I may still add the Humans. Even that feels like a weak lineup, as I am tempted to sell my Hamilton tickets and make a few thousand.  Lol. I can fill in the rest with oldies but goodies. I like plays but this really seems like a weak year for plays as well.   

 

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 6/18/16 at 10:42pm

I've always found the summer to be the dullest time to go to theater. There are very few new Broadway productions and most of the off-Broadway companies seem to slow their production roll outs too. Spring and fall are always the busiest times with the most offerings. 

 

The Humans is excellent and really should make your list. American Psycho and Bright Star could have made your list too if they hadn't closed so early. (Have you already seen She Loves Me, Fiddler, Eclipsed and Long Day's Journey on your earlier trip?) 

 

I personally think it was a pretty strong season, but mid-July always feels like the height of summer theater doldrums to me and usually has me so desperate to see something that I even start to consider hitting up Theater Row!

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 6/18/16 at 10:59pm

I feel like a lot more Spring shows closed a lot earlier than usual. But It might just all be in my head.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/18/16 at 11:22pm

Why is summer so lame? Isn't it considered like "tourist" season? So why don't more shows open/stay open for summer? Or why are the non-profits not producing? Is it because the affluent NYC crowd is mostly out of town? 

[Dave13]

Posted: 6/18/16 at 11:44pm

I have seen Fiddler.  She Loves Me is closing before I get to NYC, unless it extends.  I may need to give Eclipse and Long Days Journey a good look.  

[Dave13]

Posted: 6/18/16 at 11:45pm

Mr. Nowack said: "I feel like a lot more Spring shows closed a lot earlier than usual. But It might just all be in my head.

 

"

I think so to.  Usually there a few more shows that open in spring and stay open throughout the summer and into the fall.  

[JBroadway]

Posted: 6/18/16 at 11:46pm

Dave13 said: "I have seen Fiddler.  She Loves Me is closing before I get to NYC, unless it extends.  I may need to give Eclipse and Long Days Journey a good look. "

 

Eclipsed is closing tomorrow. 

 

[Dave13]

Posted: 6/18/16 at 11:49pm

JBroadway said: "Dave13 said: "I have seen Fiddler.  She Loves Me is closing before I get to NYC, unless it extends.  I may need to give Eclipse and Long Days Journey a good look. "

 

Eclipsed is closing tomorrow. 

 

 

"

 

Well that ends that idea   Lol  

 

[TerrenceIsTheMann]

Posted: 6/18/16 at 11:50pm

I think its a fine season. I think that there are just some shows that have stayed open a little too long (Matilda, Les Mis) That will close and make room for more shows. I also recommend Fully Committed and The Crucible, if you havent seen either of those. 

[smidge]

Posted: 6/18/16 at 11:53pm

Long Day's closes June 26. I guess you're right Dave! A bunch of off broadway offerings close the end of June too. 

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 6/18/16 at 11:58pm

And Long Days Journey closes before She Loves Me, so if you won't make it to town before the latter closes, you'll also miss the former.  You should see the Humans. I didn't LOVE it but it's worth seeing. 

 

I also enjoyed School of Rock much more than I expected to. It's a fun time. Nothing earth shattering and I don't need to see it again, but the kids are really talented.

 

i thought there were so many great shows this season but lots of limited runs, and sadly my two favorite non-Hamilton musicals (bright star and American psycho) didn't make it. I feel like summer is always kind of slow for plays though because they're more often limited runs, no?  

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 12:12am

RippedMan said: "Why is summer so lame? Isn't it considered like "tourist" season? So why don't more shows open/stay open for summer? Or why are the non-profits not producing? Is it because the affluent NYC crowd is mostly out of town? 

 

I think some of the answers to why the summer is so lame can be found in your follow up questions.

The non-profits are gearing up for their new seasons and trying to secure new and renewed subscriptions. (Are you inundated with calls from Second Stage, Playwrights, Roundabout and the like begging for subscribers and donations?)

 

New Yorkers are traveling in July and August. Why put up a new play off-Broadway when your audience is out of town. Sure fire way to guarantee a play-by-played run. 

 

Tourists are in the city, but you're never going to see something like The Visit open in July. If it couldn't catch on in the height of the spring Tony season it would have been 10x more disastrous opening in July. When shows do open in the summer it's usually stuff like Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy or the Motown tour making a pitstop in New York. 

Hamilton is also definitely the exception of a Broadway show that can open in the summer and still be remembered, let alone win, come Tony time.  

 

[Dave13]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 1:15am

smidge said: "Long Day's closes June 26. I guess you're right Dave! A bunch of off broadway offerings close the end of June too. 

 

"

Lol.  That ends that. Coming the weekend of July 22.  So most of the plays will be closed except Humans. I saw both School of Rock and Fiddler(opening night) in December.  I enjoyed both but not enough for a second time.  

 

I may need to consider moving my summer trip to Spring.  

[RW3]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 1:56am

Cats does start previews on the 14th.

[smidge]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 8:24am

You can always try to check out a show at 54 Below

[luvcaroline]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 8:33am

Dave, we're kind of in the same boat as you with our upcoming July trip. We did get tickets for Hadestown for one of our slots. It's gotten really good reviews here. 

[willep]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 8:45am

^this. My first thought was that if you are coming in July you should go see Hadestown.

[Keiichi2]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 8:54am

When it comes to a lot of Spring shows closing early, I think a lot of shows (American Psycho, Tuck Everlasting and Bright Star) just got swallowed by the Hamilton hype train.  That show got so much attention, it hardly seemed fair to some of the other ones that also deserved to get noticed.

 

If the summer pickings are going to be slim, then the Fall season is looking sensational, at least.  Going November 15th to the 20th, and already have tickets for Dear Evan Hansen, The Great Comet, The Encounter and The Front Page.  Planning on picking up tickets for Holiday Inn and Falsettos when I can.  Have one more open slot for the trip, and am going to wait and see if anything more gets announced this fall.

[Dave13]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 9:58am

luvcaroline said: "Dave, we're kind of in the same boat as you with our upcoming July trip. We did get tickets for Hadestown for one of our slots. It's gotten really good reviews here. 

 

"

Thanks for the heads up.  

[HogansHero]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 10:46am

Perhaps in relation to Hamilton (more the prospect than the hype), the pipeline from the 15-16 season was pretty anemic for musicals. And very few plays stay open over the summer. All that said there is plenty to see per the suggestions here and others. (I don't think anyone has mentioned The Effect, Small Mouth Sounds (which is extraordinary) off the top of my head. Also Sense and Sensibility is back.)

[deloverly]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 11:23am

I'd add "Turn it Loose" to your list. You can get cheap tickets, and Joe Morton is giving a dynamite performance as Dick Gregory. 

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 11:34am

Where is turn it loose playing?

[HogansHero]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 11:57am

WhizzerMarvin said: "Where is turn it loose playing?"

Turn ME Loose is playing at the westside.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 12:18pm

Thanks. I hadn't heard of it till now. Love Joe Morton though so will have to check it out. 

[jbird5]

Posted: 6/19/16 at 1:42pm

Also, you may want to check out Summer Shorts at 59e59 since you are into plays. It can be a mixed bag but enjoyable still. Neil Labute always contributes something.