Last-minute New York trip - thanks and thoughts on the shows (on Page 2)

No, I'm not going to ask you folks what shows are the best (although I'm curious what shape some of them are in). But my wife and teenage daughter are going to arrive Sunday, April 9 and leave Thursday.

Sunday evening - inclined to see Avenue Q, because we've never seen it and there aren't many shows that night that we haven't already seen. For anyone who's seen it recently at the New World Stages, what shape is it in? Is it worth seeing now? Or should we see Significant Other? Can we just get our tickets on TodayTix? (We would be arriving that afternoon.) Is the mezzanine fine?

Monday - Phantom. My wife wants to see it, and we haven't seen it since 1990, I think, so I'm game. It looks like there are plenty of seats and we can just go to the TKTS booth or use TodayTix. Am I right? Thoughts on the show's current incarnation? Suggestions on seat locations (we were in the rear mezzanine all those years ago)?

After that, we would have a couple more days to see two or three shows. Outside of Hello Dolly, Dear Evan Hansen, Sunday in the Park with George, and The Price, it seems like everything else is possible without spending a fortune or standing in line all day. (I'm ruling them all out except for The Price. If I was going alone, I'd try my luck at the other shows, but I'm not.) My wife and I would rather not spend a huge sum of money buying tickets in advance this year. It looks like, for Tuesdays and Wednesdays, there are more tickets available for The Great Comet, Come From Away, Sunset Boulevard. Not sure how things will go with Waitress, with Sara Bareilles now in the part. Feel free to tell me that I just shouldn't miss one of these shows. I haven't seen any of them, except for Sunset Boulevard a long time ago.I can justify seeing a fifth show if we're not spending so much to see the other four, assuming we don't decide to do other things in New York on what would be our last day there.

Are my assumptions correct? Is it easier or more difficult to snag cheaper tickets during Passover/Easter week? Any obvious suggestions for getting cheaper tickets that I'm missing?

Thanks for your indulgence.

Updated On: 4/17/17 at 06:20 PM

I do adore Significant Other, and try and support the original plays/musicals as much as I can.

I think Comet is a must-see, especially since this staging and the immersive nature could never tour like this, plus Josh Groban!

You can get $89 box seats for Waitress, possibly. Worth a try. Plus, they are holding a lot of premium seats for her. If they don't sell, they do become regular price, albeit not discounted. I am rather hooked on that show these days, though.

If it's either Avenue Q or Significant Other, you should probably choose the latter. Avenue Q has been going on for such a long time, and honestly it's nothing special. Also, if your teenage daughter is younger, Avenue Q may not be the best choice because there is a rated R puppet scene... Significant Other is extremely amazing and since it's closing, you should try to see it soon. It's probably one of the best original things this season...

The teenager is almost an adult. My wife isn't really all that enthused about a show that involves puppets, though. If Significant Other is that good, I'll certainly make a case for it. I guess it's not finding an audience, if April 9 might be closing night. The Sunday night options are limited, although I may be missing something.

It looks like there are plenty of Tuesday/Wednesday seats for Great Comet. It sounds like a love-it or hate-it type of show.

Any seats to avoid (either for cost or can't see the show reasons) for Waitress?

Am I wrong, by the way, in my assumptions about the shows that are not realistic options for people don't want to spend a fortune or wait for hours for standing room only seats?

Sunset BLVD with Glenn Close

Never mind. My New York trip is back on. The Sunday evening/Monday evening options are a bit limited, but there are plenty of options for Tuesday and Wednesday. Too many, given my wife's disinclination to see two Wednesday shows.

Obviously, Great Comet has its fans and detractors. Are there as many seats available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays as it appears? I did see Sunset Boulevard years ago, with Glenn Close, although my memory of it is a bit hazy now. For fans of that show, why is this particular revival worth seeing again?

Are tickets to The Price as difficult to come by as they appear? Yeah, I'd love to see Dear Evan Hansen, but that looks like a very tough ticket for three people at one show who want to sit.

Updated On: 4/2/17 at 04:45 AM

bear88 said: "Never mind. My New York trip is back on. The Sunday evening/Monday evening options are a bit limited, but there are plenty of options for Tuesday and Wednesday. Too many, given my wife's disinclination to see two Wednesday shows.

Obviously, Great Comet has its fans and detractors. Are there as many seats available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays as it appears? I did see Sunset Boulevard years ago, with Glenn Close, although my memory of it is a bit hazy now. For fans of that show, why is this particular revival worth seeing again?

Are tickets to The Price as difficult to come by as they appear? Yeah, I'd love to see Dear Evan Hansen, but that looks like a very tough ticket for three people at one show who want to sit.



Well, this revival has a new cast, a 40 piece orchestra and Glenn is playing a new Norma... I think this production is fascinating...and a must see. It's your only chance to see it. I was transported to Hollywood in the 1950's the minute I heard the first symphony.

Any seats to avoid (either for cost or can't see the show reasons) for Waitress?

As someone said, I would avoid the extreme sides in that theater.

There haven't been a ton of rush reports but you might want to consider War Paint and Anastasia depending on your wife's and daughter's interests. Also, Amelie is an easy one because you can enter the lottery in advance. That is, if you want to see it. It sounds like all of the rush options are getting popular now that the weather is getting warmer though you might have better luck with the big theaters like the Broadway for Miss Saigon.

If you're committed to seeing a play, I didn't love Significant Other (unpopular opinion). But you might consider Picnic from The Transport Group. Apparently you can use the code INGETIX for $40 tickets. There's also Spamilton with their $28 tickets. They both have Sunday shows.

Updated On: 4/3/17 at 04:34 AM

There are so many great shows right now. I echo the sentiments of others on this thread - Significant Other and Great Comet are not to be missed.

SWEENEY Todd has a performance on Sunday evening if you and your wife like Sondheim.

i watched Avenue Q a month ago and enjoyed it! Intimate theater and cheap tix. Mezz is fine. Theater is never full so peoole in the back tend to give themselves a free upgrade during intermission.

leave room in your schedule as we have seen cheap tickets from stubhub a few hours before performance (some people on here bought $55 hello dolly mezz seats) so you just never know. Good luck!

In regard to Sunday evening there is a school of rock show at 6 if you can make it. I highly recommend Sweeney as well if you can get tickets to the Sunday evening show. If you stalk the website tickets do pop up. I believe A dolls house also has a Sunday evening show during previews so you may want to check that out as its getting good reports and it's a short easy show for when you're tired from a flight.

Thanks for the suggestions. I did buy tickets for Great Comet, but that's the only show we will choose in advance. Thanks for the Sunday night options. Sweeney Todd sounds fun. Still leaning toward Significant Other unless we're too tired after a cross-country flight. For Roundabout rushes, when do you need to show up before Wednesday shows?

I think I'll let my wife and daughter do the rest of the picking. While I think we'd like Dear Evan Hansen, it just sounds too difficult or time-consuming to get seats for three people without winning the lottery (and then needing an extra ticket). There are plenty of options, and I don't have a strong non-DEH choice. Waitress would probably be fine, and my daughter is a Bareilles fan. But we'll see how much it costs. (I'm not against seeing Sunset, but I'm more inclined to see something I haven't seen before.)

Danny Devito is my cousin. Go see that.