My first post! Need suggestions.

[Colin852]

Posted: 7/5/19 at 4:33pm

Hi BWW! Long-time reader, first-time poster. My dad (who's in his 70s) is coming to visit Labor Day and wants to see a show (he hasn't seen anything). So my question is...if you had to choose just one, which would it be? I've seen most of the shows. Waitress is my fave, but don't think it's for him. I'm thinking Phantom is the gold standard that checks all the boxes...thoughts? (FYI: I haven't seen ATP yet, so can't comment on that one).

[Daniel M]

Posted: 7/5/19 at 4:48pm

Are you strictly looking at musicals? What kind of movies/music does your dad like? Or are you considering plays, too?

[AADA81]

Posted: 7/5/19 at 4:50pm

If your dad's not a regular theater-goer or isn't much interested in theater, I would pick something with name recognition and a proven audience track record (like Phantom) unless he doesn't like musicals.  If he's a theater-goer, I would just say steer clear of the Disney stuff (or Wicked) and focus on adult shows you think you'd both enjoy.  In fact, if you think he'd be interested in ATP, why not give it a try?  There are also some good plays still running so, since you know your dad's tastes, you have a lot to choose from.

[IHeartNY2]

Posted: 7/5/19 at 4:55pm

Before I even finished reading your post I was thinking Phantom (I'm assuming he'd wanna see a musical). I always say it's the perfect "first show" show. Gotta start with the classics!

[Impossible2]

Posted: 7/5/19 at 5:07pm

Literally ANYTHING but Phantom x

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 7/5/19 at 5:57pm

Maybe COME FROM AWAY or BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROL KING MUSICAL?

[Wick3]

Posted: 7/5/19 at 6:18pm

I was thinking Phantom too. It's a classic. Or perhaps CHICAGO. Both Beautiful and Ain't Too Proud are good choices as well.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/5/19 at 6:18pm

Come From Away.

[LexiGirl]

Posted: 7/5/19 at 9:11pm

My one choice would be Come From Away. I’ve been recommending it to people who’ve never seen a musical before, and everyone who has taken my advice loved it. It’s a pretty safe bet if you want someone to enjoy their first musical experience because it’s heartwarming and most people can connect with the story.

[Sho-Tunes-R-Us]

Posted: 7/5/19 at 10:02pm

Give 'im Broadway spectacle. Phantom, Lion King, Aladdin or Wicked (if you know his musical tastes). He's my age and may know the Temptations catalog so Ain't Too Proud is a good bet. If he leans towards plays To Kill A Mockingbird is the one to see.

Come From Away just didn't do it for me, but I think that New Yorkers affected by 9/11 hold a special place for it in their hearts.

[Colin852]

Posted: 7/6/19 at 4:06pm

Thanks everyone! Come From Away completely slipped my mind. Definitely going in my top 3 for dad. Also seeing ATP and Moulin Rouge soon so we'll see if either of those are a good fit.

[bear88]

Posted: 7/6/19 at 7:31pm

It's hard for anyone else to guess what your father would like. You know his tastes better than we do. But I am sort of inclined towards Sho-Tunes-R-Us's view that if, in his 70s, he wants to see a Broadway show with you for the first time, give him a big, splashy Broadway musical. Many of the musicals - Phantom, Chicago, Moulin Rouge, Lion King, Aladdin, even Waitress - have film adaptations or started as films. Did he like any of them? (If My Fair Lady weren't closing this weekend, I would suggest that.)

Ain't Too Proud is a standard jukebox musical but it is well-performed and choreographed. If he likes the Temptations, that's a good start. At least he would enjoy the score.

I haven't seen Moulin Rouge! but it certainly counts as a big, splashy Broadway musical. Would he enjoy something like that, or would it be too much?

Come From Away is probably a pretty safe choice, although some of things that impress frequent theatergoers - its minimalism and sharp direction - might seem underwhelming to someone expecting something splashier.

I assume you have ruled it out for your father, but Hadestown doesn't seem like a bad choice either.

[mailhandler777]

Posted: 7/7/19 at 7:45am

My aunt is 75 and she loved Beautiful even though she isn't a huge Carole King fan. Not sure what your dads taste is though.

[hak5]

Posted: 7/7/19 at 9:30am

the correct answer is:

 

HADESTOWN

 

[Lot666]

Posted: 7/8/19 at 12:35pm

The current Phantom - Ben Crawford - is phenomenal.

[DCDrama2]

Posted: 7/8/19 at 2:22pm

For a low key jukebox musical: Beautiful over Aint Too Proud

For a "classic" Broadway show: Wicked over Phantom

For a modern musical: Come From Away over everything else

Avoid Moulin Rouge. It's sensory overload with modern pop tunes jammed in. Unless he likes going to sexy cabaret shows, then it's perfect.

For a play: To Kill A Mockingbird

[Colin852]

Posted: 7/18/19 at 4:30pm

Meant to reply sooner, but thanks for all your suggestions! Much appreciated. In the meantime I got to see Ain't Too Proud, which I LOVED, so am leaning towards that. Think he'll enjoy the music and the energy. Up next for me is Moulin Rouge, but I doubt he'll know half the songs lol. Thanks again!!!

[MVintheheartland]

Posted: 7/22/19 at 4:00pm

Recently went to NYC with a friend who has cancer and this was kind of her "farewell tour". (I know, depressing). We chose Come From Away and Beautiful, both fun, and Come From Away is so uplifting. It's pretty hard to not get excited during Come From Away.

[taylortrensch]

Posted: 7/24/19 at 1:36am

Colin852 said: "Hi BWW! Long-time reader, first-time poster. My dad (who's in his 70s) is coming to visit Labor Day and wants to see a show (he hasn't seen anything). So my question is...if you had to choose just one, which would it be? I've seen most of the shows. Waitress is my fave, but don't think it's for him. I'm thinking Phantom is the gold standard that checks all the boxes...thoughts? (FYI: I haven't seen ATP yet, so can't comment on that one)."

sorry but what's ATP? i'm curious

[Piparoo]

Posted: 7/24/19 at 6:34am

ATP = Ain’t Too Proud