My first trip to NYC - Picking shows- Page 2

[Sam2]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 9:52pm

Everything but Jersey Boys. U do not want to do that to urself. If u're into plays I would recommend A view from the bridge and Therese Raquin.

[Mike Costa]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 10:45pm

Since English is not your first language Hamilton is going to be rough to sit through.   It is relentless with words coming at you and you will not know which words are the important ones.  Not to mention the characters are from American History and you probably have not heard of most of them.

The rest of your show choices are very good and easily understood.  You may want to avoid plays as well as A Gentleman's Guide and Something Rotten! since they are language heavy and have much word play and double entendre (words that mean two things at once).  An American In Paris and The Lion King are more visual spectaculars that are easily enjoyed. Fun Home is also plot driven and not visual.

Welcome to New York! 

[RaiseYouUp]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 11:02pm

I would recommend Kinky Boots if you haven't seen it elsewhere, particularly to see one of Billy Porter's final performances. He is utterly flawless in it.

Updated On: 11/6/15 at 11:02 PM

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 11:13pm

How about the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular - a classic for years? In the famous Radio City Music Hall.

I'd also recommend "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" As it's so impressive visually. Although it is a bit talky, the confusion of communication and the visual presentation (and the clear dialog of the main character) may make it appropriate to someone competent but as a second language of English.

Also American in Paris or King & I.

Updated On: 11/7/15 at 11:13 PM

[haterobics]

Posted: 11/6/15 at 11:31pm

Mike Costa said: "Since English is not your first language Hamilton is going to be rough to sit through.   It is relentless with words coming at you and you will not know which words are the important ones.  Not to mention the characters are from American History and you probably have not heard of most of them."

 

The cast recording with lyrics is available, so if there is a concern, there is time to study up.

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/7/15 at 12:08am

Curious Incident

[dev101]

Posted: 11/7/15 at 8:14am

I would definitely say to see Lion King or Wicked. They are both a big spectacle with beautiful costumes.  Definitely more visual. And so great you  are already seeing Phantom! You can't miss it! If you download the TodayTix app, you might be able to get a discount on Wicked or Lion King. You can use my code RSDSI to get $10 off your first purchase if you find anything you like. Besides theater, make sure you leave some time to just explore the city, not just Times Square. 

[Talico]

Posted: 11/8/15 at 3:17pm

BroadwayConcierge - Is Wicked really that good? Besides being related to Wizard of Oz, I have no idea what's about.

 

neonlightsxo - Yes, I have tickets for Hamilton. In fact, I bought it on StubHub so they could be fake

 

ggersten - I believe that I'll end up watching one play. First I was set on Misery but I started reading about and now I'm torn between King Charles III and Gin Game

 

Mike Costa - Surprinsingly, I got the cast album for Hamilton and I understood almost everything on my first try, just missed some words on Guns and Ships. My problems with English are related to grammar and some kinds of voices. For example, I had to pay way more attention to understand Phoebe on Gentleman's Guide (I decided to marry you) than the rap parts on Hamilton.
Lion King was one of my choices, but my sister said that she is going to kill me if I see it before her

 

Based on all the recomendations, Fun Home is a must see. My question is: Is it worth even without Sydney Lucas?
If I add Fun Home and Wicked to list I still have time for 2 more musicals. I know that no one recommended it, but what about Allegiance? It seems like such a nice story. For my last show I'll probably pick Gentleman's Guide or Something Rotten. I took a look at Kink Boots and The King and I and I don't think that I going to like it.

[Pauly3]

Posted: 11/8/15 at 3:45pm

Talico, you have quite a lineup of shows already.  To help finish it off, you might consider eliminating Wicked and Lion King simply because there will likely be future opportunities to see them on tour as they both will be touring the world for years to come.

 

Regarding Allegiance, I saw the show three years ago in their only other staging of the musical and really liked it.  From what has been reported over the last few weeks, significant changes have been made just since starting preview performances a month ago (and the show officially opens tonight).  I have made plans to get to New York in large part because I want to revisit Allegiance, especially to see Lea Salonga.  Note that Hamilton had a little something to do with my decision to make the trip too!

 

Based on many glowing reviews of Fun Home - and what little I know about it, I would suggest it as another to see.  I won't be seeing it during my stay, but I would be had I booked a longer trip.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 11/8/15 at 4:31pm

"Based on all the recomendations, Fun Home is a must see. My question is: Is it worth even without Sydney Lucas?"

 

I am throwing in my votes for Fun Home, The King and I, and Wicked. At this point, Wicked is kind of an institution and worth seeing for that alone but I agree with Pauly that you'll likely have more chances to see it. I saw Fun Home with Sydney Lucas but the rest of the cast is very strong. Personally, I would make sure Michael Cerveris is in, but that's me. I think he's the strongest part of the show. And you don't want to pass up a chance to see Judy Kuhn. 

 

I haven't seen Allegiance but you get to see Lea Salonga so it can't be that bad.

 

I haven't seen AGGTLAM but my concern with Something Rotten would be getting all of the jokes. It helps to be a theatre fan and also there are songs where the information is faster-paced and then songs that are broad and dumb. 

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 11/8/15 at 4:39pm

Oh, and if you're willing to see something not on Broadway, from the other shows you picked, I think you might like Futurity.

[hork]

Posted: 11/9/15 at 1:53am

Talico said:

Based on all the recomendations, Fun Home is a must see. My question is: Is it worth even without Sydney Lucas?
 

Absolutely. Gabriella Pizzolo is quite good, and I think I actually prefer her singing voice to Sydney's.

 

[Talico]

Posted: 11/15/15 at 11:53pm

I just returned from my first show and it was incredible!! When I bought the tickets to Les Mis there was no mention to Alfie Boe and Earl Glover not performing tonight, so when I arrived at the theater I was really disappointed. Fortunately, Will Ray was amazingly good and the rest of the cast was everything that I hoped for, especially Brennyn Lark.

 

I know that for most of you guys that had seen a lot of show this production might not be that good but I was impressed. Tomorrow I'll watch Spring Awakening, followed by Book of Mormon, Fun Home, Phantom and Hamilton.

[Mike Costa]

Posted: 11/16/15 at 12:15am

Thanks for your update.  Glad you enjoyed the show.

Each one of us here remembers the thrill of seeing our first show on Broadway and are happy for your excitement.

 

I will second the idea of your seeing the Christmas Spectacular now playing at Radio City Music Hall.  It is an enormous, joyful, musical revue that has no plot but there is nothing like it.  The theater itself is a marvel  just to be inside on w50th St at Sixth Ave.

 

Welcome to New York!

[Talico]

Posted: 11/16/15 at 12:26am

Mike Costa said: "Thanks for your update.  Glad you enjoyed the show.

 

Each one of us here remembers the thrill of seeing our first show on Broadway and are happy for your excitement.

 

 

 

I will second the idea of your seeing the Christmas Spectacular now playing at Radio City Music Hall.  It is an enormous, joyful, musical revue that has no plot but there is nothing like it.  The theater itself is a marvel  just to be inside on w50th St at Sixth Ave.

 

 

 

Welcome to New York!

 

"

Thank you Mike! Unfortunately I don't have time to see the Christmas show, I'm leaving on Friday, but this is something that happens every year right? I'll try to come back next year with my family and this is a good show for them (my parents don't speak English).

[Talico]

Posted: 11/19/15 at 12:34am

I don't know if anyone is going to read this, but I'll write my impressions of what I've seen so far.

Spring Awakening - What a show! So much heart on this one and a great cast! My only issue was that the drums were really loud and I missed some of the lyrics. This was the only show that I didn't know any of the songs before seeing it. I consider myself lucky for seeing this production.

 

Fun Home - Another show with a lot of heart, I was heartbroken in some parts. The theatre is so small and intimate, it's an incredible experience. I can see it now why they won the Tony last year.

 

Book of Mormon - Nothing much to say here, the whole theatre was laughing the entire time. It's a great comedy, specially if you like South Park.

 

Les Mis - Yes, I went to Les Mis again, don't judge me, the 10th year did was at made me love musicals. I had to see Alfie Boe and I don't regret a thing! Besides that, it was the first show with Will Swenson and I really liked his Javert.

 

Tomorrow it's my last day here and its Phanton in the matinee and Hamilton on the evening, just to end my trip with a bang. I would like to thank everyone that helped me pick the shows, because they made me see Fun Home and Spring Awakening.

One last thing, I made a promise to myself: I don't care how hard it's going to be, but I'll come back next year!

[Cupid Boy2]

Posted: 11/19/15 at 12:58am

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us! I'm so glad you're enjoying your first trip to the city. You've had a really great lineup of shows. I'll be seeing Spring Awakening this weekend and absolutely cannot wait. 

 

Coming back as soon as I could was a promise I made to myself after my first trip as well. There's nothing quite like the magic of Broadway.

[FrontRowCenter2]

Posted: 11/19/15 at 6:17am

So glad you enjoyed your trip to New York and the shows you saw.  Thank you for sharing, it was a pleasure to read such an upbeat post!

[BWAY Baby2]

Posted: 11/19/15 at 7:59am

I thought Fun Home was good but not great- Hamilton, King Charles III, Kinky boots, Beautiful gave me a much better time- glad you liked it though

Updated On: 11/19/15 at 07:59 AM

[Talico]

Posted: 11/19/15 at 11:50pm

Tomorrow I'm leaving the city and today I saw my last two shows and let me tell you, what a way to finish a perfect week.

I started the day with The Phantom of the Opera. I know that most of you don't like it, but watching it for the first time is a incredible experience. The scenarios are so big and James Barbour is a wonderful phantom. 

After that, I had only one more show: Hamilton. I don't have words to describe it, it was everything I was hoping for and even more. On the way out I even got to help Broadway Cares and got a signed playbill :)

 

Besides all the shows that I saw, I got in love with the MET museum and the Central Park. NYC now has a special place in my heart and I can't wait to come back.

[dev101]

Posted: 11/20/15 at 9:58am

Sounds like you really had a nice trip and got to see some wonderful shows and take in the sights. I envy you getting to experience it all for the first time, and i enjoyed hearing about your trip! There's nothing quite like New York and I hope you get to come back soon!