NYC Trip 8/15-8/18***NOW WITH REVIEWS****|||***NOW WITH STAGE DOOR PHOTOS**

[broadwayrob]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 12:27pm

Hello friends,

So the time has come for my fun weekend get-a-way to the city and I would like to meet any fellow BWW'ers that I can.

Here's my show schedule
Friday- Rent
Saturday Mat. - Legally Blonde
Saturday Eve. - Gypsy
Sunday Mat. - Xanadu
Sunday Eve. - A Chorus Line

On a personal side note, me going on this trip was in serious jeopardy last night. I had some severe stomach pains and ended up in the emergency room. But after 8 hours of tests and other things it was determined that I could follow through with my trip. So YAY!

*ps - I will post reviews of the previously mentioned shows when I get back.

Updated On: 8/19/08 at 12:27 PM

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 12:30pm

Yikes, I'm glad you're okay. You already knew this, but I'll be at ACL on Sunday .

[legally_popular]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 1:19pm

Aw, I'm glad you're feeling better now.
Look like a great line-up of shows. I'm going to the Saturday mat of Xanadu, not the Sunday mat. I wish I could catch Gypsy again this weekend.

Enjoy your trip! I'll be looking forward to reading some reviews.

[broadwayrob]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 2:09pm

boomp

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 2:51pm

Not a single play?

Personally, it sounds like unadventurous list of shows (with the exception of Gypsy). My guess is you've seen most of them several times. With so much going on in NYC, I find that dull - but to each their own

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 2:57pm

I agree with South Fl Marc. Why RENT again? Why A CHORUS LINE again (won't be as exciting without Charlotte). Have you seen GYPSY before? I assume you're seeing XANADU for Whoopi...that's fine. and LEGALLY BLONDE for Bailey Hanks...also fine.

What about plays such as BOEING BOEING or AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY? Have you seen those? What about shows that are on their last legs that you may not ever see again? Such as [TITLE OF SHOW]?

[broadwayrob]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 3:02pm

Well,

Reason for going to see A Chorus Line is that Jess Goldyn is playing Cassie in the final week AND more importantly I really wanted to be at the final performance.

I'm not a huge fan of plays. Especially ones that last 3 and a half hours.

Rent is the first show I EVER saw on Broadway so it holds a VERY special place in my heart. I feel I should see it one last time for "closure."

And no, I have never seen Xanadu. Whoopi is just icing for me as I love her dearly :)

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 3:02pm

And how about The NYC International Fringe Festival where you literally have hundreds of shows to choose from?

It just shows a real lack of interest in theatre.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 3:09pm

My friend saw Jess' Cassie yesterday and said she was not very good. Why would you want to see someone in this role who is sub-par?

Her Val was absolute perfection though...I love Jess...she is just not a Cassie.

How many times have you seen RENT?

[broadwayrob]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 3:14pm

OK,

When did this thread turn into a let's bash the guy who's going to see shows he enjoys??

It's very rare that I get to go into the city and with that knowledge *and money spent* I want to make sure that what I am seeing are things that I KNOW I will enjoy.

It's not like I'm forcing you two into seeing these shows with me.

And why does it matter how many times I've seen Rent?

If I lived in the city or at least closer than 8 hours of a drive away, I would be going to see every show I could. However, with things being the way they are, I don't want to take a risk on shows I might not enjoy fully.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 3:24pm

Then I feel sorry for you.

Good theatre should energise, surprise, sometimes shock. It should elicit emotions from the audience. You're going to see things you know all the words, all the songs, with no chance of any surprise or excitement.

I don't get to NYC enough and I couldn't imagine wasting my theatre time seeing productions I have already seen.

Next trip to NYC try off broadway, off off broadway, a play. Expand your horizons. I guarentee there will be no significant difference between this upcoming Legally Blonde performance and the many others you have already seen and the one you will probably see next time you come to NYC.
Updated On: 8/14/08 at 03:24 PM

[jaystarr]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 3:30pm

I say... Leave him alone! This is his trip, his money and his time! If he does not want to see a play..so what? What's good for you might not be enjoyable to others! He is just happy to post...so be nice! and he is NOT ASKING ANYONE's HELP TO WHAT SHOW TO SEE?- He just wants to meet other BWWer's The most important thing is he will enjoy his trip!

On the other note: Personally..I saw RENT and did not like it.. Well..I hope you like it! and GOOD LUCK! Too bad! I wont be able to get a chance to meet you, We (Chris & I) will be in NYC too but in Central Park's Delacorte.

Have a safe and fun trip!

J*






Updated On: 8/14/08 at 03:30 PM

[WestVillage]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 3:43pm

BroadwayRob ... I understand your feelings about not wanting to sit through a 3 1/2 hour play ... I felt the same way. I turned down many opportunities to see August because it was such a long show, and I thought for sure I would be bored after the first 2 hours. But when I finally did go, I was mesmerized and could have stayed longer ... I actually was not ready for the play to end ... I wanted more. So enjoy the shows you're seeing, but don't let the fact that a show is 3 1/2 hours long stop you from seeing it ... you are missing one of the best shows to play on Broadway in a long time.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 3:49pm

Jay, I like the fact that you live in Boston and still make an excellent effort to see nearly every show on Broadway...not just the same old show 100 times. Good job.

[BroadwayBoy2]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 3:52pm

heres the thing with August;

Act 1- 60 min
10 min break
Act2- 60 min
10 min break
Act3- 60 min

its REALLY not that bad at ALL. I wanted more, like another three acts.

but i mean im going to Gypsy Saturday EvE, and i know you will enojy all of your shows, just make sure you get to see August!

[jaystarr]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 3:58pm

Oh you know me, I dont like to see shows more than 3 Times!

but the OP wants to see RENT and let him be! Just my opinion. I think he was just excited to post bec. of his coming trip~everyone can relate to that. I dont mean to be snarky to anyone- I just felt the urge to stand by on what he truly believes he will enjoy! No big deal! Personally I dont think I can watch shows more than 3 times.. its not me! but then I would not want to rain on anyone parade- that's not me neither!

J*



Updated On: 8/14/08 at 03:58 PM

[broadwayrob]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 4:00pm

It's like I said, I really just am not a play kind of guy. Although if I had the time *and again, more importantly, the cash" to go see August I would. I know that, from what everyone is saying, it is beyond brilliant. This really wouldn't be an issue if I still lived in Jersey, but no, I live in podunk West Virginia.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 4:02pm

August was so well written, that at the end of Act 2 (the best of the three excellent acts), when the house lights came up, I wanted them to keep going. I was like, "No, no, don't stop."

Anyway, I don't really understand why people are attacking this poster for his choice of shows. It's his trip, his money, he can see whatever he wants to.

Besides, looking at his list, Rent is closing in less than a month. I can understand people getting sentimental and wanting to see it "one last time."

He's going to the closing performance of A Chorus Line. Closing performances are always fun to see, with or without Charlotte D'Amboise. There are plenty of people, myself included, who thought Charlotte was not very good in that show anyway.

Whoopi is now in Xanadu, plus he hasn't seen the show.

Bailey has completely revitalized the once stale Legally Blonde. I'm encouraging lots of people to revisit it.

Patti just won every award imaginable for Gypsy. Why you wouldn't want to see what was called a "legendary performance."

I agree that it's a shame he won't give August a shot, but really, it's his trip. Let him see what he wants.
Updated On: 8/14/08 at 04:02 PM

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 4:03pm

At the risk of being attacked again - check out the NYC international fringe festival site:

http://www.fringenyc.org/

They have around 19 different venues (theatres) with each venue having 4 or 5 performances of different shows each day (early in the morning to very late at night). The tickets are only $15 and you might find a show that you might like to experiment and see that in no way would interfere with the Broadway shows you already have tickets for.

Just take it as a friendly suggestion.

[broadwayrob]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 4:05pm

Thank you for the suggestion.

But really, who is attacking who here?

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 4:05pm

Fine. See whatever you want. Have fun.

[broadwayrob]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 4:27pm

Sorry to "offend" you, but for the record.. All of the shows I am seeing on this trip with the exception of Gypsy and Xanadu, both of which I have never seen, I have seen ONCE.

[musicalmaster703]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 4:28pm

This isn't a big deal. If you enjoy the show so much that you would rather see that again then another show that is great. I did that with In The Heights and I liked it better the second time.

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 5:30pm

Have a great trip!

[Gobstopper]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 7:14pm

Have an awesome time!

As a side note, I see no issue with seeing a show more than once. I just went to NYC last April and I still felt the need to see Rent in the Nederlander (I'd seen it 4 other times on tour). I also saw In The Heights, Spring Awakening, and Blue Man Group, all of which I'd never seen.

I guess what I'm saying is that you should see whatever you want and enjoy it! Unless some of these snobs are going to pay for your tickets, they have no place judging your choices.