SHOW ADVICE FOR HIGH SCHOOL NYC TRIP! — Page 2

My suggestions:

In The Heights
South Pacific
Altar Boyz
Brighton Beach Memoirs

I think the combo of In The Heights and South Pacific could provide endless hours of discussion.

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I definitely agree that 'The 39 Steps' is the best choice for a Broadway play. As for off-Broadway, maybe 'Stomp'? I love Hair SO much, but I'm not sure if the school will even allow you to see it. For the sake of the students, see Wicked...as much as I don't like it, your students will thank you. My choices for a high school would be

The 39 Steps
next to normal
Wicked
Stomp

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I totally love the format that Mr JNLONG provided:

a straight play
a big/spashy crowd pleasing musical
a different type of musical
an off b'way show

As for allowing the teacher to make the decisions that may be less educated decisions than the kids make. GADS of drama teachers are absolutely CLUELESS about what is currently playing in NY. Their extent is often whatever they see ON thier annual trip. I take my HS drama club every year for a weekend. While I "guide" their decisions, it is their choice. It's their money...and a lot of it. They spend nearly 600 bucks for their weekend. Group tickets are not truly available for some of the blockbuster shows, not at any discount anyway. Wicked, Billy Elliot and WSS are going to be almost impossible to get group rates on and even then they will be crappy seats.

My kids decisions this past year were:
August: Osage County (which they overwhelming adored)
WestSide Story (in previews, which they were incredibly disappointed in.)
Altar Boys (which they had a great time.)
Very diverse.

To the OP: are you working with a travel agent/tour guide? If so, he/she should be able to provide you with a list of likely shows.

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Being a high school student, may I just suggest four I'm rather enjoying at the moment?

Hair (Although you will definatly need parental consent for that)
Next To Normal
9 to 5
Altar Boyz

and I have some suggestions for you.
-Altar Boyz is a funny and entertaining Off-Broadway show and has a fantasy camp for class trips which includes a backstage tour, Q&A with the cast, a workshop where they learn some of the dance moves from the show, great seats for a performance AND an Altar Boyz button. And I have to say the fantasy camp is real fun and educational for theatre students.
-Next To Normal has proved to be a good show for teens, I personally enjoyed it deeply, especially with the music, it's rock and high energy.
-9 to 5 is a flashy show with the feel of Wicked (GIRL POWER! and all), it's very witty and funny, and also gives a glimps into the real inequality between men and women in the work place. And the tunes are catchy. Not to mention some vets of the stage (both on and off-broadway) and screen are in the cast (IE: Marc Kudisch and Allison Janney) and if you can arange a Q & A with the cast it would prove to be educational and informative about the business and what it's like being in a Broadway show.
-Hair though racey if very educational and fun, and is a classic. You could have many discussions related to this show and the topics brought up in it.

OTHER SUGESTION:
-Stay away from Shrek, though flashy and inventive set wise, the jokes are juvenile and the whole show has been known to make a TEN year old feel to old for it.
-West Side Story is pretty buy the book and follows close to the movie and although Karen Olivo is a good actoress your better off watching the film.
-Billy Elliot has a lot of British humor and things related to British culture in it, and I laughed at it but I'm a half native Brit, and I know most of my friends wouldn't get the plot because they don't know the culture, and although it won many Tonys a normal High School drama audience wouldn't enjoy it that much.
-And although Plays are good, you might wanna avoid them. Unless your a real theatre loving person or have a higher maturity level, a typical 15-18 year old doesn't want to sit through a straight theatre play, and wants something with music and up beat energetic feel.