Some Like It Hot or New York, New York?

Hi everyone. I'll be going on a trip to NYC in May the week after I graduate from college! I've already booked tickets for Sweeney Todd with 2 friends, and will also be doing a two-show Saturday for Parade and Kimberly Akimbo! I have one slot left for a Friday evening show, and am trying to decide between Some Like It Hot and New York, New York. I wanted to even out the variety of shows I'm seeing with a big classic musical, and those two shows definitely fit the bill. Below I listed a rationale to see either show:

Some Like It Hot: I already love the score and have heard amazing things about J. Harrison Ghee and the choreography. As a classic musical comedy, this would most likely be the lightest show thematically/emotionally out of my current lineup to even everything out, especially with the other shows being darker and/or heavier. At the top of my budget, I could potentially get a 5th-row side orchestra seat.

New York, New York: I also love Kander & Ebb's work and would love to see what seems to be the season's biggest show on a technical scale. I would love to see the choreography and scenic elements live, though I've heard of issues with the book and runtime, and that seating at the St. James Theatre can be hit or miss. I could get a good mid-mezzanine aisle seat for less than a similar mezzanine seat for Some Like It Hot.

Thank you for your help! Would love to hear everyone's input!

Some Like It Hot. For sure.

Its not even close: Some Like It Hot. Which has a plot and an audience laughing along with it.

Some Like it Hot by a mile. J Harrison Ghee gave the second best performance of this season (after the sublime Sara Bareilles’ Tony worthy performance of the Baker’s Wife). His 11 o’clock number “You Could have Knocked Me Over With A Feather” is worth the price of admission alone. A true powerhouse performance that was very raw and heartfelt.


I agree with a previous poster about & Juliet though. NYNY won’t even be a second choice.

SLIH was 2.5 hours of fun and smiles. NYNY was… not that. Highly reccomend the former.

That's a tough choice. Both are great.

I guess it's about personal taste - not quality.

Some Like it Hot. By a mile.

Given your criteria, I'd say go for NYNY. The set and technical elements in NYNY I think are unmatched by any new show on Broadway and the price is very reasonable if you rush (I think front row can be like $30 from what I've heard?). If you can't rush, then TKTS also has a lot of good orchestra seats as well for 50% off on most days. The runtime is now listed at 2:35 down from 3:00 when it first launched, so I haven't seen since the first preview but it seems like a lot has been cut. SLIH is an excellent show as well and would be better for plot and storyline, it handles gender fluidity very well and JHG + Borle are an excellent duo! I found those songs to blend together a bit though and saw more variety/memorable one-offs/hits in NYNY.

Ultimately, since your criteria for SLIH is "light," and your criteria for NYNY is "biggest show on a technical scale," I'd say you can get "light" with NYNY with a feel-good ending but you won't get the same "biggest show" feeling with SLIH, so I'd say NYNY. Can't go wrong with either... I thoroughly enjoyed both and think they're the two best new shows this year.

Updated On: 4/16/23 at 10:37 AM

Not sure why the board suddenly has so much hate for NYNY, but I saw both SLIH and NYNY in the same day and preferred NYNY. I will say that I don’t think the 2 are comparable in the first place, as NYNY has more of a golden age MGM feel with less depth vs. SLIH which is more updated with a solid, linear storyline. Both are enjoyable and there’s not “wrong” choice imo, but NYNY is more unique.

Neither show is perfect but I loved NYNY. Stro and Nicholaw aren't in the same universe when it comes to creating choreography and telling story through dance. There was an excitement around NYNY that I did not feel at SLIH.

As for all the hate NYNY is getting, I think it's clear the Shuberts sent out their lackeys out because they feel threatened. I can imagine not loving NYNY, but I can't imagine thinking anything worse than "that was fine if forgettable". People are talking about NYNY like it's the second coming of In My Life. The hatred is so outsized it beggars belief.

pethian said: "dan94 said: "As for all the hate NYNY is getting, I think it's clear the Shuberts sent out their lackeys out because they feel threatened. I can imagine not loving NYNY, but I can't imagine thinking anything worse than "that was fine if forgettable". People are talking about NYNY like it's the second coming of In My Life. The hatred is so outsized it beggars belief."



Wow. This never occurred to me. I had heard this was a Rudin trick but did not know it was more widely done. How sad.

"

I’d never heard of this tactic until recently, but as someone who adored NYNY, and noticed the sudden influx of hate for the show (and I mean HATE), I agree it seems something is up. I never post but felt compelled to share my positive thoughts on the show. It’d be a shame for whoever those bad reviewers are to dissuade people from seeing the show.

dan94 said: "As for all the hate NYNY is getting, I think it's clear the Shuberts sent out their lackeys out because they feel threatened. I can imagine not loving NYNY, but I can't imagine thinking anything worse than "that was fine if forgettable". People are talking about NYNY like it's the second coming of In My Life. The hatred is so outsized it beggars belief."

Bruh, I wish I was a paid Shubert lackey set out to criticize the show - at least I’d have my money back.

But alas, I and many others are average theatre goers who had expectations and got what they felt was an overhyped, underwhelming Turkey.

pethian said: "dan94 said: "As for all the hate NYNY is getting, I think it's clear the Shuberts sent out their lackeys out because they feel threatened. I can imagine not loving NYNY, but I can't imagine thinking anything worse than "that was fine if forgettable". People are talking about NYNY like it's the second coming of In My Life. The hatred is so outsized it beggars belief."



Wow. This never occurred to me. I had heard this was a Rudin trick but did not know it was more widely done. How sad.

"

While I'm sure this is very real, the criticism of this show is coming from regular Board users, who are quite obviously not paid shills. Try again.