Spelling Bee or DRS

[beacon1]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 9:37am

I have enough $$$ for one additional show in the spring and I want to see a musical. Will Spelling Bee be running then?

OR should I see DRS. (Spamalot says it's sold out...)

[Patronus]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 10:37am

I am sure Spelling Bee will still be running in the spring.

I haven't seen either yet (3 days till DRS!) but it seems like Scoundrels is your best bet.

Norbert Leo Butz just extended his contract through July and it's always nice to see the Tony Award Winner. Lithgow will be gone then, but I have a feeling Jonathan Pryce will be fantastic.

Who knows how much of the original cast of Spelling Bee will still be there and there are going to be versions of that show popping up shortly and I think the material is so good that it would be enjoyable in any setting.


Updated On: 11/16/05 at 10:37 AM

[whatacharacter]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 10:42am

SPELLING BEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i have not laughed so hard at any show ever!!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 10:45am

I found Spelling Bee to be much more fun and entertaining than Scoundrels, which was my least favorite show I saw last summer on Broadway. I wish I had just waited for a tour, but I wanted to see Joanna Gleason. And I still do.

[liotte]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 10:49am

I enjoy both of them! They are both very funny shows, but so different.

If you like the glamour of big fancy sets and costumes, go with DRS.

If you like a smaller set but what I think is a more touching story, go for Spelling Bee. Plus the whole cast is signed on through April, so you should see them. And Dan Fogler is a Tony winner too!

[Pippin]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 11:04am

I would go with the bee becuase it is a unique experience that you don't get that often on Broadway. it's not your run of the mill book musical. there is improv, so the night you see it won't be like any other night. it also has great music and amazing performances from every single cast member. they are so dedicated to their characters; it is a wonderful and refreshing thing to see in a musical.

[Alex LaVelle]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 11:06am

I would recommend DRS. I haven't had a chance to see Spelling Bee, but I did see Scoundrels over the summer and loved every moment of it.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 12:33pm

well once again gotta shill DRS. I did enjoy Bee, and certainly agree w/ it's Tony win for book, but I just feel that DRS is a fuller experience and overall a slightly better musical. If what I'm hearing is correct, Sherie will be back some point in spring and I too agree that Jonathan Pryce I think will be wonderful. The Bee is a unique experience, but I just feel if you're coming to broadway it's worth it to see the fuller more stunning show and star-turning performances. You'll laugh a lot at both, so I suppose you can't go wrong, but I slightly prefer DRS.

[peach]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 12:44pm

I haven't yet seen DRS, but I can speak to Spelling Bee. I think it all depends on what you want out this particular theatre experience, because the shows seem to be quite different.

IMHO, the music from Spelling Bee is forgettable. Not that the music is bad - it's in the right place in the show and it indeed moves the story along nicely, but I personally did not walk out of the theatre humming, and probably won't buy the recording.

At the same time, it is truly enjoyable, especially for the concept, the acting and the pure comedy. It was hysterical...I had not laughed so hard in a long time. Dan Fogler is wonderful in Bee. The original cast is quite good together. I would recommend others see it, especially if you are into comedies (which I am).

I am hoping to catch DRS soon though...

Updated On: 11/16/05 at 12:44 PM

[dramaparoxysm23]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 1:03pm

I waited in the cancellation line on a Saturday and got 7th row tickets for Spamalot. Then again, Tim Curry, Sara Ramirez, Michael McGrath AND Hank Azaria were out...still, it was worth it. :)

Updated On: 11/16/05 at 01:03 PM

[BreakingTheCircle07]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 1:45pm

Spelling Bee!!!!!! You'll regret every choice you've ever made in in life if you skip out on SB to see DRS. Better cast (not couting Butz), choreography (not a Mitchell fan), set (DRS's was ugly...for a lack of beter word), and score (Yazbek's big hit was Full Monty). As you can see, Spelling Bee takes the cake.

Updated On: 11/16/05 at 01:45 PM

[mint0621]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 2:06pm

DRS by far...it's funnier, and it's worth it just to see Norbert in action. Spelling Bee is charming and cute, but forgettable...

[tagiunagi]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 2:46pm

Piazza.

The others are shameful.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 3:01pm

In my opinion, Spelling Bee is one of the best shows running on Broadway. It deserved the Tony.

That was the best hour and a half of my life!

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 3:10pm

Spelling Bee.
One of the funniest shows on Broadway.
Absolutely hilarious.
Fabulous characters and actors.
Great score and book.
Much more of an experience than DRS.

~Steven

[nealb1]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 3:18pm

Go see DRS.................absolutely!!! You can't really compare DRS to Spelling Bee. They are both completely different. I will say this though, after seeing Spelling Bee last week, I'm absolutely baffled as to how it won The Tony for Best Book???????

DRS is hysterically funny and Norbert so deserved his Tony Award. His performance is amazing!!!!!

Go see DRS!!!!!!

[shiksa_goddess]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 3:23pm

I love Norbert, and enjoy DRS, but see Spelling Bee! It is such a hilarious and unique show. You never know what will happen, and you may just be picked to be a speller. I have never laughed so hard at a Broadway show. It is a real treat!

[Plum]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 3:23pm

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is quite good, but Spelling Bee had people in the front row actually rolling off their seats with laughter. Go for Bee.

[Creative Lunatic]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 3:26pm

It is so wonderful to see all this love for Spelling Bee; a show that is so close to my heart.
I also want to welcome back Dan Fogler to Circle in The Square. He may be the hardest working actor. He went directly from movie set back to Broadway Stage last night.
Oh, and despite my great love for SB, I have to say that DRS is also worth your time.

[peach]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 3:27pm

"Spelling Bee had people in the front row actually rolling off their seats with laughter. Go for Bee."

I was one of those people. It is really, really funny.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 3:47pm

Not sure I should post this but can't help myself...

"Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is quite good, but Spelling Bee had people in the front row actually rolling off their seats with laughter. Go for Bee"

I've seen DRS 11 times, and I can definitely vouch to witnessing many audience members, including myself, "rolling off their seats with laughter." (I do really enjoy Bee, but hafta stick up for my show...)

"Spelling Bee!!!!!! You'll regret every choice you've ever made in in life if you skip out on SB to see DRS. Better cast (not couting Butz), choreography (not a Mitchell fan), set (DRS's was ugly...for a lack of beter word), and score (Yazbek's big hit was Full Monty). As you can see, Spelling Bee takes the cake."

Umm...I have to respond to this...first off, whether or not you're a fan or you like or it is your taste, I don't think you can really argue that set or choreography of Spelling Bee is "better" than DRS. It certainly fits the show and I wouldn't want it to be more or better, but DRS has a much bigger, encompassing set, w/ scene changes, effective props, etc, Spelling Bee makes good use of turning the Circle in the Square into the Gym, and I love the lobby displays, but b/c of what set accomplishes, I can't see how you can say Bee's is better.

Same goes for choreography, again, Bee's is cute and appropriate, but not as well "big," encompassing or utilized. There are cute moments during "Magic Foot," and "Pandemonium," where it fits the stage, but I hardly think that can compete w/ the more complex choreography in DRS, which makes wonderful use of its full ensemble where the dancing is so varied and is utilized and focused on in many numbers such as "Oklahoma?"(country dancing), "Overture/Give Them What They Want"(ballroom dancing), mostly Norbert in "Great Big Stuff," all-encompassing ensemble broadway-like dancing in "Here I Am," cute old-couple Muriel/Andre dancing in "Like Zis, Like Zat," and most impressively the most spectacular choreographed, featured Dance number "The more we dance."

Again, score I do feel is more taste than "better," both have incredible lyrics but I certainly feel DRS' score is more memorable, if not even more clever and musically sounding than the quite clever lyrics of Bee.

And finally, certainly the cast of Bee is very good, give wonderful performances, but please elaborate on faults you found in anyone in DRS besides Norbert, I think they have one of the strongest casts on bway and give flawless performances, in fact I rarely hear criticism of them, so could you please expand?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 3:52pm

Spelling Bee. Its one of the finest tuned and best performed and all around incredible shows Broadway has to offer right now.

While DRS is splendid, highly entertaining, wildly satisfying with a great score and wonderful performances (NLB's Freddy is worth the price of admission and then some) Spelling Bee edges out the competition here for me. Spelling Bee is wonderful so thats where my votes going.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 3:55pm

I actually would have to agree that the DRS set isn't the nicest looking thing in the world. In fact, I do find some of it ugly. If you base the shows on set/environment, then Bee would definitely be better. In fact, I kind of wanted Bee to get a Tony nomination for Best Scenic Design of a Musical. O well, haha, neither show got a nod for that and the right set (and superior show) won anyway.

~Steven

[SpellRENT]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 3:57pm

Oh, please go see Spelling Bee!! I got tickets through the lottery and I was so happy I did! It was easily the most fun I have had at a play ever!! So funny, yet so heart-warming. Also, the play is really interactive so should enjoy it!

[filmgirl325]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 3:57pm

I've seen both shows...and there is a reason why I've gone back and seen DRS twice, and have tickets for it again for January and trying to get lottery tickets again next weekend....the show is really wonderful...and it's true...to see Norbert in that role is worth the price of admission and then some. However, I also really enjoyed Spelling Bee, and enjoyed both the performances and the music. However, if I had to choose it would have to be DRS. Whichever you choose, you'll have a great time no matter what!