Springtime BROADWAY Looking Bright?

[mad4music]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 1:27am

...enlighten me!...I am spending spring break (late March) in New York for a week (first time!) and seeing five broadway shows... I have been reading show reviews galore and trying to do all my "research"... It's always great to hear personal opinions though- how is everything going in the Broadway scene?! (inevitably WONDERFUL I am assuming!) The 5 shows I will be seeing (and would love reviews about) are:

WICKED- I am one of those pysycho WICKED fanatics... its the show that got me into the whole Broadway scene! (forever will I be grateful!) I saw it in SF (first and only show ever seen!) and LOVED it! Although I was hoping to get a new cast in NYC to do the whole "compare/contrast" thing... I am THRILLED to be seeing Eden again! (simply breathtaking!) Derrick and Carol- well... I'm trying to keep a good attitude... we'll leave it at that... I believe the current Glinda is Megan Hitley- how is she? Does she compare with the pink divas b4 her? (Cheno, JTL, and Kendra?) And who will be the wizard by then?

LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA- I must say I am getting VERY excited about this one! Loving the things I am hearing about Katie Clarke... I am assuming (PRAYING!) that she'll still be there in Spring (only 3 months away...so I'm sure she will be) How about Aaron Lazar? And who will be playing the Mom (sry! can't remember names at the moment...) by then? And how is the current cast doing? Still as good as ever? Any *must know* names to look out for?

LION KING- K, just seeing this one for fun! (Couldn't resist throwing in some Disney!) ...I hear the costuming/staging/sets etc are all fabulous... anyone seen it recently with comments on the talent quality currently there?

SPAMALOT- I won't lie... this I am seeing mainly because I am being forced to by a friend (not my first choice show by any means)... I have heard extremely mixed reviews... but I think I may like it based on the fact that I have a random somewhat stupid sense of humor... I have never seen any of the Python movies but am HOPING it will be worth my money and time. Any opinions on the current cast there too? ...or possibly who the replacements will be? (if any) All in all, what am I in for?

...and last but not least...

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA- I have always LOVED the music (Andrew Loyd Webber's music is some of my absolute FAV!) and was fascinated with the movie! ...Having never seen the theatre version, I just could not let myself be in NYC without seeing the classic show itself! I know its not necassarily the biggest, newest, or freshest one out there but I just feel this urgency and HAVE TO see it! I haven't done much study up on the current cast... any comments? Keep in mind I LOVED all the characters vocally on the movie (I know- terrible to compare a soundtrack to actual live broadway!) but how does the current cast match up? And how about sets/costumes/etc?

...I still shoot myself for not being able to go to more... like Hairspray, DRS, Spelling Bee, B&B, Purple, Chicago, Producers... my list goes ON and ON!!!! But I am going with a big group of friends and these are the 5 that got the most votes!... Regardless, I am still PSYCHED!

Any comments on any of the shows above (current casts in particular) are greatly appreciated!

Also... real quick, one of the things I'm thinking about doing is the "Behind the Emerald Curtain" tour at the Gershwin... anyone done it b4? Being, as I mentioned, a Wicked freak (and also deprived of any "behind the scenes" looks at brodway), I think it sounds AWESOME! ...how is it anyone?
Updated On: 1/3/06 at 01:27 AM

[exedore]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 10:45am

Ditch Lion King. It's pretty, but incredibly dull for anyone over five. The bits that weren't in the movie all feel like padding, and if you're anywhere other than the orchestra, you'll find yourself bored of watching Pride Rock go up and down over and over. Try and see Hairspray or Spelling Bee (or, if you want something a little edgier, Avenue Q) instead, they're far more entertaining and easier to get tickets for.

Spamalot is funny, but you have to dig Monty Python and British humour in general to appreciate it. If you haven't seen the original film, it may help to rent that (or some of Flying Circus) on DVD first. Tickets are expensive, and you don't want to feel like you wasted $100 on it. FWIW, I had a great time at Spamalot - it's empty headed goofiness, and you'll leave feeling entertained, but it's not likely to leave a lasting impression on you.

POTO is Cameron Mackintosh, keeping the show at a generic yet high level of quality is top priority. It'll be fine, esp. with all the celebrations going on. There's a lot of buzz around the show with the record breaker coming up, so everyone'll be on their best behaviour.

I just saw Wicked for the second time on tour (first time with the OBC), and I can live without seeing it again. That said, Carole Kane is a personal favourite ("I'm not a witch, I'm your wife!"), and Wicked on Broadway will be changing out most of the principles next week, so the cast should be fresh. There's been a number of posts about the ensemble drifting off to boredom, but they may be getting replaced too.

Haven't seen Piazza, can't comment on it, but it's VERY different from the other shows on your list, being a more serious, artsy kind of show.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 11:00am

Expand your horizons - see a play.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 11:06am

Is that that thing where people on the stage don't dance and sing?

[exedore]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 2:38pm

Plays are great, and I'm starting to see as many plays as musicals when I go to the city, but it's easier to see more plays when you're coming in from Baltimore than from SF (where the OP is from). I can fully understand why tourists coming from that far want the most bang for their theatre-going buck, and most plays don't deliver on that.

/is looking forward to History Boys

[kasim]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 3:26pm

"Is that that thing where people on the stage don't dance and sing?"

LMAO!!!! that cracked me up.

Doubt is supposed to be really good, i am thinking of seeign that next time i am in town.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 3:41pm

For great plays plays, I see my very nice local theater, Delaware Theater Company.
For decent plays, I see my good-enough local community theater, Wilmington Drama League.
For big musical entertainment, I go to Broadway. I'm sure many others have similar sentiments.

[mad4music]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 6:40pm

Ya... I thought about a play... but I am a MUSIC freak and am dying to hear professionals singing and dancing all week!

Call me narrow minded but I'll stick with the musicals for now!

(Besides- There are a few really awesome theatres not too far from where I live that do plays (true, not NY, but still good)... since I am traveling across the country I want to see big time Broadway musicals instead!)

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 7:28pm

have fun, i dont have too much info, the only one i havent seen of those is spamalot, but the rest are fantastic, so yeah, YOURE LUCKY!!!!

[QMAN03]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 7:34pm

Hey, this is has nothing to do with your post, but I'm going into NY the same week you are (last week of March)! I have no clue why I got so excited about this.

[beacon1]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 8:29pm

See "Barefoot in the Park" at the Cort Theatre. A great comedy and it stars Patrick Wilson, Amanda Peet, Jill Clayburgh and Tony Roberts.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 9:00pm

I agree, ditch Phantom of the Opera and see Barefoot in the Park.

[mad4music]

Posted: 1/5/06 at 12:36am

woo-hoo Qman! ...perhaps our paths shall cross!

Barefoot in the Park does sound tempting... especially seeing as how its got Patrick Wilson! (one of my phantom movie FAVS!)

...hmmmm...

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 1/5/06 at 2:12am

Im gonna be there then too lol. Im seeing DRS, Q and Sweeney

[BtMartin25]

Posted: 1/5/06 at 1:01pm

ditch Lion King and Phantom..
and see Spelling Bee - very awesome.
and Purple (haven't seen it.. but why not be one of the first to see something new?)

lion and phantom.. old... good, but overseen.