Unplanned Show Surprises

A few years ago, we purchased tickets (in advance) to Mamma Mia and Wicked. While in NYC, we decided, last minute, to purchase tickets to Ghost at TKTS, and it turned out to be our favorite show of the trip. The following year, I purchased tickets (again, in advance) to Kinky Boots, Pippin and Cinderella. For me, which was my favorite show of that trip? NEWSIES! (I bought a last minute ticket, again, at good old TKTS.) Saw Fun Home, An American in Paris and The Book of Mormon this past summer, but, still love Ghost and Newsies the most! (This is my personal opinion, not interested in debating one show over the other, folks!) Thank you TKTS! What have been your unplanned show surprises?

I went into The Visit not knowing what to expect at all. And then Chita Rivera just blew my mind, the visuals were unlike anything I'd ever seen, the story and score nearly moved me to tears. It's definitely in my Top 5 favorite productions I've seen on Broadway.

I also saw staged readings of The Seagull and Twelve Angry Men that I did not think I would enjoy as much as I did. Both turned out to be really thought-provoking for me, and it helped that both productions' casts were excellent. And that's why they call 'em classics!

clinton the musical was a sunday night fillin for me because i was book of mormon satiated

it was really really funny with lots of well crafted songs...hoping the cast album will come out

Tales of the city-judy kaye and a wonderful cast on the sf premiere...its was too long (3.25 hours) but a fun book and great songs

My fair lady at sf playhouse WAY WAY Better than expected for a regional cast

Aida...didnt know what to expect saw shortly after opening and was still the biggest OMG night of a musical WAY exceeding expectations(i came back to obc six times even though i lived in SF)

Musical surprises are the BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The last show that I saw on a whim and didn't expect much of it was THE WEDDING SINGER. I was shocked at how fun it was. But not just fun...it was GOOD. I was truly surprised.

My first trip to NYC (2013), I decided to rush Big Fish in addition to our two other shows (Matilda and Kinky Boots) and ended up falling in love with it head over heels. I felt so lucky that I had stumbled upon it when I did, since it ultimately didn't last very long. On my second trip, I was planning on trying my luck at the Beautiful rush line, but got there too late. I ended up seeing It's Only a Play instead, and was pleasantly surprised. On that same trip, I was planning on trying my luck at the Hedwig Lottery (Andrew was Hedwig at the time), but my bus was late and I missed it. Cinderella was my back up, but on the way I stopped at Gentleman's Guide on a whim (this was like 6:30 on a Friday night), and ended up snagging the last SRO spot and thoroughly enjoyed a show I wouldn't have gone out of my way to see (not to mention I got to see the OBC about a mouth before some of them left).

Hellob said: "The original Frankie Valli was back. I was shocked that I never checked the time or found anything to hate about it. In fact, if he (John Lloyd Young, I think I'm bad with names) returned, I'd take my dad again. "

You're correct. http://www.playbillvault.com/Person/Detail/45455/John-Lloyd-Young

Updated On: 9/8/15 at 01:45 AM

I didn't really like the sound of Rock of Ages when it was in Melbourne and wasn't planning on seeing it. My sister ended up winning 2 tickets and gave them to my mum and I and we absolutely loved the show and ended up going back.

I found Mary Poppins to be a big disappointment so expected Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to be even worse. But as it was the only show playing in Melbourne for my birthday I booked tickets anyway. In the lead up to the show I was actually calling it something else that rhymes with chitty... But I actually found it a really enjoyable show that brought back a lot of childhood memories of the movie.

The only other 'unplanned show surprise' I had was when my sister decided we HAD to do the Wicked lottery the last matinee of school holidays before it left Melbourne, when it was rumoured that Carmen Cusack would be performing as Elphaba. It seemed that anyone walking past the theatre jumped in the queue just for fun. There must have been about 300 people there, but she was certain that we would win...and sure enough, we did.