Unplanned Show Surprises

[BdwayLife]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 9:24pm

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?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 9:27pm

I had semi-planned to see both Zorro and Sunset Boulevard during my first trip to London in 2009. I ended up seeing both thanks to TKTS and do not regret either. Zorro was fun-bad, and Sunset was the best show of the trip. We were in the second row and the actor-musician concept worked a lot better for me than it did in Sweeney Todd.

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 9:32pm

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!

[JBroadway]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 10:25pm

Once I was rushing a show, and when 10am rolled around, I was too far back in line to get tickets. I had seen (or already had specific plans to see) most of the shows on my list, so I decided to pop over to the Circle in the Square and buy a rush ticket to Soul Doctor. I ended up having a great time *cue noises of disgust from all other BWW posters*

 

Also on one my New York packed-with-shows trips, I decided to change my meticulously-planned schedule and grab a rush ticket to One Man, Two Guvnors, because I had heard such great word-of-mouth. One of the best decisions I ever made. I've never laughed so hard in my life. 

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 11:10pm

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

[HorseTears]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 11:39pm

Last time I was in NY, I had planned to go to "Musical Monday" at Splash, but when I found out that Splash had closed, I went to 'Foot Fetish Monday' at The Eagle instead.  

[CapnHook]

Posted: 9/8/15 at 12:00am

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.

[Hellob]

Posted: 9/8/15 at 12:01am

I met my dad 7 years ago when I was in my 30s. He grew up in the city and never went to a broadway show. I was shocked to hear that bc I'm from northwest Indiana and had seen 100 by that time. I took him to ITH bc he's Puerto Rican and had lived in WH as a kid. I wasn't surprised about liking that and he loved it but I just wanted to give background. I've gotten him into theater but I'm not going to get him into anything too deep bc he doesn't get the themes and subtext so we end up at basic shows that are ok to me, great to him. But to finally answer your question, I took him to see Jersey Boys Father's Day 2013 and I really liked it. 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. 

[gleek4114]

Posted: 9/8/15 at 12:24am

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).

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 9/8/15 at 1:17am

I had Broadway in Chicago season tickets and tried unloading my Bring It On tickets to a friend because I thought that sounded like a terribly stupid idea for a musical. (This was when it was in previews pre-Broadway.) She talked me into going with her and I loved it!!  Way more than Kinky Boots which I also saw in previews that year. Good campy fun. 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 9/8/15 at 1:45am

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

[JBradshaw]

Posted: 9/8/15 at 2:47am

I wanted to see "the sound of music" tkts was out of tix by the time I got to the window. I got scarlette pimp tixs and loved it I stead. 

I had no "mamma Mia" interest but a friend took me toi it and was so much fun. A week or two later got a call to come in for it and then I was in it. That count?

another is jersey boys. I thought eh. My mom wanted to see it. I felt ugh. Loved it. My mom and I went back 13 times I think. Jersey boys tix were a good Mother's Day present. 

[StephieElise]

Posted: 9/8/15 at 9:51am

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.   

[asmith0307]

Posted: 9/8/15 at 10:38am

I didn't mean to see Mamma Mia as well the first time I saw it. I was in NYC for TEDxBroadway this past February from Sunday to Tuesday morning. I already had tickets for Sunday matinee and Monday evening and my first choice for Sunday evening was Hamilton (yeah, no). So I rushed back uptown after the lottery to see if I could catch a show, and I made it just in time to grab a ticket to Mamma Mia. I absolutely loved it because it is just a good time. I grew up listening to a lot of ABBA music, so I loved getting to hear everything again. 

 

The other for me was Once. I kept putting off seeing it and I had decided that I wouldn't but a friend of mine needed someone to go into the city with them, so I bought a ticket the night before as that was one of the last shows that I had even a slight interest in seeing. I fell in love with the music, and I see it anytime it is within 2 hours from me.