What shouldn't we miss on our May trip? (And how it went - see Page 2)

We're headed to New York City on vacation in mid-May, have time to see as many as 5 shows given our plan to avoid two-show days. The only show we booked in advance is Hadestown, and I'm not inclined to see To Kill a Mockingbird (sticker shock, limited interest despite all of the raves I've seen) or Network (despite Bryan Cranston's acclaimed performance). Given our desire to avoid excessive costs, we're not inclined to buy too much else in advance.

We're not local and don't go to New York often, so my bias is certainly in favor of things that we can't see on an upcoming tour - although that rule can be adjusted if the venue or performances are special. My wife and college-age daughter are more inclined to see musicals. (I'm leaving out Octet, Dave Malloy's new musical, because it's sold out on every day we're there.)

From researching the possible shows I've looked into seriously, here are the pros and cons I've identified. If there's a show we should reconsider, feel free to chime in:

Ain't Too Proud: saw it at the Berkeley Rep. My wife and daughter loved it, not likely to see it again

Burn This: Pros: Adam Driver, Brandon Uranowitz; Cons: Is it really that great a play?

The Cher Show: Pros - Stephanie J. Block; Cons - Another bio-musical? Isn't it actually kind of lame?

The Ferryman: Pros - Well-acted, compelling story that most critics have loved, seems buyable on TKTS; Cons: very long play that some have criticized as obviously manipulative

Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune: Pros - Star-laden play on a Monday evening when nothing else is playing; Cons - nobody has seen it yet, in previews, might be a night to do something non-theater

Gary: Pros - unique play, short, never seen Nathan Lane; Cons - too weird even for me, not all that good?

Ink: Pros - well-acted, fast-moving play that's political without jamming a message down your throat; Cons - Is it really all that good?

Kiss Me, Kate: Pros - choregraphy, old-school musical, Corbin Bleu, Kelly O'Hara, possibly inexpensive; Cons - inexpensive for a reason

My Fair Lady: Pros - a classic done in classical style, wonderful score, I've never seen it; Cons - split on Laura Benanti's performance, will go on tour next year

Oklahoma!: Pros - unique reimagining of an American classic, wonderful score; Cons - the intellectual appeal of this revival may not match the execution; lots of people really, really have hated it

The Prom: Pros - a funny, original musical comedy with a heart, strong lead performances; Cons - nothing special; can see it next year or on tour

Tootsie: Pros: genuinely funny musical comedy, lead actor likely to win Tony and the show might too; Cons - same old, same old attempt to revive '80s movie that isn't as good as the movie; a rather large theater

Is there anything here that we need to get in advance or is everything likely to be available on TKTS or TodayTix or some other discount? We wouldn't mind having some flexibility.

Updated On: 5/25/19 at 08:42 PM

I highly recommend Tootsie. It may be another film-to-musical adaptation but it's quite different from the source material and a hilarious night at the theatre.

Tootsie

The Prom

Kiss Me Kate

I would see either My Fair Lady or Kiss Me, Kate as your safe choice. Try TKTS or TDF.

Lottery for Oklahoma! just so you can form your own opinion.

Then another musical and one or two plays depending on how you're feeling.

We just returned from NYC yesterday and saw 7 shows in 5 days.

You are going to love HadesTown. It is one of the most gorgeous productions I've seen. I second The Prom if you are looking for another musical. That and HadesTown were our two favorite musicals of the trip. We also saw Aladdin and Tootsie. Tootsie is very overrated in my opinion. The score is so forgettable and undermines the otherwise hilarious book. There's a lot of cliche in Tootsie. The movie is a favorite of my partner's and he was most looking forward to Tootsie. We give it a 6.5/10 at best. The Prom is a 10. HadesTown is a 10. You can definitely get a deal on The Prom. It's on www.telechargeoffers.com (as is The Ferryman). Also, you mentioned that The Prom is nothing special and you can see it on tour. I'd argue with that as there will need to be some rewrites to make another cast work. Some of the jokes are directly about the performers in the production. Beth Leavel and Brooks Ashmanskas are both hilarious as well. It won't be the same on tour.

The Ferryman is one of the best plays I've seen in a while. Also a 10/10. I'd sit close if possible.

I can understand your reluctance to pay high dollar for Network or TKAM, but both are incredible productions that should not be missed. Network is one of the most interesting productions I've seen as it blends live theatre with live film. The cast of recognizable TV faces is outstanding. Cranston's performance, especially the "mad as hell" monologue, alone is worth the price of admission.

TKAM is one of my favorite books and films, and I've seen a few productions of it on stage. Sorkin has made this story completely fresh and new for the era of injustice we are living today. Celia Keenan Bolger is sensational as Scout, and Jeff Daniels' performance is wonderful. While I think Cranston's performance is stronger overall, Daniels will likely win the Tony.

Updated On: 4/29/19 at 12:09 PM

On a different note, the “All My Sons” revival is outstanding. Very potent classic with terrific performances. I expect (at least) Benjamin Walker will get a Tony nom nod tom’w.

OP here. As the trip is only days away, I'm only a little bit closer to sorting things out. (My wife is fine with that; she would rather decide at the last minute, and I'd rather get discount tickets too.)

I did get $25 tickets to Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, and I guess we'll have the mezzanine to ourselves with the other cheapskates a week from Monday. We already have tickets to Hadestown on our last night.

We're almost certain to see My Fair Lady, just a question of Saturday night or Sunday. (Michael Halling isn't an option for us because we're seeing Hadestown on the night he typically performs.)

Oklahoma! has prompted a big debate in my family, which might get resolved if the show sells out before we can get discount tickets.

The divergence of opinion on Tootsie and The Prom is leaving me in a dilemma. They're musical comedies, which in theory should please my wife and daughter (and possibly me, as I've enjoyed the last several musical comedies I've seen, even ones like Head Over Heels that lots of people thought were dumb). I'm probably more interested in The Prom, but Tootsie has plenty of supporters and positive reviews even if I'm less enthused in theory. Even the show's harshest critics say it's funny. We may end up seeing both.

But if we do, that might leave all of the other plays out. While the announcement of an alleged tour of The Ferryman has me thinking I could possibly skip it on Broadway, the current cast has received good reviews. I'm cooling on Ink and wonder if Burn This covers ground that's too similar to Frankie and Johnny.

The Secret Life of Bees and Octet both intrigue but are sold out.

I know about What the Constitution Means to Me, and regret not seeing at the Berkeley Rep last year, but I think we'll skip it on Broadway. I am also aware of the praise for Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish, but we'll probably pass.

Kiss Me, Kate has been discussed. (Between that and Tootsie and The Prom, I'm leery of seeing too many theater-about-theater shows.) There is always the possibility that a dark horse emerges, especially among the plays.

Last chance, everyone. What will we regret missing in New York?

Updated On: 5/13/19 at 01:49 AM

Hi NYfanfromCA,

Your post is both encouraging (lots of great stuff to see!) and daunting. You recommended 10 shows (including one we're going to see)! At most, I've got 3 additional slots (and possibly only 2 depending on how quickly we get into Manhattan from JFK), since I already have tickets to Hadestown and Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune (on a Monday) and plan to get tickets to My Fair Lady (never seen it, consensus choice).

We won't be back in New York City this year, so this is our one chance to see things until 2020 at the earliest.

We could max out on musicals. See The Prom, Tootsie and either Oklahoma! or Kiss Me,Kate! (We saw Ain't Too Proud in its Berkeley Rep tryout, and tickets are very limited anyway.)

You have outlined concisely what intrigues me about several of the plays, mostly some highly praised performances. My doubts with several of them is whether the plays are unmissable. The primary critique of Network, for example, is that the play is not all that interesting when Cranston isn't on stage.

I'm trying to narrow down the list to shows that I will regret missing, either because of terrific performances or the overall show - basically, what should I see in New York that I can't see elsewhere in a comparable version on tour in a year or two?

It sounds like your first choice among musicals I don't have on my final list is The Prom. I'm not sure where you would put Oklahoma! It's certainly a show that inspires strong reactions. What would you say to a skeptic?

Sorry to list too many choices earlier. I will say that if your family prefers musicals, see The Prom and The Cher Show. You've already seen Ain't Too Proud, and I rank The Cher Show a tad higher than that show. Oklahoma! was a very good production, but it isn't a feel good and happy kind of show. Tootsie is a great book and funny and a good time.

Show preferences are so subjective. I would say that a must-see play is To Kill a Mockingbird (just got out of the show and it was even better the second time), but if that isn't on your list, just stick to musicals.

Everyone is right, of course, that all of this is hopelessly subjective.

My family does prefer musicals, but they would like a really good play instead of a mediocre musical. I just don't want to recommend too many plays. And they're not just interested in light fare. Favorite musicals of theirs (and mine) include West Side Story, Hamilton, Fun Home, and Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

I have concluded, from reading the various threads, that The Prom is almost as divisive as the Oklahoma! revival. Tootsie isn't too far behind, although there is more of a consensus. Our Oklahoma! decision, assuming tickets are available, will affect other choices.

I've got 5 or 6 potential slots. Two have been purchased already (Hadestown, Frankie & Johnny). Another will be, barring a change of heart (My Fair Lady). That leaves 2 or 3 shows, depending on whether we arrive in time to see a show the first night. (If we make it in time, after a cross-country flight and race to our hotel, I want to see something light.)

The most likely choices for the 2 (or 3) slots are: Tootsie, The Prom, The Ferryman, Ink, Oklahoma! Even then, I'm leaving out some shows that have have received a lot of praise or sound interesting for one reason or another.

At times like this, I wish I could visit New York City more often.

Updated On: 5/14/19 at 09:32 PM