The first time I went to NYC was in August of 1988. I was visting friends in Somerset, NJ and took the bus to the Port Authority. At the time, I was working for Best Western and got a comp room for 5 nights at The Milford Plaza as it was a BW property.
After getting off the bus at the PA, I remember walking up 8th Avenue and seeing the Milford Plaza Hotel. As I stood on the corner waiting for the light to change, I looked to my right and saw The Majestic Theatre were "Phantom" was playing. And, then saw all the other marquees on the street. I was so surprised on how small the theatre district was. Having only experienced live theatre here in Los Angeles at The Music Center, The Pantages, The Shubert, etc.....I just assumed all the theatres were large. That was quite eye-opening.
On that trip I saw "Starlight Express," "42nd Street," "Broadway Bound" and "Speed The Plow." I got all my tickets at TKTS and had great seats for all the shows, except "42nd Street." I was in the last row of the balcony. It was so high up. But, I could see an empty seat in the front row of the Mezz, so I moved at intermission.
LOVED "Starlight Express." Before the show, I ate at Sizzler, which is the Stardust Diner now. My seat was inside the figure 8's of the set. So when they started to roller skate, the sirens would go off, and plexi-glass protectors would rise up. Jane Krakowski was in the show, and I just remember how absolutely stunning she was. So beautiful. Joan Rivers was in "Broadway Bound," and she was wonderful. When I saw "Speed The Plow," Sean Penn sat right next to me and would leave a few seconds before the lights would come up for the 2 intermissions, and then take his seat right as the lights were dimming. Madonna didn't really project very well and I had trouble hearing a lot of her lines during the play.
There was a live stage show with male performers on 8th Avenue on the current site of The Westin Times Square Hotel - the corner of 8th & 43rd Street. That was quite an eye-opening experience as well. Ha, ha!!!
The room at The Milford Plaza was so small - just a double bed, and you couldn't open the room door all the way as the door would hit the bed.
Updated On: 8/28/13 at 03:12 PM