help me decide what to see!!!

[Leanne_Jones]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 3:56pm

Hey everyone state side! Need some help if you don't mind. I am coming to New York Thurs 7th Dec til Tues 12th dec and I can only afford to see 2, maybe 3 shows at a push...

Here's the list of things I haven't seen and want to (I am a proper 100% musical boff, love the stuff, just trained at drama school, love sondheim, gospel, comedy, belty songs, basically anything that is GOOD) so please gimme some help in deciding!!!

Here's them in what i think is my order (top priority at the top of the list)

1. The color purple
2. Hairspray
3.the drowsy chaperone
4. 25th annual putney county spelling bee thingy
5. The wedding singer
6. tarzan
7. grey gardens - what is this?


Thanks so much, look forward to hearing from you all soon,

Leanne Jones

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 3:59pm

The Wedding Singer (It's closing soon. You have to see it!)
Spelling Bee
and Drowsy

I highly recommend Jay Johnson: The Two and Only! You can get $25 student tix.

[Ruth Sherwood]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 4:01pm

I would put "Drowsy" at the top of your list. It's a lot of fun, and it has an incredibly talented cast. While I love "Hairspray," I don't think the cast is good right now (yes, I have seen it with the current cast). "Grey Gardens" should also be at the top of your list. I didn't care for the first act; however, the second act is quite good, and Christine Ebersole lives up to the hype she has been receiving.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 4:01pm

Avoid TARZAN.

See COMPANY and GREY GARDENS.

[glimpseofstocking]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 4:03pm

The Drowsy Chaperone and Grey Gardens! Both are amazing

[Leanne_Jones]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 4:05pm

Hmm, thanks everyone so far, definietley think about grey gardens then, and drowsy chaperone, no-one think anything of the color purple? I have the CD and i love it!

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 4:06pm

<-------

[defyingravity11]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 4:10pm

You must see The Color Purple! Especially if you like gospel and belty music.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 4:18pm

The Wedding Singer (catch it before it closes!)
Grey Gardens
The Color Purple

[manderson05]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 4:30pm

If you are a trained Drama person... you will truly appreciate Christine Ebersole's performance in Grey Gardens.

Wait on Drowsey Chaperone, it is going to be coming to London soon. I promise. I personally the think if you are choosing between the rest and are paying for a full priced ticket I would choose 25th annual. William Finn has some great music in there. However, you should really consider checking out Spring Awakening which is going to be a huge contender at the Tony's next June and/or the Roundabout Revival of The Apple Tree with Kristen Chenoweth both of which you could get some sort of discount to. I saw Spring Awakening this summer and it is amazing. The Color Purple doesn't have LaChanze anymore, so I personally don't think it would be worth it, and even though The Wedding Singer was cute. It isn't really worth your time, or money espcially if you are a trained person --- and you could be seeing shows that are possibly going to be taking home Tony's come June.

Best of Luck Choosing.

M

[dutch46mill2]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 4:32pm

Hairspray cast is fine now they had a half dozen of the principals out for a week but everyones back should be great hilarious and you'll leave with a big smile don't miss it.

[JarNerdAV]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 4:42pm

I just came back from NY seeing 12 Broadway shows (and 1 off-broadway) in 8 days and I saw most everything on your list. Let me say this as clearly as I can: SEE GREY GARDENS!!! Rent the documentary (netflix has it) before you go, but definitely see it.

Based on your love of Sondheim, I'd also tell you go see COMPANY. I loved it. Raul Esparza is AMAZING as Bobby, and the rest of the cast is great too. As long as you aren't bothered by Doyle's minimalist staging, you should love it too.

As for The Color Purple, I loved it the first time I saw it last year, but the recent cast changes have really hurt it IMO (particularly the new Celie and Mister). The show will be touring in the next year (with the show standout-Felicia P. Fields as Sophia) and so hopefully you will have other opportunities to see it where you live (and with a better cast than in the current Broadway production).

Drowsy is cute, but rather slight. You might feel cheated if you only get to see two shows and DC is one of them. I liked it enough, but not it wasn't in my top five.

Hairspray is a wonderful show (I saw it with Harvey Fierstein and Cathy Brier), but I've heard it's getting kind of tired. You also will be more likely to get a chance to see a tour of the show in your area--it's never going to die, but you'll never get to see a tour of Grey Gardens or this production of Company.

Tarzan was really, really disappointing. Yes, Josh Strickland is a cutie and he sings rather well, but the show itself is very limp. It was my least favorite of the Broadway shows I saw this trip.

I can't comment on Wedding Singer or Spelling Bee as I have never seen either, but they seem rather thin to me. And both will be on tour in the coming year I believe, so they aren't going away too soon in some incarnation or another.

I hope you have a great time no matter what you choose. How could you not? It's NY!

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 4:45pm

If I was forced to pick three from your list, I probably choose "The Color Purple," "The Drowsy Chaperone," and "Grey Gardens" (which I've yet to see). You also can't miss with "Spelling Bee." What a great problem to have--picking shows to see in NYC!

[newyorkrbust]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 4:57pm

WEDDING SINGER!!!!!!! I've heard its amazing...Too bad I'm not getting to NYC til April

[actor]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 5:04pm

YOUR LIST:

1. The color purple
2. Hairspray
3.the drowsy chaperone
4. 25th annual putney county spelling bee thingy
5. The wedding singer
6. tarzan
7. grey gardens - what is this?

COMMENTS:

-I would not see Hairspray if I were you, it isn't any good in my opinion. I wouldn't waste the money on it.
-The Drowsy Chaperone is fantastic
-The Spelling Bee is fine
-The Wedding Singer is closing soon, so if you are interested in that, I would see it.
-I would try to avoid Tarzan - it isn't half as good as any of the others on this list.
-If you're not sure what Grey Gardens is, then look on http://www.broadway.com for a synopsis (or on the Grey Gardens homepage)

Overall, I would choose The Drowsy Chaperone. I think that it's one of the best shows on Broadway currently.

-------------

For discounted tickets, visit: http://www.playbill.com OR http://www.broadwaybox.com

[To The Stage!]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 5:13pm

Drowsy Chaperone- Was excellent! You should really see it. You won't be disappointed and it's a very clever and original show. The cast is so, so talented!

Grey Gardens- Although I am waiting to see this, I've heard wonderful reviews. Christine Ebersole is fantastic.

Company- I have not seen this one either, but I am a Raul Esparza and I've heard nothing but amazing things about him in this production. It's a classic show, go see it!

[Anthony3]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 5:13pm

The Drowsy Chaperone
Hairspray
Spelling Bee

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 5:25pm

THE COLOR PURPLE
THE WEDDING SINGER
HAIRSPRAY

and my 4th choice would be GREY GARDENS

[Broadway Baby4]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 5:28pm

see Spelling Bee- I love that show!!

[popculture37]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 5:29pm

The Color Purple-haven't seeen it, and don't intend to. It doesn't look very appealing to me at all.
Hairspray- its a good, fun show, I wouldn't say its one of the best we have to offer.
Drowsy Chaperone-a very funny and I think very beautiful show. I guess its seen as one of the "joke" shows on Broadway, but I found it incredibly moving. Definitely see this one!
Spelling Bee-hysterically funny and very smart. Not all of the music is memorable, but the dialogue and characters are priceless.
The Wedding Singer- its a fluffyy show, but I had a lot of fun. Great cast, and fatastic dance numbers.
Tarzan-I haven't seen it, but I've heard nothing but bad things about it. Avoid this one.
Grey gardens-is based on the cult movie. I haven't seen it, but from the opinions of those I know who have, its a love-it or hate-it kind of thing. My great aunt said it was very nice, my old voice teacher said it was worth seeing just for Ebersole, and my friends (who went to see it without me!) said that Ebersole was good but the book and music were terribly written and they had a hard time sitting through it.
So, I would highgly recommend Drowsy and Spelling Be, and if those don't work out then Wedding Singer is probably your best bet.I hope you have a good time.

[popculture37]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 5:29pm

Sorry for the double post, and for the typing errors...computer is being hostile. Updated On: 11/13/06 at 05:29 PM

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 5:30pm

LES MISERABLES, A CHORUS LINE and WEDDING SINGER

Updated On: 11/13/06 at 05:30 PM

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 5:41pm

I would definetley see Company. Fantastic cast and amazing score. Can't go wrong.

The Drowsy Cahperone is really fun, as is Hairspray.
Spelling Bee is very funny.

Don't know much about Grey Gardens, but Ebersole's performance seems to be worth the price of admission.

Spring Awakening has some good songs, though I haven't seen the show.

Stay away from Tarzan. Same goes for Wedding Singer.

The Color Purple is Ok, but I didn't really enjoy the CD.

Other Good shows:

Chicago
Les Mis
Avenue Q

[jess20882]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 5:46pm

This would be my list to choose from (yes, in preference order):

The Color Purple
Mary Poppins
A Chorus Line
Hairspray
The Drowsy Chaperone
Les Miserables
Tarzan

Enjoy yourself, whatever you end up seeing

[Emilie!]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 5:55pm

Spelling Bee for sure!