which 2 shows (hadestown, beetlejuice, ain't too proud, or tootsie

[GlenCoco]

Posted: 5/4/19 at 9:37pm

I have to 2 out of the 4, based on affordability and how good the show is, what 2 shows should i pick when i go to NYC in 4 weeks.

Thank you

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/4/19 at 9:39pm

Ranking order: top to bottom 

Hadestown

Tootsie

Aint too Proud

 

 

 

Beetlejuice.

[Daddy Warbucks]

Posted: 5/4/19 at 9:59pm

Hadestown is a must.

Next, I’d probably say it depends on how old you are and personal preferences.

If your formative years were in the 90’s then Beetlejuice. That happened to be my favorite of the remaining three due to its eye popping fun. It was everything I want a broadway musical to be.

If your formative years were in the 80’s, Tootsie. It feels a bit more low key and old fashioned compared to Beetlejuice, but very funny - a lot of one-liners like a comedy club. The book and lyrics are incredibly strong.

If you grew up loving motown (which I did) and/or the others don’t sound your cup of tea, then Ain’t too Proud will be good fun and great music.

[Emmaloucbway]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 1:19am

Tootsie and Hadestown

[brdwybuff]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 8:39am

Hadestown and Tootsie. Hands down. 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 8:45am

Hadestown and Tootsie for sure.

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 8:49am

Didn't love Tootsie, which I guess many here did, so I'd say Hadestown and Ain't Too Proud.  Great dancing!

[CopleyScott17]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 8:56am

Of those choices, I would definitely recommend "Hadestown."  But you'll be cheating yourself if you don't see "Oklahoma!"

Updated On: 5/5/19 at 08:56 AM

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 9:01am

I'll also be a dissenting voice and say that Tootsie is my least favorite of those 4 shows. So, Hadestown, with the second being a toss-up between Beetlejuice and Ain't Too Proud, which I enjoyed almost equally. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 10:43am

^ lol, that comment puts Aint Too Proud even further down my list!

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 10:45am

Hadestown and Tootsie. A good blend.

[kmissa]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 11:01am

Hadestown
Ain’t too Proud
Tootsie

Hadestown is great and original. Ain’t too proud very good, but it’s a jukebox musical. This board seems to have a weird hate for it, but it’s a solid show. Tootsie good (I’ve never seen original) but way too long.

[starcatchers]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 11:33am

I didn’t dislike any of them, but in order of preference:

Hadestown
Beetlejuice
Tootsie
Ain’t Too Proud

[Luscious]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 12:02pm

Hadestown is this year's Hamilton; the show that most people (especially on this board) feel compelled to love. Tootsie is this year's The Producers; the show that most people (especially on this board) feel compelled to loathe, or at least dislike. Personally, I loathed Hadestown (couldn't wait for it to end) and I LOVED Tootsie (funniest and most enjoyable night of theater in a long time)! I won yesterday's lottery, and while the seats weren't the best, I'm seeing it again on 5/28 from much better seats. Tootsie is an old-fashioned Broadway musical comedy farce. If that's not your thing, steer clear. Hadestown is what I would consider to be "new Broadway" (eg. Once, Hamilton, Come From Away), so if that's your thing, then go for it. I haven't seen Ain't Too Proud or Beetlejuice, and have no interest in either.

Updated On: 5/5/19 at 12:02 PM

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 12:47pm

Hadestown!!!!
Then tootsie if you need a second from those options.

Nothing else

[spicemonkey]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 12:50pm

Hadestown and tootsie

[ChildofEarth]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 1:13pm

See Hadestown twice - once from the orch and once from the mezz.

The rest are just so-so in my opinion but if you have to see a second, I’d go with Ain’t Too Proud.

[SFFrontRow]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 1:30pm

Asking a question like this just brings out the haters...

I am in NYC in about 3 weeks, will see Hadestown, Tootsie, and Beetlejuice. Saw the first preview of Ain't Too Proud (missed it at Berkeley Rep, but it got great reviews here). I think the poster who noted the 90's vs 80's vs growing up when Motown was big covers it best, and it also depends on your taste in theater.

Per the info I have accumulated doing research for my Spring Trip to NYC:

Hadestown is the more arty and unusual of the shows. When done well, I think shows like this need to be supported to avoid having B'way be a bunch of movie retreads and jukebox shows (and I DO NOT dislike either of these types of shows if they are done well, like Tootsie and Ain't Too Proud). Hadestown may be a little more obscure of a story to many (I know Comet was for me a few seasons ago).

Tootsie - being more traditional - had a great book writer to infuse the comedy element, David Yazbek is an awesome theater artist (Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and last year's The Band's Visit), and the setup on a show like this is more intricate with a big payoff in the story. 

Ain't Too Proud is a jukebox musical on the scale of Jersey Boys (decent enough story, great performances all the way around, and that awesome music). Very enjoyable (for me at least), but Motown was part of the soundtrack of my youth... so you know how I would lean on this.

Beetlejuice is one of those shows like SpongeBob last year - leave your brain home and just enjoy the ride. I was not going to see this show, and now I am excited to see the set and all the crazy off the rails nonsense they bring from the movie onto the stage. Not all shows have to carry a social message, and from what I have read on the message boards, the audience is part of the fun.

My recommendations are in this order:

Hadestown (different and arty), Tootsie (old-fashioned musical comedy with a twist), Ain't Too Proud (quality jukebox), Beetlejuice (crazy stupid fun).

But those are MINE, based on my tastes and what I like to see. 

Updated On: 5/5/19 at 01:30 PM

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 1:41pm

SFFrontRow said: "Asking a question like this just brings out the haters..."

Not sure I see any haters in this thread, just the opinions of people who've seen the shows in question.
 
 

Updated On: 5/5/19 at 01:41 PM

[SFFrontRow]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 1:52pm

CT2NYC said: "SFFrontRow said: "Asking a question like this just brings out the haters..."

Not sure I see any haters in this thread, just the opinions of people who've seen the shows in question.

"

That was just a general comment, but check above from another "legend" dramamama - "^ lol, that comment puts Ain't Too Proud even further down my list!" How is that productive for someone asking for help to spend a lot of money for entertainment? 

And lastly, not going to get into a spit fight with you on this, just felt the need to comment back on you. And for clarity, I did not point out anyone, it was just a general comment, I have asked the same in posts and gotten all kinds of hate on shows I actually liked.

So, thanks for your "feedback" and this is why I do not post very often on these boards anymore.

Updated On: 5/5/19 at 01:52 PM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 1:57pm

Well, there was the o e snarky reply about the posters here "compelled" to love or loathe the ahows in question. As if ANYONE come to a discussion board to blend in.

[bearhorn]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 4:24pm

Just returned from NY and saw three of the four you’ve mentioned.  Hadestown is a must!  I really figured Tootsie would be great too, but was just not enamored with it (great book though).  Ain’t Too Proud was surprisingly better.  The others I saw were Oklahoma & To Kill A Mockingbird  and I found those better than Tootsie as well.

I’m sure you’ll have fun with whatever you choose.

Updated On: 5/5/19 at 04:24 PM

[Robbie2]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 4:59pm

GlenCoco said: "I have to 2 out of the 4, based on affordability and how good the show is, what 2 shows should i pick when i go to NYC in 4 weeks.

Thank you"

 

Hadestown and Tootsie...skip Be More Chill unless you're under 20 but still see the other 2!

https://www.hadestown.com/

https://tootsiemusical.com/

 

[TorontoBroadwayFan]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 6:16pm

Two more votes for Hadestown and Tootsie. Beautiful music on the former and laugh out loud hilarity on the latter.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/5/19 at 6:21pm

SFFrontRow said: "CT2NYC said: "SFFrontRow said: "Asking a question like this just brings out the haters..."

Not sure I see any haters in this thread, just the opinions of people who've seen the shows in question.

"

That was just a general comment, but check above from another "legend" dramamama - "^ lol, that comment puts Ain't Too Proud even further down my list!" How is that productive for someone asking for help to spend a lot of money for entertainment?

And lastly, not going to get into a spit fight with you on this, just felt the need to comment back on you. And for clarity, I did not point out anyone, it was just a general comment, I have asked the same in posts and gotten all kinds of hate on shows I actually liked.

So, thanks for your "feedback" and this is why I do not post very often on these boards anymore."

How, exactly, did that make me a hater?  Someones comment  helped me clarifying a choice for myself.