Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Grease on Broadway Forum -> Rydell High Forum -> Show Recommendations
Post Info TOPIC: Show Recommendations
azmaxfan


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 5
Date:
Show Recommendations
Permalink Closed

Hello...
My husband and I are going to New York for the first time. This was driven by my birthday wish to see Grease because of Max and Laura winning. We are going in October (for my birthday) and are staying for a week. I am so looking forward to this trip. Other than Grease... what would be the top 5 shows would you recommend that we see. Thanks for your advice.

__________________
singingdoc


Veteran Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 70
Date:
Permalink Closed

1)  Spamalot-  My wife and I laughed so hard we cried (we like Monty Python but you really don't need to be a huge fan to thoroughly enjoy this show).
2)  Wicked-  Beautiful story, superb music and spectacular set.
3)  Lion King-  Great overall production.  May be a little long in the tooth though.
4)  Chorus Line-  Still a wonderful show although I haven't seen the show with the new cast additions.
5)  Xanadu-  This is a real hoot of a show.  If you can get seats on the stage.  You're part of the show.

Hope you have a great time!biggrin.gif

__________________
DogsandBirds


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 945
Date:
Permalink Closed

Check Broadwaybox.com to see if there are any discounts for any show. There aren't any for Grease, but for many other shows.

Here are some others: Jersey Boys if you like the music of he Four Seasons. Spring Awakening with some nudity.Drowsey Chaperone, fun and funny. Off Broadway, Altar Boys and The Fantasticks.

So much to do in NYC! Need any other suggestions, just ask. Enjoy yourselves.

-- Edited by DogsandBirds at 19:12, 2007-09-03

__________________
rizzo


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 24
Date:
Permalink Closed

A Chorus Line and Xanadu are my favorites right now! I had a great time at both, though if you see Xanadu, be sure to sit onstage, it's a lot of fun!
3 others I would recommend are:
-The Drowsy Chaperone (so funny, the sets are great and so is the music),
-Curtains (though I haven't seen it, I've heard a lot of really great things),
-Hairspray (I haven't seen it yet either, but I know the music and it's a really fun show)

-- Edited by rizzo at 19:31, 2007-09-03

__________________
MrE1111


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 680
Date:
Permalink Closed

Top 5 Musicals:

1. Curtains - musical backstage murder mystery by Kander and Ebb, the creators of Chicago and Cabaret. Stars David Hyde Pierce (in a role that won him a 2007 Tony) as the musical theater loving police detective and Debra Monk (Emmy winner - Karen Sipowitz on NYPD Blue) as the scheming producer. Huge song and dance numbers.

2. Mamma Mia! - On a Greek island, Sophie is getting married and wants her father at her wedding. There's only one trouble - there are three men who shacked up with her Donna, her mom, and therefore may be daddy. Featuring the hits of ABBA, Mamma Mia! is fun for the entire family.

3. Avenue Q - the best musical of 2004 - described as Sesame Street meets South Park. Humans and foul-mouthed puppets come together to teach life lessons and find purposes in life. Songs include "It Sucks to be Me," "The Internet is for Porn" and "Everyone's A Little Bit Racist."

4. Xanadu - a musical based on the hideous 1980 film. Featuring the hit songs of ELO, a script by Douglas Carter Beane (Little Dog Laughed, To Wong Foo: Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar), and starring Kerry Butler and Tony Roberts, Xanadu defied all odds and got universally rave reviews.

5. Jersey Boys - the best musical of 2005, starring the two 2005 Tony winners for best actor and featured actor, it tells the story of the rise and fall of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Features all their hit songs and is one big rock concert.

Plays:
Cyrano de Bergerac - a revival of the classic tale of the man with the long nose and the woman he tries to woo, starring the legendary Kevin Kline and Jennifer Garner.

Mauritius - a play by Pulitzer nominee Theresa Rebeck about two sisters and the stamp collection they inherit from their late mother. Stars F. Murray Abraham, Dylan Baker, Bobby Cannavale, Allison Pill, and Katie Finneran.


__________________
azmaxfan


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 5
Date:
Permalink Closed

Thank you for your response. You have all been very helpful. MrE...I love the synopsis. I am not a usual member or poster in any forum, but this forum has proven to be one of the friendlier ones. One question... in Xanadu, if you sit on stage are you part of the show? I am just curious if any of you actually sat on stage.

DogsandBirds... thanks for the tip for discounted tickets since I plan to make the most of this trip.

__________________
Eris


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1932
Date:
Permalink Closed

I loved Xanadu and I plan on going back to sit on stage. I've seen Hairspray twice and I love it each time. I haven't seen Avenue Q but I plan on it. Friends of my brother wrote it so I need to see it lol. I also want to see Jersey Boys but tickets are so hard to come by.

__________________
"All our dreams can come true -- if we have the courage to pursue them." -- Walt Disney

"He took in the smell of the ballpark, he smiled.  He loved the ballpark, there were smells there that couldn't be found anywhere else."
MrE1111


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 680
Date:
Permalink Closed

At Xanadu, you do kinda become part of the show. The actors sit amongst you, you're given glow sticks for the finale, and are expected to dance (or at least sway back and forth). If you're good, Jackie Hoffman and Mary Testa may share their popcor with you.

But are you called up to be "in the show?" No.

__________________
Eris


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1932
Date:
Permalink Closed

MrE1111 wrote:

At Xanadu, you do kinda become part of the show. The actors sit amongst you, you're given glow sticks for the finale, and are expected to dance (or at least sway back and forth). If you're good, Jackie Hoffman and Mary Testa may share their popcor with you.

But are you called up to be "in the show?" No.


I know someone who was bopped on the head by Curtis Holbrook's hammer.  It's little things in Xanadu but, from what I understand, it's a whole lot of fun.  When I was going to see the show I'd debated whether to sit in the house or on stage but I decided since I live so close to the city I'd see the show from the house first and if I liked it I'd go back and sit on stage.  And I'm really glad I made that decision.

 



__________________
"All our dreams can come true -- if we have the courage to pursue them." -- Walt Disney

"He took in the smell of the ballpark, he smiled.  He loved the ballpark, there were smells there that couldn't be found anywhere else."
NYC9758


Veteran Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 74
Date:
Permalink Closed

Hmm top 5! That's hard...how bout by category?

Slapstick or just plain silly:
-Avenue Q (clever concept, puppet sex! Sesame street for adults)
-The Drowsy Chaperone (Anyone with a soft spot for musicals, especially the oldies, will have a soft spot for this spoof)
-Spamalot (Fans of the movie will enjoy seeing scenes like the french guard be staged, but it's otherwise mostly a rehashing of the movie script with songs, still a very fun night out)

Feel good fluff:
-Hairspray (despite the miscasting of Lance Bass, the rest of the cast has a riot with this feel good and funny show about triumphing against stereotypes. Upbeat songs somehow make cliches funny and fresh. Ashley Spencer of Grease YTOTIW fame is currently playing Amber)
-Legally Blonde (haven't seen it yet, but have heard good things about it...girl power on sugar)
-Xanadu (Also haven't seen but heard good things about, a 2nd reason for Olivia Newton-John to be visiting Broadway)

Heavier stuff:
Spring Awakening (very gorgeous score, the critics went gaga over it, brief partial nudity scene. 19th century german schoolkids rock out. I liked the show but was somewhat underwhelmed by the performances and choreography given the hype)

Oldies but safe bets: (Haven't seen any of these too recently, but there's a reason they're still hanging around)
-Chicago
-The Phantom of the Opera (my first musical, haven't seen this in AGES, so no idea how it's doing)
-Les Miz (heard mixed things about the revival, but the original was big and dramatic with a memorable score)
-Rent (Catch the original leads before they leave again)

Big blockbusters: Actually haven't seen any of these on account of not being able to get affordable tickets...but there's gotta be a reason they're so popular!
-Wicked
-The Lion King
-Jersey Boys


-- Edited by NYC9758 at 01:42, 2007-09-04

__________________
BroadwayDream101


Veteran Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 57
Date:
Permalink Closed

With Xanadu, I enjoyed sitting in the actual audience. I haven't sat onstage, but from my view point, it seemed to be that the audience that was on-stage was missing a lot of priceless facial expressions and such.
I personally wouldn't recomend Xanadu since I only get to recomend 5...My PERSONAL favorites that are still open on Broadway are,
Wicked
Grease
Legally Blonde
Mamma Mia!
Spamalot

Not in any order. Those are all fabulous shows. Like NYC just said, it is extremley hard to get Wicked tickets (Especially good ones with only a few weeks notice), but it is completley worth the full price of tickets. So is Grease. And you do not have to be a Monty Python fan to enjoy Spamalot. Anyway, enjoy whatever you see and let us know what you decide on!

__________________
Hi, I'm Lauren.
"Sing till you're breaking glass or you're breaking down"
Eris


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1932
Date:
Permalink Closed

BroadwayDream101 wrote:
With Xanadu, I enjoyed sitting in the actual audience. I haven't sat onstage, but from my view point, it seemed to be that the audience that was on-stage was missing a lot of priceless facial expressions and such.
This is the very reason I wanted to sit in the audience first and then go back to sit on stage.

 



__________________
"All our dreams can come true -- if we have the courage to pursue them." -- Walt Disney

"He took in the smell of the ballpark, he smiled.  He loved the ballpark, there were smells there that couldn't be found anywhere else."
rizzo


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 24
Date:
Permalink Closed

I sat on the side stage seats and didn't miss any facial expressions except for when they were directly in front of me, so it wasn't bad at all.

The cast kind of comes up to you and interacts with you, it's really fun!

__________________
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
Grease on Broadway Forum -> Rydell High Forum -> Show Recommendations
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us


Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse 		Powered by ActiveBoard