Yay :) Booked my ticket for Wicked:)

[Isabel]

Hey all,

Sounds silly but I just booked my ticket for Wicked in NYand I am very excited :)
I booked it on a sunday afternoon. I thought that would be the safest. That means I don't have to go back to my hostel around 11 at night.

Also the seat seems to be OK :) (i am so happy the dollar is soo low :D ) If the dollar keeps to be so low and I get taxes back, than I might go to another show on an afternoon, only not sure which one. Perhaps the Phantom.

Any tips which other show I should see? :p

Isabel

[Terez]

What is Wicked?

[Sarevok]

Yeah, what Terez said...

[Isabel]

You guys don't know Wicked? :)

It's a musical on Broadway. It's about the Wicked Witch of the West. I have seen it in London and it's great!!
I hope it's even better on broadway.

[Terez]

Everything is better on Broadway. ;)

[Sarevok]

Ah, if we're talking musicals, and by Phantom you mean the Phantom of the Opera, I'd suggest that one. It's awesome :D

[Terez]

I didn't know Phantom was still on Broadway. I've seen Cats on a Broadway tour - that was awesome, but according to Wikipedia, its last performance was in 2000 (it was probably somewhere between 1990-93 when I saw it).

[Isabel]

Yeah I have checked the musicals on broadway and Phantom isn't there:( I guess I thought it was there, because I think it's still in London.

I am not really interested in Little Mermaid or Lion King. I am thinking about Hairspray or another musical.

[Ivhon]

Lion King is amazing - especially with the spectacle (i.e. grandeur/special effects/etc)

[Hopper]

Also the seat seems to be OK

I've seen Wicked on Broadway. There are no bad seats in that theatre. If you're really far to the left or right, you might miss a little, but it's a nice intimate theatre.

Any tips which other show I should see?

Here's a list of what's playing on Broadway:

A Catered Affair: A new musical by Harvey Fierstein and John Bucchino, based on the film and teleplay of the same name. Walter Kerr Theatre, 219 West 48th Street.
I don't know anything about this one.

A Chorus Line: A revival of the famous musical about dancers auditioning to be in a Broadway show. Schoenfeld Theatre, 236 West 45th Street.
I love this show. 4 Stars

August: Osage County: A new play by Tracy Letts about a Midwestern family whose patriarch has vanished. Music Box Theatre, 239 West 45th Street.
I don't know anything about this one.

Avenue Q: An irreverent new musical, which features an integrated puppet and human cast, about life on a fictitious New York street inhabited by young people looking for love and happiness. John Golden Theatre, 252 West 45th Street.
I haven't seen it, but it won Tony Awards all over the place.

Boeing-Boeing: A comedy about a bachelor and his three fiancees, who are all flight attendants. Longacre Theatre, 220 West 48th Street.
I don't know anything about this one.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof: A revival of Tennessee Williams's famous play, with an all African American cast. Directed by Debbie Allen. Broadhurst Theatre, 235 West 44th Street.
I don't know much about this one, but Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Debbie Allen would be enough to make me consider it.

Chicago: A revival of the musical about a pair of murderesses and the razzle-dazzle lawyer who gets them off. Featuring terrific dancing in the style of Bob Fosse. Ambassador Theatre, 219 West 49th Street.
Love love love this show. 4 Stars

Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy: A new acrobatic and musical adventure inspired by nature's unpredictable creations; created and directed by Neil Goldberg. Broadway Theatre, 1681 Broadway.
I don't know anything about this one. If it's Cirque de Soliel, it's worth considering.

Cry-Baby: A musical by Mark O'Donnell, Thomas Meehan, David Javerbaum, and Adam Schlesinger, based on the John Waters film about a bad boy with a good cause. Marquis Theatre, 1535 Broadway.
I don't know anything about this one.

Curtains: A new musical comedy by John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Rupert Holmes about the investigation of the murder of a Broadway leading lady. Al Hirschfeld Theatre, 302 West 45th Street.
I don't know anything about this one.

Grease: A revival of the musical comedy about high school life in the 1950s, starring Laura Osnes and Max Crumm, who won the TV competition for the lead roles. Brooks Atkinson Theatre, 256 West 47th Street.
Rama lama ding dong. 4 Stars

Gypsy: A revival of the classic musical by Jule Styne, Stephen Sondheim, and Arthur Laurents, based on the memoir of striptease star Gypsy Rose Lee. St. James Theatre, 246 West 44th Street.
I don't know anything about this one except that it's Sondheim.

Hairspray: A terrific musical based on the John Waters film about a Baltimore, Maryland teenager who becomes a star on a TV dance show. Exuberant, infectious fun. Neil Simon Theatre, 250 West 52nd Street.
It's won all kinds of awards and they made it into a movie, yet I've never had any desire to see it.

In the Heights: A new musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegria Hudes about two days in the life of a Washington Heights neighborhood. Richard Rodgers Theatre, 226 West 46th Street.
I don't know anything about this one.

Jersey Boys: A new musical based on the life story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. August Wilson Theatre, 245 West 52nd Street.
I don't know anything about this one.

Legally Blonde: A new musical by Nell Benjamin, Laurence O'Keefe, and Heather Hach, based on the novel and film of the same name. Palace Theatre, 1564 Broadway.
I don't know anything about this one.

Les Liaisons Dangereuses: Roundabout Theatre Company presents a revival of Christopher Hampton's play about two scheming friends and occasional lovers. American Airlines Theatre, 227 West 42nd Street.
I don't know anything about this one.

Mamma Mia: A musical comedy about a woman who invites three men who may be her father to her wedding, with lots of songs by ABBA. Winter Garden Theatre, 1634 Broadway.
I've heard great things about this one, but I've yet to see it. Best I can do is give a second hand recomendation.

Mary Poppins: A musical based on the 1964 Walt Disney film and the stories of P.L. Travers. New Amsterdam Theatre, 214 West 42nd Street.
I'm curious about this one.

November: A new play by David Mamet that takes place days before a major presidential election, and involves civil marriages, gambling casinos, lesbians, American Indians, presidential libraries, questionable pardons, and campaign contributions. Ethel Barrymore Theatre, 243 West 47th Street.
I don't know anything about this one.

Passing Strange: The musical by Stew, about a young black bohemian artist on a journey of escape and self-discovery, transfers to Broadway. This was a huge hit at the Public Theater last summer. Belasco Theatre, 111 West 44th Street.
I don't know anything about this one.

Rent: A stirring, joyous contemporary musical about young people living in New York's East Village and building community and family in the face of devastation. Nederlander Theatre, 208 West 41st Street.
Saw the show in Boston, own the movie, LOVE THE MUSIC. 6 stars out of 5.

South Pacific: A revival of the famous Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, set during World War II on an island in the South Pacific. Presented by Lincoln Center Theater. Vivian Beaumont Theater, 150 West 65th Street.
Cute show, but I hate the music.

Spamalot: A new musical, lovingly ripped off from the motion picture Monty Python and the Holy Grail, written by Eric Idle and John Du Prez. Shubert Theatre, 225 West 44th Street.
I haven't seen it yet, but I have the CD. If you're a big Monty Python fan, it's almost required to see.

Spring Awakening: A musical by Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater, based on Frank Wedekind's play about a group of teenagers trying to learn about life, love, and sex. Eugene O'Neill Theatre, 230 West 49th Street.
I don't know anything about this one.

Sunday in the Park with George: Roundabout Theatre Company presents a new production of the Sondheim/Lapine musical about artist Georges Seurat. This revival is from the Menier Chocolate Factory in the U.K., directed by Sam Buntrock. Studio 54, 254 West 54th Street.
I don't know anything about this one.

The 39 Steps: A comic parody of the famous Hitchcock thriller, with four actors playing all the roles. Cort Theatre, 138 West 48th Street.
I don't know anything about this one.

The Country Girl: A revival of Clifford Odets's play about an alcoholic former star trying to make a comeback. Mike Nichols directs. Jacobs Theatre, 242 West 45th Street.
I don't know anything about this one.

The Lion King: The long-running Broadway musical, based on the animated film. Featuring a score by Elton John and others, with Julie Taymor's remarkable puppets and masks. Minskoff Theatre, 200 West 45th Street.
I've seen previews for this and it's one that I have to see eventually. It's supposed to be spectacular.

The Little Mermaid: A new musical from Disney Theatrical Productions, based on the animated film and the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, 205 West 46th Street.
I haven't heard great things about this one.

The Phantom of the Opera: Andrew Lloyd Webber's romantic musical about the strange relationship between a hideously deformed musician and his young, beautiful protégée is as lush and gorgeous as ever. Howard McGillin stars. Phantom is now the longest-running show in Broadway history. Majestic Theatre, 247 West 44th Street.
It's Phantom. 4 Stars.

Thurgood: A new play about Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Booth Theatre, 222 West 45th Street.
I don't know anything about this one.

Top Girls: A revival of Caryl Churchill's play from the early '80s about an ambitious woman who has just been appointed the head of an employment agency. Presented by Manhattan Theatre Club. Biltmore Theatre, 261 West 47th Street.
I don't know anything about this one.

Wicked: A new musical by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman in which we learn the story of the early life of Elphaba, who later becomes the Wicked Witch of the West in the land of Oz. Gershwin Theatre, 222 West 51st Street.
Had I not had to catch a bus home, I'd have gone to see it twice.

Xanadu: A new musical based on the 1980 film of the same name. Helen Hayes Theatre, 240 West 44th Street.
I may be one of the only 3 people on the planet that liked the movie. I'd consider this one after I see everything else I need to see.

Young Frankenstein: A new musical based on Mel Brooks's classic film; Roger Bart, Megan Mullally, Sutton Foster, and Shuler Hensley co-star. Hilton Theatre, 213 West 42nd Street.
The movie is hysterical. I'd love to see this.

[DeiwosTheSkyGod]

You're so lucky Isabel! Wicked is so good. When are you going? The British Elphaba just finished her London run and moved to Broadway, I think.

[Isabel]

Hehe Hopper. I am actually thinking about going to Hairspray. I loved the movie version.
A lot of musicals don't seem to be on in August, or I haven't found them on ticketmaster.
I go to NY in August, close to Dcon :)
I still hope lots of people going to dcon:p

[JSUCamel]

Avenue Q is great, but you probably wouldn't like it. Same for Spring Awakening. I've heard great things about August: Osage County and Passing Strange. Xanadu is getting rave reviews, so don't think it's gonna be horrible because the previous versions were.

Avoid Young Frankenstein and the Little Mermaid as I've heard nothing but bad things about them.

[Mort]

Hopper, you aren't a musical buff by any chance? :)

Musicals usually have a little too much singing for me. I'm the guy who cringes everytime The Simpsons or Family Guy does one of their singing bits.

[DeiwosTheSkyGod]

My friend from school went to see Hairspray and loved it, but I don't know anything about it.

[JSUCamel]

Hairspray's great, but it's not on my list of things to see when I go to NYC. I'd much rather see the original shows that have come out in the past few years that will probably never make it to a movie version.

[Hopper]

Hopper, you aren't a musical buff by any chance? :)



I used to perform in musical theatre. Now I just perform with a barbershop chorus.

[Terez]

Musicals usually have a little too much singing for me. I'm the guy who cringes everytime The Simpsons or Family Guy does one of their singing bits.
Were you twitching by the end of the Southpark movie?

[JSUCamel]

Watching the Tony's right now. I have some new suggestions based on what I've seen here. I haven't actually seen most of these shows.

South Pacific is cleaning house with the Tony's.

If you like hip-hop music, check out In The Heights.

For straight plays, check out "The 39 Steps", "The Seafarer", "Is He Dead?" and uh.. one more but the name escapes me at the moment because Whoopi is dancing.

Wow. Xanadu actually looks good.

[JSUCamel]

Sunday in the Park with George looks really good -- I think you'd like it, Isa.

Also, if you like older musicals, Gypsy (with Patti Lupone!) looks great, too.

[Ozymandias]

A good friend of mine from high school is in Spring Awakening, but I've never been to see it. Well, actually, he's an understudy for the main role, I think, but whatever.

I liked Mamma Mia... very upbeat, and ABBA is good. Though I guess if you hate ABBA, you'll hate this.

I read Wicked (the book) and thought it was the biggest crock of shit ever. It was pompous, vain, had shallow characters (which is saying something, given that the author had the characters created FOR him), and for the most part just didn't seem to have much coherence. I would never, ever waste two hours of my life on the musical after reading that waste of paper, even though I've heard the Broadway show is very good.

Oh well. Enjoy.

[JSUCamel]

I read Wicked (the book) and thought it was the biggest crock of shit ever. It was pompous, vain, had shallow characters (which is saying something, given that the author had the characters created FOR him), and for the most part just didn't seem to have much coherence. I would never, ever waste two hours of my life on the musical after reading that waste of paper, even though I've heard the Broadway show is very good.

Ironically, I felt the opposite. I felt the characters from the Wizard of Oz movie and from Frank L. Baum's original story were more two dimensional than they were in Wicked. Maguire manages to give sympathy to Elphaba and her position in Oz. I can see why others think it's long-winded and boring, but I respectfully disagree.

Edit: Having said that, I love Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenowith as actresses, and I've heard nothing but rave reviews about Wicked. I just don't care for the music. :)

And I also dislike the musical. I haven't actually seen it -- maybe I'll like it more once I see it -- but the music grates on my nerves. Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenowith, fantastic character acting notwithstanding, sound like screeching banshees throughout the soundtrack. Thanks, but no thanks.

[Isabel]

I have searched Ticketmasters again for musicals in NY around 22 August.
The only musicals on seem to be:

CRY BABY: I hated the move (if it's based on that movie)

Disney Presents the Lion King (New York, NY): Nope, I saw it once in London and just too less real musical for me. I am starting to get annoyed by all the Disney musicals.

Disney's The Little Mermaid: Same goes for this one.

Grease (NY) : perhaps

Hairspray (NY): Also perhaps ;) :)

In the Heights: don't know anything about it. Not sure I am that much fan of hip hop. I like more classical musicals.

Legally Blonde : hmm, no.

Mary Poppins: Also no, never been fan of it.

Rent (NY) : An absolute no, it's just not my thing. I was so happy when I went in the netherlands I only payed 15 euro :)

The Fantasticks: never heard of this one, so perhaps.

Young Frankenstein: Name doesn't really appeal to me.

Adding Machine: a Musical : never heard of this one either.

[JSUCamel]

I don't know of anyone, personally, who doesn't like The Fantasticks. Out of the choices you presented, though, I would suggest In The Heights or Hairspray. Since you don't really like hip-hop (read: rap) music, you should probably go with Hairspray.

[Mort]

Were you twitching by the end of the Southpark movie?

Yes, twitching with laughter probably :)
South Park does it in a better way. With The Simpsons or Family Guy, I just sit there thinking: "Man, when are the writers gonna get that they are totally gay? Unless they know already."

Nothing against gays or people who like musicals, but I just don't think those shows are the right venue for it. I don't know anyone who actually likes it when they start singing. I'm ready to switch channels because it's sooooooo boring.

[Terez]

Yes, twitching with laughter probably :)
South Park does it in a better way It's good that you can at least appreciate that, then. :D Trey Parker is, imo, actually quite a talented musician, and satire is obviously his forte. I remember watching the first season and noticing just the small musical effects, and how well they were done. Even the theme song is great - it's beneath the surface also a satire of atonal music and country music at the same time, which is awesome. :) But I had no idea Trey Parker was the music man till I saw the movie, though. He's a music school droupout. :rolleyes:

[Davian93]

Chicago was great...really really enjoyable and well done. Which begs the question...IS there a Broadway show that isn't well done?

[Terez]

Nope, it's kinda synonymous.

[Davian93]

Nope, it's kinda synonymous.

That's what I was thinking too.

[Ozymandias]

The History Boys. Terrible. Hated it. It has no real plo... good acting does not equal well done.

This was my least favorite show, ever. And I've seen a few, living only a few minutes out of NYC.

Though Blue Man Group was rough. I only liked it because I kept thinking of Arrested Development...

"Michael, I just blued myself!"

[caladanbrood]

Don't know if anyone has already mentioned it, but Wicked was originally a book, and a fairly good one too :) Worth a read if you've got nothing better to read and aren't looking for something too heavy.

[JSUCamel]

From what I understand, the musical and the book are quite different in terms of how the characters interact and such. The overall story's still there and the themes are still present, but much of it has been changed for the sake of musical entertainment.

As for not-well-done Broadway shows, look to "The Little Mermaid" and "Young Frankenstein" as prime examples. The only reason they're on Broadway as opposed to somewhere else is that the producers had a ton of money and wanted them on Broadway.

[Davian93]

Grease: A revival of the musical comedy about high school life in the 1950s, starring Laura Osnes and Max Crumm, who won the TV competition for the lead roles. Brooks Atkinson Theatre, 256 West 47th Street.

One question I had on Grease. We were watching the Tonys last night and they had the cast of Grease do a quick number and Sandi is now a brunette? How can this work with all the Sandra Dee references in the script? Wouldn't that character HAVE to be a blonde? Dav Confused...

[DeiwosTheSkyGod]

The musical and the book versions of Wicked are totally different. The musical kept the names of the characters from the novel, but it's a much more upbeat story. I liked the musical better, but I saw it first, so I don't know how biased I was. The musical is based more in the movie version of the Wizard of Oz, while the novel was based more in the original Baum book.