I just visited NYC solo to see shows! This is my second musical theater oriented trip- I also visited in January 2023. I plan to take a trip every year or so! I adore musicals, and this is a huge treat for me (read- how I justify the cost).
Could I have saved money and potentially gotten better seats through TKTS, rush, and lotteries? Yeah. But there were just too many shows that I definitely wanted to see that I didn't want to risk and gamble getting tickets. And I don't mind being in the mezz or balcony.
Here are my thoughts on each show! Spoilers ahead.
Lempicka- 9/10 May 11 evening. Balcony Row C, seat 103, partial view. There is a vertical pole right in front of the view. I personally didn't mind it at all- I just leaned a bit to the side. $37
Visually stunning! The opening made so emotional. Amazing set, lighting, projections, costumes. Stellar cast- leads and ensemble. These folks are SINGING their booties off. For a show about a painter, there is... very little painting action- would've liked to see more of that. Sad that this is closed now- I feel lucky to have seen it.
Water for Elephants - 7.5/10 May 12 matinee, Mezz Row H Seat 101, $50
The acrobatics made this show worth seeing. The puppets- not so much. A fairly basic set, nothing particularly cool. Love Grant Gustin. A very satisfying "justice" ending.
A Sign of the Times- 8/10 May 12 evening, Orchestra Row B, seat 111, $69 (Off-Broadway)
This show is SO slept on! The songs were integrated so well, a mega talented cast, and really funny. The storyline is feel-good and fun but isn't anything we haven't seen before.
The Great Gatsby - 5/10 May 13 evening, Mezz Row E Seat 6, $39. I saw Eva's understudy, Kayla Pecchioni.
It PAINS me to score this show on the lower end. I wanted to love it. But uh... It's not great to me. I never read the book in school or saw the movie, so I didn't know the storyline. I found the storyline to be shallow and rather boring. It was just kind of a yawn fest story-wise. The ending was abrupt, unsatisfying, and awkward. This show gets 5 points because: the costumes were nice, the set was really cool, fantastic visual depth due to the LED screens, and the cast is so talented. They were certainly doing the best with what they were given. They could never make me hate you, Jeremy Jordan.
Merrily We Roll Along- 8/10 May 14 evening, Balcony G110, $79 I saw Lindsay's understudy, Sherz Aletaha.
I expected great things from this cast and they delivered. The music and singing was good ol' Sondheim well done. I enjoyed the storyline- seeing one that centers friendship was refreshing. Minus points for a quite boring set and lighting design. Very traditional, doesn't feel modern.
Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club- 7/10 May 15 matinee, Mezz P 13, $98
This experience felt as expensive as it was. This was my priciest ticket at $98, and prices have gone up up up since I bought the ticket in February. I got my shot of cherry schnapps, got the sticker put over my phone camera, and enjoyed the preshow. Very cool and original dancing and music.
Eddie was as great as I expected. I thought the staging worked wonderfully in the round. This is an entertaining show, but I agree with the criticism that this production misses the mark. The contrast between the extravagance of the theater experience, and the storyline, especially act 2? Really jarring.
The Who's Tommy- 10/10 May 15 evening, Mezz Row M seat 9, $59
This show is not for everyone - but it is for me. I'm not a classic rock fan, but I am very familiar with this storyline and have listened to the album a lot. That really, really helped me out with understanding this production. This production is very abstract and metaphorical, and I understand the criticism that it is hard to follow. This was an instance I am glad I didn't go in blind
Amazing cast, Ali Louis Bourzgui is my new up and comer to keep my eye on. This production- holy guacamole lighting and projection! This was the unexpected highlight for me. The fact that THIS doesn't get a Lighting Design Tony nom is absolutely baffling to me!! This is so visually stunning.
This was also the first show that made me cry. The smash the mirror scene got me. That moment where Tommy changes is acted SO well.
Something interesting - there wasn't a pause or moment for applause until the end of act one. Everything flowed right into one another.
Something this show knows is COLOR. Oh my gosh. The through line of the neon, canary yellow is stunning. Every color is placed with intention. It's so well done. A feast for the eyes.
A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical- 5/10 May 16 matinee, Orchestra A seat 101. $49- lottery win!
I'll be honest, I only went to this show because 1. It had this Thursday matinee to help fill out my schedule and 2. I enjoy Amber. I figured I would have a good shot at the lottery, and I won!
This is a pretty fun show. Not deep or profound, but entertaining. For me, nothing to write home about. I was concerned about folks singing along, but they anticipate it and encourage it at certain points. I'm glad I went though! I didn't realize how many Neil Diamond songs I know, haha.
I found the young Neil, Nick Fradiani, to be a great singer but weak actor. The crux of his character is that he is depressed, and that didn't read to me. But the old Neil, oh my gosh, so moving! Very emotional performance. I loved the framing of the storyline through therapy sessions.
The Outsiders- 8.5/10 May 17 evening, Mezz G 29, $54
This is a very well done show. Strong cast, neat set, amazing special effects. I also shed a few tears here- and, based on the sniffling around me, others too. If I was 15, I would be obsessed with this show. The storyline just doesn't quite resonate with me. The Bernard B Jacobs is a gorgeous theatre, easily my favorite theatre I visited.
Illinoise- 6/10 May 17 evening, Mezz Q31, $51
I feel like I had seen so much hype for this show, so I went in with perhaps too high of expectations. I enjoyed it, but this type of show isn't particularly my taste or cup of tea. With this being a dance centric show, I wanted more creativity with the choreography. I also felt as though the dancing was quite restrained and held back. I wanted to see more energy, going all out at more moments. I didn't feel the commitment and explosive energy that I have felt in other shows. I understand that that can be difficult to maintain for a 90 minute show though.
I was able to follow the storyline somewhat- I think. They captured Sufjan's voice and tone of music very well. From my left mezz seats, I couldn't see the male singer on the left. Overall, it was visually beautiful, but not my personal preference for a musical. It is still interesting to me that this is considered a musical.
Chicago- 4/10 May 18 evening, Mezz G102, $69
I love this show, but this production certainly has age on it. I love when shows incorporate the band on stage, but the set piece that they are on is so big- 2/3 of the stage- and a rather ugly eyesore. They couldn't have decorated it nicely? It's just plain black. The dancing wasn't quite as tight and precise as I want Fosse to be. I also wanted more from costumes and lighting. The costumes are super basic black, and most characters have only one or two costumes. The cast is great, but this production just feels on the cheap side- which I'm sure is how they are still running.
Final thoughts: -I wish I could've stayed longer to see Suffs, Hell's Kitchen, The Notebook, and Stereophonic. Alas. Maybe some of them will still be on Broadway on my next trip. All the more reason to come again soon. -I am learning that set and lighting design is an important facet of the theater experience for me. - I'm getting tired of musicals with centered storylines of romantic cheating and abuse. I feel like there are sooo many other creative decisions that can add complexity and conflict to a romance storyline. - I bought opera glasses/tiny binoculars on this trip. I had a blast using them in my not-close seats. I highly recommend them. I got Carson MiniScout Ultra Compact Binoculars at B&H- $32. I used them when I could tell the actors would be stationary for a bit. - Echoing others on this sub, I feel like audiences are getting worse. I don't think I had a single show without at least one phone going off- usually multiple times a show. At Cabaret, I had to shush people in front of me who were whispering throughout all of the second song. At Chicago, an usher had to ask someone in front of me to stop video recording twice.
This trip was an absolute blast! I hope to come again very soon.
If you are asking a question about understudies, unless a show has a specific alternate schedule, there is not guarantee when you will see any given lead. Barring illness or a scheduled vacation or alternate, you should see the cast as listed. This is an automated message, if it is not applicable please report this comment.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.