One of my absolute favorite things about living in New York City is the theater scene. I have always loved plays and musicals and there is no better city to experience it all first hand than here. Ever since Broadway reopened this fall, I have gone on a bit of a bender (my wallet is still recovering) and so I wanted to give a quick recap of what shows I’ve seen – what’s worth the splurge and what you can give a pass.
6. Aladdin
Still my favorite movie [same, will always be…], even as an adult, I was thrilled to see this one on the Broadway stage. The set design is incredible – even reality bending in all it’s Disney magic. I was very impressed, but the plot – they changed it. Not sure if it’s the millennial in me, but I was disappointed with the changes in the storyline, character omissions and some of the small adaptations for the stage. All in all: 6/10.
5. Hadestown
Took my parents to see this show and though I knew it was award winning – I didn’t know much else. The lighting and costume design are worth the visit, but the plot (I’m not a huge fan of Greek mythology) left me wanting more. I give this one a 6/10.
4. Waitress
I am a huge Sara Barellies fan [she would be the only reason I’d watch this], and while I couldn’t bring myself to spring for the $300 tickets to see her perform the show live, I did get to watch Jennifer Nettles give it a go – and it was amazing. I laughed, I cried, and felt like I was watching a romantic comedy play out on stage. This is a great pick for a date night or a show with girlfriends who come to visit. Solid 7/10.
3. Come From Away
My advice – go into this one knowing absolutely nothing about the play [yes!!! don’t google it]. I was blown away. The storyline went in a direction I never thought, and the music and choreography were a joy to watch. The ensemble was all so talented and you could feel the audience engaged throughout the show. 7/10.
2. Freestyle Love Supreme
This is one of my all time favorites on Broadway right now. I have had the pleasure of seeing this freestyle show a couple times as each and every show is different [she came to this again with us, I was really surprised how much I liked it]. This is the perfect evening out with friends as the show is a quick 1.5 hrs [yeah also this fit my attention span]. The 5pm show is more family friendly while 9pm is for adults. Pick your poison. So so good – 8/10.
1. Moulin Rouge
Last, but most definitely not least, is the incredible Moulin Rouge. The set design, the music, the dancing – I was drooling. This is an absolute must see [I thought it became too modern day but ended up appreciating it]. You have to plan ahead as tickets are few and far between for a good price, so weeknights are your best bet. Get there as fast as you can can can – 9/10.
The key to getting good deals is knowing where to look. TodayTix is a great option if you aren’t too picky about where you’re sitting, and of course stopping by the TKTS booth last min and seeing what shows are half off is a great way to go if you aren’t selective about what you want to see that day.
What shows are you looking forward to seeing?
No Comments