Broadway Advice for NY Visitors

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Random question: Does anyone know how I could see if anyone in London is performing one of the plays based on Terry Pratchett's books?

Sorry I couldn't find a London production, but if you find yourself in Nottingham, England on Wednesday, March 22nd 2017 at 07:30pm, you'll see a performance of Carpe Jugulum by Terry Pratchett; adapted by Stephen Briggs - at the Lace Market Theatre, Halifax Place

NG1 1QN Nottingham :)

Each play makes its own changes for a holiday. If New Years Eve is a regular matinee day (Wed, Sat, Sun), some will do do the matinee. We've been to a Sunday mat on New Year's Eve By the time we got out of the theater, a lot of the streets near theaters were being closed off as people were put into their pens. We just headed for home! (By the time a mat gets out, the Times Square pens are full and they're putting people on side streets, so don't expect to go to a play and then go to Times Square).

To be frank, I can't imagine the appeal of being held into a pen without bathroom facilities for hours for a ten second countdown.

Thanks for the firsthand report. Since we're talking about a Saturday NYE, equity rules on length of time off and work weeks could be an additional factor as to whether they add extra performances on Monday or earlier in the previous week.

In any event, I'd expect that what has been announced to date may still be in flux and it should be worthwhile to check back in a month if you haven't made a decision yet.

Mark

Not that anyone has asked (and they're likely gone by now) but a new block of Hamilton tickets for next Fall were released today, 9 Nov, at 10 AM EST.

I checked about 4 hours after they went on sale, picked a random Thurs date near the end of the schedule and selected "best available" and I was offered a very good ticket in orchestra row M for $199. (That theatre has a steep rake in the rear orchestra, making the seats in that area especially good).

If you'll be in town - it can't hurt to check!

http://www.ticketmaster.com/Hamilton-NY-tickets/artist/2095830?tm_link=edp_Artist_Name

Mark

To be frank, I can't imagine the appeal of being held into a pen without bathroom facilities for hours for a ten second countdown.

 

Thanks for the firsthand report. Since we're talking about a Saturday NYE, equity rules on length of time off and work weeks could be an additional factor as to whether they add extra performances on Monday or earlier in the previous week.

 

In any event, I'd expect that what has been announced to date may still be in flux and it should be worthwhile to check back in a month if you haven't made a decision yet.

 

Mark

You're right on all counts, especially the thought of being penned in all day like that. I do not like large crowds, and although I'm an hour train ride away, I have never wanted to do New Years Eve in Time Square.

On the subject of Equity, I think having Saturday night off may allow for the Monday performances.

We could see Bette Midler in Dolly in June 2017 before our TA on QM2. She is supposed to appear every night except Tuesdays. When you buy a ticket this far out is there a chance that the star you want to see will not be in the show when you get there? She's really the only reason I would want to go see this again.

We could see Bette Midler in Dolly in June 2017 before our TA on QM2. She is supposed to appear every night except Tuesdays. When you buy a ticket this far out is there a chance that the star you want to see will not be in the show when you get there? She's really the only reason I would want to go see this again.

There are never any guarantees. People get sick or hurt. However, Bette has an excellent reputation for not missing shows. She missed no shows in her previous outing, the Sue Mengers play. I believe that was also true when she moved it to LA a few months later.

For what it's worth, if her name is above the title (as I believe it is) Broadway policy is to offer refunds or exchanges upon request.

It also is possible that she could be taking a scheduled vacation around then - after the Tonys. However these vacations are already scheduled and Telecharge would have a note on the show's info.

Mark

Thank you. I believe I'll chance it. Been a fan forever.

I bought my tickets early, before they announced that Bette Midler would not be doing the Tuesday performances. I noticed an odd gap in June, about 2 weeks, and also no Tuesdays after that. Some time later, they announced that Donna Murphy would do Bette's vacations and Tuesday nights. So, to the producers' credit, they did not sell the non-Bette tickets until the replacement actress was announced. I am going to see this to see Bette, but Donna Murphy is no slouch, and it wouldn't be the end of the world to see her.

It's llooks like she'll be on vacation June 26 through July 11.

...and, although I'm really expecting and hoping to see Bette when we see the show in May, I'd also love to see Donna tackle the role (yeah - I also know that she's coming in after our performance on May 13 - but I'd still like to see it sometime).

Mark

Here’s Mark’s Big List o’ Links for Broadway (and some off-broadway and London)

WHAT’S PLAYING AND COMING UP

Playbill’s list of shows in Broadway theaters http://www.playbill.com/article/broadway-real-estate-com-321997

Upcoming Broadway Shows http://www.playbill.com/article/schedule-of-upcoming-broadway-shows-com-113677

Upcoming Off-Broadway http://www.playbill.com/article/schedule-of-upcoming-off-broadway-shows-com-119931

What’s playing on what date? http://www.newyorkcitytheatre.com/common/monthly_events.php?year=2017&month=1&category=Musical

Rush and lottery policies http://www.playbill.com/article/broadway-rush-lottery-and-standing-room-only-policies-com-116003

DISCOUNTS (most require free registration)

Playbill Club http://www.playbill.com/discount?type=broadway

TheaterMania http://www.theatermania.com/broadway/shows/

BroadwayBox (watch out for links to its new parent broadway.com) http://www.broadwaybox.com/

Goldstar (you won’t know the seats until you pick them up at will call) http://www.goldstar.com

TodayTix - (AKA Uber for tickets) an iPhone and Android app/service to acquire and deliver discount tickets. This is also the most popular site for online lotteries. Tickets are usually delivered to you in front of the theater 30 min before curtain. https://www.todaytix.com/

Theatre Development Fund (actual membership costs but is more-than-worthwhile for locals. Limited to those in the arts. education, or retirees) https://www.tdf.org/

They also run the TKTS discount sites (Avoid the lines by going to one of their locations outside of Times Square) https://www.tdf.org/nyc/7/TKTS-Overview

There’s also an app https://www.tdf.org/nyc/20/TKTS-Mobile-App

RESALE

StubHub http://www.stubhub.com

Also built-into the TicketMaster site for their shows. (most risk-free for Hamilton resale tckets)

SITES FOR INFO AND CHAT

Playbill http://www.playbill.com

Broadway World (a great resource and also great chat board) http://www.broadwayworld.com

All That Chat (a bit more serious/snarky than Broadway World) http://www.talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat_new/index.php

London West End http://www.whatsonstage.com/

London chat board http://theatreboard.co.uk/

London seating reviews (I wish there was a NY equivalent) http://www.theatremonkey.com/seatingplanindex.htm

-Mark

Hey Mark

We are going to be in New York in June and are super hyped about the Divine Miss M appearing in Hello Dolly.

Do we know how long her run will be?

Cheers

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Oops just saw that she goes on vacation on the 26th - we are hoping to get tickets for 25th. So exciting.

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Got our tickets for Wed, June 14th. Phew! Way back in the Mezzanine but still delighted. Will take opera glasses.

By the way, many Broadway fans are excited over this spring's "diva fight" when not only Bette Midler but also Glenn Close, Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole will all be performing.

Glenn Close is reprising the staging of "Sunset Boulevard" she recently performed in London. It's semi-staged (limited set, full costumes) with a 40 piece orchestra. I saw it on the West End. She is amazing. It's a limited engagement.

Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole will be starring in a new musical, "War Paint," which focuses on the competition between cosmetics founders Helena Rubinstein (LuPone) and Elizabeth Arden (Ebersole).

- Mark

Got our tickets for Wed, June 14th. Phew! Way back in the Mezzanine but still delighted. Will take opera glasses.

Enjoy! They're talking about honoring Gower Champion's original staging, so from a distance, you'll be able to enjoy the staging and dancing, even if you need your opera glasses to see the actors' expressions. By the way, the rest of the cast is top-notch!

I recommend stopping into Sardi's upstairs bar right across the street for a classic pre-show experience (just take the stairs to the right inside the door). The bartenders are top-notch (Joe has worked there over 50 years) and there is lots of broadway chatter and pre-show buzz beneath the famous caricatures on the wall. Ten minutes before curtain, just walk across the street to the Shubert Theatre. (No need to stand in line with the tourists a half-hour before curtain. You have a ticket with a reserved seat.) Oh - just go to the bathroom beforehand at Sardi's rather than compete for limited facilities in the old theatre at intermission. ...and if the need DOES arise - again, go across the street to Sardi's rather than wait in a crowded line at the Shubert.

- Mark