NYC Shows to See and Getting Tickets

[OneFinger]

I'm going to NYC in December for the first time since 1988. Last time I was there I saw 6 plays in 5 days and only had 1 pre-purchased ticket before arriving.

 

So, what are "must see" shows? I've done a quick search on Ticketmaster and already know that tickets to Hairspray and The Producers aren't available. In 1988 I was very lucky buying "spare" tickets off the street. But I have a couple of questions:

 

1. What are chances of doing that now?

 

2. Will I have any legal problems and what about counterfit tickets?

 

3. For a $100 seat, what is a fair street price? Do they typically charge more than face value or can I get a good deal (such as $50-75)?

 

Appreciate your input. Would also like suggestions on any Off-Broadway productions which may have gay themes, cute guys, or <gasp> nudity. :9

[Guest Kenny021]

Best bet is to do one of two things: Get a copy of the Sunday NY Times and look in the Arts section. Everything is listed there. Or go to http://www.playbill.com and then open "Broadway" and/or "Off Broadway". Again, large selection of what's playing.

Depending on your taste, several musicals are very good. If you haven't seen it yet, for sheer enjoyment of what a Broadway musical is all about, see "42nd STREET".

The above suggestions will list the musicals that you might be interested in seeing. Several plays appear to be good. The Tony winner for last year is "Take Me Out", which is about a gay baseball player coming out. It includes FULL FRONTAL NUDITY.

An Off Broadway musical which is ALL NUDE IS "Naked Boys Singing"..which incidentally is also very good.

The half price ticket booth on Broadway is a good place to explore to see which shows sell 1/2 price tkts.

Enjoy whatever you pick.

Dont know anything about buying tks "on the street".

[AaronScottDC]

You definitely have to see "Take Me Out". Not only is it hot to see the entire cast prancing around on stage naked... a lot, the show is also very well written and a lot of fun. If you sit in the front row, you can practically reach out and touch the bouncing dicks in your face! }(

 

Aaron Scott DC

http://www.erados.com/AaronScottDC

http://www.male4malescorts.com/reviews/aaronscottdc.html

[Rick Munroe]

>If

>you sit in the front row, you can practically reach out and

>touch the bouncing dicks in your face! }(

 

And if you sit in the front row of The Boy From Oz, you can touch Judy's bugle beads or Liza's chiffon. :+

[OneFinger]

Aaron Scott and Kenny,

 

Thanks for the suggestion on "Take Me Out". That's one that I had considered but wasn't sure if it was well done. Just got tickets on the 13th row. (I'm still going to take my binoculars.) }(

 

I've seen "42nd Street" twice on Broadway and have tickets in 2 weeks for a touring company production. Decided not to see that one again.

 

Have also considered "The Boy from Oz". There's another thread about that production on this site and the reviews seem mixed. Just checked on availability of tickets and I could still get orchestra section. Anyone know if some of the pre-opening issues got resolved?

 

Am also checking on "Naked Boys Singing". I seriously doubt it will ever come to my home state of Utah so my only chance is to see it in NYC or when traveling to another area. I suspect it won't come to Utah because the Mormon Tabernacle Choir can't take the competition. :+

[Guest Kenny021]

If you are seriously considering Naked Boys Singing, I would suggest that you DO NOT BUY TKTS IN ADVANCE. The show has been playing NYC for at least a couple of years and I would almost swear that you can obtain 1/2 price tkts at the Ticket Booth in Times Square.

[OneFinger]

Oops, maybe I should have waited for your reply. Just went to their site and got advance tickets on the first row!!

 

Actually, the price was very affordable and I really prefer having things set up in advance. Plus, if I remember correctly, there's usually a long queue at the 1/2 place and I hate long lines.

 

Really appreciate your info. You reinforced a couple of my choices and I'm grateful for your input.

[ted]

If you are only there on the weekend, Producers and Hairspray are next to impossible, but during the week single seats are available and you should always check for cancels the day of if you're looking for a single seat. Millie is great fun, haven't seen it since Delta started, but she seems like she would be a natural for the Mrs Mears part. If you like dance Movin Out is excellent, but again impossible on the weekends. Mamma Mia is also difficult but fun. Don't know the buzz on Nine since the cast change, Banderas was excellent. Chicago is still a great production, different from the movie and if you haven't seen it definitely worth it. I think Melanie Griffith has moved on, she was the worst reviewed Velma in recent memory. I'm going to see Wicked and Gypsy on my next venture north in a couple of weeks.

[Guest Kenny021]

Oh well, at least you got lst row seats to Naked Boys...you'll really get a good view. You are correct about the 1/2 booth at Times Square...for that reason, I usually don't do it as I cannot stand in line all that time.

 

Ted writes that Melanie Griffiths was the worst "Velma" there ever was. Maybe he's correct BUT there were several reviewers who gave her great reviews...the NY Times raved about her performance and said that she was the best "ROXIE HART"....I haven't seen her in it but agree with him that Chicago IS DIFFERENT SOMEWHAT FROM THE MOVIE... I enjoyed it more. He is also right on the other musicals that he mentioned. "Moving Out" is next on my list to see. Hugh Jackman got rave reviews for his performance in "Boy from Oz" but unfortunately, the show itself got unanimous thumbs down. The Boy George musical also is getting bad press and rumors are that it is in trouble. It hasn't officially opened yet.

[Justice]

Hi,

 

You've already been give great advice. I've seen both Take Me Out and Naked Boys Singing and you'll enjoy them both. The first row seats for Naked Boys is a good choice, the boys usually interact with the people who sit there. You'll also get an upclose and personal view, so to speak.

 

I've never bought tickets on the street. Too risky, IMHO. As has already been mentioned, full price single tickets to most shows are sometimes available -- from the box office -- on the day of the performance.

 

I haven't used the Times Square Tkts Tkts booth in a number of years. The lines are too long. The good news is that they also have a downtown location. (It used to be inside the World Trade Center. )It's near the South Street Seaport and has better hours then the one on Times Square. The line is usually MUCH shorter and it's worth a trip downtown, IMHO. Here's some info that I copies from http://www.tdf.org

 

"TKTS ® Lower Manhattan Theatre Centre at South Street Seaport

(the corner of Front and John Streets, the rear of the Resnick/Prudential Building at 199 Water Street)

 

Monday - Saturday for all evening performances:

11am - 6pm

 

Sundays for evening performances:

11am - 3:30pm

 

*At this tkts location only, matinee tickets must be bought the day before. For example, Wednesday matinee tickets must be bought on Tuesday; Saturday matinee tickets bought on Friday; and Sunday matinee tickets bought on Saturday. tkts accepts cash or travelers checks.

 

Easily reachable by subway, you can take the J,M,Z, 2,3,4,5 to Fulton Street or the A,C to Broadway-Nassau. The M15 bus travels down Second Avenue to the Seaport"

 

Hope this helps.

 

Enjoy your trip!

 

Justice

[Paul Revere]

OneFinger;

 

If you are traveling alone, you can always walk up to the box office and ask for a single ticket for the day of the show. I have had great luck doing that. Also, the box office gets returns from concierges back at 7:00 PM for the 8:00 PM show. I have had great luck looking for single seats at the last minute. Usually they are great orchestra seats, which you couldn't get otherwise. The downside is that you pay full price, and you may be stuck between two very large people who eat throughout the show (that has happened - but once I sat next to the most adorable college student, who was with his parents. At intermission, the parents went to the rest rooms, and he stayed and chatted with me. Alas nothing came of it. I couldn't figure out how to put the moves on a guy who was with his parents).

 

I saw Melanie Griffith in Chicago, and she was horrible. She had the correct attitude for the part, and her dancing was good, but Chicago is a musical, so if you cast someone in the lead they should be able to sing. Melanie could not sing. It was embarassing. I am sure that the lead in every high school production in America can sing better than Melanie Griffith. I think that she has moved on, and Chicago has survived.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

Onester~

 

If you need Hairspray tix, shoot me an email with the exact dates you're in the apple & i can arrange tix.

 

Unfortunately Marissa J Winokur is out as Tracy, but i've heard her replacement is much, much better. Harvey will be there through the end of Janruary. Rumor has it that John Goodman will take over from there. Interesting, eh?

 

Go see 'Little Shop of Horrors' as well. Great cast. Awesome music. It's been getting decent reviews as well. You could also check out 'Taboo' if it's open by then: The Boy George transfer from the West End. Also might want to check out 'Wicked', which gives Broadway what might be their last glimpse of Joel Grey onstage. That show has been getting amazing reviews in previews...

 

By Dec-Jan, the long-awaited return of 'Dreamgirls' may be playing, as the Fox in Atlanta is mounting a production with Jennifer Holliday that will then sit in NYC. I've heard that 'Fame' finally made it to Broadway and is playing to decent crowds too.

 

 

You'll have no lack of good theatre to see my friend~ enjoy and if you're serious about Hairspray tix, shoot me an email.

 

 

 

 

Warmest Always,

 

 

 

 

Benjamin Nicholas

 

 

 

 

 

PS: 'Boy from Oz' was a waste of time. Even Jackman's amazing charm can't save that show from bombing. Save your money. Same goes for 'Thouroughly Modern Millie' at the Marquis. Overpriced and not worth it. Someone mentioned 'Chicago'... Depending on the cast, go see it anyway. If Bianca Maroquin from the recent national tour is in as Roxie, GO SEE IT. She's amazing.

[pierrot]

Another suggestion: I've heard that "Wicked" is very good. It's in previews now. Today's Sunday NY Times has an article about it. I also concur with the general opinion about "Take Me OUt", it's excellent.

[OneFinger]

Thanks again for all the great suggestions and I think I'm really going to enjoy "Take Me Out" and "Naked Boys Singing". Those were two shows I may have passed up if it weren't for your suggestions.

 

Also appreciate Benjamin's offer to pull some strings for "Hairspray". What a generous gesture from one of my favorite escorts!

 

The updated info on the ticket outlet was also very timely and much appreciated. I wasn't aware that they often got the unclaimed tickets from the hotels. That could be a very good source for good tickets.

 

Sure appreciate all the help and support from people on this site. I really enjoy that this is a place where we can get more than just info on available guys. It's helps to know that I can come here for general assistance and help. :*

[Rick Munroe]

IMNSHO, the best thing to see on Broadway is a play with good acting because I like to be moved emotionally by someone who knows their craft. There are a lot of good non-musical productions on Broadway right now (or coming soon) that are on my list: The Retreat From Moscow, Farrah Fawcett in Bobbi Boland (the bitch can act), Ashley Judd in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Violet Hour (same playwright as Take Me Out), Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks (Polly Bergen & Mark Hamill), Sight Unseen, Ellen Burstyn in Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All, Henry IV, Tovah Feldshuh in Golda's Balcony, and Jimmy Smits and Daphne Rubin-Vega in Anna in the Tropics.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

'Six Dance Lessons...' is a great show~

 

I was lucky enough to catch one of it's pre-Broadway runs at the Coconut Grove Playhouse months ago. Hamill was in it with a truly amazing Rue McClanahan. It's too bad she didn't stick with the production, as she had a better knack for playing the comedy aspect than her predecessor, Uta Hagen (in the LA production).

 

Hamill is alright when playing up the flamboyancy of the role, but i much prefered the understated saddness that David Hyde Pierce brought to the role in LA. Being 'over-the-top' throughout this show may get the laughs, but it's not being true to the real character IMO. I never saw him written as a caricature...

 

In any event, i'm sure it will pull in good crowds, as it's a nice show to watch that wraps itself up in a nice little bow by the curtain call. A feel-good show for the most part.

 

 

 

Warmest Always,

 

 

 

 

Benjamin Nicholas