# HELP - Which Broadway show to see in two weeks? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 26, 2007, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-which-broadway-show-to-see-in-two-weeks/389534 "2007-01-26T05:12:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Marconi\_Schmeese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Marconi\_Schmeese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marconi_Schmeese)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-which-broadway-show-to-see-in-two-weeks/389534/1 "2007-01-26T05:12:46Z")
Okay, we’ve seen: [ul] [li]The King and I (with Yul Brenner)[/li][li]Phantom of the Opera[/li][li]42nd Street[/li][li]The Lion King[/li][li]Cats[/li][li]Sugar Babies[/li][li]and too many off Broadway to mention (Blue Man Group (TWICE), Tony 'n Tina’s Wedding, A Midnight Catechism, Forbidden Broadway and on and on)[/li][/ul] I am a seasoned NYC veteran and I know whatever we see we’ll love. It’s the experience. But I am bringing along an employee who has never even been on an airplane! She is in for a surprise! So, Spamalot is Monty Python and Mom (who is also going on this business trip) hates his stuff. Wicked is sold out. The Producers don’t have shows on Sunday night, which fits our convention schedule much better. So, wise ones, do tell. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-which-broadway-show-to-see-in-two-weeks/389534/2 "2007-01-26T06:30:38Z")
Monty Python is a “their” not a “his”. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-which-broadway-show-to-see-in-two-weeks/389534/3 "2007-01-26T06:53:22Z")
Moving thread from IMHO to Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-which-broadway-show-to-see-in-two-weeks/389534/4 "2007-01-26T07:01:47Z")
Assuming you want to stick to musicals. List of current shows taken from [broadway.com](http://www.broadway.com/gen/concierge.aspx?utm_source=HP&utm_medium=ShowPoster&utm_campaign=SeeAllShows) Rent Chorus Line Les Miserables Jersey Boys The Color Purple Avenue Q Those are the current productions I’m familiar with the shows for and would recommend. Seeing something iconic like Chorus Line or Les Miserables would probably be my choice to introduce a newbie to the Broadway experience. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-which-broadway-show-to-see-in-two-weeks/389534/5 "2007-01-26T07:07:12Z")
Are you just looking to go Sunday _night_, as in later than 3pm? Because that will narrow down your options. **The Color Purple** , **The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee** , **Tarzan** , **Spring Awakening** , **Rent** , **Mamma Mia!** , **Hairspray** , \*\*Chicago \*\*& **Avenue Q** are the only ones with Sunday evening shows. What sort of things does you mom like? **Avenue Q** , **Spring Awakening** & **Rent** all have very adult/sexual situations so I don’t know if that would affect your decision. **Mamma Mia!** & **Hairspray** are both kind of mindless poppy fun, fluffy and bright without any weight to them but you’d probably have an enjoyable time (especially if you like ABBA.) If you’re not constrained to only Sunday evening, then I would say go with **Les Miserables**. Judging by the list of other shows you’ve seen, you’d probably enjoy that one as well, since it’s another of those big famous long-running shows (though this is the revival) like **Phantom** , **Cats & 42nd St. The Drowsy Chaperone is also a lot of fun, it’s pretty short too, only about an hour and a half. Company is a great choice if you guys like Sondheim or if you want to see a more cerebral non-flashy show. If you can get tickets to A Chorus Line** , (Sunday 3pm) that would be another good choice. Excellent music, but I think they’re normally sold out though I’m not certain. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-which-broadway-show-to-see-in-two-weeks/389534/6 "2007-01-26T07:23:58Z")
They made a Broadway show out of _HELP!_??? Arent they risking market fatigue, what with the _Cirque du Soliel_ still going strong? Oh, wait, it’s just the thread title… Put 'em on a dart board and start throwing. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-which-broadway-show-to-see-in-two-weeks/389534/7 "2007-01-26T07:47:06Z")
[QUOTE=Mtgman] Seeing something iconic like Chorus Line or Les Miserables would probably be my choice to introduce a newbie to the Broadway experience. [/QUOTE] Please, if you do nothing else in your life, pledge not to inflict Les Miz on another human being. Chorus Line is a big snooze, but Les Miz is just not something that caring people subject others to. ---
**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-which-broadway-show-to-see-in-two-weeks/389534/8 "2007-01-26T12:02:52Z")
I just saw the traveling cast of [Wicked](http://www.broadway.com/gen/Show.aspx?si=30434) and loved it! Bought the CD, listening to the book again right now in my car, and dearly wishing it was a DVD I could buy. This is the show I would take anybody to see in a heartbeat. ---
**Author:** ![Elza\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Elza\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elza_B)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-which-broadway-show-to-see-in-two-weeks/389534/9 "2007-01-26T14:56:29Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] Please, if you do nothing else in your life, pledge not to inflict Les Miz on another human being. Chorus Line is a big snooze, but Les Miz is just not something that caring people subject others to. [/QUOTE] Agreed. I can’t stand Les Miz. Have never liked the music, and find the show to be a bore. My choices would be \*The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee \* - GREAT little first-rate show (in fact, I just changed the CD from this in the car this morning - I’ve been listening to it the past couple of days), or Company - you can’t go wrong with Sondheim, and _Company_ is one of his best. Plus, this is an interesting production - the actors all play musical instruments. I would assume they’ve updated A Chorus Line but I still find the music pretty dated. It’s not a _bad_ show, I just don’t think it’s particularly _great_. E. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-which-broadway-show-to-see-in-two-weeks/389534/10 "2007-01-26T15:19:08Z")
My choice would be Avenue Q or Les Miserables. And you would probably like Forbidden Broadway. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-which-broadway-show-to-see-in-two-weeks/389534/11 "2007-01-26T15:39:58Z")
[QUOTE=Eyebrows 0f Doom] Are you just looking to go Sunday _night_, as in later than 3pm? Because that will narrow down your options. **The Color Purple** , **The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee** , **Tarzan** , **Spring Awakening** , **Rent** , **Mamma Mia!** , **Hairspray** , \*\*Chicago \*\*& **Avenue Q** are the only ones with Sunday evening shows. [/QUOTE] [shameless plug for my wife’s show] Beauty and the Beast also has a Sunday night show. They’ll be closing this summer to make room for Little Mermaid, so if it’s one you had any interest at all in seeing, this might be a good time. [/shameless plug] ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-which-broadway-show-to-see-in-two-weeks/389534/12 "2007-01-26T16:24:01Z")
I’ve seen Rent and Lion King (touring productions, of course) in the last six months, and currently have tickets to another production of Rent and also Wicked between now and March. I can highly recommend Lion King – the costumes alone are awe-inspiring. And Rent is awesome, too. ---
**Author:** ![Caridwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-which-broadway-show-to-see-in-two-weeks/389534/13 "2007-01-26T16:29:04Z")
[QUOTE=Cheesesteak] [shameless plug for my wife’s show] Beauty and the Beast also has a Sunday night show. They’ll be closing this summer to make room for Little Mermaid, so if it’s one you had any interest at all in seeing, this might be a good time. [/shameless plug] [/QUOTE] I didn’t know that, thanks for the info. My niece really wants to see this. ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-which-broadway-show-to-see-in-two-weeks/389534/14 "2007-01-26T17:50:01Z")
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is growing on me. I haven’t heard that much of it and I haven’t seen the show or read the script yet, but it has a bunch of neat music. Have to agree to disagree with a couple in the thread about Les Mis and A Chorous Line though. They’re both worth seeing, but here’s what you’re getting into. Les Mis is about pagentry and tugging at your heartstrings. Chorus Line, at least a well executed production, is worth seeing for the dancing alone but has a mediocre story for those who have never been in the theatre business. Those with theatrical experience often find another layer of amusement in the show that most people miss out on. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-which-broadway-show-to-see-in-two-weeks/389534/15 "2007-01-26T17:59:30Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] Please, if you do nothing else in your life, pledge not to inflict Les Miz on another human being. Chorus Line is a big snooze, but Les Miz is just not something that caring people subject others to. [/QUOTE] This is one of the most flat out capital-double-U-Wrong things I’ve ever read on the SDMB. Which is saying a lot. **Les Miserables** is a FANTASTIC musical. Perhaps my favorite of all time, at least as far as merging together all the parts of musical theater. And **A Chorus Line** is right up there. I certainly enjoyed **The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee** , but it was just a good fun way to spend an evening, not even in the same league as the above. **Rent** is also one of my absolute favorites, but I actually think (heretically) that the movie is better than most stage productions. So go see **Les Miz** , and then rent **Rent**. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-which-broadway-show-to-see-in-two-weeks/389534/16 "2007-01-26T18:56:07Z")
[QUOTE=MaxTheVool] This is one of the most flat out capital-double-U-Wrong things I’ve ever read on the SDMB. Which is saying a lot. **Les Miserables** is a FANTASTIC musical. Perhaps my favorite of all time, at least as far as merging together all the parts of musical theater. And **A Chorus Line** is right up there. I certainly enjoyed **The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee** , but it was just a good fun way to spend an evening, not even in the same league as the above. **Rent** is also one of my absolute favorites, but I actually think (heretically) that the movie is better than most stage productions. So go see **Les Miz** , and then rent **Rent**. [/QUOTE] I agree with almost all of that. (I like **Rent** the show better than the movie.) **Les Mis** is a wonderful show, I \*love \*the music! I haven’t yet seen the revival but they have some wonderful people in the cast right now, especially Norm Lewis as Javert. I’m not sure if they still have Nikki Renee Daniels covering for Fantine but she is fabulous! The OP says he has already seen **The Lion King** & **Forbidden Broadway** so those are out. My personal recommendation would be to go during the day on Sunday and see **Les Mis** or **Company**. **Spelling Bee** was cute & funny but I didn’t think it was anything special. I think we need some more information about what kind of things your guests would be OK with seeing. I’ve heard nothing but praise for **Spring Awakening** , and it has a Sunday evening show, but like I said it has very adult situations. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-which-broadway-show-to-see-in-two-weeks/389534/17 "2007-01-26T19:20:43Z")
The Drowsy Chaperon is a very popular show right now. I haven’t seen it but I’ve heard great things about it. ---
**Author:** ![MilTan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@MilTan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MilTan)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-which-broadway-show-to-see-in-two-weeks/389534/18 "2007-01-26T19:21:20Z")
[QUOTE=Eyebrows 0f Doom] I agree with almost all of that. (I like **Rent** the show better than the movie.) **Les Mis** is a wonderful show, I \*love \*the music! I haven’t yet seen the revival but they have some wonderful people in the cast right now, especially Norm Lewis as Javert. I’m not sure if they still have Nikki Renee Daniels covering for Fantine but she is fabulous! [/QUOTE] I saw the original way back when, and the revival a couple of months ago. The actors playing Javert and Valjean in the current production are both _fantastic_. I don’t know who it was playing Fantine, but she was just so-so, IMO… I’m gonna go ahead and say that anyone who doesn’t like _Les Miz_ has no soul 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-which-broadway-show-to-see-in-two-weeks/389534/19 "2007-01-26T19:35:51Z")
[QUOTE=MilTan] I don’t know who it was playing Fantine, but she was just so-so, IMO… [/QUOTE] Probably Daphne Rubin-Vega. She has been getting mostly criticism which is why they are replacing her in March with the original Fantine Lea Salonga. From Feb 20-March 9 Nikki Renee will be temporarily taking over that role so I’d definitely recommend anyone else who is interested to see the show then. I saw her in concert and she is really amazing. **Drowsy** is a really fun show! I think you guys would enjoy that one. ---
**Author:** ![Elza\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Elza\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elza_B)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-which-broadway-show-to-see-in-two-weeks/389534/20 "2007-01-26T20:13:42Z")
[QUOTE=Eyebrows 0f Doom] Probably Daphne Rubin-Vega. She has been getting mostly criticism which is why they are replacing her in March with the original Fantine Lea Salonga. From Feb 20-March 9 Nikki Renee will be temporarily taking over that role so I’d definitely recommend anyone else who is interested to see the show then. I saw her in concert and she is really amazing. **Drowsy** is a really fun show! I think you guys would enjoy that one. [/QUOTE] I think Lea Salonga was the replacement Eponine in the original production of _Les Mis_, not the original Fantine. I like Miss Saigon, the other Schonberg and Boublil show, but Les Mis has never appealed to me. > [@Mtgman](#): > > Chorus Line, at least a well executed production, is worth seeing for the dancing alone but has a mediocre story for those who have never been in the theatre business. Those with theatrical experience often find another layer of amusement in the show that most people miss out on. I have theatrical experience, and I still find it pretty dated, musically. It’s not a bad show, I’m just worried about how well it’s going to do with a revival. Then again, it may do well just because it’s one of those shows that many people know. E. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-which-broadway-show-to-see-in-two-weeks/389534.md?page=2)