# shall I go see a Broadway play? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 28, 2019, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-i-go-see-a-broadway-play/833191 "2019-04-28T20:58:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![xnylder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbce88/32.png) [@xnylder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xnylder)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-i-go-see-a-broadway-play/833191/21 "2019-04-30T19:48:33Z")
Definitely go, theater (both musical and not) in NYC is a marvelous experience. If you’re worried about the cost, but don’t have your heart set on seeing one show in particular, try a [TKTS booth](https://www.tdf.org/nyc/7/tkts-ticket-booths). Discounted tickets for various shows are available there for same-day performances. I’d suggest getting there at least an hour and a half before opening as there’s quite a lineup! ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-i-go-see-a-broadway-play/833191/22 "2019-04-30T23:20:38Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Absolutely, but it doesn’t have to be in NYC. London prices are quite reasonable compared to Manhattan. So are Chicago prices. There are all sort of discount ticket options as well. > > Live theatre is amazing, and with just a bit of research, it won’t break the bank unless you insist on Hamilton. TKTS has lots of good discount tickets - we got them for My Fair Lady there. You won’t get Hamilton or Book of Mormon (both of which I saw in San Francisco) but there are plenty of good options. They have an app with the currently available shows. And if you go again in less than a week and bring your stub you can jump the line in the Duffy Square TKTS booth. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2019, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-i-go-see-a-broadway-play/833191/23 "2019-05-02T00:59:14Z")
Absolutely. I was just in London last week, and in the West End, which is their equivalent to Broadway, I saw a different show on each of four consecutive nights. It was great! ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2019, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-i-go-see-a-broadway-play/833191/24 "2019-05-02T01:18:10Z")
Yes. It’s a worthwhile experience, even if you don’t enjoy the show itself. The raw spectacle of it alone is worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2019, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-i-go-see-a-broadway-play/833191/25 "2019-05-02T01:36:49Z")
I’m not a musical theater person but I thought “Matilda: The Musical” was dazzling. (No idea if it’s still playing anywhere) ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2019, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-i-go-see-a-broadway-play/833191/26 "2019-05-02T12:59:29Z")
Why limit yourself to Broadway? See a touring show when it comes through. See a college production. See a Community Theater production. Half the fun is seeing how these small, broke-ass companies still manage to put on a good show with (sometimes very) limited budgets. Yes, you will see some clunkers - but you also may find out your son’s teacher is a great singer, or your garbageman has great comic timing! Live theater is the BEST! ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2019, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-i-go-see-a-broadway-play/833191/27 "2019-05-03T01:34:37Z")
I generally can’t stand show tunes, but I’m up for anything; so when I was given tickets to _Kinky Boots_ at the Fox Theater, I said whatthehell and went. Mrs. SMV is a huge Cyndi Lauper fan, so I was gonna see it, like or no. Was. Blown. Away. Great acting, great story, _great_ music. One of the peak theater experiences of my life. So yes, go. Best case, you’ll have your socks rocked. Worst case, you close your eyes and nap for an hour and a half. ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-i-go-see-a-broadway-play/833191/28 "2019-05-04T19:22:09Z")
I love touring productions, as I can’t get to NY. I’ve been fortunate enough to have seen Richard Harris in Camelot, Topol in Fiddler on the Roof, Joel Grey in Cabaret, Ted Neely and Carl Anderson in Jesus Christ Superstar, Michael Crawford singing Andrew Lloyd Webber, in addition to other touring productions. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Hamsandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4bbf92/32.png) [@Darth\_Hamsandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Hamsandwich)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-i-go-see-a-broadway-play/833191/29 "2019-05-04T22:13:11Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Live theatre is amazing, and with just a bit of research, it won’t break the bank unless you insist on Hamilton. I have done the research. And unless it’s off-off-off Broadway it does cost some pretty penny for a good seat. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-i-go-see-a-broadway-play/833191/30 "2019-05-04T22:53:55Z")
Sorry to be pedantic, but there are Broadway plays (no singing, just spoken word) and Broadway musicals (you can guess what that is). The only way to refer to the two types is to call them Shows. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2019, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-i-go-see-a-broadway-play/833191/31 "2019-05-04T23:01:22Z")
> [@Darth\_Hamsandwich](#): > > I have done the research. And unless it’s off-off-off Broadway it does cost some pretty penny for a good seat. In most Broadway houses, even the bad seats are pretty good. Not all but most. And there are a lot of ways to get discounts. But, no, it’s not cheap. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2019, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-i-go-see-a-broadway-play/833191/32 "2019-05-05T00:54:51Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > But, no, it’s not cheap. Hell, a week in Manhattan for an out-of-towner isn’t cheap. But come in, leave your automobile out of the city or garage it, eat great food, see the Broadway shows, enjoy the bright lights. Have some world class pizza. Take in an Art Film. Go to a gallery. Mix with the beatniks in the Village. Just stay out of Brooklyn, all right? We have enough goddam tourists. ---
**Author:** ![Wrenching\_Spanners](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecb155/32.png) [@Wrenching\_Spanners](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wrenching_Spanners)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2019, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-i-go-see-a-broadway-play/833191/33 "2019-05-05T07:43:25Z")
> [@Darth\_Hamsandwich](#): > > I have done the research. And unless it’s off-off-off Broadway it does cost some pretty penny for a good seat. How expensive are Off-Broadway tickets? We often go to high-quality shows at second-tier theatres in London, and the cheap seats are genuinely cheap. I just looked at prices for New Wimbledon Theatre - tickets from £13. And for the equivalent of Off-Off-Broadway in London, you can get the best seats for around that price. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-i-go-see-a-broadway-play/833191.md?page=1)