# What Broadway Shows Should I See? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 5, 2018, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-broadway-shows-should-i-see/822470 "2018-10-05T03:04:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [October 5, 2018, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-broadway-shows-should-i-see/822470/1 "2018-10-05T03:04:52Z")
I’m in NY for 3 weeks, doing shows, museums, etc. (And eating decent bagels.) Shows on TKTS are a plus. We saw the My Fair Lady revival (awesome) and it turns out that if you have a TKTS stub you can jump the line for a week. I’m entering all the lotteries, but don’t expect to get anything, so Hamilton is right out, and we’ve seen Book of Mormon in Sand Francisco already (not that we’d mind seeing it again.) Musicals, plays, or Off-Broadway all good. No jukebo musicals. On our list already is Bernhardt/Hamlet, previews of The Lifespan of a Fact, The Nap ((got a good review in the Times) ans The Play That Went Wrong. And Come From Away and The Band’s Visit. Any other winners? ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-broadway-shows-should-i-see/822470/2 "2018-10-05T03:15:47Z")
I see **Chicago** is still on. That has to be awesome live! ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-broadway-shows-should-i-see/822470/3 "2018-10-05T04:13:42Z")
I LOVED **_Come From Away_!** And of course _ **Dear Evan Handler** _ won last year’s Tony for best musical. And if you’ve never seen _ **Stomp!** _ at the Orpheum, give it a try (the shape of the theater makes the sound that much better) I don’t know whether it’s any good or not but [_On Beckett_](https://www.theatermania.com/shows/new-york-city-theater/off-broadway/on-beckett_325600) looks interesting to me. mc ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-broadway-shows-should-i-see/822470/4 "2018-10-05T09:44:23Z")
We saw Waitress and School of Rock during the summer. The kids liked School fo Rock but we all loved Waitress, even my wife who is not a big musical fan. Since we got back in late August we have listened to the Waitress music about 1,482,472 times. ---
**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:** [October 5, 2018, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-broadway-shows-should-i-see/822470/5 "2018-10-05T13:29:34Z")
_The Phantom of the Opera_. Not only is it Broadway’s longest running show ever, it is damn good. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-broadway-shows-should-i-see/822470/6 "2018-10-05T13:53:47Z")
My tip is to go to the “plays only” line on the far left of TKTS. You can pick up tickets in a fraction of the time. Last time, I got them (for _No Man’s Land_ with Gandalf and Captain Picard) in about ten minutes as opposed to 45 or so for any other line. Several of the plays you mentioned are available today. ---
**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:** [October 5, 2018, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-broadway-shows-should-i-see/822470/7 "2018-10-05T14:25:12Z")
It’s off Broadway but I can not more highly recommend Puffs: Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. Brilliant and amazing theater. Do not miss if you are even a casual Harry Potter fan. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-broadway-shows-should-i-see/822470/8 "2018-10-05T15:41:48Z")
book of mormon is very good ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-broadway-shows-should-i-see/822470/9 "2018-10-05T17:17:01Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I’m in NY for 3 weeks, doing shows, museums, etc. (And eating decent bagels.) > Shows on TKTS are a plus. We saw the My Fair Lady revival (awesome) and it turns out that if you have a TKTS stub you can jump the line for a week. > I’m entering all the lotteries, but don’t expect to get anything, so Hamilton is right out, and we’ve seen Book of Mormon in Sand Francisco already (not that we’d mind seeing it again.) > Musicals, plays, or Off-Broadway all good. No jukebo musicals. > On our list already is Bernhardt/Hamlet, previews of The Lifespan of a Fact, The Nap ((got a good review in the Times) ans The Play That Went Wrong. And Come From Away and The Band’s Visit. Any other winners? When did you see My Fair Lady? A friend of mine is in her Broadway debut playing Eliza on Sunday afternoons, and an ensemble member other nights. We’re headed down to NYC tomorrow to catch My Fair Lady on Sunday. I don’t think we’re going to see another show, but if we were, I’d prioritize The Band’s Visit over any other musicals. Once On This Island is a pretty dynamic show, though I’ve heard mixed things from friends who’ve seen it. Ditto on the Phantom suggestion, if you haven’t seen it. ---
**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:** [October 5, 2018, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-broadway-shows-should-i-see/822470/10 "2018-10-05T20:57:43Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > _The Phantom of the Opera_. Not only is it Broadway’s longest running show ever, it is damn good. Seen it already, years ago before the Phantom went on Social Security. ---
**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:** [October 5, 2018, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-broadway-shows-should-i-see/822470/11 "2018-10-05T21:02:29Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > When did you see My Fair Lady? A friend of mine is in her Broadway debut playing Eliza on Sunday afternoons, and an ensemble member other nights. > > We’re headed down to NYC tomorrow to catch My Fair Lady on Sunday. I don’t think we’re going to see another show, but if we were, I’d prioritize The Band’s Visit over any other musicals. > > Once On This Island is a pretty dynamic show, though I’ve heard mixed things from friends who’ve seen it. > > Ditto on the Phantom suggestion, if you haven’t seen it. Wednesday matinee. Understudy Higgins, original Eliza. Two Eliza understudies are listed - Anderson and Botts. Real Rosemary Harris I’m happy to say. ---
**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:** [October 5, 2018, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-broadway-shows-should-i-see/822470/12 "2018-10-05T21:04:30Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > My tip is to go to the “plays only” line on the far left of TKTS. You can pick up tickets in a fraction of the time. Last time, I got them (for _No Man’s Land_ with Gandalf and Captain Picard) in about ten minutes as opposed to 45 or so for any other line. > > Several of the plays you mentioned are available today. The line wasn’t bad when we went, and now we get to jump the line. I’ve got the TKTS app so I can check in advance on availability. ---
**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:** [October 5, 2018, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-broadway-shows-should-i-see/822470/13 "2018-10-05T21:09:27Z")
> [@mikecurtis](#): > > I don’t know whether it’s any good or not but [_On Beckett_](https://www.theatermania.com/shows/new-york-city-theater/off-broadway/on-beckett_325600) looks interesting to me. > > mc Now that sounds interesting! We saw Bill Irwin in Fool Moon, so I’ll keep my eye out. I don’t think my wife is as big a Beckett fan as I am, though. ---
**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:** [October 5, 2018, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-broadway-shows-should-i-see/822470/14 "2018-10-05T21:14:11Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > It’s off Broadway but I can not more highly recommend Puffs: Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. > > Brilliant and amazing theater. Do not miss if you are even a casual Harry Potter fan. Interesting. A definite possibility. The NY Historical Society just opened a history of Potter exhibit which we’ll hit in a week or so. Be a good combo. I’m definitely open to off Broadway. Hell, I saw Man of La Mancha when it was at ANTA, before it moved to Broadway - with Richard Kiley, of course. ---
**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:** [October 5, 2018, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-broadway-shows-should-i-see/822470/15 "2018-10-05T21:19:02Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > book of mormon is very good Saw it in San Francisco with some of the original cast with our kids. You can enter a whole week’s worth of lottery at a time. We played the soundtrack as we drove through Salt Lake City. 😃 And our 2 1/4 year old grandson is learning the songs. ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2018, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-broadway-shows-should-i-see/822470/16 "2018-10-06T00:57:24Z")
**Cats!** What? ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2018, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-broadway-shows-should-i-see/822470/17 "2018-10-06T17:45:58Z")
[Here’s](https://mjhnyc.org/events/fiddler-roof-yiddish/) something slightly off the beaten path: _Fiddler on the Roof,_ in Yiddish, with English supertitles. My high school friend Adam B. Shapiro is playing the Rabbi in it, and also understudying the roles of Tevye and Lazar Wolf. It’s gotten rave reviews, and has already had its run extended twice. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2018, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-broadway-shows-should-i-see/822470/18 "2018-10-06T17:47:51Z")
The Bands Visit. Just saw it and it was fantastic. One of the best. And I saw Hamilton on Broadway this year too… > [@ekedolphin](#): > > [Here’s](https://mjhnyc.org/events/fiddler-roof-yiddish/) something slightly off the beaten path: _Fiddler on the Roof,_ in Yiddish, with English supertitles. My high school friend Adam B. Shapiro is playing the Rabbi in it, and also understudying the roles of Tevye and Lazar Wolf. It’s gotten rave reviews, and has already had its run extended twice. My daughter and my sister just saw that and said it was fantastic as well. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2018, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-broadway-shows-should-i-see/822470/19 "2018-10-06T19:00:45Z")
Beautiful-The Carole King Musical is amazing. > **[BEAUTIFUL The Carole King Musical on Broadway | Official Site for New York...](https://beautifulonbroadway.com)** > > Official site for BEAUTIFUL - Your kind of music. Your kind of musical. Orchestra Seats from $89. Final Broadway Performance - October 27. It’s not just a Carole King replica concert performance. It tells her story and troubled relationship with Gerry Goffin. I saw it twice in Chicago and loved it more the second time. And. I’m not a big Carole King or singer-songwriter fan. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2018, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-broadway-shows-should-i-see/822470/20 "2018-10-06T19:21:25Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Beautiful-The Carole King Musical is amazing. > [https://beautifulonbroadway.com](https://beautifulonbroadway.com) > > It’s not just a Carole King replica concert performance. It tells her story and troubled relationship with Gerry Goffin. I saw it twice in Chicago and loved it more the second time. And. I’m not a big Carole King or singer-songwriter fan. I’ve been debating seeing this. Maybe I will! We also got tickets to Network (with Jeff Daniels) in previews. It looks interesting. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-broadway-shows-should-i-see/822470.md?page=2)