NYC show recommendations

[linders]

NY peeps,

 

We will be in NYC for a week April 1-8, having scored an awesome AirBnB condo on the Upper East Side.

 

Trying to choose a show or two without spending a large fortune (resigned to a small fortune potentially). Recommendations? Parents and 2 teen boys, all of whom like musicals and drama and comedy. Not so much interested in acrobatic shows like Blue Man Group (which is neat, but not for this trip). 

 

Thanks!!

 

ETA: Has anyone seen Newsical? My gang loves current events (they watch the Daily Show and Seth Myers), so this sounds rather good, and I can get half-price tickets.

Edited January 12, 2016 by linders

[JFSinIL]

I suppose the boys would not care for Aladdin?

[Pam in CT]

Well, the out-of-the-ballpark smash these days is Hamilton!, which tells a remarkably true-to-the-facts history of Alexander Hamilton before/during/after the Revolutionary War and Constitutional development eras in a variety of musical styles, but mostly hip hop.  Lin-Manuel Miranda, who composed the music and stars in it, recently won a MacArthur  (the "genius" award) and it is sure to scoop up the Tonies.  Sadly, you do have to mortgage the house to get tickets.  But it really is that good.

 

I don't know about your family culture re: language, but Book of Mormon is also fantastic and more affordable these days; Wicked is also very good and works for older audiences, Kinky Boots is far tamer than the title suggests (it's basically a reworking of The Pajama Game, albeit with a bit of a twist) and Beautiful (the Carole King) is supposed to be excellent though we haven't seen it yet.  And Les Mis is classic even though it's been running since the Revolutionary War....  

 

Our next show will be Fiddler on the Roof.

 

Enjoy your visit!

Edited January 11, 2016 by Pam in CT

[Sarah CB]

Well, the out-of-the-ballpark smash these days is Hamilton!, which tells a remarkably true-to-the-facts history of Alexander Hamilton before/during/after the Revolutionary War and Constitutional development eras in a variety of musical styles, but mostly hip hop.  Lin-Manuel Miranda, who composed the music and stars in it, recently won a MacArthur  (the "genius" award) and it is sure to scoop up the Tonies.  Sadly, you do have to mortgage the house to get tickets.  But it really is that good.

 

 

I loved Hamilton.  I was on the edge of my seat for the entire performance.  It was so funny and witty and intelligent and incredible.  And I'm not even an American.  I still have songs from Hamilton running through my head and we saw it back in September.  

 

I'm not surprised Lin-Manuel Miranda won a "genius" award - he seriously is a genius.  I'm absolutely in awe of him.

[kewb]

Hamilton

Beautiful

Fiddler on the Roof

Book of Mormon

Jersey Boys

Wicked

[Faithr]

I really want to see Hamilton!  We are addicted to the music around here!  I think it would be perfect for two teens and two adults!

[clementine]

TKTS - go early to score tickets.  We saw Phantom - excellent & highly recommended.  Hamilton is on our list when it goes on tour - amazing!!  

[redsquirrel]

Umm... you are going to win tickets at the ham4ham lottery because that is what EVERYONE is doing, and then you will see what is available later, lol.

 

DH and ds1 were in the city this weekend and tried the lottery twice on Saturday and didn't get it, but they had fun at the lottery anyway. They got to see one Ham4Ham show on Saturday night.  There were approx 400 people at the morning lottery and well more than that, dh estimates approaching 1,000 for the Saturday night lottery. FWIW, at the morning lottery, there was a group from Pennsylvania behind dh, and SIX of them won 2 tickets each!  Everyone cheers and claps for the winners etc. DH and DS1 said it was super fun to just be there...and free, lol. They were sad they didn't win, but it was a very positive event.

 

If you win the lottery you can get up to two tickets for 10$ each...a "Hamilton for a Hamilton" aka ham4ham

 

If we had been there with two kids and two adults, and we actually won 2 tickets, we would have sent the kids in together. DH and I would have gone for dinner. It's more important they see it.

 

After losing the lottery, lol, I would take the kids to an iconic show, like Les Mis (playing next door to Hamilton) or Fiddler etc.

[GailV]

For a non-musical idea:

 

We loved loved LOVED Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time when we saw it on the West End.  I'm not sure the US version would be quite as good since parts of it are very British.  But, really, we'd all hop on a plane to go see it again.

 

 

Other than that, I'd try the lottery, and have something like Fiddler as a back up plan.  A friend just got home from NYC and did precisely that.  He had a great time.  (Also got a swanky tattoo, but perhaps that isn't on your itinerary.)

[Pam in CT]

Sadly, Lin-Manuel is suspending the free outdoor #Ham4Ham shows for the winter (they are still going to be doing the lottery).  We've seen several (though haven't won, lol).  OMG the man is.a.genius.

 

Totally second Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time if you're thinking beyond musicals.  So, so good whether or not you've read the book or have loved ones with autism.  

[redsquirrel]

Sadly, Lin-Manuel is suspending the free outdoor #Ham4Ham shows for the winter (they are still going to be doing the lottery).  We've seen several (though haven't won, lol).  OMG the man is.a.genius.

 

Totally second Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time if you're thinking beyond musicals.  So, so good whether or not you've read the book or have loved ones with autism.  

 

It will be back in March, and she will be there in April, so she could see it.

 

And the show was still happening as of last week, because the computer lottery thing-y broke the internet, lol

 

And I didn't know Curious Incident was there..yeah, that would be my second choice, after Hamilton, for sure!  I love musicals, but I would really love to see that. I've heard it is amazing and innovative.

[linders]

See edited post.