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Top 10 Must-See Broadway Plays and Musicals

October 3rd, 2008
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Jason Oconnor asked:


To see a Broadway play or musical is to step into a world that envelops you with an experience you cannot find anywhere else. Theatre has been around since ancient times and for good reason. There is absolutely nothing like watching the actors, hearing the live musical scores and going on a journey with fellow theatre-goers. It makes movies seem like flimsy comic books in comparison.

Fortunately, there are many excellent shows on Broadway and in major cities across North America today. The following list is the top ten plays you might consider attending with a date or a friend. Each one of these delivers an experience you won’t soon forget.

One of the most popular mega-hits of Broadway is Wicked. Wicked is a musical taking the witches from the Wizard of Oz and recasting them to reverse the loyalties the audience feels in the movie. The play follows the women from school to their eventual fates. The emerald skinned Elphaba, studious and misunderstood, and the beautiful and ambitious Glinda, as they move from unlikely friends to the classic opponents of the movie. The magic lies in the witty recasting of the backstory of the Wizard of Oz, to challenge assumptions and present a tale of friendship and love. And now Wicked is touring the U.S., so there’s a good chance it’s showing in a city near you.

A relatively new show called Tarzan, is a musical about a baby raised by gorillas as he encounters humans, and Jane, forcing him to choose between his two heritages. Tarzan is very popular, with many theatergoers looking forward to seeing the Disney version brought to stage. A show for all ages, the search for where one belongs in the world is a weighty subject for such a deceptively light show. Phil Collins extended his musical score from the Disney movie into a complete theatrical score.

The Lion King is a musical about Simba the lion cub and his journey to adulthood and acceptance as King. A play for all ages, the story of a youth growing to accept responsibility and duty is one of the most enduring themes in fiction. The animal puppetry is nothing less than brilliant. If you’re looking to instill a little culture in your child, this may be just the ticket. And again, The Lion King is showing in many cities.

A disfigured musical genius haunts a theatre and exerts a mysterious control over a young singer. The Phantom of the Opera is a modern classic musical, long-standing show and one of the most well known Broadway plays of the era. The classic music of the show is one of the main draws, with more than one piece from this show recognizable to almost any adult. This is the longest running play in Broadway history, and made Andrew Lloyd Webber a household name. Phantom of the Opera has played in 22 countries, 113 cities and to a combined audience of 10 million.

Les Miserables is a musical based on the classic novel of the same name, in which the obsessed policeman Javert pursues the prison escapee Jean Valjean over decades in Revolutionary France. A classic tale of obsession and redemption, this play investigates the big questions like right and wrong, vengeance and justice, and what it takes to achieve redemption, while putting a human face on the issues. Les Miserable originally ran on Broadway for sixteen years, and is back with a fresh cast to renew the magic.

Spamalot is based on the legendary Monty Python and the Holy Grail, featuring King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table as they face such dangers as the dreaded bunny rabbit. The occasionally eccentric Monty Python sense of humor is in full fury in this tale, with jabs at politics, religion, chivalry, bravery, intelligence and the French. There are limbless knights, men in tights and a chorus line of dancing divas. Spamalot is a favorite of audiences and critics alike, and won the 2005 Tony for Best Musical. If you liked the Monty Python’s TV show and movies, then this musical will sure to please.

Chicago the Musical is another famous musical, in this case about a murder trial. The Fosse choreography is iconic. While the music isn’t as iconic as some others, the odds are that most will recognize several pieces they’ve heard before, such as “Razzle-Dazzle” and “All that Jazz.” Chicago returns us to the time of Vaudeville, satirizes the justice system and shows us what great theater is all about. Definitely check this show out of you liked the movie starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellweger and Richard Gere.

Rags to rock to riches, Jersey Boys is the musical story of four blue-collar boys who become the Four Tops. It follows them from their start in the Hood to their apotheosis as one of the greatest music groups of all time, with emphasis on the characters involved. This show has really taken off and become unexpectedly popular on Broadway. Now the Jersey Boys is touring America.

Mamma Mia! is a musical built around Abba staples of the seventies, dealing with a single mother whose daughter is about to get married on a Greek island. The daughter invites three of her mother’s old boyfriends to visit, hoping to find out which one her father is. The play is built around Abba music, but is an engaging story in its own right and is advanced by the music rather than providing an excuse for it. This is a play where almost everyone attending knows the music.

Rent is a musical that explores poverty, disease, and drugs in New York City. It’s a modern rock version of the 19th century Italian opera “La Boheme,” and is set in New York City’s East Village. It is a moving musical where young people strive to make it in a difficult world.

Plays are one of the most enduring human entertainments, and Broadway is the big leagues in an art form thousands of years old. Plays speak of where we come from, where we are, and where we would like to be. If you want to do something different and you value culture, entertainment and enlightenment, going to a Broadway play is something you may want to experience soon.



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Buying New York Theatre Tickets Online

June 4th, 2008
wicked broadway
Al Terry asked:


New York theatre tickets can be purchased online in advance with the least hassle. There are about 39 theatres located in the theatre district of the city. The theatre district is located within the 53rd and 42nd streets of Manhattan. This district is also called the Great White Way and is one of NYC’s most visited tourist destinations. The theatres here host some of the most popular shows featuring the very best creative teams and cast. Most of these theatres have more than 500 seats and people can watch some of Broadway’s most popular shows such as “The Phantom of the Opera” that is also one of the longest running shows. It has been playing for more than 20 years!

Broadway Theatre Tickets

You can get New York theatre tickets for the more commercial productions that are produced with no expenses spared. The shows are such great hits as the creative team puts together a superlative show that is aided by numerous talented artists who grace the stage.

If you desire to experience a more artsy kind of production, you can get New York theatre tickets to the off-Broadway shows that are hosted in theatres with a seating capacity up to 500. There are extremely low budget off-off Broadway shows which are hosted in theatres that have a seating capacity of about 100.

Audiences are wooed with award musical treats such as “Wicked”, “The Color Purple”, “Mamma Mia”, “Hairspray” and “Mary Poppins”. Children are especially delighted while watching “The Lion King”, “The Little Mermaid”, “Altar Boys”, “Beauty and the Beast”, “Stomp” and “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”

More mature audience generally purchase New York theatre tickets for shows like “November”, “August: Osage County”, “Avenue Q”, “Cat On A Hot Tin Roof”, “Chicago”, “Spamalot”, “Spring Awakening” and “The Homecoming”.

Purchase New York theatre tickets for shows such as “Billy Elliot”, “Curtains”, “Cymbeline”, “Cyrano de Bergerac”, “Grease”, “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” and “Is He Dead” if you like comedies.

The best way to buy New York theatre tickets is from an authorized ticket broker. They usually have a huge inventory offering you much greater choice and variety. You can purchase orchestra, mezzanine or premium tickets in advance and even get the tickets to shows that have been sold out. Getting last minute tickets from authorized ticket brokers is also very easy. You just have to give them a call using a toll free number or make your purchase online. The security of the information that you are needed to provide is not a worry factor as the websites use the latest and secure technology and software.

When you book tickets via an authorized ticket broker, you get valid tickets that can be delivered at your doorstep via the Federal Express delivery service. They are delivered within a day after you have purchased them. You can plan and enjoy an evening at Broadway without any hassles. You need not rush to the box office for purchasing the last minute day-of-the-performance tickets or wait outside hoping someone will sell you a ticket due to a last minute cancellation. Instead, you can buy the New York theatre tickets from a registered ticket broker and go there to watch the show at your convenience.



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Learning About Buying Theater Tickets in New York

May 24th, 2008
wicked broadway
Al Terry asked:


Broadway theater tickets in New York are always at a premium, especially in the case of popular and hit plays and shows. There are 39 theaters categorized as Broadway theaters, and more than 100 that are known as Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway theaters. Broadway theaters are in midtown Manhattan and are in the area called the Times Square.

Theater tickets in New York, especially for the plays and shows on Broadway, are booked months in advance, and if you are unable to lay your hands on them through the Box Office, your best bet could be through some ticket brokers.

Tickets From Ticket Brokers

Many people visiting New York on a short notice, for business, or are on a vacation, may not have the wherewithal to book their theater tickets in advance. Even if you are a resident of New York, and need to take your business client out for a show on Broadway, buying tickets could be a problem. Your safest bet could be contacting a ticket broker for your theater tickets in New York.

Reputed and reliable ticket brokers can help you buy tickets for popular plays and shows that are currently running, such as Tarzan, The Lion King, Wicked, Mary Poppins, A Chorus Line, Les Miserables, among many others. A reputed ticket broker is a licensed broker, and is a member of the National Association of Ticket Brokers. In most cases, you can get in touch with ticket brokers online for your ticketing needs.

Tickets From Other Sources

Theater tickets in New York for plays and shows on Broadway, Of-Broadway, and Off-Off-Broadway can be purchased from sources other than through ticket brokers. Tickets bought from ticketing brokers, would normally be more expensive than those bought through the Box Office. Obviously, the broker would be adding service charges on top of the face value of the ticket. Through other sources, you may be able to purchase theater tickets in New York at discounted and affordable prices.

Most theaters on Broadway issue discount codes for most of the plays and shows. This is for marketing purposes, and if you are able to lay your hands on such a code, you can get a substantial discount. Discount codes can be accessed through the Internet.

As a student, you can avail of students’ discount, just by producing your ID. Such tickets can be procured through the Box Office only, and just before the start of the show. Theater tickets in New York for certain plays that have not yet become popular, or are not very popular anyways, can be bought at substantial discount - as much as 50 percent - directly from the Box Office.

Other discounted tickets are for seats that do not have a clear view of the stage due to a support column, or by a prop. These seats are available at huge discounts, if you do not mind missing the action in a portion of the stage. Standing Room Only theater tickets in New York are also available at discounted prices, if you do not have a problem of standing while watching a play.



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