Upon arriving in New York, almost instantly do thoughts of all the Broadway shows I’ve seen throughout my life and then let the idea of seeing yet another Broadway shows floating around in my head until I actually make it happen. To me, there is no New York City without the Broadway scene. Without Broadway’s musicals, comedies, dramas, and children’s works, New York almost seems empty to me.
As a lover of almost all types of art, a Broadway show full of funny antics, songs that make me dance in my seat, or heart wrenching romance really makes my year.
For me, with little time on my vacations to New York City, I am always having trouble fitting all the shows I want to see in my already cramped schedules. There is always so much going with Broadway, that I think that even those who live in the areas surrounding Broadway would not even have the time to see all the Broadway shows. It could very possibly take two or even three people to fully explore what Broadway has to offer.
It is key to know that shows play at different times. There are some shows that may not be playing during the window of days that you’re in town. Also, there are some like Phantom of the Opera that always seem to be sold out. Before making your way to Broadway, it’s important to make sure the show you want to see will even be playing, and if so, if tickets are still on sale. If tickets are on sale, buying them Online can also save the stress of making it all the way to Broadway to find that the woman ahead of you just bought the last twelve tickets.
Most people associate Broadway with just musicals and comedies, but some of the most beautiful pieces of Broadway art take place in the more dramatic shows. Many dramatic Broadway shows, such as Phantom of the Opera are also musicals. There are many dramatic Broadway shows that are musicals as well which is important to know in the case that you might not like musicals or that you may actually prefer them. Knowing ahead of time can relieve the stress of a surprise like that. Some of the most deep stories full of deep messages and different meanings to life can be found in shows such as Les Miserables, Grey Gardens, A Chorus Line, Chicago, The Vertical Hour, and The Color Purple.
Some great musicals that I’ve been recommending to friends are Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, Naked Boys Singing, Jersey Boys, and Mama Mia! My favorites are always changing, but right now I’m really a big fan of Wicked. To me, Broadway is best known for its comedic genius. As Broadway has always been known for not approving of society’s status quo, watching comedy on Broadway can allow you to let loose and just enjoy the show. There are many Broadway comedies that are musicals, just as there are many dramatic shows that are musicals, so like I said it’s important to know before you go. With that note aside, my personal favorite Broadway comedy is I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. Some other great ones include Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead, Spamalot, and the increasingly popular show titled The Producers.
With going to Broadway becoming more and more popular among families there are also great shows for children that bring a large amount entertainment to adults as well. Tarzan, The Lion King, Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beat, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Momma Mia! are known for being great shows for children. However, some “kid friendly” broadway shows have been known to have some parts that can scare small children (such as the witch in “Wicked.”) There are also some shows that might raise some of those deep questions that youngsters often ask… the ones parents are never prepared for. With this being said, it’s important for anyone taking a child to a show to know what kind of information it contains as well as any monsters, however small their part might be, that might be terrifying to your kids. It’s also to know your little one’s preferences before seeing a show so that both you and your kids can have an enjoyable, non-scary experience.
With Broadway being such an important part of the culture of New York City and its environs, if you want to experience the “real” local flavor of the city while on vacation, Broadway’s definitely the place to be. Keep in mind that it’s not possible to see every show on Broadway on a vacation, remember that there are many shows that will be in New York waiting for your return next time you’re in the area.
18 Nov
