<p>I've decided to take off wednesday to go into nyc for the day and see a matinee. i lived there in the 04-05 school year and went to a whole bunch of shows, but i am unfamiliar with most of the current ones. i was hoping i could get some suggestions for some excellent and entertaining musicals. the shows that are currently running that i have seen are: the producers, rent, lion king, chicago, phantom. any ideas? much appreciated!</p>
<p>Sweeny Todd hands down.</p>
<p>My top recommendation would be Jersey Boys but it's doubtful you could get a ticket unless you're lucky and there's a cancellation. Sweeney Todd is good but unless you're a Sondheim fan (and even at that, this is a very different production), it might not be your cup of tea. The Drowsy Chaperone and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels are also very entertaining.</p>
<p>For straight plays, History Boys and The Lieutenant of Inishmore are both excellent.</p>
<p>Musical: 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, this show is FUN, FUN, FUN!!!!
Straight play: Faith Healer, Cherry Jones is amazing!!!</p>
<p>drowsy chaperone!!!!!!!!!!!</p>
<p>My son is dying to see Faith Healer (even before the Tony nominations). We're heading to the East for a college tour and will be able to catch a Saturday matinee. The show doesn't look as "entertaining" as some others and we'll have 5 other family members with us. I'm wondering if my son and I should plan to go to Faith Healer and send the others to a musical. Any comments???</p>
<p>Drowsy Chaperone, Wedding Singer. THey offer student rush tickets! Also, Pajama Game gives student rush but only 1/2 hour before curtain. Good luck!</p>
<p>thanks for the suggestions!</p>
<p>Hairspray is a pretty good musical. Tarzan looks good as well, but it just opened so I wouldn't be sure about tickets. Threepenny Opera is at Studio 54, starring Alan Cummings. The Odd Couple should be amazing as well. As for plays, I don't know many but History Boys seems good</p>
<p>I live very close to the city, so I get word of new stuff and reviews pretty quickly. I'm only going to speak of musicals here, because I'm not very familiar with the dramas. I've heard The History Boys and Faith Healer are supposed to be fantastic. And of course Three Days of Rain- but tickets to that might be impossible to find. </p>
<p>I would highly reccomend Drowsy Chaperone, The Light in the Piazza, and Sweeney Todd. If you MUST see a jukebox, go with Jersey Boys- but I for one don't like them. Putnam County Spelling Bee is also fantastic. </p>
<p>The only show I wouldn't spend my money on-
Tarzan has received reviews that all but set fire to the theatre. The critics, my friends, and pretty much everyone I've spoken to say the set is fantastic, everything else, on the other hand, stinks on ice.</p>