<p>For those of us who have been a little sad lately at all the shows closing on Broadway, I have to say this thread has been very fun to read--there is still a lot of great stuff in New York. Despite everything, theatre is alive and well and nothing can keep it down (well, we sure hope that's true for our kids' sake, right?)! Saw Desire Under the Elms in Chicago and highly recommend it when it opens in New York--the cast was incredible.</p>
<p>For a fun and (last I heard) inexpensive Off-Broadway, listen to Lauriemom. Keep Fuerzabruta in business! (Ulterior motives here -- son on replacement list, but not yet cast)</p>
<p>jasmom, keeping my fingers crossed for your son. The actor who I mentioned before who was out due to an injury and surgery is not returning to Fuerzabruta, he's joined the Rent tour. Let us know if you get any news!</p>
<p>Jasmom-wonderful news about your son. Sending positive thoughts his way. Keep us posted.</p>
<p>Another inexpensive -- and fun -- off B'way show is Altar Boyz. South Pacific is terrific, also In the Heights and Mary Poppins. Blithe Spirit just opened with Angela Lansbury, and she's always fantastic. August Osage County is probably the best play running right now.</p>
<p>alwaysamom - we saw Rent on tour here in San Diego last Sunday. I don't know who your friend is, but all of the actors were wonderful!</p>
<p>D is still waiting to see if she will be cast in Rent with the theatre company she works with. They were doing the school edition of Rent, but now have the rights to the full version so the director is letting others audition who are older. D would be happy just being in the ensemble as she loves the director and they are going to have Rodney Hicks (was in original Rent cast) do a week long workshop. D was cast as Mayzie in Suessical this week which looks like it will be a fun show!</p>
<p>showmom, I'm glad that you enjoyed the Rent tour. I agree with you that this is a wonderful cast. Longtime family friend is Anthony Rapp, although I know several of the other actors in this tour, too, many of whom have been with the show, off and on, for years. Soozievt (Susan) also knows one of the castmembers, a very talented young man who has done two previous legs of the tour as Mark. I've seen him perform and he's terrific. He's now a swing and a Mark u/s, and, from what I've heard, will be filling in as Steve for a while as the actor in that role has left the tour to film the Twilight pilot. Anyway, lots of talent in that group!</p>
<p>Best of luck to your D, it's a wonderful show for young actors to experience. I've seen Rodney Hicks perform many times, in various shows, including countless times in Rent. He's a great guy.</p>
<p>For a fun, (relatively) inexpensive show, go see The Toxic Avenger which is now in previews off-Broadway Its at the New World theatre on West 50th. The show was written by Joe DiPietro who wrote "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change", the musical director is David Bryan, keyboardist for Bon Jovi and the director is Joe Rando, who directed "Urinetown." It is a crazy, fun show in the vein of Little Shop of Horrors, and my teenage daughter loved it! This website and code should work for $45 seats: <a href="http://www.broadwayoffers.com%5B/url%5D">www.broadwayoffers.com</a> Use Code: TODRESS309</p>
<p>alwaysamom - Anthony Rapp was wonderful in the Rent tour. It's hard to believe how long ago the show started, but when we saw it last Sunday it really felt so new and fresh! It was a great audience for the show too although it was a larger venue (not my favorite), but we were right up near the front.</p>
<p>D and her best theatre friend are both so excited to hopefully be a part of Rent as it is a show they both love so much and feel that it is going to be a truly special experience. D has been in shows or rehearsals continually since last November and if cast in this Rent production will be busy until she leaves in July for the UARTS summer program! I know that if I were in her shoes I could not keep up with all the APs she has as a junior and all the extras. Thank goodness I finished school a long time ago when it wasn't so hard!</p>
<p>Last month we saw Billy Elliot (fantastic), The 39 Steps (also fantastic) and Uncle Vanya (slightly less than fantastic, but still enjoyable). Vanya was at the Classic Stage Company and I'm sure they've replaced the play by this time.</p>
<p>If your daughter enjoys witty comedy, The 39 Steps can't be beat. It refers to all of Hitchcock's movies in a very funny script and the four actors are simply marvellous. You can get half-price tickets in advance to some shows on broadwaybox.com</p>
<p>I hoe this thread continues because many of us are passing through New York on spring trips, but I must confess I have bought tickets. In two days we will see three shows: August:Osage County, Hair and Blithe Spirit. Other people who suggested getting inexpensive tickets last minute, I love to do that normally but I think I need to have this organized before we go, there are so many variables on this trip the more I know ahead of time the calmer I am. Thanks to everyone and I hope to see the ones we're missing next time, which might be as soon as this summer!</p>
<p>I was so excited to see this thread started, since my D and I will be making our very first trip to NYC next week for spring break!! We are going with a sort of guided tour group thingy that her drama teacher at school put together, and it is her graduation present. We didn't get to pick our shows....we are seeing Guys and Dolls, Blithe Spirit and In the Heights. We knew when we signed up in Dec that we would be seeing these two musicals for sure, and none of the bad reviews were showing up back then for G and D, obviously. Two out of three good ones isn't bad, and we will be so happy to be there that I'm sure we'll even love Guys and Dolls! I think Monday night we are going to Birdland to see Kate Shindle. After her appearance there is this thing called Cast Party that sounds like a sort of open mic night for Broadway stars. Anyone have any experience with this?</p>
<p>We are also visiting Lincoln Center one morning too. D is very excited about that, as she's deciding she is a little more VPish than MT as time goes by.</p>
<p>I'd love to see Hair...when I was a little kid that 8-track was in heavy rotation in our car when it was the style LOL.</p>