So you’re headed for a weekend in the city and seeing a show (or two!) is at the top of your must-do list…good for you! There’s nothing quite like seeing a Broadway musical or heading to a television studio to see a live taping. Does it get any cooler than that? Here’s the thing: how do you decide? In the city that never sleeps, there are so many shows to choose from, you could spend your whole trip in the theater! If you have an idea, but you just can’t decide, here’s a roundup of 5 NYC shows you have to see to help narrow your decision just a bit. Enjoy!
#1. The Today Show is an absolute must, especially for anyone willing to brave the cold and stand outside on a frigid winter day! This NBC daily morning show is a NYC staple – and puts you in the heart of the city during the hustle and bustle of the morning commute.
NBC’s morning news and lifestyle program and tapes on the ground floor at the corner of West 48th Street and Rockefeller Plaza. Fans gather outside on the plaza to watch (and to try to snag some time in front of the camera). During the first two hours of the show on weekdays (7–9am), Today‘s hosts and guests are outside on the plaza and fans can see them up close. During the show’s second half (9–11am), viewers can still watch—and wave to friends and family at home—through the window of Studio 1A. On weekends, the hosts may periodically visit the plaza during the show.
Ticket Info: No tickets are necessary.
Location: 30 Rockefeller Plaza (bet. Fifth and Sixth Aves. at W. 48th St.)
Schedule: The show tapes Monday through Friday from 7 to 11am, Saturday from 7 to 9am and Sunday from 8 to 9am.
#2. For something super cool (and different), how about a visit to Bravo’s Inside the Actors Studio? James Lipton interviews entertainers at Pace University. Episodes consist mostly of one-on-one interviews between Lipton and the guests. Shoots last up to four hours (the conversations are edited down for television).
Ticket Info: Standby tickets are sometimes available to the general public, and to get them, you have to wait on line the day of the show to see if tickets are available. The line forms outside of the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts where the show is recorded. Register for Pace’s mailing list to find out when the shows will be taped. Please note that waiting on the standby line does not guarantee you a ticket.
Show Requirements: You must be 18 or older to attend. No food, beverages, gum chewing, knitting or hats allowed. Those wearing clothes with writing or logos may be required to sit out of the camera shot. No cameras or cell phones allowed.
Location: Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts, Pace University, 3 Spruce St. (bet. William and Gold Sts.)
#3. Broadway Musical: The Book of Mormon
Trey Parker and Matt Stone have generated plenty of attention for combining toilet humor with intelligent satire on the Emmy-winning South Park, but it’s their knack for great musical theater that will finally get its due with The Book of Mormon, the comedy duo’s first Broadway production. In a seemingly perfect marriage of mischievous artists, Avenue Q‘s Robert Lopez is also on board as a co-composer, with Casey Nicholaw named as a co-director alongside Parker. The musical follows the trials and tribulations of two Mormon missionaries sent to spread the gospel of the Church of Latter-Day Saints to a destitute Ugandan village. That might not sound funny at all, but the events that transpire prove to be simultaneously hilarious—and heart-warming.
February 24, 2011 – ongoing
Eugene O’Neill Theatre
230 W. 49th St.
Manhattan, NY 10038
#4. Broadway Musical (with the kids): The Lion King
More than 55 million people around the world have come to discover the thrill, the majesty, the truly one-of-a-kind musical that is The Lion King. And there’s no better place to experience this landmark entertainment event than in the city where it all began. Join us at the Minskoff Theatre, in the heart of Times Square, and discover the pride of New York.
October 15, 1997 – ongoing
Minskoff Theatre
200 W. 45th St. (at Seventh Ave.)
Manhattan, NY 10036 phone: 866-870-2717|
#5. Ballet: An American in Paris
Ballet is playing a big part on Broadway this year. This fall’s revival ofOn the Town, starring New York City Ballet principal dancer Megan Fairchild, is swiftly becoming a hit. And this coming spring the first-ever stage adaptation of 1951 movie-musical An American in Paris will debut on Broadway starring Megan’s brother—another NYCB rising star—Robert Fairchild. The film, choreographed by and starring Gene Kelly, famously concludes with a 15-minute ballet set to George Gershwin’s orchestral composition “An American in Paris.” Other memorable numbers include Gershwin tunes like “‘S Wonderful” and “I Got Rhythm.” Kelly leaves big celluloid dance shoes to fill, but Fairchild is game—bravely taking on the role of Jerry Mulligan, an American World War II veteran who moves to Paris and becomes a painter. Fairchild’s jazzy, playful style has been compared to Kelly’s, making him the perfect person to bring this beloved movie to the stage. Leanne Cope, a principal at the Royal Ballet in London, plays Lise, the wide-eyed French girl who catches Jerry’s eye. The cast traveled to Paris last fall for the musical’s debut at Théâtre du Châtelet, so Fairchild now truly knows what it feels like to be an American in Paris.
Palace Theatre, 1564 Broadway.
Previews start March 13; opens April 12.
Which NYC show is at the top of your list?
All show descriptions taken from nycgo.com
