You might be wondering why I’m giving Broadway reviews if I’m a photographer…and I completely understand!
But I’m also a HUGE Broadway fan. Some might even say I’m a junkie!
So, I thought I’d share all the goodness I’ve seen in the past 6 months with you! Afterall, I’ve taken two trips to NYC and also have The Kennedy Center literally in my backyard.
How it started!
You might say I’ve always loved the stage. Performing and watching.
I organized a little neighborhood crew when I was little and we put on Sleeping Beauty and Snow White right in my childhood dining room. I even sold tickets to the show!
Or maybe it started when “Annie” opened at the Kennedy Center in 1977. I saw it SIX times! I pretty much begged anyone and everyone who had a ticket to take me!
Then, I acted in middle school and high school, as well as, did some behind the scenes work – I was a fabulous stage manager!
So, you might say I’ve always loved the live theater.
2020 & 2021 were hard on Theater Lovers
I had season tickets to DPAC for 5 years. But mid-2020 season DPAC like all theaters closed its doors. Cue all the tears.
And then we waited for the theater to re-open…and waited…and waited.
My 2020 tickets were moved not once, but three times!
I finally saw “The Band’s Visit” in October 2021! More about that below…
Also, in 2021 the opening date for “The Music Man’ on Broadway with Hugh Jackman (Wolverine) and Sutton Foster (Younger) was announced. You better believe I jumped at buying tickets! And we bought tickets to some Kennedy Center shows with two other couples.
All the Shows
I think I’ll just start chronologically.
The Band’s Visit – Beautiful music. Sort-of a strange story and to be honest my least favorite show. Not the welcome back to Broadway Shows I had hoped for!
Hadestown – I saw this at DPAC and in NYC. Amazing! Beautifully, tragic story told with New Orleans vibes. The music is superb and some of the songs are very haunting – especially for those of us living through the past six years! Highly recommend it! In my opinion, not for kids.
Beautiful – The Carol King Story is so much more than songs that you know, it’s a story of an incredibly talented woman who paved the way for so many! How she balance a marriage, children and a busy song writing career only to become a HUGELY popular recording artist! Fabulous story. I’ve seen this one twice – DPAC and The Kennedy Center.
Moulin Rouge – Amazing! A visual treat for sure and the modern day song mash-ups are incredible! I saw this one in NYC and would tell every adult to run and see it NOW! One of my favorites!
The Music Man – Classic Broadway. A fun filled, uplifting show with beautiful ballads and fast paced big production numbers! Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster have amazing chemistry and boy can they sing and dance! The BEST!
Wicked – Always a favorite in my book! Love the story and the music. I think this was my third or fourth time seeing it, but who can pass up Wicked in NYC? Not me!
Oklahoma – This is a BIG pass for me. I actually like the original, but this updated version was somewhat disturbing and I just didn’t love it.
Mean Girls – Fabulous! I mean Mary Kate Morrissey as Janis…fabulous! This was actually the last show I saw before the shut-down! It was fun to see it again at the Kennedy Center on Easter. Great music and a story with a good message…be YOU!
My Fair Lady – Again, a classic. I can’t say my husband or 21 year old son loved it, but I did. I love the story of Eliza Doolittle on stage and screen!
Jersey Boys – Again, music you know! But maybe not a story you’re familiar with…at least I wasn’t! So interesting to learn more about the performers behind all those hits!
Into the Woods – Sara Bareilles…need I say more? Tremendous show with a tremendous cast! Can’t say enough good things about it! It is long…almost 3 hours, but it doesn’t feel long! Unfortunately, it’s a limited run in NYC – just 8 weeks!
Shows I Want to See
Here are some shows I’m hoping to see – A Strange Loop (just won the Tony!), Six and MJ.
Thanks for letting me be a Broadway critic for once! I mean, just send me to all the Broadway shows.