New York City is one of my favorite places to visit for so many of the things that I like about visiting a big city.  There are restaurants in every variety possible and premier shopping from department stores that aren’t at home to funky little shops. There are world class museums, historical sites, and architecture sure to inspire the “ah” factor.  There’s also the theater – with Broadway theaters numbering around 40, there’s plenty to choose from – a popular choice for visitors and residents alike.

Theater in New York dates back to the mid-1700s with resident companies performing Shakespearean plays and ballad operas.  As is often the case in business, one theater led to another, and the performances expanded and evolved to include comedic farces, minstrel shows, musical entertainment, opera, variety shows, and melodramas.  Theater was often another example of class warfare as offerings were seen as snobby and stuff or decidedly lower class, but as it evolved it became entrenched in the cultural life of the city.  The Times Square area became home to theater in the early 1900s in large part due to the cheap rents available there, and it was around this time that musical theater (encompassing song, dance, and plot) became a popular form of entertainment.

Fast forward to today and you can find a Broadway show running any time you’re in NYC.  The label “Broadway” show refers to any production in the Theater District (Times Square area) at a theater with over 500 seats.  Each theater will have one night of the week that it is dark (closed), with performances offered other nights of the week and matinees likely on the weekends.  Live music remains a hallmark of Broadway performances – you may remember a musicians strike over that issue – with the size of the orchestra varying based on the size of the theater.  That’s the interior of the Palace Theater, and Priscilla Queen of the Desert, in photo above.

A Broadway show provides some of the best live entertainment around, and it’s no wonder that it is one of the most requested tourist activities for visitors to New York.  It doesn’t come cheap, though, with ticket prices often close to $100.  You can purchase tickets through the theater (in person or online) or through various ticket websites.

If prices are out of your price range, one option for finding lower prices is TKTS.  TKTS provides deeply discounted (20-60%), same-day ticket purchases at its booths in Times Square, South Street Seaport (lower Manhattan), and downtown Brooklyn.  I have often purchased theater tickets from the TKTS booth in Times Square, easily found by the line queuing up in Father Duffy Square (Broadway & 47th).  The booth opens at 3 pm (2 pm on Tuesdays) and the line forms very quickly.  If you want the best selection, seats and shows, get their VERY early.  Of course, if you want all those things you may want to buy your tickets in advance and not leave it to chance, but if you’re flexible and open, you can get a good buy here.  I’ve also had good luck making a last minute decision to go to a show and have popped over to the booth at the last minute.  My experience has been that about an hour before show time there’s not much of a line and you can buy tickets fairly quickly.  Of course, the selection may not be much either, but I’ve scooped up discounted tickets to some great performances this way.

Another way to get discounted Broadway tickets is to find a value priced hotel package that includes tickets.  Still, if Broadway tickets are still out of your price range, consider Off Broadway or Off-Off Broadway.  In addition to experimental, niche, and often controversial productions, many Broadway shows got their start at smaller venues.

Here are some highlights of what’s on Broadway for this fall (listed alphabetically by production):

• Anything Goes – Stephen Sondheim Theatre, 124 West 43rd Street.  Winner of the 2011 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival.  Ticket prices start at $87.  Theater is dark on Monday.
• Baby It’s You – Broadhurst Theatre, 235 West 44th Street.  Tickets start at $48.50.  Theater is dark on Monday.
• Billy Elliot – Imperial Theatre, 249 West 45th Street.  Winner of the 2009 Tony Award for Best Musical.  Ticket prices start at $41.50.  Theater is dark on Monday.
• Bonnie & Clyde – Schoenfeld Theatre, 236 West 45th Street.  Preview performances start in November with opening night on December 1st, 2011.  Ticket prices start at $66.50.  Theater is dark on Monday.
• Catch Me If You Can – Neil Simon Theatre, 20 West 52nd Street.  Ticket prices start at $62.  Theater is dark on Monday.
• Chicago – Ambassador Theatre, 219 West 49th Street.  Winner of the 1997 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival.  Ticket prices start at $69.  Theater is dark on Wednesday.  (NOTE:  This is the very first Broadway show that I went to and it is responsible for re-kindling my love of theater.)
• Follies – Marquis Theatre, 1535 Broadway.  This production is currently in previews with opening night on September 12th, 2011.  Ticket prices start at $57.  Theater is dark on Monday.
• Godspell – Circle in the Square, 1633 Broadway.  This production starts preview performances in October 2011 with opening night on November 7th, 2011.  Ticket prices start at $125.  Theater is dark on Monday.
• Hair – St. James Theatre, 246 West 44th Street.  Winner of the 2009 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival, and also a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. Ticket prices start at $37. Theater is dark on Sunday.
• How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying – Al Hirschfeld Theatre, 302 West 45th Street.  Ticket prices start at $52.  Theater is dark on Monday.  (NOTE:  If you want to know what Daniel Radcliffe did after the Harry Potter movies came to an end, here’s your answer.)
• Jersey Boys – August Wilson Theatre, 245 West 5nd Street.  Winner of the 2006 Tony Award for Best Musical.  Ticket prices start at $97.  Theater is dark on Monday.  (NOTE:  I’ve seen this story of Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons numerous times in numerous places; it’s on my highly recommended list.)
• Lysistrata Jones – Walter Kerr Theatre, 219 West 48th Street.  This classic Greek play is given a modern sports twist with preview performance starting in November with opening night on December 14th, 2011.  Ticket prices start at $97.  Theater is dark on Monday.
• Mamma Mia! – Winter Garden Theatre, 1634 Broadway.  Ticket prices start at $69.50.  Theater is dark on Tuesday.  (NOTE:  Even if you aren’t a fan of ABBA, you may find yourself enjoying and humming along.)
• Mary Poppins – New Amsterdam Theatre, 214 West 42nd Street.  Ticket prices start at $62.  Theater is dark on Monday.
• Memphis – Shubert Theatre, 225 West 44th Street.  Winner of the 2010 Tony Award for Best Musical.  Ticket prices start at $41.50.  Theater is dark on Monday.  (NOTE:  This is another one that I’ve saw Memphis here in Seattle for its pre-Broadway performances.  It’s another on my highly recommended list.)
• On a Clear Day – St. James Theatre, 246 West 44th Street.  This production stars Harry Connick Jr. and starts preview performances in November with opening night on December 11th, 2011.  Ticket prices start at $64.  Theater is dark on Monday.
• Other Desert Cities – Booth Theatre, 222 West 45th Street.  Preview performances begin in October with opening night on November 3rd, 2011.  Ticket prices start at $80.  Theater is dark on Monday.
• Porgy and Bess – Richard Rodgers Theatre, 226 West 46th Street.  This production starts previews in December with opening night on January 12th, 2012.  Ticket prices start at $85.  Theater is dark on Monday.
• Priscilla Queen of the Desert – Palace Theatre, 1564 Broadway.  Ticket prices start at $52.  Theater is dark on Monday.
• Private Lives – Music Box Theatre, 239 West 45th Street.  This limited production is in previews for a week or so before its opening night on November 16th, 2011.  Ticket prices start at $66.50.  Limited run, check with theater for performance dates.
• Relatively Speaking – Brooks Atkinson Theatre, 256 West 47th Street.  This production, a series of 3 one-act comedies from Ethan Coen, Elaine May and Woody Allen, starts preview performances in September with opening night on October 20th, 2011.  Ticket prices start at $87.  Theater is dark on Monday.
• Rock of Ages – Helen Hayes Theatre, 240 West 44th Street.  Tickets start at $70.  Theater is dark on Wednesday.
• Sister Act – Broadway Theatre, 1681 Broadway.  Ticket prices start at $ 51.50.  Theater is dark on Monday.
• Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark – Foxwoods Theatre, 213 West 42nd Street.  Ticket prices start at $69.50.  Theater is dark on Monday.
• Stick Fly – Cort Theatre, 138 West 48th Street.  This comedy starts preview performance in November with opening night on December 8th, 2011.  Ticket prices start at $35.  Theater is dark on Wednesday.
• The Addams Family – Lunt-Fontaine Theatre, 205 West 46th Street.  Ticket prices start at $57.  Theater is dark on Monday.
• The Book of Mormon – Eugene O’Neill Theatre, 230 West 49th Street.  Ticket prices start at $69.  Theater is dark on Monday.  (NOTE:  Irreverent humor from the creators of South Park.)
• The Lion King – Minskoff Theatre, 200 West 45th Street.  Winner of the 1998 Tony Award for Best Musical.  Ticket prices start at $80. Theater is dark on Monday.
• The Mountaintop – Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, 242 West 45th Street.  This production tells the story of the night before the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and start preview performances in September with opening night October 13th, 2011.  Ticket prices start at $76.50.  Theater is dark on Monday.
• The Phantom of the Opera – Majestic Theatre, 247 West 44th Street.  Winner of the 1988 Tony Award for Best Musical.  Ticket prices start at $66.50.  Theater is dark on Tuesday.  (NOTE:  This is another one of my favorites.  No matter how many times I’ve seen it, it still moves me.)
• Venus in Fur – Samuel J Friedman Theatre, 261 West 47th Street.  Opens for preview performances in October with opening night on November 8th, 2011.  Ticket prices start at $67.  Theater is dark on Monday.
• War Horse – Vivian Beaumont Theatre, 150 West 65th Street.  Ticket prices start at $75.  Theater is dark on Monday.
• Wicked – Gershwin Theatre, 222 West 51st Street.  Ticket prices start at $77.  Theater is dark on Monday.

Cautionary note:  This is, by no mean, an all inclusive listing of what you’ll find on Broadway this fall.  I have tried to include a variety of currently running and soon to open shows to give you an idea of the variety you’ll find on Broadway, and while it is accurate and current as of the date of publication, show business is ever changing.  Check with the theater or show websites for updated information regarding cast, show times , ticket prices and availability, along with bits and pieces of other information.  Things can and do change.  While there are plenty of legitimate discount ticket options available, use caution to avoid buying counterfeit tickets.

What do you want to see on Broadway this fall?

Photo credit:  Vincent Desjardins (Times Square); Jeff Rosen (interior of Palace Theatre); Loren Javier (The Lion King at Minskoff Theatre).  All via flickr.

Share on Facebook

Elvis has not left the building!  His music is alive and well, and performed every night in the ARIA showroom.  Viva Elvis! ,the new production show from Cirque du Soleil, traces the life of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll from his humble beginnings in Tupelo, Mississippi to his headlining days on the Las Vegas Strip.  And in between, well let’s just say there’s a whole lotta shakin’ going on.

The show follows a largely chronological time line, telling the life story of Elvis Aron Presley through photos, staging and his music – both recorded and taped numbers.  While Elvis never actually appears on stage, there can be no doubting that his presence is larger than life.

The life story of Elvis is paired up with music representative of the time and the performances of 28 acrobats and 32 dancers with the creative costuming and theatrics that Cirque du Soleil is known for.  Some of the highlights include:

• It’s Now or Never – Repurposed and set to a flamenco routine.
• Viva Las Vegas – The finale, complete with showy costumes and fireworks evoking the glamour of Las Vegas in days gone by.
• One Night – Transformed into a ballad as two men climb and frolic about a guitar-shaped design hanging above the stage.
• Jail House Rock – The inmates stage a lively and flashy jail break.
• Are You Lonesome Tonight – The beautiful love song sets the mood for two aerialists soaring through the air.
• Got a Lot o’Livin’ to Do – ,The song provided the backdrop for an impressive trampoline routine by performers dressed in superhero costumes.  This was by far the audience favorite, with murmurs of WOW and “how do they do that.”  At the time I didn’t understand the significance of the superhero reference, but it turns out Elvis was a comic book fan.
• Return to Sender – Elvis’s induction into the Army, complete with video showing his thick, wavy locks being shorn off, and looking handsome in his uniform.
• Bossa Nova Baby – Providing background for an acrobatic stacking and climbing chairs that seemed to reach all the way to the ceiling.
• Burning Love – Video clips showed the hunk-a-hunk of burning love kissing co-stars from his movies.  Film buffs will want to be looking for Anne Margaret, ADD OTHERS HERE
• Mystery Train – Cowboys out on the range perform lasso tricks, including lassos on fire, in a routine that I wasn’t quite sure how it fit in

The fact that the showroom was well under half full for a Thursday night performance is more about a struggling economy than about the production.  The show room will hold 1,840 people.  I can only imagine how challenging it is to play to an audience whose response was, at times, lukewarm, but the performers still gave it their all.

Who will like the performance?  For me that’s a tough question to answer.  Fans of Elvis’s music will probably like the music, assuming that can make the transition to some of the creative ways the songs have been covered and styled.  Fans of Cirque du Soleil will likely be entertained, but feel disappointed that the show was more about the music and the persona than about the impressive performances for which the troupe is known.  ..

My take on it:  I liked it, but I didn’t love it.  I’ve seen LOVE – playing at the Mirage – Cirque du Soleil’s show celebrating the music and life of the Beatle’s and found it far more entertaining.

It’s worth the time and money to catch Viva Elvis!, and for most of us, it’s the only way we’ll hear the King perform.

Thinking about staying at the ARIA?  Read my review of ARIA to help you decide.

Location:  ARIA Hotel Showroom

Show times:  7 ad 9 pm, Tuesday through Saturday.  The show runs 90 minutes, with no intermission.

Tickets:  Priced at $99 – 175, plus taxes and fees  CHECK FOR PROMOTIONAL PRICING

Photo credit:  Courtesy of Julie Aucoin and MGM Mirage

NOTE:  I received a complimentary ticket for the performance of Viva Elvis; the opinions expressed herein are solely my own.

Share on Facebook

You’ve seen Phantom of the Opera, and maybe even the sequel, Love Never Dies, so what’s next for your theatre breaks in London?

London’s West End is home to a number of theaters offering everything from the decadent larger musicals and big stars (Wicked, Jersey Boys, and The Lion King) to smaller venues offering the new, quirky, or debuting (The 39 Steps, The Woman in Black, Love Story).

If you’re a theater buff like me, pretty much any choice of show will be a good one. My tastes run the gamut and I’m game for almost anything – even productions that I’ve seen numerous times.  But if you aren’t sure what to see or how to choose you can throw caution to the wind and let someone else decide, or you can do your homework and make your selections.

Here are a few of the top shows for your consideration:

• Phantom of the Opera and Love Never Dies - “Based on a classic French thriller about a terrifying and legendary figure who emerges from the depths of The Paris Opera House and manifests the mythic opera ghost in terrifying reality” Phantom is one of the classics of theater.  It’s sequel, Love Never Dies picks up the story 10 years later.  These would make a great one-two punch for a weekend of theater.
• Wicked - “Experience this unforgettable, award-winning musical and discover that you’ve not been told the whole story about the land of Oz..”
• Chicago – “The kiss-and-tell story of chorus girl Roxie who kills her lover; Velma Kelly, the glamorous double-murderer and Billy Flynn, the slick and manipulative lawyer keeping them from death row while promising to make them stars, has all the topicality of our celebrity-seeking times.”

Want to laugh?  Try a comedy:

• Legally Blonde – “When her boyfriend dumps her for someone serious, Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books, and heads for Harvard Law School.”
• Mamma Mia! – “On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother’s past to the island they last visited 20 years ago.”  Full of rocking songs by ABBA.
• Priscilla Queen of the Desert – “PRISCILLA tells the heart-warming and uplifting story of Bernadette, Tick, and Adam, a glamorous Sydney-based performing trio who agree to take their show to the middle of the Australian outback.”

If you’re looking for fun for the whole family, consider these:

• The Lion King – “At its heart is the powerful and moving story of Simba – the epic adventure of his journey from wide-eyed cub to his destined role as King of the Prideland.”
• Shrek, the Musical – “Join Shrek, our unlikely hero, and his loyal steed Donkey, as they set off on an adventure to rescue the beautiful (if slightly temperamental) Princess Fiona from her tower, guarded by a fire breathing love-sick dragon.”
• The Wizard of Oz – “Click your heels together and join Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion, Dorothy and her little dog Toto, as they journey through the magical land of Oz to meet the Wizard and obtain their heart’s desires.”

Whether you’re looking for a romantic weekend, a girls getaway, or a family night out, the London theater scene in lively and vibrant offering great choices for everyone.  What are you waiting for?

Photo credit: Andy Bird via flickr

NOTE:  This post was sponsored by Hotel Direct UK; the opinions expressed are those of the author.

Share on Facebook

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s long awaited sequel to The Phantom of The Opera has theater lovers queuing up to see Love Never Dies, which picks up the tale of love and loss 10 years after Raoul rescues Christine Daae in the original Phantom.

Here’s a brief synopsis of what’s to come:

Ten years after the mysterious disappearance of The Phantom from the Paris Opera House, Christine Daaé accepts an offer to come to America and perform at New York’s fabulous new playground of the world – Coney Island. Christine arrives in New York with her husband Raoul and their son Gustave. She soon discovers the identity of the anonymous impresario who has lured her from France to sing. Love Never Dies is a roller coaster ride of obsession and intrigue… in which music and memory can play cruel tricks… and The Phantom sets out to prove that, indeed, Love Never Dies..

Love Never Dies at the Adelphia Theatre, London

Broadway Across America has put together theater travel package that includes tickets to Love Never Dies along with sightseeing trips and tickets to other theater productions.  Here are just a few of the highlights that theater lovers will enjoy:

• 5 nights at the 5-star Stafford London, conveniently located in London’s Mayfair section (NOTE:  A big kudo for the Stafford for offering FREE wifi).
• Full English breakfast each morning.
• London Travel Cards to give you unlimited rides on the Tube and public bus system.
• Airport transfers
• City tour
• Tour of Kensington Palace
• Tour of Buckingham Palace (the Queen will not be in residence)
• Traditional English tea
• Day trip to Stratford-upon-Avon, home of Shakespeare.
• Tickets to Love Never Dies at the Adelphi Theatre, including a back stage tour after the performance
• Tickets to Priscilla Queen of the Desert at the Palace Theatre
• Tickets to Sister Act  at the London Palladium (based on the Whoopi Goldberg movie of the same name), and an opportunity to meet the cast.
• Personal time for additional sightseeing, shopping, or just relaxing.
• Lots more!

Guided tours are not for every traveler, but theater lovers may be interested in some of the one-of-a-kind experiences this small group (approximately 16-20 persons) has to offer.  Fall is a great time to visit London, with the crowds dwindling but temperatures still comfortable, and this combination of theater, history, and culture may be just what the doctor ordered.

Date:  Arrive London, September 23rd – 28th, 2010

Price:  Varies based upon departure city and additional arrangements,  Land portion of the trip starts at approximately $2,667, and includes taxes and gratuities.  Check the Broadway Across America website for precise package details.

Photo credit: markhillary @flickr

Share on Facebook

There’s nothing like a Las Vegas show to give you fabulous night of entertainment, and if you haven’t seen the long running and award winning Jersey Boys at the Venetian Hotel, you’re missing a night of fun.

Even if you’ve seen this production before (as I had), you’ll want to catch another performance.  While essentially the same, there are a few minor differences, including a little upping of the risqué factor.  The language is a little coarser, making it, some would argue, a little more authentic.  These guys were from Jersey after all!

The story and the music are the same, however, as it traces the evolution of the music and the careers of kids from Jersey trying to carve out some success.  Part theater and part concert performance, Jersey Boys tells the story of the The Four Seasons, the boy band from the wrong side of the Jersey tracks.  The story is told by, and from the point of view of, four different narrators.  Each narrator represents one of the four seasons, and one of The Four Seasons, as they tell the story of the different goals and self interests that fueled their careers.

The first acts tells the story of some bumbling guys trying to make a living with their music.  When one of the guys gets sent off to prison, Frankie Valli starts fronting for the group, bringing with him a wide vocal range, and an impressive falsetto, that would later become his trademark style.   Still, until the group met up with songwriter Bob Gaudio (Who Wears Short Shorts?), success eluded them.

Valli and Gaudio formed a songwriting partnership on the basis on a handshake.  In a world of contracts and lawyers it’s hard to believe that the partnership continues today – on that same handshake.  The two were responsible for huge hits during the 60’s with songs like Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry and Walk Like a Man.  They were clean cut and establishment during a counter-culture era, but the fans loved them.

In the second act of the production, we learn that life was not all top ten hits and adoring fans for The Four Seasons.  There were very dark times of gambling addiction, criminal conduct, drinking, womanizing and ruined marriages,and death.  The Four Seasons broke up, to be replaced by a group known as Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons.  The music changed at this point, too, with hits like Stay, Let’s Hang On (to What We’ve Got) and Opus 17 (Don’t You Worry About Me).

The show came to its end with one final marvelous song and the cast took its bows as the audience was on its feet in thunderous applause.  At that moment, it wasn’t theater, it was a concert, and we weren’t willing to leave without an encore.

Location:  Venetian Hotel, Las Vegas (map)

Dates & Times:  Monday, Thursday, Friday & Sunday at 7 pm; Tuesday & Saturday at 6:30 pm and 9:30 pm.  Dark on Wednesday.

Tickets:  Prices start around $65, plus tax and handling fees.  There are a variety of promotion packages, room-ticket packages, and VIP seating options.  You can purchase tickets for Jersey Boys online, through the box office on site, by phone at  (702) 414-9000 (local) or (866) 641-7469 (toll free), or through your hotel concierge.

Whether you grew up in this musical era, or are hearing the music of The Four Seasons for the first time, you’ll be caught up in the story and the music.  Caught up in the story of the music — and the music that is the story.

Oh what a night!

Photo credit:  Amazon

Share on Facebook

Seeing one of my favorite musicals, Phantom of the Opera, in a Las Vegas environment, was a chance that I jumped at.

This Phantom is an all-new production, reuniting the original creative team of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Hal Prince.  It’s the same storyline, including all the songs, but has new staging and illusions that are perfectly Vegas-inspired.

Without giving away some of the twists and turns of the plot, the story basically is this:

Young Christine Daae, a member of the chorus at the Paris Opera House, becomes the protege of a mysterious man who lives in the underground world of the Opera House.  This mysterious phantom is a disfigured man who for years has extorted a monthly salary from the managers of the Opera House.  lives in the bowels of the opera house.  The phantom falls in love with young Christine, and mentors her career advancement in rather extreme ways.

To the phantom’s dismay, Christine falls in love with Raoul, setting up a love triangle played out in the opera house and in the phantom’s home in the opera house basement.  Unrequited love has never sounded so beautiful.

Even if you’ve seen Phantom of the Opera before, you’ll want to see this production, as it’s different in subtle ways.

From the minute you enter the Venetian’s Phantom Theater it’s like being in the Paris Opera House.  The attention to detail in the room, from the draped walls to the “people” in the boxes, all added to the feel of actually being in the opera house – a participant in the evening’s events rather than a mere observer.

You’ll find the plot line enhanced with special effects that are sure to impress.  The classic chandelier scene is spectacular, and the Phantom’s appearances and disappearances are entertaining and magical.  And that includes taking his final bow!

Shows are at 7 pm Monday – Saturday, with a second show at 9:30 pm on Monday and Saturday.  The theater is dark on Sunday.  Tickets can be purchased online, at the theater box office, or through your hotel concierge.  There are lots of special available, so it’s a good time to take in a show.

For me, much of the enduring feelings I have for this musical is wrapped up in the music.  After I saw the performance for the first time, I bought the CD.  For a few months I played it every day.  Eventually, the novelty wore off, but my enjoyment of the music did not.

To this day, despite seeing the performance a number of times, I often find myself quietly in tears as the final notes play.  I’m not a musician nor a singer, but I assume this is a slight approximation of what an artist must feel when they truly become one with their music.

Take a listen and enjoy the Music of the Night:

Image credits: Amazon

Share on Facebook

If you’re looking for a fun evening in Las Vegas, and one that doesn’t involved cards, dice, and a smoke filled casino, most people look for a show to go see.  That’s what I did during my time in Las Vegas attending the Luxury Travel Expo.

Since I was staying at the Mandalay Bay Resort (where the expo was held), the logical and easy choice was to see Mamma Mia, a theatrical production featuring music by ABBA.

While more of a rocker chick that a disco girl, I nonetheless found this musical immensely engaging and entertaining.  And yes, I found myself humming some of the tunes for the rest of the night.

The plot is a convoluted one, designed for erroneous assumptions and misunderstandings that set up wonderful opportunities for both humor and insight:

Single mom (Donna) raises her daughter on a Greek island, and despite a somewhat idyllic life, daughter (Sophie) focuses on finding out about her absentee and unknown father.  Sophie reads her mother’s diary, written during a summer of sexual indiscretions, and finds that her father could be one of three men.

With her wedding approaching, Sophie sends an invitation to her wedding to all three men, certain that once she meets them she will know who her father is.  When all three men show up in response to the invitation, silliness ensues. 

I won’t reveal who the father really is, or how the wedding turns out, but along the way there’s spandex, platform boots, some great dance moves, and 22 of ABBA’s greatest hits, including Dancing Queen, The Winner Takes it All, Take a Chance on Me, and Knowing Me, Knowing You.

Since this was Vegas, I expected the staging and effects to be over the top, and that was largely the case.  Although the staging is simplistic, the actors use the entire space – and even move out into the audience.

The costuming was great!  And if you lived – and danced – during this era, you probably wore one of these outfits.  Alright, you don’t have to admit it, but I KNOW that some of you still have a pair of those platforms at home in your attic!

The night I attended, the audience was only about half full, and I think that had an impact on the energy of the cast.  Despite many tapping feet and bouncing heads in the seats, the synergy between cast and audience just didn’t take off. 

Still, it was a great evening with great music – and I’m guessing that you, too, will walk away humming one of these classic 80’s tunes.

Mamma Mia closes on Sunday, January 4th, 2009, so you have just a few more weeks to see it.  Show times are Sunday – Thursday, 7:30 pm; Saturday at 6 & 10 pm. (Dark Friday.)  Tickets start at $45.

Image credit:  Courtesy of MGM Mirage Images, photographed by Joan Marcus

______________________________________

Share on Facebook

Another Monday, and another list of Money Saving Travel Tips.

• Don’t be afraid to leave the tourist district.  Getting off the beaten path is always a good idea when you are looking for a more authentic experience.  Sometimes, this means a few blocks in either direction, sometimes it’s just getting off at a different subway stop.  You’ll generally find that a small neighborhood has less expensive bars and restaurants.  Plus, you have the opportunity to dine with the locals rather than other tourists.
• If you’re traveling with kids, investigate hotels that offer promotions catering to families.  From “kids stay free” to complimentary meals to reduced admission tickets, hotels are looking for ways to entice families to stay at their properties.  If you don’t see anything listed in a brochure or on a website, call and ask the hotel directly.  Sometimes the hotel will sweeten the deal when you call direct.
• Buy theater tickets the day of the performance.  There are “day of” ticket booths located in many cities that have a thriving theater community.  Check with your hotel concierge, or any city travel directory for specific location and hours of operation.  You can get discounts from 20-50% off of tickets purchased on the day of the performance.  Of course, if there’s a show that you really MUST SEE, buy in advance so you aren’t disappointed.  But if you’re not the particular, try buying tickets this way.  On a trip to New York City earlier this year, a friend and I went to TKTS in Times Square to buy tickets for an evening performance.  There was a good selection to choose from.

Do you have a money saving tip to share?  Send me an email, or leave it in the comments to this post.

Share on Facebook

Is it possible to combine Halloween, horror and art?

I didn’t think so, but evidently, the answer is yes.  The New York City Horror Film Festival has been doing it for five years.

The Fifth Annual event runs October 18th-22nd.   The big public bash to launch the event will be held on the 18th at Don Hills Club.  It will feature live music and an open bar (8-9 pm), along with some screenings.  You must be 21 to attend this event.

The remaining events will be held at the Tribeca Cinemas.

These films are the “best of the best” in the independent horror genre. There are some feature length films, but many more are shorts, some running as short as a couple of minutes, other approaching half an hour in length.  The daily programs allow for film viewing, and a chance to meet the filmmakers. Check out the full schedule of events.

The Opening Night gala will be held at Don Hills, 511 Greenwich Street.  Subsequent events are at the Tribeca Cinemas, located at 54 Varick Street (off Canal).

A full access pass is available for $150, and gives you admission to the opening party, all programming, and the filmmaker panel.  Individual programs are $15 each, and the filmmaker panel is $10.  Tickets are available online, or at the door on day of show.

This is a great event for those who want to be scared — or want to scare others!

Share on Facebook

If you’re not going to be able to take advantage of FREE Museum Day, September 30th, you still have some options if you live in the Baltimore area.

During October and November, you can enjoy the Free Fall Baltimore Program.  Area museums will be offering free and/or reduced admission.  Other highlights of the program include free live concerts, dance performances, and theater events.

I’ll be in Baltimore during this time, and will be checking out the Free Baltimore event listings for details.

Share on Facebook