TBT: THEATRE IN THE BIG APPLE

It's been 11 years since this mother and daughter duo celebrated their birthdays together in Chicago.  Last week New York City provided just the 2 b-day girls with 5 fun-filled days. To be discussed later was the additonal 6th weather-related unplanned day.

Our goal was fulfilled by attending as much theater as possible besides eating and seeing art. And that we did. We would have a cocktail pre/post plays to toast our adventurous birthday outings of the day. (Part of the airlines hotel deal) 

Play 1: A Comedy : New World Stages Stage 4

Our first half day's evening was a hoot. 

Entertainment was both on stage and in the audience. It was apparent from the program's print that we would be experiencing a comedy of errors with a rendition of 'who dunnit' with so many mishaps. Mixed up lines, a falling apart set, whatever could go wrong did, and the audience played their part well with continuous laughter and even supplying lines.  The Play that Goes Wrong was a great way to start our visit .

Play 2:  Musical: Shubert Theatre

Where better to tell one's life story than to have the play named after where you grew up. In Alicia Keys' case, her home was an apartment building filled with musicians, poets, and actors along with her overprotective single Mother. A mother who wanted to shield her daughter from repeating the history of being an unwed pregnant teenager.  Outside their front door was a tough neighborhood called Hell's Kitchen with its own original beat and boys to accompany it. Alicia Keys' music filled the fast-paced play.

Play 3: Musical: Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre

The real reason I picked NYC was to see this play.

Thanks to Wisconsin buddy JoEllen for putting this play' on my radar. Hope your Cuba travel partners enjoyed it as much as we did!

The audience was so appreciative of the quality of the music played and sung. Their applause and enthusiasm spoke volumes.

Cuba was responsible for introducing the salsa and meringue beats to the N.Y.'s music scene.This music was performed back in Cuba in a club called The Buena Vista Social Club. Two musical sisters had to decide their fate by either fleeing to the States/ staying home in Cuba.

 What do you think the sisters decided to do?

Play 4 : Musical  Walter Kerr Theatre

Imagine a modern-day version of the mythological story of Orpheus and Eurydice, a young couple who fall in love. Eurydice works in intolerable circumstances in the underground world similar to the depression years to escape cold and poverty. Her lover Orpheus goes to rescue her. Can he save her?

Hadestown is as powerful as the moderator's booming voice. 

5. Musical - Stephen Sondheim Theatre

Last but not least, a rewrite of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet by his wife, who doesn't like his ending. Juliet should survive the posioning and live to find a more suitable mate. Hence the title & Juliet. To add a twist, Ann Hathaway joins in the new version to be one of Juliet's besties.  Joey Fatone, NSync member is in the cast too and will be in the play until the end of July. He brings his band back together to play Back Street Boys tunes at Juliet's wedding. How fun is that? 

Here's to hopes of not waiting so long to enjoy Broadway together again!