What’s Happening in New York City: Broadway Fall Preview 2011

Mamma Mia! never fails to entertain crowds on Broadway

New York City crackles with energy come fall, and nowhere better can you feel that excitement than on Broadway. During this time of year, the buzz is palpable as Broadway theaters unveil their dazzling new shows for the first time. Fall is also your chance to see the stellar ongoing performances, all inside such opulent settings as the New Amsterdam Theater, the Ethel Barrymore Theater, and the Majestic Theatre. Inside these hallowed temples of entertainment, lavish sets and creative costumes come together with dashing heroes and romantic heroines to transport you into a fantasy world of Disney extravaganzas, splashy musicals, and tingling dramas. Get your tickets early!

The Hot Premieres

Superstars Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett take to the stage at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre for The Mountaintop, a story that takes place on the eve of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination in 1968. This is one of this season’s hottest tickets.

Three-time Tony winner Frank Langella stars alongside Zach Grenier at the American Airlines Theatre for Man and Boy, a drama about fathers, sons, and personal bonds traded for profits.

A stellar cast—including Jan Maxwell, Bernadette Peters, and Danny Burstein—convenes onstage at the Marquis Theatre for the official opening of Follies, Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman’s lavish exposé of the arc of showbiz.

Comedy fans will want to head to the Brooks Atkinson Theatre for Relatively Speaking, a comedy composed of three one-act plays by comedy-writing stars Ethan Coen, Elaine May, and Woody Allen. The cast is equally stellar, packed with such stage, film, and TV stars as Marlo Thomas, Steve Guttenberg, and Mark Linn-Baker.

Ongoing Favorites

At the Minskoff Theatre, majestic African beasts, rhythms, and music embellish the performance of the The Lion King, a long-running Broadway favorite.

The Lion King is one of Broadway's popular ongoing shows

This year Wicked welcomes a fresh batch of leading witches including Chandra Lee Schwartz, who played in the Broadway productions of Gypsy, Hairspray, and as Sharpay in the stage adaptation of High School Musical.

At the Imperial Theatre, Billy Elliot never fails to entertain with its spectacular dancing and soulful soundtrack. And if you love soul music, Memphis is your ticket for a history of rock music with a Broadway twist.

Perennial favorite Chicago lights up the Ambassador Theatre with a musical tale of love and murder. Mamma Mia! breaks out the ABBA for this mother-daughter comedy-drama, while the 1960s pop hits of the Four Seasons soundtrack the behind-the-music saga of Jersey Boys.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s lavish spectacle Phantom of the Opera continues its two-decade run at the Majestic Theatre, while the Circle in the Square Theatre presents Godspell, a revival of the 1971 musical ode to faith and freedom with a youthful ensemble cast. And of course, who can resist the family favorite—and a spoonful of sugar—Mary Poppins, splendidly presented at the New Amsterdam Theatre.

Getting Tickets

Tickets to shows are fairly easy to come by, but do require a bit of planning. Here are a few tips to think about when planning your Broadway experience:

• Broadway shows host regular performances throughout the week: Tuesday through Saturdays, including matinees on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday.
• Ticket prices for shows range from $100 or more for good seats to as low as $20 for standing-room only or same-day rush tickets.
• Buy tickets online or via phone as far in advance as possible, especially for popular shows like The Lion King and Mamma Mia!
• Matinee tickets are cheaper than evening tickets, while midweek evening tickets are cheaper than weekend evenings.
• Shows start right on time, so it’s important to arrive early. If you arrive late, you may have to wait until the first intermission before you can get to your seat.
• For the latest information regarding ongoing shows and new shows check out: Broadway.com, Playbill Online, and TheaterMania.

Find Chicago at the Ambassador Theatre

Last Minute Tickets

Want to see a show a show tonight? Not so impossible, but does require some patience and some money.  Here are a few ideas:

• Call or visit the box office to see what’s available. Ask for single seats, as they’re the easiest to get.
• Visit the Times Square Visitor Center (1560 Broadway, between 46th and 47th streets; www.timesquarenyc.org), where they sometimes have tickets to sold-out shows or you can make a same-day purchase.
• Check with your hotel concierge about arranging tickets for you. (Remember to tip.)
• Visit Broadway theaters around 6pm on the day of the show to pick up unclaimed seats.
• For same-day tickets, queue up at one of the TKTS booth. Windows open from 3pm to 8pm for evening performances, and 10am to 2pm for Wednesday and Saturday matinees. Booths are located in Times Square, downtown at South Street Seaport, and in Downtown Brooklyn.

- William Travis

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