By Ronald B. Hellman
Lucky us! We live in New York City, America’s cultural center, and there’s a lot to see and do. One of the great attractions is our theater — from the biggest Broadway hit to the smallest community production — all in great abundance. People come here from all over the country and the world to be part of the excitement.
So this will be a column, or two, aimed at those of you who seldom take the opportunity to see a show, who may be content to just watch television or go to an occasional movie. If that’s you, let me tell you that you don’t know what you’re missing.
At the top of the list is Broadway — 39 professional theaters in midtown Manhattan with 500 seats or more. Back in the day when my parents were frequent theatergoers — the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s — there were dozens of plays for adults each year, and they made money even if they lasted for only 100 performances. And that’s when, so my father told me, you could get a ticket for as little as two dollars and standing room for 50 cents.
Now, of course, it’s another story. Two of every three tickets to a Broadway show are bought by tourists, and the ticket price can easily surpass $100. And most of the shows are musicals, several of which are stage versions of movies that will appeal to children. Witness “Shrek the Musical,” getting only mediocre reviews, but I’m betting that it will last long enough to pay off its investors, even in this disastrous economy.
For those in the know, however, there are a lot of discounts to be had, especially now in January and February, when the cold weather keeps the out−of−towners at home. And even if your entertainment standards are high, there’s enough to choose from that will give you your money’s worth. Remember that when you see a Broadway show, you’re seeing some of the best actors and performers in the English−speaking world, in productions that seldom are equaled anywhere. And it’s all happening live right before your eyes.
To get a Tony Award you have to be on Broadway, but there are many other theaters — with 99− to 500−seat capacity — that qualify as Off Broadway, and there you’re eligible for an Obie. Off Broadway can still be pricey, but there’s a lot more to satisfy the appetite of theatergoers who are not limited by a short attention span. For example, “Doubt,” the Pulitzer Prize drama (and multiple award−winner), now a film, by John Patrick Shanley, was originally produced Off Broadway by the Manhattan Theatre Club, one of our leading nonprofit theater companies.
A wonderful play I saw a couple of years ago was “The Lieutenant of Inishmore,” by Martin McDonagh, a wicked comedy first seen at the Atlantic Theatre Company. (By the way, it’s not likely to be performed often, unless you have a really good trained cat.) That playwright’s “The Cripple of Inishmaan,” another comedy gem, is now in revival — don’t miss it! One of the best things about an Off Broadway experience is that you’re close to the action on stage, much more enjoyable than sitting up in the balcony.
Lots of shows that do well Off Broadway get moved to a Broadway stage, as were musical hits such as “A Chorus Line,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Rent,” “Avenue Q,” and most recently “In the Heights.” But many are content to stay where they are: the longest−running musical in theater history was “The Fantasticks,” which had its original 42−year run, more than 17,000 performances, at the Sullivan Street Playhouse.
To be continued…
Contact Ron Hellman at RBH24@Columbia.edu.
