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Post by talkstageytome on Jun 17, 2016 16:28:42 GMT
I saw three shows on my last Broadway trip (Allegiance, The Colour Purple and Finding Neverland) and the audiences were appalling beyond belief for all three. Can't abide the over the top whooping and clapping every two seconds. Additionally the ticket prices were astronomical. Got pretty much the cheapest seats and spent just under $200 for all three which apparently isn't bad but given that bottom price in London in £20-30 usually, it was a bit of a difference. Additionally I agree with others that overall West End theatres are a bit more charming and less like huge boxes. So overall it's London over NY for me.
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Post by Hamilton Addict on Jun 17, 2016 16:40:38 GMT
It's not the ITV's fault about the Olivier's, I'm just saying that the Tony's are better and, yes, that is because more money is put into them. It would also help if we'd had a better host instead of Michael Ball.
I probably prefer the revivals in America, but I think seeing Fiddler on the Roof has swayed me on that. They are extremely close in comparison though, there isn't really a winner.
Theatre etiquette is probably better here, it's still really bad, but anything's better than the theatre etiquette on B.Way.
I think the reason I prefer the atmosphere in the B.Way theatre's is because everyone seems to want to chat to fellow audience members before the show, at intermission and at the end.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2016 18:12:19 GMT
Just wondering, Broadway doesn't do anything like West End Live, do they?
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4,369 posts
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Post by Michael on Jun 21, 2016 18:29:36 GMT
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Post by viserys on Jun 21, 2016 18:46:10 GMT
Just wondering, Broadway doesn't do anything like West End Live, do they? The closest equivalent would have been the "Broadway on Broadway" concert event that was held in Times Square each year in September at the start of the new season. But from what I can find online, it was cancelled in 2013 and hasn't been resurrected since. You can find old bits on youtube. So the Broadway in Bryant Park series might have replaced it indeed, although that's (AFAIK) only ever one show appearing for a quick concert on Thursday mornings throughout the summer, not all the shows / casts appearing in one day. Of course Broadway still has the Flea Market in September of which I'm deeply envious. I was there twice and picked up a few fun things, but I'd kill for a London equivalent as London means so much more to me. |
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Post by Michael on Jun 21, 2016 19:45:52 GMT
So the Broadway in Bryant Park series might have replaced it indeed, although that's (AFAIK) only ever one show appearing for a quick concert on Thursday mornings throughout the summer, not all the shows / casts appearing in one day. According to last year's schedule, four shows each were performing in a 1h time slot around noon on six Thursdays, so that's 24 shows in total. So yes, not quite the same as West End Live, but at least comparable. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2016 0:28:49 GMT
Hands down Broadway. Perhaps because I'm more of a fan of musicals than plays and my favourite type of musicals are new, original, risky stuff of which at the moment the West End is producing none of. In the past decade, the only new musicals that have been a big success that came from London are Billy Elliot and Matilda - film adaptations that have a built in family audience. I can't even imagine London coming up with shows like Next to Normal, Spring Awakening, Fun Home, Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, Natasha Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 etc. Every year there's at least one new musical I want to see in New York. This upcoming season there is 4. I can't remember the last time London had one that I was desperate to see. Yes, we've had some great revivals as of late...of American musicals. I also think Broadway has more/better talent in general, although that's probably due to the fact they have the whole of America and its theatre performers to work with.
Put it this way, if London shows swapped with New York shows, I would never travel to New York for theatre. I do so now once a year.
Admittedly, prices are much better here. I also prefer the theatre facades here but I like all the theatres being close together in New York. It creates a real atmosphere when everyone is going to the theatre. I agree with the person that said it's ridiculous how they wait so long to let you in to the theatres though.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2016 0:32:25 GMT
The Tonys are a million times more entertaining and well put together than the Oliviers also.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2016 7:27:00 GMT
@snutte
There's still been more musicals here though than just them 2. Charlie & the Chocolate Factory is British and that's been running in a huge theatre for 4 years. Also The Bodyguard is British. The revivals may be American, but have a great creative team.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2016 7:37:30 GMT
@snutte There's still been more musicals here though than just them 2. Charlie & the Chocolate Factory is British and that's been running in a huge theatre for 4 years. Also The Bodyguard is British. The revivals may be American, but have a great creative team. I was regarding ones that have been a big success as ones that have managed to go to New York and succeed, as so many of their musicals do here. I know CATCF is going over there soon so we'll see how it does but either way, again, it's an adaptation with a built in family audience. I don't consider jukebox musicals as I don't see them as remotely original or risk-taking. I agree with you on the creative teams, but they also do great revivals in NY. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2016 8:42:46 GMT
I have to say London's glitzy West End really.
It's closer. Which is nice.
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Post by 49thand8th on Jun 22, 2016 14:58:05 GMT
So the Broadway in Bryant Park series might have replaced it indeed, although that's (AFAIK) only ever one show appearing for a quick concert on Thursday mornings throughout the summer, not all the shows / casts appearing in one day. According to last year's schedule, four shows each were performing in a 1h time slot around noon on six Thursdays, so that's 24 shows in total. So yes, not quite the same as West End Live, but at least comparable. There's also Stars in the Alley (Shubert Alley), which isn't quite the same thing either, but I guess close. www.broadway.org/info/stars-in-the-alley/ |
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Post by 49thand8th on Jun 22, 2016 14:59:13 GMT
Theatre etiquette is probably better here, it's still really bad, but anything's better than the theatre etiquette on B.Way. I guess you haven't seen one of the resident musicals in Las Vegas then!  |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2016 5:24:59 GMT
Broadway has become 10% more expensive overnight.
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Post by firefingers on Jun 24, 2016 5:28:22 GMT
Broadway has become 10% more expensive overnight. Like it wasn't expensive enough already. Think I've had my last international holiday for a while. I hear S****horpe is lovely this time of year. |
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Post by Michael on Jun 24, 2016 5:34:43 GMT
And London has become cheaper for me. Nevertheless, I wish the result was different.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2016 5:39:27 GMT
I'm surprised that a lot of Broadway new musicals have been closing fairly early recently this week. Fun Home, Shiffle Along, American in Paris?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2016 9:11:10 GMT
Ugh why does it have to be either/or. Both have strengths and weaknesses.
Although i will say london wins on its theatres
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Post by Hamilton Addict on Jun 24, 2016 9:33:17 GMT
One thing the West End certainly wins on in Phantom of the Opera.
Saw Phantom on B.Way and... well, it wasn't bad, but it just wasn't anywhere near as good as it is in the West End.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2016 10:19:19 GMT
And Les Mis even more so.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2016 10:20:00 GMT
I'm surprised that a lot of Broadway new musicals have been closing fairly early recently this week. Fun Home, Shiffle Along, American in Paris? Fun Home and An American in Paris have lasted a lot longer than most new British musicals. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2016 9:49:17 GMT
Just seen a nice article in the Evening Standard on Thursday night about the Mayor's campaign of London is Open. It says at the end of the article that the West End had more ticket sales than Broadway, over the past year.
I do find it quite surreal how theatre's with an average of 1,400 seats sell tickets 8 times a week! There's around 52 theatre's in London so that's an average of 72,800 seats every night sold! Magic of the theatre for you!
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