Broadway | Honeymoon in Vegas

Honeymoon in Vegas starring Tony Danza officially opened on Broadway this month, so I wanted to share my thoughts on the show with all of you. I attended a preview performance of this musical on the second day of previews, so keep in mind that the show may have changed a little, and I'm sure it will be more polished now that the actors are familiar with it. Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed Honeymoon in Vegas and am highly recommending it!

Honeymoon in Vegas is a musical comedy centering on Jack and Betsy, a young couple living in New York. They've been dating for a while, and despite wanting to tie the knot, Jack is haunted by a curse put on him by his late mother telling him never to get married. In an effort to save his relationship, Jack decides that he and Betsy should travel to Vegas to finally become husband and wife. Of course, things go wrong along the way, and casino owner Tommy Korman, played by Tony Danza, tries to steal Betsy away from Jack. Despite this somewhat-complicated plot, Honeymoon in Vegas is downright hilarious. It has surprise elements, and always kept me wanting more.

My only disappointment with the show is that the vocals are not very strong. As I mentioned before, I saw Honeymoon in Vegas on the second day of previews, but several of the lead actors were struggling to hit their notes in many of the songs. I hope this improved at the time of opening, but even though the vocals were a bit lacking, I still had a great time during the performance.

I also want to mention that Honeymoon in Vegas is playing at the Nederlander Theatre. My friend and I rushed the show, and got tickets in the Front Mezzanine for $32.00. The seating is extremely squished, with no leg room whatsoever. I was uncomfortable during the show, but this is an old theatre and unfortunately bound to happen more often than not when attending a Broadway performance. I point it out because if you need space or have a bad back, you will want to contact the box office to see if they can accommodate you.

Finally, if you want to rush Honeymoon in Vegas, I recommend getting there about an hour before the box office opens. We were there an hour and half early, and no one else showed up until closer to opening time. However, that may have changed now that the show is officially open! Rush tickets are cash only, so run to the ATM before getting in line.

In the end, if you are looking for a super fun musical to attend on Broadway, I think Honeymoon in Vegas is a perfect choice. It's great for families or date night, as it includes elements that everyone will love. You can visit the show's official website HERE for more information. As always, if you've seen this show please let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Broadway | Side Show (+ 2 for 1 Coupon Code!)

Today I am very excited to share my thoughts on the Broadway musical Side Show with all of you. I had the amazing opportunity to attend the show yesterday specifically so I could review it. I honestly had no idea what to expect from this show. All I knew was that it chronicled the life of conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton. I had no idea how incredible the performance would be!

Side Show is, in fact, based on the real lives of the Hilton sisters. As the show opens, the sisters are performing in a side show run by Sir, their abusive legal guardian. The opening number, Come Look at the Freaks, is haunting and mystical, and I was captivated right away. I have to give a major shout out to the makeup artists and costume designers for Side Show. They do an amazing job transforming the performers into their characters.

Side Show continues with the sisters being discovered by Terry Connor and his friend, Buddy Foster. They convince Daisy and Violet to leave the side show life behind so they can become Vaudeville performers. The story chronicles what that transition is like, and the trials and tribulations the twins must face on a daily basis. The audience also learns of the girls' horrific past, and their desire to just be normal. Side Show is thus emotionally charged, and lives up to its tagline of "It will never leave you."

I highly recommend Side Show, especially if you are looking for a different kind of Broadway musical. Side Show is truly unlike any other show I've ever seen, which is quite refreshing. I was blown away by the talented cast, and even got choked up several times by the beyond incredible vocals behind each song. (Honestly, every time Jake sang I got a bit watery-eyed.) However, Side Show  is inspiring and definitely has scenes that are laugh-out-loud funny. It is a delightful combination of elements that builds up to a powerful Broadway production.

If you live in New York or will be visiting soon, I am excited to announce that I have a coupon code to share with you! From now until January 4, 2015, use the code SS241RSH on the Telecharge website HERE and you will receive two tickets for the price of one! That is an amazing deal, and I highly recommend you take advantage of the savings while you can. I cannot stress enough how much I enjoyed Side Show, and I think it is a must see. In fact, this is a show I would see again in a heartbeat!

I am also really excited for the Cast Album! Feel free to preorder it on Amazon HERE. Of course, if you've seen Side Show, please share your thoughts in the comments!

I received a free ticket to Side Show in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Broadway | If/Then with Idina Menzel

This past weekend I had the opportunity to see the new Broadway musical If/Then starring Idina Menzel. My friend and I entered the lottery, and though we lost out for $30 tickets we were able to get $50 seats in the front mezzanine. I knew nothing about the show, but thought anything with Idina and fellow RENT alum Anthony Rapp would be amazing. Luckily, I was quite right.

If/Then is truly a new musical. Idina is our protagonist, Elizabeth, and the show follows her life as she moves back to New York after leaving her first marriage. Elizabeth meets up with two friends, Lucas and Kate, who each invite her to join them on separate adventures. Instead of choosing just one path, If/Then shows Elizabeth's life from two points of view – we get Beth, who chooses to join Lucas at his protest, and Liz, who decides to hang out with Kate. The musical evolves into these two story lines, and the audience gets to see how each choice in Elizabeth's life, whether seemingly big or small, plays an important role in her destiny.

If you're confused by my If/Then summary, that's okay. I was definitely confused when the show first started, but slowly began to see the separate lives that Beth and Liz lead. While the show is certainly funny at parts, be aware that If/Then deals with serious topics (I highly recommend you bring tissues). The story is absolutely beautiful, and I say it is truly a new musical because it represents our society as it is today. The choices that Elizabeth must make, and the people she interacts with, are the people of 21st century America. For example, this is the first Broadway show I've seen that portrays homosexual couples as normal, everyday people, and not as over-the-top drag queens (not to bash those that do – you all know I loved Priscilla). I'm very impressed with If/Then being able to change the status quo of Broadway while using familiar Broadway faces to get the message across.

My Stage Door experience for If/Then was unfortunately a bit of a downer. Despite the beautiful weather we'd been experiencing, it was pouring rain when we exited the theatre. Many thanks to Anthony, James, and Jason, who still signed our Playbills in the rain. I know Idina does come out to sign autographs at the show, but we weren't so lucky. As with any Stage Door experience, hope for good weather!

Overall, if you're in New York, then you should see If/Then. The cast is brilliant, and it was such a privilege to hear Idina sing live. Keep in mind that this show is recommended for ages 12 and up, as it deals with some adult themes and the F-word makes several appearances. More information about the ticket lottery and If/Then can be found on the show's official website HERE. It is currently playing at the Richard Rodgers Theatre.

Pre-order the Original Broadway Case Recording on Amazon HERE.

I use Amazon Affiliate links so you can find the products I talk about easily. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.