Broadway | The Cripple of Inishmaan with Daniel Radcliffe

Daniel Radcliffe has returned to Broadway to star in The Cripple of Inishmaan, and I couldn't wait to see the show. If you've followed OpenLetter2NYC since it's early days, you'll know that I saw Daniel in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying twice because I absolutely loved his performance. The Cripple of Inishmaan is nothing like How to Succeed, but if there's a chance to see DanRad onstage, I will be there.

This play takes place in rural Ireland in the early 20th Century. Daniel is Billy, a young man born a cripple who lives with his two aunts. When the town gossip Johnnypateen tells Billy that a film is being cast on a nearby island, Billy joins his neighbors in traveling to the set in an attempt to be cast in the film. In order to not spoil the plot, I'll end my summary of the show there, but know that this play is a great, dark comedy that will make you laugh and touch your heart as well.

The Cripple of Inishmaan has an unpublicized, general rush policy with tickets at $37 each. My friend graciously waited in line at the theatre for us, and we scored front row seats! I happened to be sitting in seat 102, which meant that Daniel sat directly in front of me for much of the show. It was great! I recommend getting to the theatre by at least 7:00am on show day if you want a chance at the front row. It is definitely worth the wait! Be aware that the stage at this play is quite high, so you will have to crane your neck a bit, and you might miss out on some of the action. I love being up close and personal with the actors, so I don't mind the somewhat-partial view. Note: if you don't want to get any raw egg on you, the front row is not the place for you!

As you may have imagined, the Stage Door experience was absolutely crazy. The barricades were completely filled up by the time we made it out the doors of the theatre, but I was still able to snap a couple photos of Daniel as he signed Playbills and took selfies with those at the front of the barricades. Yes – the man took selfies. By the time my friend and I fought our way to the front, Daniel signed one more autograph and got into his patiently waiting car. I may or may not have screamed "NO!!" when he got in the car..... alright, I was disappointed. But hey, at least I live in NYC and can head to the theatre again before the show closes. For those of you wondering, third time is not always the charm!

While I'm not usually a huge fan of plays (musicals are just my thing), The Cripple of Inishmaan was a wonderful Broadway experience! The entire cast puts on an amazing performance, and it really is an honor to see Daniel Radcliffe in person. In addition to the general rush policy, The Cripple of Inishmaan is offering $27 tickets as well in order to give more people the opportunity to see a Broadway show. All details can be found on the show's official website HERE. The Cripple of Inishmaan is playing at the Cort Theatre until July 20, 2014.

P.S. I'll be back for my selfie, DanRad. I'll be back!

Broadway | Bronx Bombers

It's rare that I see a play on Broadway (though if you're a new OpenLetter2NYC reader you may have been deceived by my recent No Man's Land and Waiting for Godot post). Nonetheless, I had the opportunity to catch the show Bronx Bombers yesterday, and wanted to share my thoughts as soon as I could since it's closing this Sunday, March 2nd. If you're able to read this post before the show is closed, I hope you find it helpful!

Bronx Bombers is a play all about the New York Yankees. A mix between reality and fiction, the story centers around Yogi Berra and journeys through the Yankees organization from the days of Lou Gehrig to those of Derek Jeter. Peter Scolari plays Berra, and is joined with a great cast of other actors including his real life and onstage wife, Tracy Shayne. If you are a Yankees fan, baseball fan, or simply a fan of the theater, I think you would have a great time at this show! It's funny, touching, and a solid play.

I did enjoy my Bronx Bombers experience, though I can understand why the show has had such a short Broadway run since opening on February 6th of this year. The story is a bit confusing. Maybe it's because I'm not a native New Yorker and thus not well-versed with all things Yankees, but I felt a bit lost at times despite the great acting. I think the show also struggled because the diehard Yankees fans that would enjoy the show aren't usually the first to head to a Broadway play. I will mention that the audience was an interesting conglomerate of retirees and teenagers, but perhaps that's the normal Wednesday matinee crowd.

If you have the chance to catch Bronx Bombers this weekend, I would recommend doing so, especially if you're a Yankees fan. (I know I've repeated that already, but it's true!) The show is good, and I'm really glad I had the chance to see it. Bronx Bombers is playing at the Circle in the Square Theatre, where every seat is good, and you're never more than a few rows away from the action. For more information about the show, check out the Bronx Bombers official website HERE.

Broadway | No Man's Land & Waiting for Godot

It was back to Broadway for me this past weekend when I finally saw my first shows of 2014! My friend was in town, and we made plans to rush No Man's Land and Waiting for Godot at the Cort Theatre to see none other than Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart on stage. Our rush experience was interesting – read all about it HERE – but we were able to snag front row seats to both shows. Was it worth the three hour wait in the cold? You bet! 

It might be helpful to explain a bit about how this Broadway experience differs from other plays. Instead of performing the same show eight times a week, the cast is putting on "two plays in rep" and performing No Man's Land and Waiting for Godot four times each per week. Audience members can catch both shows in one day on Wednesdays and Saturdays by attending both the matinee and evening performances. So if you're in town for just the weekend, have no fear – you won't have to choose one play over the other! 

On Saturdays, No Man's Land is up first for the matinee, with Waiting for Godot on at night. Both plays are quite different, yet have parallel themes running throughout. They're mysterious, they're funny, and they make you think. The experience of seeing McKellen and Stewart perform together live is truly magical. Along with cast mates Billy Crudup and Shuler Hensley, they put on a performance that demonstrates the art of acting to the fullest. 

I won't say much about each show as I don't want to divulge much about the story lines, but I will say that you will leave the theatre entertained and wanting more. Being in the presence of such renowned actors is a privilege, and I will always cherish my memories of seeing these shows from the front row, just feet (sometimes inches!) away from McKellen and Stewart. 

If you're wondering about the Stage Door experience, here's the good news: the actors all graciously come out and will sign Playbills. McKellen will pose for a picture with you (and Stewart allows you to take photos of him). The bad news is the barricades get filled up quickly, and if you've rushed the show you may have to sacrifice an autograph for the front row. Unfortunately we missed out on Crudup's signature, but got autographs from the rest of the cast. 

Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart signing Playbills

For more information on No Man's Land and Waiting for Godot, visit the official website HERE. The show is finishing its limited engagement on March 30, 2014.