Lend Me Some Money So I Can See This Show Again!!

I like to laugh. Who doesn't? I also obviously like Broadway. (Duh.) So when a play comes to town that is actually funny AND chock full of awesome talent, I feel as though I need to shout it from the rooftops...or at least write about it in my blog. I know, I have been gone awhile, the blog business is a tough gig...but we can all thank Lend Me a Tenor for giving me the motivation to write again. So see this show....NOW!

WHAT IS IT ABOUT

Lend Me a Tenor is a farce about the opening night of the Cleveland Opera and the wacky hijinks that ensue when the leading man, the greatest tenor in the world...well, let's just say "becomes otherwise engaged". Think – a really funny episode of Three’s Company set in 1934, without Jack, Janet and Chrissy, but with Tito (Anthony LaPaglia), Saunders (Tony Shaloub) and Max (Justin Bartha).

WILL I LIKE THIS SHOW?

YES! Well, if you have a sense of humor. It’s a farce – so it is loaded with mistaken identity, double entendre, slapstick and physical comedy…all that good stuff. The whole cast is AMAZING. Particularly Tony Shaloub (Monk) as the Opera company’s sharp tongued producer, Saunders and Justin Bartha (The Hangover) making his Broadway debut as the persistent assistant Max. To quote the New York Post’s rave review, “Justin Bartha doesn’t just make his Broadway debut, he dynamites the door open.” Yes. He is that good. I also really loved Jan Maxwell as Maria, the Tenor’s distrusting wife. This revival of Ken Ludwig's 1989 Tony nominated play is also directed by Stanley Tucci, who can pretty much do no wrong in my book.

IS THIS SHOW APPROPRIATE FOR KIDS?

13+ seems about right, due to mild sexual humor. Maybe a really smart 12 year old would like it too.

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS SHOW?

The show site gives all the info you will need – http://lendmeatenoronbroadway.com/

WHERE IS THIS SHOW PLAYING...AND WHAT IS THE THEATER LIKE?

Lend Me a Tenor is at the Music Box Theater in the heart of the theater district. I sat in the left mezzanine. There is a lot of action all over the stage, but I found that minor things to the extreme left of the stage were difficult to see. Try getting seats more towards the center. It's on the smaller side of theaters however, which lends itself very nicely to watching a play….especially one where everyone is laughing.

Music Box Theater
239 W.45th Street (between Broadway and 8th)

Show Times: Tuesdays @ 7PM, Wednesday - Saturday @ 8PM, Wed & Sat @ 2PM, Sunday @ 3PM.

ANY CHEAP TICKET OFFERS FOR THIS SHOW?

Playbill.com, Broadwaybox.com, and Theatermania.com
Tickets for as low as $69.50 during the week and $74.50 on weekends. You need to be a member to access the deals – but it’s free to join!

WHAT DO YOU RATE THIS SHOW? (OUT OF 5 TICKETS)

(4 tickets)

UP NEXT: A Behanding in Spokane

Damn...That's a Good Donut!

Going to a play is hit or miss. I can usually tell within 10 minutes if I am going to like it, or if I am going to want to flee the theater at intermission. If I like a show, after 5 minutes I am hooked. I like the characters I have been introduced to, and I want to learn more about them. If I don't like the show I am pretty much going to get an expensive nap in an awkward position. With Superior Donuts, not only was it love at first scene, but I also craved Dunkin Donuts for about a week.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT?

Superior Donuts is a dark comedy...maybe even a dramedy...that revolves around Arthur Przybyszewski (played by the always phenomenal Michael McKean) a divorcee, ex hippie (he dodged the draft) and proprietor of Superior Donuts, a run down donut shop in Chicago's uptown neighborhood. Arthur is someone who is used to being on his own, and he claims to be happy that way. Enter Franco Wicks (played by newbie Jon Michael Hill, who gets my vote for a Tony nom) an ambitious, fast talking, aspiring writer (...and college dropout) who is in need of a job and has some ideas on how to make Superior Donuts, more reflective of its name.

Without getting too sappy, and giving too much of this great play away, Superior Donuts is about the power of friendship and what happens when two people from vastly different backgrounds, realize they aren't that different after all.

WILL I LIKE THIS SHOW?

I think anyone with a heart and sense of humor will thoroughly enjoy this play. Honestly -- and maybe this makes me a dork (something that I do not deny) -- when this play was over, I just was overwhelmingly happy, and not because visions of chocolate frosted donuts were dancing in my head. I was just really enchanted by the storytelling. Playwright Tracy Letts (who also wrote the amazing August: Osage County) really has an knack for creating characters that you can relate to, even though their circumstance may be completely unique....you feel like you could be watching the lives of real people.

It also doesn't hurt that the cast is amazing. Aside from Michael McKean, and Jon Michael Hill, as the lead roles, Yasen Peyankov as Max Tarasov, and Kate Buddeke as Officer Randy Osteen make up a stellar supporting team.

This show is like a good donut...enjoyable, sweet, and leaves you wanting another one.

IS THIS SHOW APPROPRIATE FOR KIDS?

Honestly, no. It's not intended for children. There's a bit of foul language and violence. I would recommend it for 13+

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS SHOW?

This site gives all the info you will need - https://www.broadwaysbestshows.com/shows/superiordonuts/index

WHERE IS THIS SHOW PLAYING...AND WHAT IS THE THEATER LIKE?

You can find Superior Donuts at the Music Box theater in the the heart of the theater district. I sat in the mezzanine and had no issues. It's on the smaller side of theaters which lends itself very nicely to watching a play.

My two complaints about the the theater: 1) Disappointingly, they do not sell donuts in the lobby. 2) It's right across the street from "A Steady Rain" starring Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig...which gets out earlier than Superior Donuts. The night I saw it, you could hear the screams of adoring fans waiting for these two actors at the stage door. It was a little annoying.

Music Box Theater

239 W.45th Street (between Broadway and 8th)

Show Times: Tuesdays @ 7PM, Wednesday - Saturday @ 8PM, Wed & Sat @ 2PM, Sunday @ 3PM. Tickets on sale through March 2010.

ANY CHEAP TICKET OFFERS FOR THIS SHOW?

Ask, and ye shall receive....

• Save almost 40% at Broadwaybox.com. For shows through 11/25/09. http://broadwaybox.com/


• 50% off tickets for selected performances through 11/8/09 at theatermania.com (with free membership.) http://theatermania.com/

WHAT DO YOU RATE THIS SHOW? (OUT OF 5 TICKETS)

(4 tickets)

Up Next: Still Life

Photo attributed to: D. Sharon Pruitt

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinksherbet/ / CC BY 2.0

Toxic Avenger….you had me at Bitch/Slut/Liar/Whore

When I get to a show, one of my rituals is reading the Playbill. I like to know who is in the show, ("Wow, a lot of these people were on Law and Order.") I like to see where the show is set, if there is any intermission, etc. But, to be honest, for a musical, I don't like looking at the song list. I just feel like it ruins the surprise, call me crazy. However, at my recent trip to The Toxic Avenger Musical, my theater going friend insisted on reading the song list...and sharing it with me. "There is a song called Bitch/Slut/Liar/Whore" she shouts. WHAT?! So, naturally, my interest was piqued...and against my usual M.O. I looked at the other songs..."Evil is Hot", "All Men Are Freaks"...I hated knowing what was in store, but at the same time, I knew that I would love this show...damn you Toxic Avenger...you had me at Bitch/Slut/Liar/Whore.


WHAT IS IT ABOUT?

For those not into cult films, The Toxic Avenger is based on a low budget, yet highly entertaining 1984 B-movie of the same name (minus the musical). The musical revolves around New Jersey resident, Melvin Ferd the Third (Nick Cordero). In his quest to rid the Garden State of toxic waste (and nasty smell), Melvin gets transformed into a hero of sorts when he falls into a vat of green ooze. Throw in a blind librarian (a really impressive American Idol runner-up Diana DeGarmo) as the love interest, a corrupt New Jersey government official (the amazing Nancy Opel) as the villain, add a hysterical rock-n-roll soundtrack (music and lyrics by David Bryan of Bon Jovi...HELLO!), and you have the Toxic Avenger Musical.

WILL I LIKE THIS SHOW?

Let's put it this way -- if you do not like this show, you are either Amish, a zombie, or a member of the Duggar family (ouch, was that mean?). Now granted, this show is a great blend of sarcasm-raunch, and contains mostly low brow, gross-out, "make fun of blind people" humor, there is the potential to not enjoy yourself, if you have high moral standards when it comes to entertainment and are for the most part boring.

When I say I laughed so hard, I cried, I am not exaggerating. This is a fun show. Be prepared to laugh -- a lot. This show does not take itself seriously, and neither should you. HOWEVER, you should take the performers seriously...because the entire cast is amazing. Aside from the main players that I mentioned above, Demond Green as "black dude" and Jonathan Root as "white dude" play almost every other character on the show and offer some of the most laugh-inducing moments of the performance.

IS THIS SHOW APPROPRIATE FOR KIDS?

Probably not. There is foul language, sexual situations (albeit humorous ones) and some flying dismembered body parts, so taking anyone under 13 will probably not win you any "Parent of the Year" awards.

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS SHOW?

You can check out the official Toxic Avenger Musical site here: http://www.toxicavengermusical.com/ and if you really have some hot, toxic love, you can go to the official fan site here: http://www.toxiefans.com/

HAS THIS SHOW WON ANY AWARDS? (....because that matters to me.)

2009 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best New Off-Broadway Musical

WHERE IS THIS SHOW PLAYING? ...AND WHAT IS THE THEATER LIKE?

The Toxic Avenger Musical is playing at the New World Stages, a great modern theater complex, right in the heart of midtown. The theater is relatively small, and there is not a bad seat in the house. Most seats are considered orchestra. All seats have ample leg room, and have a good view of the stage. There is a small, two row mezzanine referred to as the "Tox Box", which according to the Toxic website, "offers an exclusive area overlooking the stage that allows you to relax while you rock out at The Toxic Avenger, with two drinks INCLUDED in the ticket price."

New World Stages has a TONY ( Time Out New York...for those not into acronyms) lounge which offers drinks that they proudly boast, "you can bring into the theater". True story: a very buzzed woman was in front of me for The Toxic Avenger Musical --she gave toxic love a whole new meaning. CLASSY!

NEW WORLD STAGES

340 West 50th Street, New York, NY 10019

Performances: Mon, Wed, Friday at 8PM -- Saturday at 4 and 8PM and Sunday at 3 and 7:30PM

ANY CHEAP TICKET OFFERS FOR THIS SHOW?

Buying tickets straight from Telecharge with no code, will run you $51.50 - $71.50...but who plays full price? I mean really??! Try taking advantage of these offers:

• Playbill.com has an offer for $45 tickets through 9/30 (you must be a Playbill.com member, but it is free and easy to register). www.playbill.com/club/offers


• If you join the Toxie Fan Club for free, you can get a code for $45 tickets. www.toxiefans.com/main/authorization/signUp


• Broadway Box - $35 tickets http://www.broadwaybox.com/


• Student Rush tickets - $25 tickets - These are based on availability, a limited number of seats will be sold on the day of the performance for only $25. Box office only. Valid student ID required. 2 tickets per ID, cash only.

WHAT DO YOU RATE THIS SHOW? (OUT OF 5 TICKETS)

(4 Tickets)

UP NEXT: Bye, Bye Birdie