When living so close to New York City, it’s easy to take advantage of all the great theater at your disposal on the Great White Way. That is unless you’re a struggling college student because then it’s a bit more difficult. While “Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark” and “Book of Mormon” might be the toast of Broadway, tickets can come at a steep price.
Off-Broadway plays, on the other hand, are a little more affordable. Shows here are generally no different in quality except they just perform in a smaller theater. Every show likes to play to a packed house, and you can usually find discounts online or at the box office for these performances.
Most often these venues have a very generous price reduction for students, so always make sure to bring your I.D. to the ticket window.
With winter break approaching, some theatrical entertainment could be just the thing to enjoy, especially if you have a little extra holiday cash in your pocket. In case you’ve never considered Off-Broadway theater before, The Outlook has your guide for five shows that are worth seeing.
- “Love, Loss, and What I Wore”
“Love Loss, and What I Wore” is the equivalent of the best kind of “chick flick” and was even written by Nora Ephron of When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle fame.
The play features a rotating cast of actresses who speak in the voices of several women, and use observational humor to explore romance and hardship. This often involves relating the incident to a particle piece of clothing or a fashion fad that has significance to a character.
The show is funny and heartwarming, and would be great for a girl’s night or date night (as any boyfriend who’s ever been dragged shopping would be sure to relate to the stories).
- “Rent”
Jonathan Larson’s rock opera returned to the stage this past year after a three-year hiatus when it ended its Broadway run. Now, although the sets have been reimagined, it is the same beloved musical as always.
A retelling of Puccini’s “La Boheme,” “Rent” follows the lives of struggling artists in 1990s New York who are also dealing with the HIV/AIDS crisis.
If you were a fan during the show’s original 12 year run, it will be great to revisit this classic. Even if you weren’t, it is a show every theater fan should see.
- “Avenue Q”
The puppet musical also enjoyed a popular run on Broadway before relocating to Off-Broadway. After closing, it immediately came to the New World Stages, where it’s continued to entertain for two years now.
“Avenue Q,” which is like a raunchy “Sesame Street” or much funnier “Crank Yankers,” features young-adult puppets and their human counterparts trying to become responsible grownups in New York.
With songs such as “What do you do with a B.A. in English?,” college kids will certainly be able to relate to the humor here when they visit “Avenue Q.”
- “Voca People”
Pitched as, “‘Glee’ meets ‘Blue Man Group,’” if you throw in some E.T., this is an entirely accurate description of this musical romp.
“Voca People” is a show about a group of painted-white aliens who crash land a few blocks away from Times Square. The cast is incredibly talented and perform acappella songs and sound effects. The more they sing the more fuel they earn to power their ship to get back home. The aliens dazzle with songs from Bach and Madonna to doo wop and 90’s dance jams. Furthermore, in “Voca People,” audience members often get pulled onstage while the actors also go into the stands to dance with the crowd.
Although it can be a little kitschy at times, it’s impossible not to have some fun.
- “Gazillion Bubble Show”
Never has a production’s title been more accurate. As soon as “Gazillion Bubble Show” begins, what can only be described as a gazillion bubbles engulfs the theater.
One single performer on stage uses a variety of methods to make different kinds of bubbles. Some stick together, some light up, some are filled with smoke, and some can as big as your dorm room. Don’t think that they stay on stage, though, as all these bubbles drift into the crowd (and are really fun to pop). There’s also a spectacular light show with lasers that will leave you in awe.
Additionally, “Gazillion” is the only show with the “adorable factor”—as the performer frequently picks children to come up on stage and assist.
This is one of the most fun and exciting shows anyone can see and will leave you feeling like a little kid again.
PHOTO COURTESY of clemmonsdewing.com
