As someone who loves attending theatre but lives on Long Island, my favorite hack to avoid spending extra money on public transportation is to see multiple shows in a day. This past month, I went into the city twice within 5 days and saw 5 total shows. In order to do this affordably, I make sure to never spend more than $70 a ticket through the Theatr app, online rush and lottery, and the TodayTix app. Here is what I thought of each show I saw and how i timed it all.
Saturday
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – 2:00 PM
This short and sweet musical is exactly about what it implies. It follows a group of middle school students competing for a spelling championship. Each of these characters faces external challenges that undermine them, such as parental pressure, loneliness, and self-doubt. This show features audience participation, with four audience members getting to participate in the bee and spell alongside the cast.
My favorite thing about this performance was the character development and the unique humor of each character. This was the kind of show that would have resonated with me on a much deeper level if I had seen it when I was younger, with many of the characters going through tough things that middle schoolers face. The unique humor of each character made the show that much better, and having audience members on stage was so great, allowing actors to adapt each scene on a moment’s notice. This show is definitely not one to miss if you have a free afternoon in the city.
Every Brilliant Thing – 5:00 PM
Daniel Radcliffe stars in this play that transferred from the West End. It covers many heavy topics, with the main character reliving his mothers suicide attempt when he was only seven years old. He goes through his journey growing up with a parent who struggled with mental health, and his own journey later in his life as well. Throughout the course of the play, he comes up with a list of a million “brilliant things” that the audience helps him announce. This play also prominently features audience participation, with many audience members invited to play characters such as the narrator’s parents and his teacher.
This show had a truly lasting impact on me and my view of my life. As someone who has struggled with mental health very often, remembering the little things helps me to get through the hard days. This show truly depicted that. It also highlighted how important the theatre community is to one another, as this show would not work without the audience’s help. I loved the reminder to note the positive aspects of life around you and to remember that, with other people and a willingness to help yourself, you can get better.
Death Becomes Her – 8:00 PM
Death Becomes Her is a spectacle of a musical. Based on the 1992 film starring Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn, characters Helen and Madeline have a complicated friendship full of competition and false niceties. When Madeline is starring in a Broadway musical, she invites Helen and her new fiancé, Ernest, backstage to greet her. This quickly spirals into Madeline stealing Ernest away from Helen, sparking a friendship war between the two over the man, money, and fame.
This is definitely a show to see for the insane special effects, costumes, and choreography. The vocals from all of the actors were particularly lasting for me, and I enjoyed every part of it. The storyline was interesting, with the stunts from the main cast and the ensemble being the standout moments. I had previously seen the movie and loved it, and this musical certifiably did it justice.
Thursday
Heathers – 2:00 PM
Heathers is based on the 1989 film of the same name and follows Veronica Sawyer, who becomes friends with the popular clique of girls all named Heather. This choice puts her other friends on edge, and she ends up falling for the “bad boy” new student, J.D. This show takes a turn for the dark when they begin killing their classmates together and staging them as suicides.
This was my second time seeing this production of Heathers, but it wasn’t the last. The storyline and shocking actions from Veronica and J.D. are what originally drew me to the show the first time, but the cast and soundtrack are what won me over. Kuhoo Verma as Veronica Sawyer blew me out of the water, especially with her vocals on “Seventeen”. Casey Likes was just as incredible in his satirical, creepy portrayal of J.D. The entire cast, including all ensemble members, was so dedicated and in sync with their actions. This story and the lasting message it leaves, to be kind and accepting of all people, is what made me a fan and keeps me coming back.
Just in Time – 7:00 PM
This musical is based on the life of Bobby Darin and uses his most popular songs, “Mack the Knife” and “Beyond the Sea,” to tell his story and how his life ended far too soon. On this particular date, I saw Matthew Morrison as Bobby Darin, and it was set in an interactive nightclub. The meaningfulness of hearing about Darin’s sickly childhood, and how he fell in love for the first time, and became known for his pop-jazz numbers made me love the show.
This was a dream come true for me as a lifelong Glee fan. I appreciated all of the fast-paced numbers and the sirens’ quick changes, but most of all how quickly Bobby Dain was able to capture my attention and grab my heart. Knowing how Darin died young was heartbreaking, and watching Morrison’s portrayal was even more sad. Also, seeing the perspectives of Connie and Sandy made me feel for both of them.
Some might say seeing five shows in five days is a bit too much, but for me, it was one of the most fun experiences of my life. Each show I saw was unique to the performance and reminded me why I go to the theatre in the first place. With ample planning, seeing this many shows can be affordable and rewarding. (And I cannot wait to do it again!)