Recommended for you

My First Semester Broadway Experience

9 shows, many songs, many smiles

Dec 19, 2016

Determined to go to the theater as much as possible since I now live in New York, and also pressured to see shows that are closing at the end of the 2016, I saw nine Broadway shows this semester! Here are my thoughts and recommendations as I look back on all the shows I saw. (listed in chronological order of me seeing it)

Show #1: Fun Home

1 sentence summary: A middle-aged lesbian cartoonist recalls her childhood and teenage years in her home with a gay father in the funeral business who ends up killing himself.

Written and composed by: Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron

Theater: Circle in the Square

Best song: Come to the Fun Home, Changing my Major

Who to take to it: Your cousin or sibling who goes to a liberal arts college and is preferably majoring in Women’s and Gender’s Studies

Rating: 9/10 aneurysm hooks

Show #2: Matilda the Musical

1 sentence summary: Little girl Matilda is extremely bright and loves to read but has terrible and idiotic parents and she learns more about herself and others when starting school

Written and composed by: Tim Minchin and Dennis Kelly

Theater: Shubert Theatre

Best song: When I Grow Up, Naughty

Who to take to it: Your little sister or the young at heart

Rating: 5/10 Chokies

Show #3: Waitress

1 sentence summary: When Jenna, a baker/waitress is an abusive marriage and gets pregnant, she decides to enter a pie-baking contest to win $20000 and leave her husband (she also encounters a cute doctor and her friends/co-workers have their own love storylines as well)

Written and composed by: Sara Bareilles and Jessie Nelson

Theater: Brooks Atkinson Theatre

Best song: She Used to Be Mine

Who to take to it: Your friend who doesn’t necessarily love musical theater but loves romantic comedies and pop music

Rating: 10/10 Deep Shit Blueberry Bacon Pies

Show #4: Oh, Hello

1 sentence summary: Basically just Nick Kroll and John Mulaney making strange jokes while dressed as old men. Also there is always a celebrity guest!

Written by: Nick Kroll and John Mulaney

Theater: Lyceum Theatre

Best song: N/A

Who to take to it: Your friend who watches way too much stand up comedy and is basically an old man

Rating: 7/10 Tuna Sandwiches

Show #5: Dear Evan Hansen

1 sentence summary: Awkward high schooler Evan Hansen gets put in a difficult situation when his classmate Connor kills himself and his parents think a note Evan wrote to himself is Connor’s suicide note

Written and composed by: Benj Pasek, Justin Paul and Steven Levenson

Theater: Music Box Theater

Best song: Waving Through a Window

Who to take to it: People who say “I don’t really like showtunes” and post on their snapchat stories too much

Rating: 9/10 casts with the name “Connor” on them

Show #6: Falsettos

1 sentence summary: The story of a dysfunctional family of divorced parents (one gay), their son, the father’s lover/boyfriend and the mother’s new husband (who is also the therapist)

Written and composed by: James Lapine and William Finn

Theater: Walter Kerr Theatre

Best song: Trina’s Song

Who to take to it: Whoever you watched “Milk” or “Rent” or “Philadelphia” with

Rating: 6/10 Jews in a room bitching

Show #7: The Humans

1 sentence summary: A family gathers for Thanksgiving in their younger daughter’s new apartment and they discuss a lot of issues they all have been facing

Written by: Stephen Karam

Theater: Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre

Best song: N/A

Who to take to it: Your cousin who used to go to a liberal arts college and is now getting a masters in Sociology or something

Rating: 8/10 Virgin Mary Statues

Show #8: Something Rotten

1 sentence summary: The Bottom Brothers, playwrights who rival Shakespeare, seek to find a new idea for a play and end up creating the world’s first musical, which features many references to contemporary musicals.

Written and composed by: Wayne Kirkpatrick, Karey Kirkpatrick and John O'Farrell

Theater: St. James Theatre

Best song: A Musical

Who to take to it: That person you know who always goes to the stage door after they see a Broadway show

Rating: 7/10 Omelettes

Show #9: The Color Purple

1 sentence summary: Celie, a young woman growing up in the early 20th century, learns about herself through her relationship with an abusive husband, his old lover Shug Avery and her sister who fled and went to Africa.

Written and composed by: Stephen Bray, Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Marsha Norman (based on the novel by Alice Walker)

Theater: Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre

Best song: The Color Purple

Who to take to it: Your AP Lit Teacher

Rating: 8/10 Pairs of Miss Celie’s pants

Report this Content

This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

Lifestyle

8 Stereotypes Sorority Girls Are Tired Of Hearing

We don't buy into these... just like how we don't buy our friends.

Temple University

115

Verge Campus

Being a part of any organization undoubtedly comes with the pitfalls of being grouped into negative stereotypes, and sororities are certainly no exception. Here are the top few things, that I find at least, are some of the most irritating misconceptions that find their way into numerous conversations...

8. "The whole philanthropy thing isn't real, right?"

Emma Stone GIFfrom Emma Stone GIFs

Well all those fundraisers and marketing should would be a waste then wouldn't they?

Keep Reading...Show less

sorority girls

Lifestyle

11 Things Summer Nannies Can Relate To

There are plenty of obstacles that come when taking care of kids, but it's a very rewarding experience.

University of Wisconsin Branch Schools

1184

As a college student, being a nanny over the summer is both enjoyable and challenging. Underneath the seemingly perfect trips to the pool or countless hours spent playing Monopoly are the obstacles that only nannies will understand. Trading in your valuable summer vacation in return for three months spent with a few children less than half your age may seem unappealing, but so many moments make it rewarding. For my fellow summer nannies out there, I know you can relate.

Keep Reading...Show less

Lifestyle

11 Struggles Of Having An “Ethnic” Name

You'll never find any souvenirs with your name on it

Bowling Green State University

813

thoughtcatalog.com

There are a lot of really easy, common names in the U.S. and while many of those simple names have different spellings, most of the time, pronunciation is not an issue that those people need to worry about. However, others are not as fortunate and often times give up on corrections after a while. We usually give an A+ for effort. So, as you could probably imagine, there are a few struggles with having a name that isn’t technically English. Here are just a few…

Keep Reading...Show less

ethnic name

Student Life

10 Thoughts We Have While Daydreaming In Class

Can I be excused for the rest of my life?

Monmouth University

361

day·dream (ˈdāˌdrēm/): a series of pleasant thoughts that distract one's attention from the present.

Daydreams, the savior of our life in class. Every type of student in the classroom does it at least once, but most cases it is an everyday event, especially in that boring class -- you know the one. But what are we thinking while we are daydreaming?

Keep Reading...Show less

daydreaming

Politics and Activism

11 Things You Should Never Say To A Puerto Rican

Don't Be That Person

Bowling Green State University

11863

Jessica Pinero

Puerto Ricans. They are very proud people and whether they were born on the island or born in the United States by Puerto Rican parent(s). It gets even better when they meet another fellow Puerto Rican or Latino in general. You’ll know quickly if they are Puerto Rican whether the flag is printed somewhere on their person or whether they tell you or whether the famous phrase “wepa!” is said.

Keep Reading...Show less

puerto ricans

Recommended for you

My First Semester Broadway Experience

9 shows, many songs, many smiles

Subscribe to our Newsletter

We don't buy into these... just like how we don't buy our friends.

8. "The whole philanthropy thing isn't real, right?"

7. "I don't need to buy my friends."

6. "Oh, so I'll bet you love to drink."

5. "Can you tell me some of your secrets?"

4. "What do you do at your meetings?"

3. "Do you guys haze really badly?"

2. "Is it just like in the movies?"

1. "Sororities are so basic."

There are plenty of obstacles that come when taking care of kids, but it's a very rewarding experience.

1. You get excited when the parents purchase season passes to the pool.

2. You've become friends with the stay-at-home moms in town.

3. You get a chance to eat "kid foods" again.

4. You've traded in your cute purse for a large tote bag.

5. You have at least one car seat in your backseat.

6. Their nap time is your happy time.

7. Lunch time can be a disaster.

8. You have to play the same board games repeatedly.

9. You catch yourself using the same lines your parents once told you.

10. Your "mom-mode" kicks in at times.

11. Your heart melts a little when they do something cute.

You'll never find any souvenirs with your name on it

1. You know you are up next when the teacher pauses while taking attendance

2. When “I’m going to do my very best to make sure I know all your names” is said, it may or may be an empty promise

3. “Wow! That sounds so cool! Where is your family from?”

4. You dread when people ask you to repeat your name over and over because it “sounds so cool when you say it”

5. There’s a 50/50 chance that your name will come back either correct or incorrect at Starbucks

6. People try to find shorter, easier nicknames for you instead of calling you by your actual name

7. When someone famous or fictional character shares your name, you get so happy

8. “What’s your name?” “It’s [name]” “I’m sorry, what was it again?”

9. You’ve pretty much seen every misspelling and heard every mispronunciation of your name throughout your life

10. When you find another person with an “ethnic” sounding name, you both get excited

11. Despite the struggles, your name is pretty unique… just like you

Can I be excused for the rest of my life?

Don't Be That Person

1. “Oh, so you/your family are immigrants!”

2. “Is Puerto Rico near Mexico?”

3. “Do you speak Puerto Rican?”

4. “You look too light/dark to be Puerto Rican.”

5. “Do I need my passport to go to Puerto Rico?”

6. “Geez, you are obsessed with your flag. We get it, you’re Puerto Rican.”

7. “Why are you so loud?”

8. “So does your family know English?”

9. “Oh my god, Puerto Ricans are so spicy.”

10. “So did you eat a lot of tacos?”

11. “Are you Mexican?”

Trending Topics

Top Creators

Trending Stories

Best of Entertainment

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments

Subscribe to our
Newsletter