Lombardi:
Based on the amazing biography When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi by Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Maraniss, this play follows the iconic Green Bay Packers’ coach through a week of the 1965 season. It may not have the exciting on-field action of a great sports movie, but it has the same uplifting rise of Rudy or Jerry Maguire. This is a perfect story of when men were men, giving you the same feeling that you get when you watch Mad Men. Yet this is even better because it’s with football instead of advertising.
The Book of Mormon:
It is hilariously skewer religion and politics without becoming preachy in its show and movies. This promises to do the same with a story that follows two Mormon missionaries spreading the word in dangerous Uganda.
Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark:
Bono and The Edge wrote the music for it. That definitely takes the Disney-field feel away. The story follows the origins of Peter Parker becoming Spider-Man. While the story is already familiar, the experience will be like none other.
Rock of Ages:
If we still jam to Twisted Sister, Poison, Journey, and Styx (aka rock ‘n’ roll dinosaurs); this hair-metal/arena-rock musical is a must-see. This production is noted for being one of the most fun and least stuffy shows on Broadway. The actors break the fourth wall and engage the audience just like rock singers at a concert. Following aspiring rocker Drew Bowie around the Sunset Strip feels just like the late ‘80s again.
Million Dollar Quartet:
On Tuesday, December 4, 1956, in Memphis’s Sun Record Studios, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley recorded an impromptu jam session. They unknowingly formed and immediately disbanded rock’s first super group. This musical dramatizes that session and covers classic tunes like “Blue Suede Shoes”; “Who Do You Love?”; “Folsom Prison Blues”; “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On”; and many more.
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson:
Fans of the History Channel may love and hate this rock musical about the founding of the modern Democratic Party. Anyone’ll love the hilarious, Wild West portrayal of America’s tough 7th President Old Hickory for entertainment value. Anyone’ll hate it if you’re a stickler for historical accuracy. Sure, Andrew Jackson wasn’t an emo rock star, but let that go and anyone’ll enjoy the show’s surprisingly well-written story, dirty jokes and political satire.
Avenue Q:
This dirty Sesame Street will crack us up. A New York mainstay for years, Avenue Q features politically incorrect puppets singing about sex, drugs. It is set in an “outer-outer borough” of New York City and follows a recent college grad, Princeton, as he searches for his purpose in the world. Anyone with a liberal arts degree can relate to his opening song “What Do You Do with a B.A. in English?”
American Idiot:
It is fast, fun, dangerous, and it scared the hell out of our parents. Watching this musical will recreate some of those same feelings. Based off the band’s concept album of the same name, it follows a character named Johnny as he rebels against stifling suburbia and societal norms. It is filled with great pop-punk tunes and its biting political edge will leave us wanting green hair.
A Life in the Theatre:
Playwright David Mamet is a true man’s man. He penned The Untouchables, Sexual Perversity in Chicago, Wag the Dog, The Edge, Heist, and Hannibal. He may be our favorite writer and we didn’t even know it. This early play of his is currently enjoying a Broadway revival with X-Men’s Patrick Stewart and Grey’s Anatomy’s T.R. Knight.
Elf:
Based upon the 2003 film by the same name, this Christmas musical unfortunately does not feature Will Ferrell. However, it has the same over-the-top humor and absurd storyline that makes the movie one of our holiday favorites. This is an absolute must if you’re in New York around the Christmas season. It will make us want to throw snowballs in Central Park and spin like a madman in a revolving door. Plus, George Wendt of Cheers plays Santa. “Norm!”
