Our Broadway 2008-09

Even though we just passed the midpoint of our 2007-08 Broadway Across America season, we got an envelope in the mail happily proclaiming "Renewal Enclosed!" ... while I am always curious to see what shows are coming to town next season, given how much $$ they're asking for (which granted still pales to NYC Broadway ticket prices) they could do without the exclamation point!!

So here's the line-up for next season:

A couple of repeats for me... A Chorus Line (actually saw that on Broadway back in my college days) and The Lion King, which was the big show here a few years back and gets another month-long run.

I am not sure The Rat Pack (which sounds more like a Vegas review) or Happy Days (yes, it's the Cunnighams and Fonzie and the rest of the gang) ever had Broadway runs... and I do have memories of the film version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang from my youth and do seem to recall a fairly recent but relatively short Broadway run (a quick wiki shows just under 300 performances on the Great White Way in 2005).   So these have me a bit underwhelmed, though I hold out the most hope for the Rat Pack... which, ironically enough, may stave off the usual Vegas trip for my birthday.

So I am most excited for Frost/Nixon -- more so since I know Todd will enjoy it.  We considered seeing it when we were NY last year, so was glad to see it on the tour list... lately they've been throwing us one play a season and that is certainly a nice change-up from all these musicals... and Stacy Keach doesn't seem as much as a C-lister as we usually get.   But it should come as no surprise, that I am most excited about Spring Awakening... from what I hear folks seem to love it or hate it, but I sense I'll be the former... and apparently it is risque enough that they're offering subscribers to opt out of this show due to "mature themes, sexual situations, strong language"... so that makes me think I'll like it even more, I like the edgy stuff!

If all this isn't enough... there are 4 bonus shows... Stomp! (the swap-out show for Spring Awakening), Cats (ugh!), and Wicked -- which, like Lion King, makes a return to the Valley with a nearly one-month engagement (most shows are here for a week, or two weeks tops).   The one bonus show I will definitely be interested in is Rent... yes, I've seen it up-teen times (hey, only 3 times!)... but we're one of the stops that will feature the original Broadway (and film) Mark and Roger, Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal... so that seems certainly reason enough to see it again!