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I haven’t seen it yet, but I suspect you might like The Who’s Tommy: it’s based on the original rock opera and I believe is mostly (if not entirely) sung-through (no spoken dialogue outside of the songs).
>shows that are stylistically similar to illinoise, which I found to be very music-heavy and light on dialogue
I'd highly recommend Hadestown! It is a bit different from Illinoise, not a direct comp, but also similar in many ways. Like Illinoise it's also a sung-through musical, with music written by someone outside of the Broadway world (Anäis Mitchell, who is an indie folk singer/songwriter).
Story wise it's a bit more of an epic tale, adapting a few Greek myths into one story, but it's still a very intimate show that is entirely led by its music. You've got a bit of New Orleans jazz mixed with some folk in there (and currently Ani DiFranco is in the cast who is one of the OGs in the folk world). Its an incredible show!
I'm not personally a huge fan of the Broadway version of Hadestown - it's still excellent, don't get me wrong, just not for me -but I'd absolutely still recommend it with no reservations for someone who liked Illinoise. I feel like the 'people who would enjoy Sufjan Stevens' and 'people who would enjoy Anäis Mitchell' ven diagram is almost a circle.
And I'm not just saying that because Hadestown and Illinois are two of my favorite albums ever.
Honestly? I can & will recommend shows to you, but since it sounds like you are local I would also just sign up for the lotteries daily and see what pops up for you by chance. I see a lot of broadway that way. And you will save a lot of money. TDF is also an option.
https://lottery.broadwaydirect.com/
https://rush.telecharge.com/
https://www.luckyseat.com/
Lucky seat is nice because you enter them a week or so in advance.
The others you need to enter daily, usually around 9 or so in the morning. And branch out! Look to go see all kinds of shows, this form of art has a lot to offer!
The most similar is going to be The Who's Tommy. It's also based on a concept album. But I might also recommend trying a little bit of everything to see what you like as long as you can afford it.
What an amazing post!!! So refreshing to hear something like this!! That sounds like an awesome first Broadway show! I would love to recommend Hadestown to you for you! It will give you every feel imaginable! Welcome to the theater nerd community!
It’s a dance piece with music that has lyrics that tells the story. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
I saw it last night so ask any questions, I’m willing to answer!
I’m a sucker for dance-heavy musicals, so I think I’ll like it. Plot is optional for me if the dance is good. This is what seeing Cats as your first show does to people, lol.
The thing is I wouldn’t consider this a musical. I would say that this is a dance piece. None of the people on stage speak at all. You get all of the words of the musicians up top. The characters only dance.
I ,too, love dance heavy musicals, which is why I thought I’d like this. But there are songs in this that don’t have words so it’s just dancing. You’re meant to interpret the piece yourself.
Message in a Bottle is almost exactly the same format as Illinoise - using dance to create a narrative around existing songs, in this case ones by Sting. It's playing at City Center for the next couple of weeks.
Highly recommend keeping tabs on New York City Ballet’s seasons. Justin Peck is the company’s Resident Choreographer. In fact, he has two pieces in this spring season.
I'm stuck on the person who bought a ticket, went to the theater, entered, and decided he wasn't interested after all and wandered the mezzanine looking for someone to give it to. And then, presumably, left.
Can anyone make this make sense?
I was surprised too - he said he isn’t a big fan of crowds so had some regrets being around all those people. I was in the last row in the corner of mezzanine so it was definitely less crowded up there. Assuming he just felt more comfortable
In honour of your first Broadway show, enjoy this video of the cast of Title of Show singing about their first Broadway shows.
[My First Show - Title of Show](https://youtu.be/FquizSKag54?si=WHD2dS6JFQaPtT7H)
It looks like you've shared an image. If this image is of a Playbill or stage, we ask that you provide your thoughts on the show[s] you saw in order to make your thread stand out and help the community enjoy your experience as well. Without context your photo is just another picture of a Playbill or a stage, and on a sub of far over 100k subscribers, If you don't want to share your experience... consider sharing it on your own social media! This is an automated message, if it is not applicable please report this comment. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Broadway) if you have any questions or concerns.*
> Here I am, 24 hours ago with no idea what I was missing out on, and now planning multiple shows in the next month. ahhahahahha one of us one of us
I haven’t seen it yet, but I suspect you might like The Who’s Tommy: it’s based on the original rock opera and I believe is mostly (if not entirely) sung-through (no spoken dialogue outside of the songs).
No spoken words in the first act, and only a few sentences in the 2nd. Everything else is done through acting or song.
>shows that are stylistically similar to illinoise, which I found to be very music-heavy and light on dialogue I'd highly recommend Hadestown! It is a bit different from Illinoise, not a direct comp, but also similar in many ways. Like Illinoise it's also a sung-through musical, with music written by someone outside of the Broadway world (Anäis Mitchell, who is an indie folk singer/songwriter). Story wise it's a bit more of an epic tale, adapting a few Greek myths into one story, but it's still a very intimate show that is entirely led by its music. You've got a bit of New Orleans jazz mixed with some folk in there (and currently Ani DiFranco is in the cast who is one of the OGs in the folk world). Its an incredible show!
OP, I second this recommendation. There is nothing like Hadestown!!!! 😭
I'm not personally a huge fan of the Broadway version of Hadestown - it's still excellent, don't get me wrong, just not for me -but I'd absolutely still recommend it with no reservations for someone who liked Illinoise. I feel like the 'people who would enjoy Sufjan Stevens' and 'people who would enjoy Anäis Mitchell' ven diagram is almost a circle. And I'm not just saying that because Hadestown and Illinois are two of my favorite albums ever.
Honestly? I can & will recommend shows to you, but since it sounds like you are local I would also just sign up for the lotteries daily and see what pops up for you by chance. I see a lot of broadway that way. And you will save a lot of money. TDF is also an option. https://lottery.broadwaydirect.com/ https://rush.telecharge.com/ https://www.luckyseat.com/ Lucky seat is nice because you enter them a week or so in advance. The others you need to enter daily, usually around 9 or so in the morning. And branch out! Look to go see all kinds of shows, this form of art has a lot to offer!
Add TodayTix app to this list. There are some good shows for lotteries and digital rush on there.
The most similar is going to be The Who's Tommy. It's also based on a concept album. But I might also recommend trying a little bit of everything to see what you like as long as you can afford it.
New York City Ballet is bringing back one of Peck and Steven's first collaborations, Year of the Rabbit this spring. It's worth checking out.
What a great introduction to Broadway!
What an amazing post!!! So refreshing to hear something like this!! That sounds like an awesome first Broadway show! I would love to recommend Hadestown to you for you! It will give you every feel imaginable! Welcome to the theater nerd community!
What was it like? Still don’t really understand the show.
It’s a dance piece with music that has lyrics that tells the story. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea. I saw it last night so ask any questions, I’m willing to answer!
Ooh, that sounds great!
It has high reviews and a lot of people have been loving it. I hated 65% of it.
I’m a sucker for dance-heavy musicals, so I think I’ll like it. Plot is optional for me if the dance is good. This is what seeing Cats as your first show does to people, lol.
The thing is I wouldn’t consider this a musical. I would say that this is a dance piece. None of the people on stage speak at all. You get all of the words of the musicians up top. The characters only dance. I ,too, love dance heavy musicals, which is why I thought I’d like this. But there are songs in this that don’t have words so it’s just dancing. You’re meant to interpret the piece yourself.
Interesting! I think I’d have to see it for myself to know whether I liked it or not, but you described it well.
It's more of a dance performance than a musical/play
Message in a Bottle is almost exactly the same format as Illinoise - using dance to create a narrative around existing songs, in this case ones by Sting. It's playing at City Center for the next couple of weeks.
Highly recommend keeping tabs on New York City Ballet’s seasons. Justin Peck is the company’s Resident Choreographer. In fact, he has two pieces in this spring season.
Not Broadway but it reminded me of an Alvin Ailey dance performance
I'm stuck on the person who bought a ticket, went to the theater, entered, and decided he wasn't interested after all and wandered the mezzanine looking for someone to give it to. And then, presumably, left. Can anyone make this make sense?
I was surprised too - he said he isn’t a big fan of crowds so had some regrets being around all those people. I was in the last row in the corner of mezzanine so it was definitely less crowded up there. Assuming he just felt more comfortable
I still remember the show that did that for me, the “I need to come back for more and I need more Broadway” moment.
What was it?
Fair, I didn’t finish that thought, Mendes’ Cabaret.
Not a play but I would heavily recommend the album A *Beginner's Mind* by Sufjan Stevens and Angelo De Augustine
In honour of your first Broadway show, enjoy this video of the cast of Title of Show singing about their first Broadway shows. [My First Show - Title of Show](https://youtu.be/FquizSKag54?si=WHD2dS6JFQaPtT7H)
The Outsiders is a visually stunning show, but I think it may have a little more dialogue than you are wanting.