Prescription:
Immersion Theater
For What Ails You, When Indicated
by
Denise
McCluggage
It's
an annoying trait but perhaps not one unique to me:
I use least the resources most readily at hand.
When I lived in New York, a subway token distant from
any theater, I actually saw more shows in London. It
was after I moved to Vermont that I craved the broken-hearted
lights of Broadway and trekked my way south for periodic
indulgences.
Now
that I live in New Mexico I make intermittent pilgrimages
to Manhattan for a Broadway fix. The timing is determined
by a critical-mass build-up of frequent flyer miles
or the requirement of my presence in NYC for other reasons,
such as the auto show.
Last
summer the itch was emerging into consciousness. The Tony awards, the raging success
of "The Producers." And thus I was prompted to begin planning for a
New York theater trip. One must get some tent pegs down early enough to keep the
whole shebang from flapping in the wind. Here's my way. Decide
on a time.
"Autumn in New York" began to play in my head. That was distant enough
(from July) to assure a better chance at some of the tougher tickets. And also
a distant calendar looks wonderfully open. Busy the first week and second week
in October so how about the third? Decide
on the shows. I
decide on all musicals this time. They need a big stage.
I go on the Internet
to www.applause-tickets.com,
a ticket procuring company that had worked flawlessly for me previously. (A few
years before they had come up with an Easter Sunday seat to "The Lion King"
when that show was SRO for months ahead.)
Other
similar services can also be found online (see below)
Applause-tickets web
site carries information on all the shows, on- and off-Broadway. (Also concerts
and other entertainments for Las Vegas, Toronto and London as well as New York.)
All the salient information is immediately clear, including prices. The prices
listed include the company's charges ($5.00 plus 35% of the ticket price) so any
sticker shock is immediate and doesn't lurk farther down the line.
Yes,
there are cheaper ways of getting Broadway tickets -
go to New York and stand in line in Times Square for
great same-day savings. Or go through the box office
(plan far ahead) by mail or phone and deal with each
show independently. Find the way that suits you. My
way is to opt for convenience, certainty and a quick
wrap up of a week's worth of nightly theater in a few
minutes. I acknowledge that this costs money. For me
with a low tolerance for annoyances, the price is right.
(CONTINUED...)
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