Tag: stage door

Broadway Review | Mamma Mia!

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Mamma Mia!

Playing at Winter Garden Theatre

Musical or play? Musical

Lottery or Rush Tickets? $45.00 In Person Rush Tickets and $49.00 Digital Lottery Tickets

What I Paid: $99.50

My Rating: ★★★ 1/2

Official Website: https://mammamiabway.com/

A mother. A daughter. Three possible dads. And a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget! Mamma Mia!, the worldwide musical phenomenon, comes home to Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre for a special limited return engagement beginning August 2nd.

The international musical sensation that has kept audiences dancing in the aisles for 25 years. Mamma Mia! is the Broadway getaway that audiences can’t wait to escape to, and this August it returns to the Winter Garden Theatre for a special limited engagement. You already know you’re gonna love it – get your tickets today.

REVIEW

When I found out that Mamma Mia! was returning to Broadway for a strictly limited engagement, I knew I had to be there. Regrettably, I missed this show during its original run, as I figured it would run long enough for me to catch it when I was ready. I have since learned not to put off shows you want to see, as you never know when they will close. Thankfully, the North American tour is making a 6-month stop at the Winter Garden through February 1, 2026, and I was able to catch it during my most recent trip to New York City.

I purchased a Center Orchestra ticket in Row H at TKTS for 50% off at $99.50. This is a full view seat, and I am very happy I got such a great deal on what was otherwise a hefty ticket price. That being said, this show has not been on TKTS consistently, so I do recommend purchasing tickets in advance if Mamma Mia! is a must see for you. I will say that I have sat in the very last row of the orchestra at the Winter Garden before without a bad view.

If you are familiar with the Mamma Mia! movie adaptation, the storyline of the Broadway show is very similar with a few small differences here and there. The music is, of course, absolutely wonderful. The cast is all exceptionally talented, but I especially loved Donna (Christine Sherrill), Tanya (Jalynn Steele), and Rosie (Carly Sakolove). These women are killing it with their powerful vocals, stage presence, and comedic timing. Sophie, played by Amy Weaver, is also a highlight with her beautiful voice. Similarly, the Mamma Mia! band is incredible. I will warn you, though: the opening to Act 2 after intermission starts so loudly and abruptly that the entire audience jumped, and many people screamed from being startled!

While I had heard a fair amount of negativity online about the set, as someone who never saw the original production of Mamma Mia!, I did not find the set to be lacking at all, especially when considering this revival run is part of the tour. Though simple, the set is bright and functions well for the show. In fact, it allows for the choreography with the large ensemble cast to really shine. If you enjoy shows with big dance numbers, Mamma Mia! has some really fun ones, such as Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!

Probably the only thing that detracted from my enjoyment of the show was not the show itself, but the audience. Since Mamma Mia! is a jukebox musical, I was afraid that people would be singing along. While that did happen a bit, what was worse was the talking! The family to my left was from Europe, and the father translated nearly the entirety of the show to his teenager. Similarly, the couple to my right also spoke at many points. This unfortunately was quite distracting, but at a big touristy musical like Mamma Mia!, it is to be expected.

That being said, I overall thoroughly enjoyed seeing Mamma Mia! on Broadway. This show is a great mix of upbeat, show-stopping numbers that are full of fun, all with tenderhearted moments between a mother and her daughter mixed into the plot. In a day in age where the real world can feel overwhelmingly bleak, Mamma Mia! is the perfect way to spend a few hours of your day having the time of your life!

STAGE DOOR

The Stage Door at the Winter Garden is directly opposite the theatre’s main entrance. You will find barricades set up on 7th Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets. Although I attended a Wednesday matinee performance, Mamma Mia! did not have an evening show, and to my delight and surprise nearly the entire cast came out to sign Playbills and take selfies with audience members. This was a wonderful Stage Door experience, as the fans were all polite and respectful, and the performers were all super friendly. While I don’t know if the cast comes out for matinees on two-show days, I would recommend stopping by the Stage Door if you have time.

See my vlog from Mamma Mia! on Instagram HERE and learn more about my experience buying tickets on TKTS HERE!

Broadway Review | Just in Time

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Just in Time

Playing at Circle in the Square Theatre

Musical or play? Musical

Lottery or Rush Tickets? $40.00 In Person Rush Tickets

What I Paid: $199.00

My Rating: ★★★★

Official Website: https://justintimebroadway.com/

Tony Award® winner Jonathan Groff (Merrily We Roll Along, Hamilton) is back on Broadway and is “onstage perfection” (Chicago Tribune) as Bobby Darin, the legendary singer whose short but remarkable life took him from teen idol to global sensation. Developed and directed by Tony Award winner Alex Timbers (Moulin Rouge!, Beetlejuice), with a book by Warren Leight and Isaac Oliver, Just In Time is an “utterly electrifying” (Entertainment Weekly) new musical that immerses audiences into an intimate nightclub “so seductive in ambiance that you find yourself not wanting to go back outside” (Chicago Tribune). Complete with iconic Bobby Darin hits including “Beyond the Sea,” “Mack the Knife,” “Splish Splash,” and “Dream Lover,” Just In Time is “a helluva good time at the theater” (Time Out).

REVIEW

If not for Jonathan Groff starring in this bio-jukebox musical chronicling the life and career of Bobby Darin, I would not have spent a Tuesday night in the basement of Wicked. Thankfully, Groff was enough to lure me to the Circle in the Square for a one-of-a-kind Broadway experience that will always have a special place in my heart.

I purchased a full price ticket in advance directly from the box office online, as Just in Time has been selling over capacity consistently since its run began. Since this theatre is set up primarily in the round, there really isn’t a bad seat in the house. I was in Row F on the left side of the main stage, and had a fully, unobstructed view. The cast also moves around the entire floor section quite a bit throughout the show, so many audience members have the opportunity to be in the Groff “splash zone” at one point or another. If you do choose to splurge on table seats, the actors will likely interact with you, and you will essentially be part of the show.

Similarly, the set and theatre really create a unique experience for Broadway-goers. From the moment you walk into the nightclub-like set-up, you feel as if you have entered a different dimension. This is amplified by the show itself, as Groff breaks the fourth wall right from the start of the show by introducing himself as the actor who will be playing your Bobby Darin, and by sharing his personal connection to the music. Not only does this interaction create a special bond with the audience, but Groff goes so far as to outright mention how the magic of live theatre is encompassed in what happens inside the room at that specific moment, as it can never again be recreated in the same way. As someone who shares this sentiment, I found it quite emotional to hear these words out loud.

Moreover, the plot of Just in Time is similar to other musicals of the same vein, following the life of Bobby Darin while featuring his music throughout the show. While I did learn a lot about Darin, and found myself very touched at certain moments, I also felt myself thinking that this style of musical is overdone. Similar to The Neil Diamond Musical A Beautiful Noise, which I saw in 2023, the best moments of Just in Time are the big musical numbers. I’m not sure how I feel about these biographical shows focusing on people who yearn to be famous all while making questionable decisions, such as Darin essentially stealing from other artists in an attempt to gain popularity. Perhaps Just in Time is a good reminder that those musicians who seem larger than life are mere humans after all.

In the end, I left Just in Time grateful to have experienced a few hours in the presence of Jonathan Groff. He is in his element in this show, and it is clear he is born to be a performer. That being said, it will be interesting to see if Just in Time has a life outside of Groff. The show is, in many ways, built around him as a person, and likely requires some rewrites if another star steps into the leading role. Thus, if you have the opportunity (and the funds!) to see Just in Time, I do think Groff is worth the price of admission, and he is very well supported by a talented cast and band.

STAGE DOOR

The Stage Door at the Circle in the Square is directly to your left when you exit. There will be barricades set up around the perimeter, and security will keep you well informed along the way. We were told that some of the performers do sign Playbills, but that Jonathan has never come out at Stage Door. We were very fortunate to have four cast members sign our Playbills: Lance Roberts, Emily Bergl, Gracie Lawrence, and Ericka Henningsen. This Stage Door experience was not only well organized, but all of the audience members were polite and respectful. It was a great way to end the night.

See my vlog from Just in Time on Instagram HERE.