Come join the standby list for our Spring 2023 Urban NY trips! Arrive at the meeting time (or no more than 10 minutes earlier) for Standby. You will put your name on a list provided by the Urban NY Trip Leader, and 10 minutes after the designated meeting time any last minute cancellations or no-shows will be released to the Standby list via random draw (please note that an earlier time of arrival will NOT increase chances of selection). Standby tickets are not guaranteed for any show, however there are often at least a few available!
The trips that will be offered during the Spring 2023 semester are listed below, as well as meeting times and locations. Please email urbanny@columbia.edu with any questions.
Wednesday, February 15th: Wicked (meet @ 515 Lerner @ 5:50PM)
Wicked, the Broadway sensation, looks at what happened in the Land of Oz…but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another girl, born with emerald-green skin—smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships…until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.” From the first electrifying note to the final breathtaking moment, Wicked—the untold true story of the Witches of Oz—transfixes audiences with its wildly inventive story. It will send your spirits soaring to heights you’ll never forget.
Thursday, February 16th: Kimberly Akimbo (meet in 515 Lerner @ 5:50PM)
Tony Award® winner Victoria Clark stars as Kim, a bright and funny Jersey teen who happens to look like a 72-year-old lady. And yet her aging disease may be the least of her problems. Forced to maneuver family secrets, borderline personalities, and possible felony charges, Kim is determined to find happiness in a world where not even time is on her side. Written by Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire and Tony Award® winner Jeanine Tesori, with direction by Outer Critics Circle Award winner Jessica Stone, Kimberly Akimbo “feels like a miracle — the funniest and most moving experience of my entire return to theatergoing” (Peter Marks, The Washington Post).
Tuesday, February 21st: The Sleeping Beauty at New York City Ballet (meet in 515 Lerner @ 6:00PM)
Among the most cherished works in the international repertory, The Sleeping Beauty depicts the bewitching fairy tale through peerless classical choreography. Peter Martins’ version streamlines the ballet into two acts, while providing ample pleasures through both its sleek refinement of Marius Petipa’s celebrated choreography and richly evocative settings that bring the story of love, loss, and rebirth to captivating life.
Wednesday, February 22nd: Some Like it Hot (meet in 515 Lerner @ 6:50PM)
Set in Chicago when Prohibition has everyone thirsty for a little excitement, SOME LIKE IT HOT is the “glorious, big, high-kicking” (Associated Press) story of two musicians forced to flee the Windy City after witnessing a mob hit. With gangsters hot on their heels, they catch a cross-country train for the life-chasing, life-changing trip of a lifetime. SOME LIKE IT HOT boasts infectious music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman, a witty book by Matthew López and Amber Ruffin, and stellar direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw.” All aboard Broadway’s great big musical comedy!
Thursday, February 23rd: & Juliet (meet in 515 Lerner @ 5:50PM)
CREATED BY THE EMMY®-WINNING WRITER FROM “SCHITT’S CREEK,” this hilarious new musical flips the script on the greatest love story ever told. & Juliet asks: what would happen next if Juliet didn’t end it all over Romeo? Get whisked away on a fabulous journey as she ditches her famous ending for a fresh beginning and a second chance at life and love—her way. Juliet’s new story bursts to life through a playlist of pop anthems as iconic as her name, including "Since U Been Gone‚" "Roar," "Baby One More Time," "Larger Than Life‚" "That’s The Way It Is,“ and "Can't Stop the Feeling!"—all from the genius songwriter/producer behind more #1 hits than any other artist this century. Break free of the balcony scene and get into this romantic comedy that proves there’s life after Romeo. The only thing tragic would be missing it.
Tuesday, February 28th: Joshua Bell, Violin, Daniil Trifonov, Piano at Carnegie Hall (meet in 515 Lerner @ 6:50PM)
Joshua Bell—“the greatest American violinist active today” (Boston Herald)—performs with pianist Daniil Trifonov, “one of the most awesome pianists of our time” (The New York Times) in a collaboration awaited with the highest of expectations. These Carnegie Hall favorites are internationally renowned both as soloists and collaborators, and this trio of sonatas by Beethoven, Prokofiev, and Franck highlight both sides of their exceptional talents.
Wednesday, March 1st: Inside Chamber Music: Dvořák: Quartet in A-flat major for Strings, Op. 105 (1895) at Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (meet in 515 Lerner @ 5:20PM)
Join distinguished composer and radio personality Bruce Adolphe and CMS musicians for investigations and insights into masterworks performed during the Alice Tully Hall season. Inside Chamber Music lectures are beloved by regulars and a revelation to first-timers for their depth, accessibility, and brilliance. Bruce Adolphe will be joined by the Calidore String Quartet who will perform Dvořák: Quartet in A-flat major for Strings, Op. 105 (1895), followed by a Q&A session.
Thursday, March 2nd: The Lion King (meet in 515 Lerner @ 5:50PM)
Giraffes strut, birds swoop, gazelles leap - the entire Serengeti comes to life. And as the music soars, Pride Rock slowly rises from the stage. This is THE LION KING. A spectacular visual feast, this adaptation of Disney's much-loved film transports you to a dazzling world that explodes with glorious colors, stunning effects and enchanting music. At its heart is the powerful and moving story of Simba, and his epic journey from wide-eyed cub to his destined role as King of the Pridelands. The Lion King won six 1998 Tony Awards, and has also earned more than 70 major arts awards. Come join The Circle of Life!
Tuesday, March 7th: Moulin Rouge (meet in 515 Lerner @ 5:50PM)
Enter a world of splendor and romance, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur and glory! A world where Bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows and revel in electrifying enchantment. Pop the champagne and prepare for the spectacular spectacular…Welcome to Moulin Rouge! The Musical! Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film comes to life onstage, remixed in a new musical mash-up extravaganza. A theatrical celebration of truth, beauty, freedom and — above all — love, Moulin Rouge! is more than a musical; it is a state of mind.
Wednesday, March 8th: Funny Girl (meet in 515 Lerner @ 6:50PM)
THE MUSICAL COMEDY CLASSIC IS BACK FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER—AND BROADWAY AUDIENCES ARE THE LUCKIEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. Featuring one of the most iconic scores of all time, this love letter to the theatre is ready to step back into the spotlight. Lea Michele stars alongside Tony® nominee Ramin Karimloo, Tovah Feldshuh and Jeff Award winner Jared Grimes and dazzles with the songs “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “People.” This bittersweet comedy is the story of the indomitable Fanny Brice, a girl from the Lower East Side who dreamed of a life on the stage. Everyone told her she’d never be a star, but then something funny happened—she became one of the most beloved performers in history, shining brighter than the brightest lights of Broadway.
Thursday, March 9th: The Phantom of the Opera (meet in 515 Lerner @ 5:50PM)
The longest-running show in Broadway history, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera debuted in 1988, winning seven Tony Awards® including Best Musical. Based on Gaston Leroux’s horror novel, it tells the enticing story of The Phantom, who haunts the stage of the Paris Opera and subsequently falls in love with a beautiful young soprano. Audiences are in for a thrilling night of spectacle and romance, accompanied by an unforgettable musical score.
Tuesday, March 21st: Hamilton (meet in 515 Lerner @ 5:50PM)
A wildly inventive new musical about the scrappy young immigrant who forever changed America: Alexander Hamilton. Tony and Grammy Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda’s iconic musical about the unlikely founding father determined to make his mark on a new nation as hungry and ambitious as he is. From bastard orphan to Washington's right hand man, rebel to war hero, loving husband caught in the country's first sex scandal to Treasury head who made an untrusting world believe in the American economy, Hamilton is an exploration of a political mastermind. Attend this revolutionary tale of America's fiery past told through the sounds of the ever-changing nation we've become.
Wednesday, March 22nd: Camelot (meet in 515 Lerner @ 6:50PM)
LERNER AND LOEWE’S CLASSIC SPRINGS TO LIFE IN A NEW LINCOLN CENTER THEATER PRODUCTION. From Bartlett Sher, the director of Lincoln Center Theater’s acclaimed revivals of South Pacific, The King and I, and My Fair Lady, comes Lerner & Loewe’s CAMELOT — a fresh take on the classic tale, featuring a book by Academy® and Emmy® Award winning writer Aaron Sorkin, based on the original book by Alan Jay Lerner. A timely story about the quest for democracy, striving for justice, and the tragic struggle between passion and aspiration, between lovers and kingdoms, CAMELOT features a beloved score by Lerner & Loewe with songs such as “If Ever I Would Leave You,” "The Lusty Month of May" and the title song “Camelot.”
Thursday, March 23rd: The Harder They Come at The Public (meet in 515 Lerner @ 6:50PM)
Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and The Public’s Writer-in-Residence, Suzan-Lori Parks, brings to The Public a new musical adaptation of the 1972 movie, THE HARDER THEY COME. Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the breakthrough film, produced and directed by Perry Henzell and co-written with Trevor Rhone, tells the story of Ivan, a young singer who arrives in Kingston, Jamaica, eager to become a star. After falling in love and cutting a record deal with a powerful music mogul, Ivan soon learns that the game is rigged, and as he becomes increasingly defiant, he finds himself in a battle that threatens not only his life, but the very fabric of Jamaican society. Featuring Grammy Award winner Jimmy Cliff’s hits, “You Can Get It If You Really Want” and "Many Rivers to Cross," former Artistic Director of Berkeley Repertory Theatre Tony Taccone directs this new musical, with co-direction by Tony Award winner Sergio Trujillo and choreography by Edgar Godineaux.
Monday, March 27th: NY Knicks vs. Houston Rockets (meet in 515 Lerner @ 6:20PM)
Come watch the NY Knicks play the Houston Rockets in basketball at the iconic Madison Square Garden.
Tuesday, March 28th: Doors of Divergence: (meet in 515 Lerner @ 6:20PM)
Experience a mix of immersive theatre and escape room-style interactive decisions at Doors of Divergence. Participants will work their way through two separate rooms: Heresy: 1897 and Madenss: 1917, in groups of 8. After completing both rooms, all participants will have the chance to debrief and mingle together in the Paradox space.
Wednesday, March 29th: How to Defend Yourself at New York Theatre Workshop (meet in 515 Lerner @ 5:30PM)
"I wish girls fought more. Like beat the shit out of each other for fun. I wish that was like a socially acceptable thing to do. Fight club, you know? If it was me and you, I think I’d win.
In a DIY self-defense class, college students learn to use their bodies as weapons. They learn to fend off attackers. They learn “not to be a victim.” Self-defense becomes a channel for their rage, anxiety, confusion, trauma and desire—lots of desire.
-You asked how I like it, that’s how I like it.
-Maybe you can interrogate why you like that.
-Maybe you can interrogate why it scares you.
With sharp humor and brutal honesty, Liliana Padilla’s How to Defend Yourself explores what we want, how to ask for it, and the violator and violated inside us all. Tony Award-winning NYTW Usual Suspect Rachel Chavkin (Hadestown), Susan Smith Blackburn finalist Liliana Padilla (TWITCH) and Princess Grace Award winner Steph Paul (The Last Match) will co-direct the production.
How to Defend Yourself discusses but does not depict sex and sexual violence."
Thursday, March 30th: New York, New York (meet in 515 Lerner @ 6:50PM)
A brand-new musical bringing Broadway legends back together, New York, New York is a glittering love letter to the greatest city in the world. Featuring an exhilarating new score by the incomparable John Kander and Fred Ebb, an original story by David Thompson with Sharon Washington, additional lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and visionary direction and choreography by Susan Stroman, New York, New York will whisk you right through the very heart of this city that never sleeps. It is 1946, the war is over, and a resurgent New York is beginning to rebuild. As steel beams swing overhead, a collection of artists has dreams as big and diverse as the city itself. But do these singers, dancers, musicians and makers have what it takes to survive this place, let alone to succeed? If they can make it here, they can make it anywhere. New York, New York is a spectacular show for a singular city. With a unique blend of dazzling new songs and big band classics (“New York, New York,” “The World Goes Round”), this jubilant new musical is destined to become the talk of the town.
Thursday, April 6th: Leopoldstadt (meet in 515 Lerner @ 5:50PM)
TOM STOPPARD returns to Broadway with his critically acclaimed, Olivier Award-winning new play, the humane and heartbreaking ‘LEOPOLDSTADT.’ Set in Vienna, the play takes its title from the Jewish quarter. This passionate drama of love and endurance begins in the last days of 1899 and follows one extended family deep into the heart of the 20th century. Full of his customary wit and beauty, Stoppard’s late work spans fifty years of time over two hours.
Monday, April 10th: Champion (meet in 515 Lerner @ 6:50PM)
Six-time Grammy Award–winning composer Terence Blanchard brings his first opera to the Met after his Fire Shut Up in My Bones triumphantly premiered with the company to universal acclaim in 2021–22. Bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green is the young boxer Emile Griffith, who rises from obscurity to become a world champion, and bass-baritone Eric Owens portrays Griffith’s older self, haunted by the ghosts of his past. Soprano Latonia Moore is Emelda Griffith, the boxer’s estranged mother, and mezzo- soprano Stephanie Blythe is the bar owner Kathy Hagan. Yannick Nézet-Séguin takes the podium for Blanchard’s second Met premiere, also reuniting the director-and-choreographer team of James Robinson and Camille A. Brown. This live cinema transmission is part of the Met’s award-winning Live in HD series, bringing opera to movie theaters across the globe.
Tuesday, April 11th: Hadestown (meet in 515 Lerner @ 5:50PM)
Welcome to HADESTOWN, where a song can change your fate. This acclaimed new musical by celebrated singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell and innovative director Rachel Chavkin (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812) is a love story for today... and always. HADESTOWN intertwines two mythic tales — that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone — as it invites you on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back. Mitchell’s beguiling melodies and Chavkin’s poetic imagination pit industry against nature, doubt against faith, and fear against love. Performed by a vibrant ensemble of actors, dancers and singers, HADESTOWN is a haunting and hopeful theatrical experience that grabs you and never lets go.
Wednesday, April 12th: Six (meet in 515 Lerner @ 5:50PM)
From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the mic to reclaim their identities out of the shadow of their infamous spouse—remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an exuberant celebration of 21st century girl power. The female cast are backed by an all-female band, the “Ladies in Waiting.” Songs from the studio album are streamed on average 300,000 times per day, making it the second highest streaming cast recording in the world.
Thursday, April 13th: Sweeney Todd (meet in 515 Lerner @ 5:50PM)
For the first time since 1980, Broadway audiences will experience Stephen Sondheim’s Tony Award®–winning score as it was performed in the original production—with Jonathan Tunick’s classic 26-player orchestration on an epic scale. Tony Award–winning director Thomas Kail (Hamilton) helms the return of this musical thriller starring Tony and Grammy® nominee Josh Groban (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812) as Sweeney Todd and Tony winner Annaleigh Ashford (Sunday in the Park With George, Kinky Boots) as Mrs. Lovett. Tony winner Alex Lacamoire (Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen) reunites with Kail as Music Supervisor, and Olivier Award winner Steven Hoggett (Once, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) choreographs this new production of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
Tuesday, April 18th: Life of Pi (meet in 515 Lerner @ 5:50PM)
Prepare to believe the unbelievable. Winner of five Olivier Awards including Best New Play, LIFE OF PI roars onto Broadway this spring in an epic tale of endurance and hope. After a cargo ship sinks in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, a sixteen-year-old boy named Pi is left stranded on a lifeboat with the most unlikely of companions: a Royal Bengal tiger. With time and nature against them, the two must learn to trust one another if they are to survive. Based on one of our most beloved works of fiction, LIFE OF PI will “make you believe in the power of theater” (The Times of London).
Monday, April 24th: La Boheme (meet in 515 Lerner @ 6:20PM)
Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Puccini’s timeless tragedy for the first time at the Met, leading soprano Eleonora Buratto and tenor Stephen Costello as the bohemian lovers Mimì and Rodolfo, and soprano Kristina Mkhitaryan and baritone Davide Luciano as the on-again-off-again Musetta and Marcello. Later in the run, James Gaffigan takes the podium to conduct a second exceptional cast in Franco Zeffirelli’s beloved staging, with sopranos Susanna Phillips and Latonia Moore, tenor Charles Castronovo, and baritone Quinn Kelsey.
Wednesday, April 26th: Little Shop of Horrors (meet in 515 Lerner @ 5:50PM)
The world’s most ravenous plant has returned to its acclaimed, sold-out run at the Westside Theatre! Winner of the 2020 Drama League, Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Awards for BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS is “wildly exuberant” (The Hollywood Reporter), and a New York Times Critic’s Pick. This smash-hit production stars Emmy® winner and Grammy® nominee Tammy Blanchard (“Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows”), 2022 Tony Award® nominee Rob McClure (Mrs. Doubtfire, Beetlejuice), and two-time Tony winner Christian Borle (Something Rotten!), who won the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel Awards for his performance in LITTLE SHOP. Together they bring succulent life to a show that has made millions of theatergoers laugh, scream, and give up gardening for good. Get tickets now and enjoy a taste of what we’ve all been craving: live theater!