They Say the Neon Lights are Bright on Broadway

This week I accomplished a life long goal. Well, maybe not lifelong... but one I've had for the past two decades or so.
As of this moment, I have seen every musical that is currently running on Broadway (except for Grease, but since I have seen nearly a dozen other versions and productions of this show, I am counting it).
This month was very show heavy, largely thanks to my dear friend Lee Champion who was in town and took me to several new shows.
If anyone is coming to town, or planning on attending a Bway show, feel free to ask for reviews. Here are some thoughts on the shows I saw this past month (from best to worst).
BILLY ELLIOT:
Amazing. Inspiring. Thoughful. Brilliant. A remarkable celebration of family, community, and individuality. Loved it. Loved it. Loved it. Bring kleenex.

PAL JOEY:
A revival starring Stockard Channing and Martha Plimpton (as well as my friend Matt Risch). I loved the style. Setting is the speak-easy glam world of the 1920's. This production was eye-candy.

EQUUS:
I am not even going to make a "Harry Potter's Magic Wand" joke because this show was so much more than seeing Daniel Radcliff naked. A great piece of theater told by amazing actors in a stunning creative space. Great design. I completely bought that the men in brown body suits were horses.

SHREK:
Prior to seeing Shrek, I had heard from several friends that it was not great. I was expecting to be slightly entertained, but walking away disappointed. WRONG! I LOVED IT!!! I would totally see this show again and again. It was pure fun.
FYI... if you are expecting to hear songs from the movie, be prepared that all the music is original new music. And it's GREAT!

IN THE HEIGHTS:
Amazing talent. Totally new and innovative. No complaints.
I especially enjoyed this show as it takes place in Washington Heights- the neighborhood I lived my first three years in Manhattan.

SOUTH PACIFIC:
South Pacific is long, dated, and a bit hokey. However, it is also familiar, classic, and the current Lincoln Center production does a great job of telling this love story. In a time when there is still such ugly racism in our country, this show was a powerful reminder that hate and fear are taught, not something we are born feeling.

13:
Ugh. This new musical by Jason Robert Brown (a normally spectacular song writer) is just one dud after another. I sincerely want to support all new creative endeavors, but this show about 13 year old performed entirely by teenagers, felt more like high end community theater than Broadway.