Despite the show having ended over 13 years ago, it feels like Friends never really went anywhere. Thanks to endless repeats of old episodes and an enthusiastic fanbase, the sitcom’s popularity has continued unabated.
Now, after all those years, FRIENDS! The Musical Parody is coming to New York!
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The first thing to note is that this is very much an unauthorised musical. It has absolutely no connection to NBC or any of the show’s original creatives. In fact, the musical bills itself as a parody of the TV series. The show’s official description reads:
“FRIENDS! The Musical Parody is the hilarious new musical that lovingly lampoons TV’s Friends! FRIENDS! The Musical Parody celebrates and pokes fun at the wacky misadventures of a group of 20-something pals as they navigate the pitfalls of work, life, and love in 1990s Manhattan. It’s a seemingly typical day at New York’s only coffee shop, Central Perk, until an unexpected runaway bride with beautiful hair enters the picture and kicks the whole gang out of second gear.”
It’s also worth remembering that this is not a Broadway production. The show will be opening at the St. Luke’s Theatre on 46th Street, making this an off-Broadway production. That definition means everything and nothing. Some great shows have started out off-Broadway before finding success. Still, what it does mean is that no one should expect the show’s production values to be huge, nor should you expect that this show will be around for years like some of the major Broadway shows are!
Who is making FRIENDS! The Musical Parody
However, FRIENDS! The Musical Parody does have a pretty accomplished creative team behind it. The show’s creators, Bob and Tobly McSmith, are a pair who’ve come up with lots of TV show parody musicals over the years. Their record includes such efforts as Bayside! The Saved by the Bell Musical (NY Times Critics’ Pick), 90201: The Musical, Full House: The Musical starring Perez Hilton, Showgirls: The Musical, and Katdashians: The Musical!
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By GlobalDataIn addition, the play’s director, Paul Stancato has quite the storied career too. He also the directed critically acclaimed national tours of Jekyll And Hyde and The Lion King.
Of course, the main feature is the cast! FRIENDS! The Musical Parody will revolve around the six main characters of the TV series played by Seth Blum, Lisa Graye, Katie Johantgen, Patricia Sabulis, Alan Trinca, and Landon Zwick as Chandler, Monica, Phoebe, Rachel, Joey, and Ross respectively.
These FRIENDS make their debut one week from today! Which character are you most excited to see on stage? pic.twitter.com/qjvvkzwbj5
— FRIENDS The Musical (@Friends2017NYC) October 6, 2017
How do you get tickets?
Tickets to the show cost between $39.50 and $69.50 and can be purchased from the show’s official website here. Premium tickets will cost $99.50.
While the show is unlikely to have the same longevity as Broadway titans such as Wicked, Chicago, and The Lion King, tickets will be on sale until at least the end of 2017.
The performance schedule for the show is as follows:
- Wednesday at 8:00pm
- Thursday at 7:00pm
- Friday at 10:00pm
- Saturday at 7:30pm & 10:00pm
- Sunday at 2:00pm
As the first preview event took place only two days prior to the first public opening, there haven’t been any reviews of FRIENDS! The Musical Parody yet. However, like all things Friends you can probably expect it to be well-attended regardless of its quality.
If you want to indulge your love of 90s television, this could be the musical for you!
