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Every month thousands of people read our
enlightening newsletter to learn about the hottest trips around. If you're not ...
why not?
All it takes is a $39.00 yearly fee to become a member of Diversions, Inc., a
unique travel group known for its cutting-edge offerings, prime seating for theatre and
concerts, entree to private places, deluxe hotel accommodations on extended trips, and the
highest level of customer service.
The following is a sampling from our current newsletter.
Newsletter 2012
Diversions continually offers prime seating for current Broadway productions. In many
cases, our membership is informed about upcoming theatrical events,
and trips are advertised, even before public announcement. Below is the format for a
typical New York Theatre Day-trip.
(Please note: a majority of the day-trips depart from Baltimore, Maryland.)
NEW YORK THEATRE DAY-TRIP FORMAT
ON THE WAY:
Departing at 7:00 a.m. (6:30 a.m. on Wednesdays and in December), Diversions
Guides serve a selection of fruit juices and yogurt, marvelous muffins, bagels with
assorted cheeses, chocolate-dipped apricots, hot coffee, tea, and more on our way to a
very special day in New York City. Current magazines are provided for your reading
pleasure. En route we hear background information on theatre, art, cultural events and
restaurants in Manhattan.
IN NEW YORK: Our coach stops first at Saks Fifth Avenue, next at 57th and
Madison Ave. and then the Metropolitan Museum of Art. You
are free to enjoy the sights and sounds of this vibrant city until it’s time for the
2:00 p.m. matinee (3:00 p.m. on Sundays).
THE RETURN:
At
approximately 5:00 p.m. our coach picks you up outside the theatre (or at a designated
pickup point) and we head for home. En route to Baltimore we serve an open bar, wine,
sodas, and the best of snacks, followed by a tasty supper prepared especially for us. We
estimate an 8:30 p.m.
arrival back in Baltimore.
NEW YORK EXPRESS: NYC FORMAT (as described above, but WITHOUT THEATRE)
Cost: $99.00
SNOW POLICY - If the theatre, museum or
attraction is open and our coach is going as scheduled, our members are
responsible for the entire cost of the trip. If the theatre, museum or
attraction is open and our coach cannot go as scheduled, our members are only
responsible for the actual cost of the ticket. All other monies paid will be
refunded. The ticket will be available for pick-up at our office. With this
policy, our members will be in the same situation as if they had booked the
tickets directly and will still have the option of taking a train or driving on
their own.
THE BOOK OF MORMON
The Book
of Mormon ~ Ben Brantley, The New York Times...
“This is to all the doubters and deniers out there, the ones who say that heaven
on Broadway does not exist, that it’s only some myth our ancestors dreamed up. I
am here to report that a newborn, old-fashioned, pleasure-giving musical has
arrived at the Eugene O’Neill Theater, the kind our grandparents told us left
them walking on air if not on water. So hie thee hence, nonbelievers (and
believers too), to
The Book
of Mormon, and feast upon its sweetness.
Now you should probably know that this collaboration
between the creators of television’s
South Park
(Trey Parker and Matt Stone) and the composer
of Avenue Q
(Robert Lopez) is also blasphemous, scurrilous
and more foul-mouthed than David Mamet on a blue streak. But trust me when I
tell you that its heart is as pure as that of a Rodgers and Hammerstein show.
That’s right, the same Rodgers and Hammerstein who
wrote the beloved
Sound of Music and
King and I,
two works specifically (and deliciously) referenced here. Like those wholesome,
tuneful shows,
The Book
of Mormon is about naïve but plucky
educators set down in an unfamiliar world, who find their feet, affirm their
values and learn as much as they teach.
Of course different times call for different contexts. So instead of
sending a widowed British governess to a royal court in 19th-century Siam or a
nun in training to an Austrian chateau,
The Book
of Mormon transports two dewy
missionaries from Salt Lake City to 21st-century Uganda.
And rather than dealing with tyrannical, charismatic men with way too many
children, our heroes (enjoyably embodied by Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells) must
confront a one-eyed, genocidal warlord with an unprintable name. And a defeated,
defensive group of villagers, riddled with AIDS, who have a few choice words for
the God who let them wind up this way. And local folks like the guy who keeps
announcing that he has maggots in his scrotum. That’s enough to test the faith
of even the most optimistic gospel spreaders (not to mention songwriters).
Yet in setting these dark elements to sunny melodies,
The Book
of Mormon achieves something like a
miracle. It both makes fun of and ardently embraces the all-American art form of
the inspirational book musical. No Broadway show has so successfully had it both
ways since Mel Brooks adapted his film
The Producers
for the stage a decade ago. Directed by Casey
Nicholaw and Mr. Parker, with choreography by Mr. Nicholaw,
The Book
of Mormon has its
tasty cake (from an old family recipe) and eats it with sardonic relish.” 2011
SOLD OUT!!!
Sunday, February 5(FM) @ $295
Saturday,
February 11 & April 21(Fr. Mezz.) & June 2(Fr. Mezz.) @ $315
or E-MAIL : trips@diversionsinc.com
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“A New Storm’s Brewing Down on Catfish Row”
A stunning and stirring new 21/2 hour staging with the
theatricality and showbiz savvy of a Broadway musical makes this classic
American tale a much sought after ticket. Featuring a remarkable cast ...four
time Tony winner, the phenomenal
Audra McDonald
as Bess,
Norm Lewis
(Javert in the 25th anniversary concert of
Les Miserables, Miss Saigon)
as Porgy, and
David Alan Grier
(In
living Color, Dreamgirls)
as Sporting Life.
Porgy and Bess
is set in
Charleston’s fabled Catfish Row, where the beautiful Bess struggles to break
free from her scandalous past, and the only one who can rescue her is the
crippled but courageous Porgy. Threatened by her formidable former lover Crown,
and the seductive enticements of the colorful troublemaker Sporting Life, Porgy
and Bess’ relationship evolves into a deep romance that triumphs as one of
theater’s most exhilarating love stories. This work boasts some of the most
memorable scores everwritten by Gershwin— including showstoppers like
Summertime, It Ain’t Necessarily So, Bess You Is My Woman and I
Loves You, Porgy.
(On the return we will show a rarely seen video on the life of
George Gershwin.)
Saturday, Feb. 11 & May 19 @ $229
“It seems safe to
predict that McDonald, a four-time
Tony winner,
will be in contention for all the prizes
on offer this season. And when she sings — ah, it’s a God-touched voice that
turns suffering and ugliness into beauty.”
Ben Brantley,
The NY Times
“A passionate,
beautifully sung, richly visualized, splendidly played and indisputably
well-intentioned
Porgy.
This is a great American opera filled with breathtaking stakes, towering
characters and a thudding naturalistic intensity.”
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune
“The creative team and their cast have blown the dust off a brilliant but tricky work in a smart attempt to commercialize it for a new generation. In the hands of a uniformly accomplished ensemble, there’s integrity, robustness and humanity in these vibrant characters.” David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter
TIME MAGAZINE LOVES YOU, PORGY Richard Zoglin, Time Magazine
or E-MAIL : trips@diversionsinc.com
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or E-MAIL : trips@diversionsinc.com
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Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legendary Tony Award winning musical hits Broadway in its first ever revival! This dazzling new production won tremendous critical acclaim when it premiered in London and now it’s coming here with its original star, Olivier Award winner Elena Roger, joined by international superstar Ricky Martin and Tony winner Michael Cerveris.
Evita
tells the story of Eva Peron who used her beauty and charisma to rise
meteorically from the slums of Argentina to the presidential mansion as First
Lady. She won international acclaim and adoration from her own people as a
champion of the poor, while glamour, power and greed made her the world’s first
major political celebrity. This passionate and
unforgettable story features some of the theater’s best loved songs, including
Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,
Another Suitcase in Another Hall, High Flying Adored
and
You Must
Love Me. The London Evening Standard
rave,
“I have fallen head over heels for Evita again!”
Saturday, April 28, May 12 & 19 @ $289
or E-MAIL : trips@diversionsinc.com
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A DOUBLE WHAMMY ~ RENOIR AND GARLAND
Never before has there ever been such an ambitious presentation
of Renoir's full length masterpieces of Impressionism. Come experience the sheer
"wall power" of The
Dancer, La Parisienne, Madame Henriot, Acrobats at the Cirque
Fernando, Dance in the City, Dance in the Country and Dance at Bougeval.
Marvel at
the brilliant virtuosity of Renoir's brushwork in creating silk, lace, mink and
taffeta. From shimmering ball gowns to sumptuous furs, from chic Parisian day
dresses to theatrical costumes, this extraordinary collection at the Frick truly
captures the fashion of Renoir's Paris. We have secured a timed entrance to
this limited run exhibit.
Gore Vial’s sizzling drama about power, ambition, political secrets,
ruthlessness and the race for the presidential
nomination. It’s third Broadway outing has a to-die for cast headed by Eric
McCormack (Will
and Grace)
and John
Larroquette (Tony—How
to Succeed)
as the rival candidates, along with such heavy hitters as Candice Bergen,
Michael McKean, Jefferson Mays, Dakin Matthews, the incomparable Angela Lansbury
and the legendary James Earl Jones. Talk about The Best! Perfect show, Perfect
cast and Perfect timing for our _________ political season.
(You supply the adjective!) Saturday, June 23 @ $275