Hello, Tony forum contributors. I'm rather bored at work this morning, so I thought I'd start a new thread seeking your opinions. I'm going to be in New York over the Memorial Day weekend to see three shows: Rent, Spamalot, and August: Osage County.

My partner and I are seeing Rent one last time before it departs the Rialto, Spamalot because it won the Tony for Best Musical and is rumored to be hilarious, and August because it's getting rave reviews and is thought to be the frontrunner for this year's Best Play Tony.

Just wanted to solicit opinions and reactions from those of you who have seen these shows. Rent I've obviously seen before (although I wouldn't mind hearing how it has affected others). But I'm in the dark about the other two.

I welcome any and all analyses of these shows.

August: Osage County is really a brilliant play. It's a three act drama (runs 3.5 hours, but feels like 10 minutes because you are so engaged) that focuses on three generations of a family coming together in a time of crisis. The first two acts are the best written parts of the show, but pay attention to Amy Morton's performance in the third act because it is really magnificent. You will absolutely enjoy seeing A:OC!

Thanks, Radio! I read on Broadway.com that all of the cast members, with the exception of Amy Morton, were signed on through June. They said that Morton was in heated contract negotiations. I wonder if they worked it out. It would be a shame if she was the only original cast member from Chicago to leave, especially when she's getting buzz for a Lead Actress Tony.

I don't know anyone who's seen "August" and hasn't found it thrilling. It's articulate but lucid, endlessly heartbreaking and scathingly funny. We've been waiting for this play for years -- a return to the grand old three-act American family misery drama. It will certainly go down in the canon alongside the works of O'Neill, Williams and Miller.

I do hope Amy Morton is still in it when you see it. She's supposed to go back to Chicago to direct a play, but who knows what's transpired in the negotiations. The producers were playing hardball with her, so I heard.

"Spamalot" was just OK for me. It seemed that the people who found it funniest when I went were Monty Python fans. If you are, it'll probably tickle you pink. If you're not (like me) you're likely to find it amusing but not refreshing.

Thanks, R2684. I cannot wait to experience August:Osage County! I sure hope Amy Morton sticks around. As for Spamalot, I am not a Monty Python fan, so I'm a bit more concerned about whether or not I'll enjoy it as much as others have said I will. I have the soundtrack and love it, so hopefully it will turn out to be money and time well spent...instead of a "WTF did I just spend $120 on??" moment.

And as for Rent...well, that will be emotional for me, I'm sure. It's my favorite musical of all time, and it's closing feels like the end of an era for me.

YoungRestlessOne,

I wasn't familiar at all with Monty Python, and I HATED Spamalot. I hate to make u nervous, and maybe I'm in the minority, but there are other "Best Musical" winners I would see before seeing that...

Avenue Q, Jersey Boys, Spring Awakening...
...My personal fav, WICKED...And then just really fun shows...Legally Blonde, Mary Poppins...

U might like it though. It's definitely a hit or miss with people.

~Morgan