Don't miss these shows

Hey, it's Chris! Let's talk about Broadway and what you'll want to see sooner than later. [View in browser]( [Bloomberg]( Hi everybody, it’s [Chris Rovzar](, your Bloomberg Pursuits editor and lifelong Broadway obsessive. Now that the dust has settled after [last week’s Tony Awards](, and some shows (like the spellbinding Life of Pi) have announced that they’ll be closing, let’s talk about what you should try to see this summer and fall. Pursuits contributor [Brian Schaefer]( and I recently published a list of [the best shows to see in New York City]( right now, and it includes Fat Ham, a modern spin on Shakespeare’s Hamlet, set at a backyard family barbecue; Shucked, the pun-filled country musical that’ll have you groaning until you roar with glee; and Sweeney Todd, the dark Stephen Sondheim dazzler starring Josh Groban and relentless scene-stealer Annaleigh Ashford. Guys and Dolls brings London audiences to their feet. Photographer: Manuel Harlan In London, Pursuits staffer [Sarah Rappaport]( also [just posted her own list of incredible shows to see]( over there. I’m incandescently jealous of her—and anyone else who has been able to go see the foot-stomping production of Guys and Dolls that’s taken the West End by storm. Sarah writes: This rich, immersive revival of the 1950s classic, directed by Nicholas Hytner, boasts some of the hottest tickets in London and makes a riotous evening out or date night. Marisha Wallace brings incredible vocals and comedic timing to her performance as club singer Miss Adelaide, joined by a 14-piece swing band performing above the stage. Get a standing ticket near the action, if you can. Funnily enough, a friend of mine who lives in London recently told me, “the only people who ask me if I’ve seen Guys and Dolls yet are New Yorkers.” Fingers crossed it’ll make it across the pond soon. Backstage at the Tony Awards this year, Baccarat and Zacapa Rum created a cozy VIP speakeasy. Source: Baccarat Back in April, I was lucky enough to [attend the final performance of Phantom of the Opera](, the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical that spent 35 years on Broadway. It was a moving, magical night with an audience full of actors who had played the Phantom, Christine and Raoul—and even the famous chandelier got a bow. Just two weeks earlier, I had seen Lloyd Webber’s Bad Cinderella, which was decidedly un-magical and un-moving, unless you count audience members moving toward the exits. [You can read my review here](. If you enjoy Pursuits’ coverage of watches, [please join our Watch Club]( for an exclusive newsletter about timepieces, plus access to special events and meetups. I loved Phantom, however, and have seen it many times in my life. Although it felt a bit dated by the end, to me it was never tired, because of the constant work the crew, orchestra and cast put into keeping it fresh. In all the obituaries of the musical, you constantly read words like “sumptuous” and “spectacular” and “dazzling.” It was truly a show from a different era, with decadent sets, a big cast and a story that was literally operatic. When more intimate shows like Kimberly Akimbo and Strange Loop are winning Tonys for best new musical, it’s hard to find something that feels as grand. And yet, there’s a reason Phantom was the first show that so many of us ever saw on the Great White Way. It felt like that kind of spectacular opus was what Broadway was supposed to be. It was transportive and overwhelming and romantic; it felt like the big leagues. Sarah Brightman, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Cameron Mackintosh, Emilie Kouatchou as Christine, and Laird Mackintosh as the Phantom all take a bow at the end of the final performance. Photographer: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP So, now that it’s gone, what can you see on Broadway that will give you that same feeling? Here’s my list: [Moulin Rouge]( The first time I saw Alex Timbers’ production of this musical adapted from Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 film, up in Boston, I thought it was like watching a karaoke machine that had gone on the fritz. So many songs jammed together, it was hard to immerse myself in it. But the second time, on Broadway, I succumbed to its magic.[The only real word for the $28 million production, with its dizzying set by Derek McLane](, is spectacular (spectacular). Derek McLane on his set for Moulin Rouge. Photographer: Flora Hanitijo for Bloomberg Businessweek Here Lies Love]( The Broadway Theatre has been entirely re-arranged to accommodate this disco-inflected retelling of the life of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos, so that the audience can surround the moving set pieces—and can dance the night away to [tunes by David Byrne]( and Fatboy Slim. It was a smash at the Public Theater, and I recommend you get tickets now while it’s in previews, because it’ll be a sizzler on Broadway for sure. [Some Like It Hot]( If you like an old-school tap dance musical, I can’t recommend this enough. It’s a silly, campy and also heartwarming adaptation of the 1959 film starring Marilyn Monroe that’s been updated in great taste and with a terrific sense of fun. J. Harrison Ghee won the Tony for their starmaking role as Jerry/Daphne. [The Lion King]( You don’t need me to tell you to go see The Lion King, which is not only one of the best shows to ever hit the Broadway stage—but is also one of the most profitable pieces of entertainment ever in the world. [It’s made more money for Disney than the Star Wars franchise](. Don’t miss it! [Wicked]( I also don’t need to tell you to see Wicked. I saw the blockbuster during previews, and I’m not sure I’ve been more floored by a simple moment of theatrical magic than when [Idina Menzel took to the air]( to sing “Defying Gravity.” (A close second is when a fake train carrying Bette Midler began to choo choo across the stage in 2017’s revival of Hello Dolly!) Stephen Schwartz’s dark tale about the witches of Oz is still enchanting thousands of people every week in the vast Gershwin Theatre, [and it is grossing as much asÂ]([Hamilton](. [Sweeney Todd]( Our critic [Mark Leydorf]( [didn’t fall in love with this production]( of the Sondheim thriller about a murderous London barber bent on revenge, but I was swept up by its grand scale and ravishing score—not to mention the great performances by Groban and Ashford. I regret to inform you that Bad Cinderella was indeed bad. Although stars Linedy Geneo and Jordan Dobson were gifted performers. Photographers: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman And what about Andrew Lloyd Webber? Now that Phantom and Bad Cinderella are gone, the patron saint of sumptuousness doesn’t have a show on Broadway for the first time in decades. I hear the production of his Evita that debuted at City Center and [that’s currently circling the country]( in designer Jason Sherwood’s slick sets, is eyeing a return to New York—and rumors are buzzing that Golden Globe-winning West Side Story star Rachel Zegler could indeed play the leading role. Having been moved to tears [by her performance of “Who I’d Be” from]([Shrek]( at the MCC Theater “Miscast” benefit earlier this year, I’m rooting for it to happen! (Shereen Pimentel is currently winning raves in the role, and there’s a concert version coming up in London with Moana’s Auli’i Cravalho—two other brilliant choices for the part.) Here’s what else is trending on Pursuits lately. [Tourism in Napa and Sonoma Bounces Back With Posh, Outdoorsy Resorts]( As travelers want deeper experiences in wine country, the hospitality industry is responding with options including even more luxe resorts, decadent dining and new takes on tastings and tours. [These Are the Nine Best New Bars in London Right Now]( From rooftop gems to an oasis of calm near Regent Street, here’s where to go for a few drinks. [The Best Restaurant in the World Is Central in Lima]( Other winners from World’s 50 Best included Spain, Dubai and a New York Korean tasting menu spot. [Thai Beef Salad Cocktail? At Hong Kong’s Hottest New Bar, All the Drinks Are Savory]( The team behind one of Asia’s most acclaimed cocktail spots has opened its second venture, featuring a highly unconventional menu. [How to Work the ‘Quiet Luxury’ Trend Into Your Office Attire]( Don’t just dress for success, dress like you’ve already attained it. Got skin? It’s been a while since we’ve done a skincare story, so I thought I’d use this space to share some of the products I’ve been using and loving lately. The Lyma Laser will take years off your face. Photographer: Janelle Jones for Bloomberg Businessweek [Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel]( For the longest time I was a believer in exfoliating facial scrubs, in part because I think they work, and also because once Gwyneth Paltrow said she used [the Goop scrub](—which is meant to be used two or three times a week—every single day, and that’s why her skin looks so fresh. A flawless complexion is the ultimate [quiet luxury](, so I did as Gwyneth said. Then my colleague [James Tarmy]( got me turned on to these chemical exfoliant pads from Dr. Dennis Gross and let me tell you, they are a true game changer. After the first few times I used them, I actually came into the office thinking I looked too young—like it was getting weird. These seriously work, and the difference is immediately noticeable. (But I can’t use them every night, they are a bit too harsh for that. As much as my dream is to exfoliate my face away until it’s so smooth you only see five holes and some teeth, peeling skin isn’t very office-appropriate.) [Fresh Black Tea Anti-Aging Ceramide Moisturizer]( I occasionally put on retinol products because they do work, but they can darken my skin—and in summer I definitely tan/burn way too quickly if I’ve been using them. So this summer I tried using a combination of Fresh products, starting with their Black Tea Anti-Aging Ceramide Moisturizer, which evens tone and brightens skin, a lot like retinol. I combine it with the [Black Tea Age-Delay Eye Concentrate](, the [Kombucha Antioxidant Facial Treatment Essence]( and [Tea Elixir Skin Resilience Activating Serum](. They work together to make my skin look 10 years younger (but not too young). Products that you wear overnight, such as Orveda’s Overnight Skin Recovery Masque, are uniquely potent. Source: Orveda [Cardon Exfoliator Facial Toner Wipes]( A while back, when I was washing my face every night before going to bed, I found I was getting major breakouts. So, after [Elizabeth Warren made headlines]( by saying she maintains her great skin by not washing her face, I decided to switch to cleansing pads. These ones from cactus-based mens’ brand Cardon are gentle yet effective. I literally never break out any more—I use them on the nights I don’t use the Dennis Gross pads. [Huron Face Moisturizer]( If you use nothing but moisturizer, this one will manage to make your skin look younger and softer all on its own. I keep some in by work bag and my gym bag. [Lyma Laser]( OK, I don’t actually use this myself, because it costs $2,700 and I have a kid to send to college, but our columnist [Hannah Elliott has been testing it out and the results are truly wild](. If you can afford it, go for it for sure. So, you had some questions? Over [Instagram]( you sent in some theater-related ones. Here are some answers: What is the best show you’ve see in the past five years? That’s an impossible question. I’ve loved so many. I’ll throw out there the 2018 City Center Encores! production of A Chorus Line, which featured a full lineup incredible performances. For plays, I’d nominate What the Constitution Means to Me. What is the best Broadway play for my three-year-old? I’m not sure there are any, honestly. Even the most-kid friendly material can be overwhelming and scary in such a big, dark and crowded setting. But I took my very rambunctious two-year-old to see [The Very Hungry Caterpillar]( at the Daryl Roth Theatre, and she made it through the entire hourlong performance, mostly enraptured by the charming puppetry (and a little by the snacks we had smuggled in to keep her seated). Traveling with kids—even young ones—can change your world, as this beautiful feature in our “Life-Changing Trips” special made clear. Although here’s some [practical advice to save your sanity](. Photographer: Cassandra Warner/Floto+Warner What percentage of Broadway shows recoup their investment? Over the decades, it’s a pretty consistent rule of thumb that about 20% of shows recoup. That doesn’t include money that comes after the original Broadway run, like the soundtrack streams and subsequent productions. But generally that stat makes Broadway a relatively insecure investment—and yet luckily people keep bringing new money! A lot of it is because people want to be part of the theater community and support artists more than thinking they’ll make big bucks from it. There are even some fractional investment clubs starting up to let more people get into the game. It’s a tough time for theater and the arts in general right now, as audiences haven’t come back at the levels we saw before the pandemic. In terms of gross box office, [this year is doing better than last year,]( but still not as well as 2019. You’re seeing more shows that are designed with streamlined sets and crews that might run for a shorter time with celebrity casts, like Parade, Into the Woods and Merrily We Roll Along—a setup which can boost margins and doesn’t require sustained blockbuster status to recoup. What’s your most memorable moment at a Broadway show? I was there the night Patti LuPone [stopped Gypsy during her final number to yell at a photographer]( in the aisle. (Later, it turned out it was [a New York Magazine photographer]( who was supposed to be there to shoot her last weekend in the show, but no one had told Patti.) After yelling at the camerawoman, Patti re-started “Rose’s Turn” to thunderous applause. No one was there to find out what happened at the end of Gypsy! They just wanted to see Patti be Patti, and there was nothing more Patti than that. It was thrilling a moment of live theater I’ll never forget. Let’s have a nightcap. Like the [Watch Club]( I mentioned earlier, here’s another fun opportunity: [sign up for first access]( to our upcoming Top Shelf Society. We're building this club to share exclusive news; build a tasting community around whiskey, wine, beer and spirits; and offer access to special cocktail events and bottle releases. New for subscribers: Free article gifting. Bloomberg.com subscribers can now gift up to five free articles a month to anyone you want. Just look for the "Gift this article" button on stories. (Not a subscriber? Unlock limited access and [sign up here](.) Follow Us Like getting this newsletter? [Subscribe to Bloomberg.com]( for unlimited access to trusted, data-driven journalism and subscriber-only insights. Want to sponsor this newsletter? 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