Click above to buy tickets for $34 tickets for The Fantasticks on December 21, 7:30 p.m. Buy here for tickets for the opening night, November 27, 7:30 p.m. show.

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The world's longest-running musical gets re-envisioned with today's deal: $34 balcony or orchestra section seats to see the November 27 premiere of The Fantasticks (a $77 value) or the December 21 performance (a $67 value) at the historic Lincoln Theatre located in the U Street Corridor.

The first-floor orchestra seats (not to be confused with invitation-only orchestra pit seats) get you as close to the performance as you can get, and the front balcony seats give you a great view of the stage without anything blocking your sightline. No matter where you sit, when the cast breaks into the score's famous opening song, "Try to Remember," your ears will be sure to catch every memorable note.

Director Amanda Dehnert takes the story's twist on boy-meets-girl and spins it even further. Matt and Luisa are star-crossed lovers and the children of two feuding fathers, who forbid them to speak. The lovers plot ways to elude their fathers, engineering a Lebowski-style fake kidnapping, but things don’t go exactly as planned. Overcoming physical and emotional obstacles, the pair learn valuable lessons and set them to song. While the original tale (penned by Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones) takes place in a small, unspecified American town, Denhert's interpretation changes the setting to an abandoned amusement park, giving the 50-year-old story an entirely different feel and hinting at possible cameos by Scooby Doo or Kiss.

There is no limit on tickets, so this is a perfect way to settle the turkey-stuffed stomachs of visiting extended family, who will have less time to criticize your decorating when distracted by the magic of theater, or the perfect opportunity to take them to a show before Christmas Day so that you have something to talk about. If you've exhausted all possible conversation topics, here's a chance to unite aunts, stepdogs, and first through fifth cousins through silence. Spend a few hours letting someone else do the talking, singing, and entertaining this holiday weekend.

While you're in the area, there are plenty of restaurants and bars to hit up pre- or post-show. For example, the Obama-endorsed hotspot Ben's Chili Bowl is right next door to the Lincoln Theatre. The U Street Corridor is one of the most happening strips in Washington, with the New York Times calling the area "vibrant again and the newest and hottest place in town for getting out on weekends after dark."

Note: Seating for balcony or orchestra sections will be assigned during redemption at Will Call.

Reviews

The reviews for the premiere of The Fantasticks aren’t in, but the Washington City Paper includes a synopsis in their Fall Arts Preview:

• The memorable score by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt enlivens the heart of this passionate musical that charmed Off-Broadway for a record-breaking 42 years. In a twist on the classic story of boy meets girl, Matt and Luisa are led by El Gallo from the wistfulness of “when life was slow and oh so mellow” to the reality that “without a hurt the heart is hollow.” – Washington City Paper

Yelpers give the beautifully restored Lincoln Theatre four stars:

• I love going to the theater...there is just something so magical about the plush velvet seats, the ushers, the programs, the curtains and lights. – Fenny L.
• The Lincoln Theatre is my favorite theatre in DC. It is cozy but it has this opulent architecture and is surrounded by vibrant street life. – Reggie G.