As many of you know, the current writer's strike has touched nearly all aspects of our entertainment, including sending most of Broadway into darkness.  As is the case with most strike situations, this strike could not come at a worse time for New York Tourism. The days between Thanksgiving and New Years are some of the busiest for the Theater industry.   

Some of you may know that I am a season subscriber to the Roundabout Theater Company.  I love seeing good drama, or classic musicals (as opposed to overly produced mainstream productions that barely have enough story line to carry the viewer through the costumes, set design and pop music).  I love Eugene O'Neil, George Bernard Shaw, Bertolt Brect, and Henrick Ibsen.

Don't get me wrong.  I really enjoy musicals.  In fact, I grew up on musicals.  My mom loved them.  At any given time, the movie-versions of Guys and Dolls, Oklahoma, South Pacific, My Fair Lady, and the like would be playing on the Television of my childhood home.

The Roundabout Theater Company is dedicated to producing top quality performances based on true literature (drama, musical, or otherwise).  This is my third year as a season ticket holder and I love it.

Well, Roundabout has separate contracts with their cast and crew that are not affected by the writer's strike, so they are one of the few Companies that are performing right now.  Well, I missed a performance a few weeks ago and had to use general admission to make up the play last night.

My cousin Michele and I drove to Manhattan picked up our tickets, and went out for dinner before seeing Rosie Perez in a revival of The Ritz at Studio 54.

Two doors down from the theater, there is a great Mexican restaurant called Iguana.  They have a cool bar with 26 different types of Margaritas and Mojitos.   I've eaten there before with my mom before other performances.  This time, Michele and I would enjoy their fantastic guacamole.

We began our meal with traditional mint mojitos. 

Michele ordered the black beans soups and I ordered the guacamole, which our waiter made for us tableside. 

Michelle ordered steak empanadas and I ordered a New York Strip.  I had a craving for Ropa Veja, but it is not a Mexican dish, so I went for the steak instead.  While tasty, my steak was a traditional NY strip.  They served it with some cilantro mashed potatos and a side of red beans, black beans and yellow rice.

Michele ordered a flan that we both shared.  Unlike LACE w:st="on">CaribbeanLACE> flans, this one had a creamy dense texture that resembled a custard.  They served it with sprinkled coconut and strawberries.  We both really enjoyed it.

We arrived at the theater in time for General Admission seating.  The theater was packed!  With only a handful of shows performing, the shows that are on are all nearly sold out.  We were lucky enough to sit in the second row Orchestra right.  This comedic satire from the early 1960s married stereotypical Italian mafia family problems with  gay bathhouses during their heyday. 

We laughed aloud throughout the entire performance.  Rosie Perez was hysterical and perfectly cast for a leading role.

Last night, we enjoyed good food, good theater and good company, a winning combination.