Here it is, the first post for this exciting Tony Week-what shows are good for kids? Special thanks to Jennifer Tepper and Susanne Pinedo!
What happens when your kid, niece,
nephew etc. you get what I mean tells you that they want to go see Lion King or Aladdin or Newsies? You
probably go online to the Disney Theatrical website or Ticketmaster and spend a
couple days or hours scouring for a couple of seats for that Saturday matinee.
What if you cannot for the life of you find tickets for that Disney show that
your child is just dying to see? What else is out there that you can
realistically take them to see that is appropriate for their age? With the
current rise of a new crop of family friendly musicals, the answer is lots of
things!
Kid
friendly shows are something that can be seen as on the rise in the theater.
Just like back in 2009 to 2010 when we saw a rise in movie adaptation musicals, to
more recently the jukebox musical trend creative teams and producers are very
drawn to kid-friendly show. “Family
friendly shows are of the essence and yes they certainly are on the rise,” says
publicist Susanne Pinedo of Pinedo Public Relations. “More and more, parents
and families are looking for fun, unique and feel-good live entertainment to
expose their children to culture and the arts.”
These
shows attract families from all over to come and see the show as they know that
what they are taking their child to see and the shows usually contain a message
or theme that can be used to start a lesson or talking point between adult and
child. Schools are now even using them for teaching points and incorporating
them into their lesson. I cannot even begin to count the number of school
groups varying in age that I have seen outside of Wicked, Phantom of the Opera,
Les Miserables, Aladdin, Matilda, Pippin etc.
Not only do these shows attract audiences but
attract creative team members and producers to get attached to the piece.” It's
definitely fun to do something that appeals to people of all ages-and it's
certainly fulfilling to see a smiling kid in the audience!” says Jennifer
Tepper, theater historian, author of “The Untold Stories of Broadway” and
Broadway producer. “I think for creators of family musicals it is a way to
return to the joy of theatre from your youth. You get to see young people
discovering live performance for the first time because of something you
created, and remember when you were at the beginning yourself” she adds.
Susanne Pinedo credits her love for fairytales as her constant draw to the
family friendly musical; “I am
drawn to them because almost all theatre that is geared to young audiences has
a profound and inspirational message. I also have a strong affinity for the
fantasy and fairy tale genre, and these shows allow me a specific type of
creative freedom that is usually not appropriate for regular plays.”
Today’s
kids are the next generation for the theater and it is very important that we
all work to expose them to it at a young age. But, granted it is hard to pull
and pry them away from their video games to go sit through a two and a half hour
show that may or may not have the attention span for. But then, that one-day
comes along where they see an ad for a show on the television and they just
have to go to. You cannot find tickets for the life of you-or ones that are
not the premium prices so what can you actually take your kids to see instead?
Broadway
is filled with numerous other non-Disney shows that are kid friendly and not
too mention adult enjoyable as well. From Pippin,
to Phantom, Matilda and Kinky Boots
there are many options out there for parents and caregivers to explore.
Based
off the popular Roald Dahl novel, Matilda
tells the story of a young girl with a penchant for reading and extraordinary
powers but is not loved or appreciated by her family. With upbeat musical
numbers and a set that will leave you speechless it works to show kids how to
stand up for what you believe is right and not let anyone put you down a lesson
that all children need to hear.
Pippin tells the story of a young prince
finding his way in life through a group of mysterious circus performers and a
dark leading player. With a killer set, circus performers, Bob Fosse
choreography and the music of Stephen Schwartz, famous for the smash Wicked and his contributions to Disney’s
Pocahontas that the kids will love
and a message of meaning and significance that the older ones in the group will
enjoy.
Phantom of the Opera Broadway’s longest
running show and the 2013 Tony Award winning Best Musical Kinky Boots both work to celebrate the same thing through
completely different stories. While Phantom
is centered around an Opera House haunted by a Phantom and a beautiful soprano
complete with a lush score and flying chandelier that will amaze any child Kinky Boots is different. Inspired by a
true story, a British shoe factory owner Charlie working to survive joins
forces with drag queen Lola to save the family business and realizing that they
are not as different as they think. Phantom
and Kinky Boots work to teach people
about love and acceptance of others and that while we are all different we are
still people a message that really needs to be heard.
Ms.
Tepper recommends the new Rogers and Hammerstein’s Production of Cinderella. While not the Disney version
exactly, it still rings true for all kids and adults of all generations with
slightly updated plot. And hey, pop star of mega-hit “Call Me Maybe” Carly Rae
Jepsen and actress Fran Drescher have joined the show for a special limited
engagement can make for a great little mommy-daughter date (and lets be honest
and way to introduce them to “The Nanny”)!
Now,
what about everything else that is currently on Broadway? There are a great
deal of other productions that are not as known for being directly kid-oriented
but it depends on the discretion of the parent. “I think it always just depends
on the age of the kid“ adds Tepper. “As
early as age 9, of the current Broadway crop, I would have certainly enjoyed Phantom, Beautiful, Bullets Over
Broadway, If/ Then, Les Miserables Mamma Mia, Matilda, Pippin and Wicked. Some of those certainly have mature parts, but have you
seen what kids watch on TV these days?!”
Venturing
away from Broadway and the heart of Times Square, there are many other
additional options Off-Broadway-the breeding ground for up and coming Broadway
for younger kids and families too experience New York theater. “ I would
recommend checking out Bernstein Bears at
MMAC, or Fancy Nancy at the McGinn
Cazale. The New Victory Theatre on 42nd Street often has great shows for kids.
TheatreWorks is also a wonderful place to find great family shows” says Tepper.
With some of these located in the same general area as the theater district, it
gives kids the experience of going to a show and seeing all the lit up marquees
as well as a live theater performance.
Ms.
Pinedo recommends both The Boy Who Would Be Captain Hook by actor and disabilities advocate,
David Harrell currently traveling around the Tri-Sate Area and The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
playing Off-Broadway at the St. Luke’s Theater. She says Hook actor and
playwright David Harrell “was born without his right hand and the play
re-counts how other children (and some adults) reacted to him being different
and the silver hook he wore as a child. I love it so much because the core of
the story is that being different does not have to limit you in any way. In an
era when bullying has become rampant this play is so extremely important for
audiences to see.” Pinedo also adds that it is a “very interactive piece that
involves some fun audience participation” an aspect that will sure eagerly grab
kids attention!
Pinedo’s other suggestion, by Le
Clanché Du Rand’s adaptation of the beloved C.S. Lewis novel, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe features
only two actors playing all the roles- think Michael Urie in Buyer and Cellar or Jefferson Mays in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.
“This story has a classic lesson of conquering ones fears which is a
magnificent message for young audiences. It is so much fun to see the two
actors transform into and embody so many different characters. A special factor
in this production is the true magic that takes place on stage. Audiences are
literally transported to the world of Narnia.”
Now, if none of our recommendations
appeal to you there are plenty of other kid friendly theater events going on
around New York City in the upcoming months. There is Broadway in Bryant Park-
a weekly summer concert series featuring cast members from currently running Broadway
and Off-Broadway shows, which offers a nice preview of what you will see at the
show. Bernadette Peter’s annual event Broadway Barks takes place in Shubert
Alley every summer giving you and your kids the chance to mingle with some
Broadway actors and pet and possibly adopt some adorable pups! There is
Shakespeare in the Park, the free outdoor performance series in Central Park
that older kids can really enjoy. We cannot forget the Tony Awards where you
and the kids can see full performances from all the nominated shows. Lastly,
there is also Broadway Flea Market- an event that takes place on the last
Saturday in September every year in the theater district (so mark your
calendars now) where you and your kids can go shopping for Broadway goodies and
more! It is “one of the only days in
which the entire community comes together in one place” says Jim Norton Director
of Education and Outreach for Broadway Cares Equity Fights Aids. Plus, the
money raised from the event benefits the charity, Broadway Cares Equity Fights
Aids providing you with a platform to discuss helping others and you get to
score some merchandise too!
While
all of these events are great ways to introduce and expose children to theater
there is nothing that beats the live experience. “Taking
children to the theatre presents them with different ideas and teaches them
about circumstances in life that they may not be aware of now, but will
certainly face in the future. Theatre also provides children with valuable
lessons such as hope and courage and that anything is possible as long as you
work hard and follow your heart” says Pinedo. It also teaches kids about the
different types of stories out there “I think kids should be taught from a
young age that in theatre, just like movies and TV, there are lots of different
kinds of stories” mentions Tepper. Taking kids to the theater provides them
with an invaluable experience that they will never forget. So whether it is at Aladdin or Pippin I hope that the experience is priceless and memorable as the
mother I recently saw at Aladdin
whose daughter whispered loudly to her during “A Whole New World” – “look mommy
it’s my favorite part!”
