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Theater Magic: 9 Steps To Create Theatre Lovers
I live and grew up in New York, and some of my fondest childhood memories are of going to Broadway musicals with my family. Since I don't have my own children, I couldn't wait until my nephews were old enough for me to start sharing the magic with them. Theater-going with young nephews also taught me how to introduce theater and its etiquette to children.
I started out with Jake, age 6, alone. The first play I took him to was "Cats." It wasn't my first choice, but he really wanted to see it because of the TV commercials. I hesitated to take him, since I worried that the show, a collection of vignettes, songs, and dances about being a cat, might be too abstract for him. To my delight, the tickets I had ordered turned out to be front row, which made a big difference. He could really see everyone and all their expressions, and even got to pet one of the "cats" during intermission. He loved the show; too bad it's no longer running.
That first foray having been so successful, I next took Hugo, then age 3, to see a terrific Off-Broadway show called "Stomp." It has no story and no songs, but it has plenty of what Hugo loves: drums, banging, and general loud noise. "Stomp" is an extremely inventive, exhilarating show. After intermission, it did get a little long and loud for Hugo so he lay down in my lap. But before long, the music got him up and dancing in his seat.
The solo expeditions having been a success, Grandma and I took both boys to "Beauty and the Beast," another great family show that has closed. Our tickets were the same day as a huge snowstorm, so the theater was half empty. I taught the boys a critical Broadway lesson: if there are good empty seats when the lights go down -- grab them! "Awesome!" breathed my nephew Jacob (7), looking at the pyrotechnics on stage. His younger brother, Hugo (4), too stunned to say anything, just sat there the whole show, his mouth slightly ajar with astonishment.
Soon after, their father and I took Jake to see another great Off-Broadway show for both parents and kids over 6, "Blue Man Group." It was just three men, dressed and painted entirely blue, doing hilarious mime routines involving paint, food, and occasionally, audience members. At the same time, there is a highly sophisticated text and subtext to the routines that will have parents rolling in the aisles (while kids remain oblivious). The boffo ending, which involved mountains of toilet paper, had Jake completely beside himself, shrieking with glee. And afterwards, to add icing to the cake, the cast was outside the theater talking to the audience.
Additional ideas for bringing kids to Broadway, or even to a road show playing in a city near you, as suggested by frequent theater-goer Piers Portfolio, age 14:
"The Lion King" Life-size giraffes at 20-feet-tall and costumed child actors at four feet tall share the stage in this long running musical. Tickets are hard to get, but, like the Disney movie, everyone in the family will enjoy this.
"Hairspray" Tracy Turnblad wants desperately to be a star, but she is discriminated against because she is overweight. She wins a spot on a T.V. dance show (circa 1962) and with her African American friends tries to eliminate prejudice and discrimination in a still-segregated Baltimore.
"The Phantom of the Opera" Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical retelling of the myth of a mysterious and deformed creature that haunts the Paris Opera House. Best for older children, as the story is more serious and the show is slow-moving.
"Rent" The story of seven friends, A.I.D.S., and how they learn to love each other and themselves has left Broadway, but road shows are touring the US and the world. A heart-wrenching story with fabulous music. Not recommended for children under 13.
"Wicked" Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, the story of The Wizard of Oz from the (not so) Wicked Witch of the West's point of view. The magical performance includes monkeys flying over the audience and others "defying gravity." Great for all ages.
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