The Broadway show thread where we discuss all things Broadway

[Kimberle]

Just got an invite to get tickets for new play CINDERELLA at Broadway Theatre. Previews start January 2013.

One thing very odd though. It stated no child under 4 years of age will be allowed in theatre. I am sure I brought my kids to Lion King and Beauty and Beast before they were 4 years old.

is this new rule?
I guess I can understand with the price of tickets now. The last thing you want to to is pay $100 plus for a ticket with a small child crying in your ear the entire time

Nearly all shows don't allow children under 4 in the building. I think Disney is the only exception.

 

[JenM]

Nearly all shows don't allow children under 4 in the building. I think Disney is the only exception.

Yep. And Disney on Broadway's website lists the recommended age for all 3 of their shows as 6 and up. But it's just a recommendation, it's nothing that's enforced. I've seen plenty of kids younger than that at all of their shows.

When I saw Seussical on Broadway, someone brought an infant, and the kid screeched through the last 20 minutes of Act 1. It was not fun.

I saw my first Broadway show when I was 5. It was Peter Pan, starring Sandy Duncan. I still have the Playbill.

One show I missed as a kid, but loved anyway thanks to the movie was Annie. I'm totally excited that it's coming back this fall, I can't wait to finally see it!

 

[JenM]

I can't comment on Annie since it's not out yet but I can comment on seating.

The Palace is HUGE it's one of the largest theaters on Broadway. It can hold a lot of people. I think the best seats are on the mezzanine in the first 5 or 6 rows and int he front half of the orchestra. If you are up in the rear mezz or balcony you are pretty far away.

I haven't been to the New Amsterdam in about 5-6 years so I can't comment on where is best to sit there.

I guess the question is have your girls been to any other broadway shows? mary Poppins is pretty magical.

Lara

Agreed about the Palace, that place is huge. I'd say anywhere in the front half of the orchestra (although the seats further back aren't terrible), or towards the front of the mezzanine. I sat front row mezz when I saw Beauty and the Beast there and the seats were amazing.

As far as the New Amsterdam, the only section I'd avoid is the rear balcony. I saw Mary Poppins there, and the view wasn't great. I'd imagine the mezzanine would be perfect seating, especially for the last scene.

As far as the shows, I enjoyed Mary Poppins, but I liked the movie much better. It's very different - the story is told differently with some stuff from the Mary Poppins books (and they finally cut that crazy 'Temper, Temper' song where the kids were attacked by their toys!), but it's still very well done. Just don't expect a copy of the movie.

I'm a sucker for Annie, so I'd always recommend that. Matilda is opening on Broadway next spring, too. It's based on the Roald Dahl book (it was a movie too), and I heard the London production was amazing. Looking forward to that show too.

 

[TifffanyD]

Agreed about the Palace, that place is huge. I'd say anywhere in the front half of the orchestra (although the seats further back aren't terrible), or towards the front of the mezzanine. I sat front row mezz when I saw Beauty and the Beast there and the seats were amazing.

As far as the New Amsterdam, the only section I'd avoid is the rear balcony. I saw Mary Poppins there, and the view wasn't great. I'd imagine the mezzanine would be perfect seating, especially for the last scene.

As far as the shows, I enjoyed Mary Poppins, but I liked the movie much better. It's very different - the story is told differently with some stuff from the Mary Poppins books (and they finally cut that crazy 'Temper, Temper' song where the kids were attacked by their toys!), but it's still very well done. Just don't expect a copy of the movie.

I'm a sucker for Annie, so I'd always recommend that. Matilda is opening on Broadway next spring, too. It's based on the Roald Dahl book (it was a movie too), and I heard the London production was amazing. Looking forward to that show too.

Matilda??? Ooooh I loved that book and the movie wasn't bad either!!

I don't make it out to NY but I see all the shows at our local theatre, which gets some really good ones (Sister Act, American Idiot, Elf, Wicked, War Horse all coming this season). Next season we have Book of Mormon coming. I hope we get Matilda at some point!

 

[4my2girlz]

Agreed about the Palace, that place is huge. I'd say anywhere in the front half of the orchestra (although the seats further back aren't terrible), or towards the front of the mezzanine. I sat front row mezz when I saw Beauty and the Beast there and the seats were amazing.

As far as the New Amsterdam, the only section I'd avoid is the rear balcony. I saw Mary Poppins there, and the view wasn't great. I'd imagine the mezzanine would be perfect seating, especially for the last scene.

As far as the shows, I enjoyed Mary Poppins, but I liked the movie much better. It's very different - the story is told differently with some stuff from the Mary Poppins books (and they finally cut that crazy 'Temper, Temper' song where the kids were attacked by their toys!), but it's still very well done. Just don't expect a copy of the movie.

I'm a sucker for Annie, so I'd always recommend that. Matilda is opening on Broadway next spring, too. It's based on the Roald Dahl book (it was a movie too), and I heard the London production was amazing. Looking forward to that show too.

Yes, this will be their first Broadway Show...first trip to NYC - we are SO excited! My kids loved the movie Annie so I'm leaning towards that but I wish we had time (and $$) to see them all! (Lion King, Mary Poppins, Annie & now adding Matilda to the wish list)

Thanks for the advice!

 

[elgerber]

Yes, this will be their first Broadway Show...first trip to NYC - we are SO excited! My kids loved the movie Annie so I'm leaning towards that but I wish we had time (and $$) to see them all! (Lion King, Mary Poppins, Annie & now adding Matilda to the wish list)

Thanks for the advice!

The Lion King and Mary Poppins are both amazing, but you can never go wrong with Annie!! I have seen numerous productions of Annie, and I have loved them all!

 

[RyMickey]

Your reviews are a fabulous read, thank you for sharing.

And thank you for reading them!

 

[minijeanie]

If you have a choice pick LION KING over ANNIE.. There is no comparison at all.

I have seen Annie 2x on Broadway. Yes it is cute and typical but it cannot ever compare to the magic of Lion King.

 

[JenM]

Matilda??? Ooooh I loved that book and the movie wasn't bad either!!

I don't make it out to NY but I see all the shows at our local theatre, which gets some really good ones (Sister Act, American Idiot, Elf, Wicked, War Horse all coming this season). Next season we have Book of Mormon coming. I hope we get Matilda at some point!

Matilda looks amazing! I was watching clips on YouTube, and I can't wait until it gets here. They have 4 girls splitting the role of Matilda (they're going to do the same thing in NY), and all 4 performed at the Olivier Awards, they are adorable!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9yyiy7aqiE

There are more clips here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjj56XZcCAc

It looks awesome! So psyched for this show now.

 

[Art 1]

If you have a choice pick LION KING over ANNIE.. There is no comparison at all.

I have seen Annie 2x on Broadway. Yes it is cute and typical but it cannot ever compare to the magic of Lion King.

I agree.

 

[JenM]

The Lion King and Mary Poppins are both amazing, but you can never go wrong with Annie!! I have seen numerous productions of Annie, and I have loved them all!

Agreed! I loved Lion King and Mary Poppins, but Annie was the show/movie that introduced me and all of my friends to musicals when we were kids, and we still love it. We're all planning trips to see the new version (a few are bringing their own kids).

I think it's awesome that there are so many family musicals opening on Broadway. Between the three Disney shows, Wicked, Annie and Matilda (and Cinderella is coming too), it's like there's something for everyone.

Just wish they weren't so expensive.

 

[TifffanyD]

Matilda looks amazing! I was watching clips on YouTube, and I can't wait until it gets here. They have 4 girls splitting the role of Matilda (they're going to do the same thing in NY), and all 4 performed at the Olivier Awards, they are adorable!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9yyiy7aqiE

There are more clips here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjj56XZcCAc

It looks awesome! So psyched for this show now.

Thank you for the links - that looks SO cute and fun! I love LOVE love Roald Dahl... so hopefully I get a chance to see this! The girls were so talented but why are there 4 of them?

 

[Kimberle]

Thank you for the links - that looks SO cute and fun! I love LOVE love Roald Dahl... so hopefully I get a chance to see this! The girls were so talented but why are there 4 of them?

Probably because they are under 18 and governed by child labor laws.

 

[Kimberle]

I took my dd to see Phantom of the Opera yesterday. We both loved it. It was our first time seeing it.

 

[TifffanyD]

Probably because they are under 18 and governed by child labor laws.

Well I mean why do they all perform at the same time?? Is that normal in the show?

 

[crashbb]

Well I mean why do they all perform at the same time?? Is that normal in the show?

It was an awards ceremony - not a normal show number (though, obviously, the song is from the show).

 

[JenM]

Well I mean why do they all perform at the same time?? Is that normal in the show?

It was the Olivier Awards - Britain's version of the Tonys. All 4 girls were nominated (and they won!), so they all performed together at the ceremony. It's the same thing they did with Billy Elliot, where 3 kids shared the role and won a joint Tony (the London Billys did too).

They're going to the same thing with Matilda in NY, with 4 girls sharing the role. Should be interesting come Tony time, since Lilla Crawford is scheduled to play all 8 shows as Annie.

 

[TifffanyD]

It was the Olivier Awards - Britain's version of the Tonys. All 4 girls were nominated (and they won!), so they all performed together at the ceremony. It's the same thing they did with Billy Elliot, where 3 kids shared the role and won a joint Tony (the London Billys did too).

They're going to the same thing with Matilda in NY, with 4 girls sharing the role. Should be interesting come Tony time, since Lilla Crawford is scheduled to play all 8 shows as Annie.

Ohhh so they don't normally all sing Naughty together... that makes MUCH more sense!

 

[JenM]

Ohhh so they don't normally all sing Naughty together... that makes MUCH more sense!

Yep, at the regular performances only one girl plays Matilda. There are usually 8 performances a week, so presumably each of the girls just does two performances per week. They also usually understudy for each other, and I know with Billy Elliot the other kids playing Billy also played other children's roles in the show when they weren't on as Billy, but I'm not sure if they do that for Matilda.

In the US, labor laws allow a child to do 8 performances a week but it's obviously a lot for a kid to do, so they usually cast multiple kids to share the role. I'm not sure what the laws in London are, but the shows I've seen there with kids in the cast (Les Miz, Billy Elliot) also have several kids sharing the roles, so I'm guessing they're similar.

For the Oliviers, the four Matilda's shared a nomination for Best Featured Actress, so they all performed their big song at the ceremony. And they won, which was pretty cool. Their acceptance speech was adorable.

 

[tweedlemom]

Got my tix to see Newsies at the end of Oct--can't wait!