Alice in Wonderland at The Players Theatre

The beloved children's classic, Alice in Wonderland, is now in musical form at The Players Theatre in the West Village! Performing on weekends through November 17th, this charming musical is the perfect way to introduce your child to the theatre and be entertained at the same time. Additionally, one of my favorite aspects of a Players Theatre production is their family-friendly interactive arts workshops, which take place an hour before each show begins. While there, children will get to hear from a cast member about how the musical was created and the original story itself. Then, children are invited to complete a special arts-n-crafts project that relates to the show.

I took Vivian and some of her friends to a performance a couple weeks ago to celebrate her 8th birthday, and they all had so much fun! They made Mad Hatter hats during the pre-show workshop, and as a special treat, the stage manager had everyone sing Happy Birthday to Vivian right before the show began. The girls all loved the performances, especially from the Queen of Hearts. The cast and crew were really able to bring the magic of Alice to life, and I do believe for little ones, a Players Theatre production is a wonderful way to introduce a child to live theater.

Afterwards, we headed to Molly's Cupcakes around the corner for a sweet treat and a "swing" on their famous seating. After Alice wraps up, "A Christmas Carol the Musical" will open December 1st, marking its 11th year, and in spring of 2020, The Little Mermaid will make its way to the West Village. So much fun!

Pre-show arts-n-crafts:

 Mad Hatters loose on the subway!

If you haven't had a chance to see Alice in Wonderland yet, go HERE for tickets. And here's a special bonus: with code BABYMEETSCITY you'll receive 20% off. Enjoy!

Cinderella Lives in Greenwich Village

Last weekend, the girls and I checked out the new musical "Cinderella," playing now through April 22nd at The Players Theatre in Greenwich Village. Written by Michael Sgouros and Brenda Bell, fairy tale fans will notice a few slight changes from the original story, but nothing that will have you flagging a pumpkin carriage and heading for the exit. In fact, this Cinderella is pure love and light, a girl in search of family and security more than anything else (Prince Charming's companionship is an added bonus). We loved the live music, original songs and in particular, the wicked step-mother "Madame," played fantastically in drag by Eric Fletcher.

As an added bonus, come early for pre-show arts-n-crafts and learn how the magic happens behind the scenes, and afterwards, pose for photos with the cast. Check out the New York Times review and take note, they are offering one weekday performance during NYC public school spring break.

Use code BMC20 for 20% off tickets and have a magical time, friends!

New Theater for Kids: This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing

The girls and I recently checked out a production of The Atlantic Theater Company's This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing at the Linda Gross Theater in Chelsea. We really enjoyed ourselves!

Written by Finegan Kruckemeyer, the fairy tale follows three sisters and the choices they make after their father leaves them in a deep, dark forest at the request of their wicked step-mother (why are the step-mothers in fairy tales always so awful?). What follows are three entertaining adventures as the sisters go in search of themselves and ultimately each other.

"This Girl Laughs..." played to a packed house, and I have to say we were really "in it" the whole time. We loved the musical element and the set was gorgeous (also impressive was what the cast was able to create with the help of limited items on stage & everyone's imagination). While the sisters each followed their own callings, I loved most of all that in the end, finding each other was their most important quest. I was crying as we clapped for everyone on stage! Showing through March 4th, "This Girl Laughs..." is a funny, thoughtful and girl-empowering adventure, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Photo credit: Ahron R. Foster

NYC Children's Theater: Endangered! The Musical

The girls and I and a couple of their friends checked out Endangered! The Musical last week & really enjoyed ourselves. The show is currently playing off-Broadway at the Davenport Theatre with an extended run through October 8th.

Endangered! takes a timely & politically-charged topic (global warming) and adapts it in a way for kids to understand its importance and urgency without scaring them- instead, it encourages them to be part of the solution. Combine that with catchy songs, an array of endangered animals at the zoo, one determined tween, and you have a message with a lot of heart. The cast is very strong, particularly a certain piano-playing crocodile, played by Connor Delves.

Little theater-goers before the show!

I love promoting live theater aimed at children, and that Endangered! The Musical mixes song & dance with a reminder that we should take care of our planet, only makes it that much more meaningful. Worth checking out! Ticket information can be found HERE.




Disclosure: Tickets were provided in exchange for a review of the show. All opinions herein are my own.

Summer Camp Profile: Play On Studios (& a discount!)

Summer camp. Two words that strike fear in the throats (and pockets) of many a parent this time of year. Yes, there are many options out there, but finding the right fit for your child, one that's entertaining, affordable, welcoming, conveniently located & offers the right hours to fit your schedule, etc, etc, etc... well, a program that meets all of those qualifications can be like finding a needle in a haystack. Yes, that much fun.

But never fear! I'll be profiling several camps over the next few weeks in an attempt to highlight some new programs as well as hidden gems just waiting to be discovered. They all get the Baby Meets City seal of approval and will include DISCOUNTS to boot. Hurrah!

First up, Play On Studios. Millie went to one of their demo classes in the fall and is so excited about attending summer camp! With locations on the Upper West Side & Lower Manhattan, this dynamic program runs all year long with music lessons & theater classes offered after school and on weekends. But during summer vacation, it's all about CAMP. Let's break it down.

UPPER WEST SIDE

For grades K-4, Play On Studios offers Creative Drama camp at 2 locations:

Ballet Hispanico (167 West 89th Street between Columbus & Amsterdam)
Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew (263 West 86th Street between Broadway & West End Avenue)

Hours:  9-3pm (4pm on Fridays, which includes a special camp performance). Extended day & early drop off is also available -- see website for those details.
Dates:   June 19th-Sept. 1st with the exception of July 4th week
Cost:    $525/week (see bottom for discount!)
Campers must bring their own lunch & snack.

The skinny on Creative Drama:

"Our most popular class emphasizes the creativity, enjoyment, and personal growth of each child. Through drama games, movement, music, and vocal exercises, kids will explore self-expression and gain confidence. A final showcase in front of family and friends creates a comfortable and exciting opportunity to experience another important aspect of theater: performance!"

For grades 4-9, Play On steps things up a notch, offering "Musical Theater Performance" & "Musical Theater Revue" at a single location:

Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew (263 West 86th Street between Broadway & West End Avenue)

Hours:  9:30-4pm (flexible drop off btwn 9-9:30am)

Dates:   Musical Theater Performance: July 5th-28th
             Musical Theater Revue: July 31st- Aug. 11th and Aug. 14th-25th 

Cost:    $2500 (Musical Theater Performance) & $1200 (Musical Theater Revue) - see bottom for discount!
Campers must bring their own lunch & snack.

The skinny on Musical Theater Performance:

Put on a complete musical production in a professional NYC theater! Campers will stretch their skills with drama exercises and games, vocal coaching, field trips (including a Broadway show!), and building a professional set. Our incredible teaching artists and campers come together to put on a truly remarkable show! Additional activities often include scene-writing, film-making, Shakespeare, creating choreography, and more!

& Musical Theater Revue:

Using a different, inspiring Broadway theme each session, campers will explore solos, monologues, scenes, and full musical numbers. This flexible format allows us to create a very personal experience for our campers, helping them to grow and take on specific challenges. For example, campers looking to prepare for middle school, high school, or professional auditions will have opportunities to start work on appropriate monologues and solo songs. We'll show off our new skills at a final Friday performance!

LOWER MANHATTAN

For grades K-4, Play On! Studios offers Creative Drama camp at Pine Street School (25 Pine Street btwn William & Nassau)

Hours:  9-3pm (4pm on Fridays, which includes a special camp performance). Extended day & early drop off is also available -- see website for those details.
Dates:   3 weeks only, July 10th-28th
Cost:    $600/week (see bottom for discount!)
Campers must bring their own lunch & snack.

Last but not least, I'm thrilled to help highlight Play On! Studios, perfect for your theater-loving kid. 

Please use code BMC50 and receive $50 off any of their camp weeks!

Disclosure: We are receiving a week of camp in exchange for this review & promotion. All opinions herein are my own.

An afternoon on Broadway with Tuck Everlasting

A couple weekends ago, Millie and I were invited to a preview of Tuck Everlasting, the new Broadway musical based on the children's novel of the same name by author Natalie Babbitt. Let me admit firstly that I knew next to nothing about the book's plot (other than what I googled that morning), but we were both thoroughly entertained by the show. And this is despite the fact that I was sobbing FOR THE ENTIRE LAST SONG. But I digress...

Tuck Everlasting is the story of a young girl, Winnie Foster, who's aching for an escape from her hum drum life when she meets the Tuck family, who harbor one very special secret. When she discovers what they've been hiding, she has to decide between living an ordinary, beautiful life and one that will go on forever.

I was so impressed by the elaborate sets, and of course the talent of the cast. The songs were lovely, and the last one in particularly really got me -- Without spoiling anything, Winnie makes the right decision. I cried as I watched this beautiful display of her life throughout the years, of celebration and loss and everything in between. Millie didn't quite pick up on some of the nuances of that particular scene, which was fine. She got a kick out of all the singing and dancing and the fact that another little girl was the lead character of the show.

When the musical ended, the lead actor, Andrew Keenan-Bolger, made an announcement that Natalie Babbitt was in the audience, and everyone gave her a standing ovation. How amazing it must have been for her to watch her own words translated into a Broadway show.

What a fun afternoon we had -- we highly recommend Tuck Everlasting!




Disclosure: While I was given tickets to attend this show, all opinions are my own.

Win a Family 4-pack to Twinkle Tames a Dragon

Calling all NYC parents of fairy-loving kiddos: the girls and I recently checked out Twinkle Tames a Dragon, an adorable musical about fairies (& their pets!) at Vital Theatre Company on the Upper West Side. Known for their engaging & dynamic children's theater productions, "Twinkle" did not disappoint.

The show, about three fairies who receive pets in anticipation of a competition at school, is sprinkled with positive messages, too. Twinkle receives a smelly, ill-behaving dragon as a pet and struggles to find a category they can win, all while learning A) not to judge a book by its cover and B) winning is great but it isn't as important as your friends. Life lessons, people!

Receiving autographs post-show

This sweet musical is lots of fun & enjoying an extended run through May 22nd -- AND I have 4 tickets to give away. See Rafflecopter below to enter & I will pick a winner on April 7th. Good luck!


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Disclosure: I received tickets to this show in exchange for review. All opinions are my own.

Improv for Kids with The Story Pirates (& a giveaway!)

Hey NYC! A Story Pirates show is the perfect outlet for little ones with big imaginations. Founded in 2003, this nationwide program celebrates the words & ideas of young people by creating a musical sketch comedy show featuring stories written by kids.

We got a chance to check them out on Saturday, & it was such a fun show! Millie's really gotten into creating little stories & "writing books," so she was particularly enthusiastic. Each of the kids who'd submitted a story for the show was in the audience, so it was great fun seeing their reaction to their own stories coming to life in front of them -- each one zanier than the next. Then, the second half of the show featured an emcee who asked certain questions of the audience, & the improv actors came up with the skit as the answers were called out. I have the greatest respect for this art form... quick thinkers actors are so entertaining to watch!

I love that The Story Pirates are about education as well as entertainment. This creative launch pad for kids has received more than 28,000 stories from kids since it first began, & visiting schools is an important part of their outreach to children. Their curriculum focuses on vocabulary development, story structure, revision & confident self-expression. To find out how to bring The Story Pirates to your school, see here.

With all that said, want to see The Story Pirates? They are performing 3 more shows this season here in NYC & I have a family 4 pack of tickets to give away! Remaining show dates are December 5th at the Drama Book Shop (250 West 40th Street), December 12th & December 19th at the Davenport Theater (354 West 45th Street). As these dates are fast approaching, I'll run this contest for a week, picking a winner next Tuesday, December 1st. And if you don't win, no worries. If you choose a December 12th or 19th performance, use code BABYMEETSCITY for $10 off your ticket purchase. Good luck!


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