In this age of instant gratification, movies and television programs on demand, many of us parents may be losing sight of the importance and value in an old-fashioned form of entertainment, one that we grew up cherishing but might not be exposing our kids to. So what am I referring to? The magic of a live, staged theater production with real actors and actresses! Most of our kids would rather get their teeth cleaned than go see a show, but as parents, it is incumbent upon us to give them that experience — even if it takes a bit of coaxing on our part and maybe just a wee bit of kicking and screaming.
Why, you ask, am I on this “Get your kids to the theater” soapbox? Well, because it’ll ignite an untapped spark in your child and, not to sound totally cliché, open their eyes to a whole new dimension. Case in point: My 6-year-old had never been to a live stage show of any kind when our neighbor bought us tickets to a Staten Island-based “Enrichment Through the Arts” show. The production was outstanding, filled with puppets, characters dressed up in colorful costumes, a live band, special lighting effects and lots of audience participation. As kids danced in their seats, the excitement and energy even managed to infect my normally reserved son, who soon enough was dancing in the aisles, too!
So if you’re a family visiting New York and eager to get your kids excited about a live staged production keep reading for a few of my favorite places to go!
New York Live Arts: These “unplugged, anything goes” performances give kids a real dose of what’s out there in the world of contemporary performance art without watering it down. A perfect opportunity to expose your kids to innovative, performance art with your kids.
Manhattan Children’s Theatre: With its 74-seat playhouse, complete with comfy padded benches arranged in a stadium-style configuration, this theater provides affordable, high-quality entertainment to children. The theater’s compelling stories and exceptional production values will engage grown-ups, too; I promise. Since the action is so close, your kids may feel inclined to jump in onstage. The intimacy of the space will make your child feel as if he/she is actually a part of the show.
The New Victory Theater: This performing arts theater for families presents a 10-month season of adventurous multidisciplinary works from both around the globe and close to home. It seeks out sophisticated, thought-provoking professional productions that are as artistically rich as they are entertaining. Intrinsic to the New Victory mission is that its performance season and education programs combine to create a unique artistic and learning experience that complements student development by using the performing arts as an educational resource and inspire kids to explore their imaginations and the world around them.
Playtime!: If you and your spouse want to see an adult Broadway show, Playtime! is the first program to provide childcare during theatrical shows in New York. Playtime! was established to bring parents back to the theater by providing excellent childcare at (or steps from) the theater at an extremely affordable rate. The service is available to any type of ticket buyer for participating shows, regardless of the price paid for the ticket, and is just $15 per child. Sitters Studio is fully bonded and insured, and their rigorous background checks and training ensure that they provide not only an artistic and fun experience for children, but also one that complies with top-notch safety standards. Currently, Playtime! is available for children ages 4 to 12 and mostly takes place during weekend performances. An opportunity for parents to have an incredible theatrical experience at some of the best, most high-profile Off-Broadway theaters in town while their children have a cultural experience of their own playing and being creative with real-live New York City artists, musicians, actors, dancers and more. A real New York cultural experience for parents and kids alike, and at an incredibly affordable price.
Before heading to New York, find family-friendly hotels we love in our New York City Family Hotels.
–Melissa Chapman
Melissa Chapman blogs about her marriage and everything in between at MarriedMySugarDaddy.com and spotlights Staten Island Family Fun. Her work has appeared in The Staten Island Advance, Care.com, ABC News, BlogHer, Baby Center, Momtourage, Lifetime Moms, Babble,The Washington Post, Time Out NY Kids and iVillage.