Anonymous
05/21/2025 06:45
Subject: NYC - Broadway shows
I would go with The Lion King. My kids enjoyed all three of those plays. But Wicked tickets have gotten expensive & harder to get since the movie came out. Aladdin is a very fun show, too. If you/they don’t have a strong preference, look at availability & ticket prices & let that decide. And yes, many people still dress up. Some don’t.
Anonymous
05/20/2025 18:31
Subject: NYC - Broadway shows
My young teens LOVED Moulin Rouge - a little mature- but incredible scenery and performances.
Anonymous
05/20/2025 18:29
Subject: NYC - Broadway shows
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thank you all for the suggestions and links. Very helpful info!
We have been to NYC before but missed out on a lot of stuff. Kids were the ones who wanted to see a Broadway musical. Kids are 13 and 14 and at the age where they don't care about anything so I don't know how much input I will get from them, but I will ask them to check out the ones mentioned and go from there.
The only musical bits we have seen are in Hollywood studios (Beauty and the Beast bit) and I am not really a fan. Kids enjoyed it though.
I'm curious if some theaters are more fancier than others and if that matters for a first timer.
None of the theaters are particularly fancy - not sure if you're worried about them being too fancy for your kids or if that would be a draw for them. But either way - while some are quite ornate in decoration - the seats are old and kind of cramped. What can have a wow factor is set design - certainly true for Wicked, Hadestown, Just in Time among others. What makes a broadway show special compared to what you can see elsewhere is the over the top level of talent. The performers can just flat out sing, dance and act better than what you will see with a touring company.
OP here. Yes I wanted them to be wowed since it would be the first time.
Anonymous
05/20/2025 18:07
Subject: NYC - Broadway shows
Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thank you all for the suggestions and links. Very helpful info!
We have been to NYC before but missed out on a lot of stuff. Kids were the ones who wanted to see a Broadway musical. Kids are 13 and 14 and at the age where they don't care about anything so I don't know how much input I will get from them, but I will ask them to check out the ones mentioned and go from there.
The only musical bits we have seen are in Hollywood studios (Beauty and the Beast bit) and I am not really a fan. Kids enjoyed it though.
I'm curious if some theaters are more fancier than others and if that matters for a first timer.
None of the theaters are particularly fancy - not sure if you're worried about them being too fancy for your kids or if that would be a draw for them. But either way - while some are quite ornate in decoration - the seats are old and kind of cramped. What can have a wow factor is set design - certainly true for Wicked, Hadestown, Just in Time among others. What makes a broadway show special compared to what you can see elsewhere is the over the top level of talent. The performers can just flat out sing, dance and act better than what you will see with a touring company.
Anonymous
05/20/2025 17:42
Subject: NYC - Broadway shows
What about the new Stranger Things play?
Anonymous
05/20/2025 16:24
Subject: NYC - Broadway shows
My daughter loves Sara Hyland from Modern Family who is currently in the Great Gatsby. So that's our next show.
Anonymous
05/20/2025 16:23
Subject: NYC - Broadway shows
Teens like Outsiders b/c most of them read it and watch the movie in middle school. I took my kids to NY this Christmas and they were SO bummed I didn't get tix for Outsiders (We saw Romeo + Juliet with Kit Conner - but no longer playing- instead).
Anonymous
05/20/2025 16:04
Subject: NYC - Broadway shows
I just saw Hadestown Teen Edition at a high school. They did a very good job. My friend who saw it on Broadway said it did a good job and was similar to the Broadway interpretation.
The thing is, I like happy musicals. Hadestown is visually interesting but it's a bit depressing. I have another musical that I love that's sad but ends on a higher note. So I can like sad works of art. But one of the reasons I like the genre of musicals is that so many of them are exciting and fun.
The thing is, I like happy musicals. Hadestown is visually interesting but it's a bit depressing. I have another musical that I love that's sad but ends on a higher note. So I can like sad works of art. But one of the reasons I like the genre of musicals is that so many of them are exciting and fun.
Anonymous
05/20/2025 15:42
Subject: NYC - Broadway shows
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thank you all for the suggestions and links. Very helpful info!
We have been to NYC before but missed out on a lot of stuff. Kids were the ones who wanted to see a Broadway musical. Kids are 13 and 14 and at the age where they don't care about anything so I don't know how much input I will get from them, but I will ask them to check out the ones mentioned and go from there.
The only musical bits we have seen are in Hollywood studios (Beauty and the Beast bit) and I am not really a fan. Kids enjoyed it though.
I'm curious if some theaters are more fancier than others and if that matters for a first timer.
My kids are also this age and don’t care about anything either! So just pick what you like.
I’m a big musical theatre person (used to work at a Bway production company) and I think Lion King or Wicked would be an excellent first Broadway show. What I like about them is that they truly transport you into a fantasy land and have big budget sets/costumes, etc. that give the wow factor. Six and &Juliet are fun and all but I sometimes feel like the jukebox musicals leave a bit to be desired. On the other hand, the Alicia Keys musical was actually very good, but I don’t know if my (boy) teens would be as into it as I was. They have asked to go to Little Shop of Horrors and they’re seeing the Outsiders this summer.
Op here. Lol, that's why I picked Lion king and Aladdin. I figured it's something we all know and might enjoy. I wanted something that would make an impression for them. I guess Aladdin is out in that regard.
Anonymous
05/20/2025 15:37
Subject: NYC - Broadway shows
Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thank you all for the suggestions and links. Very helpful info!
We have been to NYC before but missed out on a lot of stuff. Kids were the ones who wanted to see a Broadway musical. Kids are 13 and 14 and at the age where they don't care about anything so I don't know how much input I will get from them, but I will ask them to check out the ones mentioned and go from there.
The only musical bits we have seen are in Hollywood studios (Beauty and the Beast bit) and I am not really a fan. Kids enjoyed it though.
I'm curious if some theaters are more fancier than others and if that matters for a first timer.
My kids are also this age and don’t care about anything either! So just pick what you like.
I’m a big musical theatre person (used to work at a Bway production company) and I think Lion King or Wicked would be an excellent first Broadway show. What I like about them is that they truly transport you into a fantasy land and have big budget sets/costumes, etc. that give the wow factor. Six and &Juliet are fun and all but I sometimes feel like the jukebox musicals leave a bit to be desired. On the other hand, the Alicia Keys musical was actually very good, but I don’t know if my (boy) teens would be as into it as I was. They have asked to go to Little Shop of Horrors and they’re seeing the Outsiders this summer.
Anonymous
05/20/2025 15:12
Subject: NYC - Broadway shows
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Definitely not Hadestown.
Why not? It's great.
DP, but my teens who are really into Greek mythology didn't like it. It was just okay.
I'd vote for Outsiders, especially if they read the book in school, or maybe even the Pirates of Penzance musical.
Anonymous
05/20/2025 15:01
Subject: NYC - Broadway shows
Lion King is my all time favorite.
The prices are through the roof. I looked into doing a midweek day trip this summer and the seats were over $200 each.
The prices are through the roof. I looked into doing a midweek day trip this summer and the seats were over $200 each.
Anonymous
05/20/2025 14:52
Subject: NYC - Broadway shows
Anonymous wrote:If they're theater kids I might also consider Outsiders, Operation Mincemeat, or Maybe Happy Ending.
They are looking at seeing the typical Disney fluff that's been on Broadway for decades. They are not theater kids. (Not that there's anything wrong with that!)
Anonymous
05/20/2025 12:19
Subject: NYC - Broadway shows
If they're theater kids I might also consider Outsiders, Operation Mincemeat, or Maybe Happy Ending.
Anonymous
05/20/2025 12:06
Subject: NYC - Broadway shows
If you're flexible about shows you could try rush, TodayTix, or the TKTS booth. If you want to see a hot ticket show (Wicked has been one because of the movie) you may need to book ahead.