A while back, I had heard about
Kids' Night On Broadway, but I thought it would be too much of a hassle to take my kids to NYC. This past winter I changed my mind. My older son and daughter had been talking about wanting to see Wicked, so I decided to make it happen. I also got a ticket for my younger son, as I didn't want to leave him out. He was reluctant to see it at first, but then he still went along with us, as I promised him a visit to the
National Museum of Mathematics (MO Math) before the show.
The morning of the trip, we took a Vamoose bus to NYC. It was a relatively smooth ride, but the sockets didn't work to charge our phones and other devices. That was rather annoying. After we arrived, we checked into our hotel (Hampton Times Square South) and then had a quick lunch and we were off to MO Math. I wasn't really sure what to expect when we got there. I had researched it online, but it was even more incredible in person. Everything was hands-on and interactive. The kids couldn't get enough of the place. Some highlights were the basketball machine, the painting screen, the floor that had different electronic puzzles, and the 15 game. I had a very hard time getting them to leave when it was time to head back to the hotel to change for dinner and the show.
 |
| Painting screen |
 |
| Floor with electronic puzzles |
 |
A very frustrating challenge, but my son liked it.
|
After we had some time to rest and get ready, we met up with one of my friends at Mr. Broadway. I haven't seen this friend since 1990, but it was like no time had been lost. We had reconnected via Facebook a few years ago and it was really nice to meet up in person again!
After dinner, we made our way over to the Gershwin Theater. The streets were so busy and crowded, but well-lit thanks to all the electronic signs around Times Square. We just barely got to the theater on time and had maybe five minutes before the show started to find our seats. This was my third time seeing Wicked, but the first for my kids. However, it felt like the first time for me, since I last saw it in 2005. I didn't know any of the actors, but they all did an amazing job. Amanda Jane Cooper reminded me a lot of Kristin Chenoweth. We saw a standby for Elphaba (Mariand Torres), but she gave an emotional and powerful performance. The guy who played Fiyero (Ashley Parker Angel) was cute, but had too much of a boy band appeal to him (which is ironic since I first saw Joey McIntyre in the role). By the last quarter of act two, I was crying non-stop. I also never gave much thought to how politically relevant it is in this day and age. When I last saw it, that wouldn't have crossed my mind as much as it does now.
After the show, Mariand addressed all the kids there and told them how she first saw Wicked as a kid and her best friend told her she'd be on that stage someday. It was very inspiring for my older son, who wants to be on Broadway when he's an adult. My younger son gave the show a chance, which is all I could hope for. He even laughed a lot during some parts and actually got into the story. (He had a lot of questions!) My daughter loved it and was singing "Defying Gravity" afterward.
 |
| Younger son's pre-show face |
After we made our way out of the theater, we waited with a small group to meet the cast. We got to meet Amanda, Mariand, Kristen Martin (Nessarose) and Isabel Keating (Madame Morrible). Everyone was so nice to the kids. My younger son wanted nothing to do with meeting the cast and was being impatient, but my older son was living it up. The actresses adored him and Mariand commented on how nicely he was dressed. My daughter was a bit shy about meeting everyone, but did get in one picture.
 |
| Kristen Martin |
 |
| Isabel Keating |
 |
| Amanda Jane Cooper |
 |
| Mariand Torres |
The hotel stay was fine. The room was about as tight as our room on the cruise last year, but the beds were comfortable and they had hot cocoa in the dining area, so that was a perk for the kids.
The next morning, I woke up a bit early and watched
This is Us before we had to get ready. Then we all got ourselves together and went out for breakfast next to the bus stop. We met up with two of my close friends there (
L.R. and
A.S.). It was nice to catch up with them and they got along really well with each other.
 |
| L.R. on the left, A.S. on the right |
 |
| With the birthday girl (even though L.R.'s birthday was that week too) |
After breakfast, we caught the bus back home (this time the sockets worked) and someone fell asleep for part of the trip. (I will admit I got in a tiny nap too.)
 |
| Yes, she's wearing a Greatest Showman shirt. |
Overall, it was a great trip and one I'll be thinking back upon and smiling. If I decide to do this again, I'd probably find a show all three kids could agree on and also would see if my husband wanted to be a part of things. I would definitely recommend doing Kids Night On Broadway (kids see shows for free, so tickets end up being half-price) and just making the time to go out there for a day or so. And while you're there, go to MO Math. :)
