broadway show rent for 12 and 13 year old?
Sep 26th, 2006, 05:04 AM
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broadway show rent for 12 and 13 year old?
is Rent appropriate for pre teens? We are going to NY for Thanksgiving and I would really like to get tickets to a Broadway play. We have seen Hairspray and Dirty Rotten scoundrels and loved them. We sqaw Spelling Bee and didn't like it, I think we were the only ones. We would love to see Wicked but it is sold out for the week we are there. We are considering Rent or Chorus Line. I am leaning towards rent because my kids don't like dancing so much. My father who lives in NY says it doesn't matter that it is a fantastic musical, but i am hesitant. My kids love rock music so Rent would seem to be a great choice, I am only worried that it may be too age inappropriate. Has anyone out there taken their pre teens to see it?Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.
Sep 26th, 2006, 05:17 AM
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If you're concerned about the mature subject matter (AIDS, non-marrieds living together, homosexuality, and drag queens), then the decision has to be yours as a parent. However, it's all pretty mild as a musical, and it's more about the bohemian spirit than all that stuff. I've always felt it was a rousing rock musical, and I'm sure your kids would like that part. (It's always very very loud, and you may not like that part).
However, A Chorus Line is very much a more traditional musical with many of the same mature themes, and I think it will appeal to your kids much less than Rent. Plus, A Chorus Line is really about the dancing, which is a major part of the show. I also doubt you could get good seats for Thanksgiving week ... it's pretty late for those in a big new musical.
I hope this helps. On the other hand, Mary Poppins is opening this fall, and it would be much more appealing to your kids, though I doubt that tickets are available for Thanksgiving week.
However, A Chorus Line is very much a more traditional musical with many of the same mature themes, and I think it will appeal to your kids much less than Rent. Plus, A Chorus Line is really about the dancing, which is a major part of the show. I also doubt you could get good seats for Thanksgiving week ... it's pretty late for those in a big new musical.
I hope this helps. On the other hand, Mary Poppins is opening this fall, and it would be much more appealing to your kids, though I doubt that tickets are available for Thanksgiving week.
Sep 26th, 2006, 05:18 AM
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If they survived the colorful language and sexual inuendo in DRS than you may find Rent to be ok. It depends on your point of view. Rent is darker and touches on the subjects of drug use, AIDS, and transsexuality. Can you view the movie first to get an idea before you buy tickets?
Sep 26th, 2006, 07:15 AM
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I saw the traveling company in Houston several years back and I didn't find it to be very uplifting. Yes the nature of the musical is more for adult audiences. I think there are other muscicals that would be more preteen friendly. My two personal favorites are Beauty and The Beast and Les Miserables.
Sep 26th, 2006, 09:20 AM
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I took my 12 year old nephew and a friend for his birthday and they both loved it. But they're NYC kids - and not super sheltered. If your kids are from a fairly open environment (and/or have ever seen MTV) nothing in the show will surpirse them - and I can;t imagine they will not enjoy it.
Sep 26th, 2006, 10:34 AM
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I've seen Rent and I disagree. It was a downer all around.
I would go with Chorus Line between these two choices- it's just better on all counts. So much more about aspirations instead of addictions and tragedy- and the music is better, IMHO.
Do you think using pot/drug use is just an acceptable rite of passage or do you feel that personal responsibility calls for another role model and optimal behavior? I don't think it has anything to do with being sheltered or not- nearly all kids see drug use and know people have gender problems in 2006.
My objection would not be that they are "sheltered" but that they view context of these issues within your own belief systems.
I would not take my Grandchildren to Rent, not because of the subject matter, just because it is such a downer. And I love Rock, and hated the music. It seems like noise to me.
I would go with Chorus Line between these two choices- it's just better on all counts. So much more about aspirations instead of addictions and tragedy- and the music is better, IMHO.
Do you think using pot/drug use is just an acceptable rite of passage or do you feel that personal responsibility calls for another role model and optimal behavior? I don't think it has anything to do with being sheltered or not- nearly all kids see drug use and know people have gender problems in 2006.
My objection would not be that they are "sheltered" but that they view context of these issues within your own belief systems.
I would not take my Grandchildren to Rent, not because of the subject matter, just because it is such a downer. And I love Rock, and hated the music. It seems like noise to me.
Sep 26th, 2006, 10:43 AM
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DEFINITELY different strokes for different folks.
Good news = you can rent the movie RENT to get an idea of whether you want to buy tix. Plus = you get to see Idina Menzel who won a Tony for Maureen (and also for Elphaba in Wicked) and almost all of the original cast.
Buy the CD and play it before you go. Your nearly teens will probably very much enjoy the songs and think of them as songs...and not noise.
Rent is no Hairspray, that is for sure. But, if you didn't like Spelling Bee, you probably will enjoy Rent. If you REALLY want to see Wicked, you may want to see if single seat tix are available. Check the week before the show to see if any VIP tix have been released for resale. Probably not, but worth a chance.
Sep 26th, 2006, 02:49 PM
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Chorus Line was a great show. But it is really aimed at adults - and I think that kids that young would have trouble relating to it - since it focuses so much on adults career involvements and disappointments - not something tweens really think about - unless they really enjoy traditional Broadway type dancing.
Sep 26th, 2006, 03:43 PM
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Nancyjacky, I'm interested to know why you didn't like Spelling Bee- perhaps that will give us a sense of what might appeal to you and your kids. Rent is a bit mature for that age group, but then again, your kids may be mature as well!
No one has yet mentioned The Wedding Singer, which perhaps they would enjoy. It is a big, splashy musical in the vein of Hairspray and DRS, but without the concerns about age. They may not get the 80s references, but there should be plenty for them to enjoy.
No one has yet mentioned The Wedding Singer, which perhaps they would enjoy. It is a big, splashy musical in the vein of Hairspray and DRS, but without the concerns about age. They may not get the 80s references, but there should be plenty for them to enjoy.
Sep 26th, 2006, 04:13 PM
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While I'm not a huge fan of Rent, many teens/pre-teens love it. It's a rite-of-passage type show for NY theater kids, that's for sure. If you think the kids are into "thinking" about a show, take them.
If not, Wedding Singer is silly and fun, i guess (I hated it, but many had a great time).
If tickets are available for The Lion King, it's truly a spectacle - Julie Taymor made something so beautiful out of a simple story - it's not Beauty and The Beast and will definitely hold the attention of pre-teens.
Off-broadway, I second Stomp and Blue Man Group and might add Slava's Snowshow to that list.
John
If not, Wedding Singer is silly and fun, i guess (I hated it, but many had a great time).
If tickets are available for The Lion King, it's truly a spectacle - Julie Taymor made something so beautiful out of a simple story - it's not Beauty and The Beast and will definitely hold the attention of pre-teens.
Off-broadway, I second Stomp and Blue Man Group and might add Slava's Snowshow to that list.
John
Sep 27th, 2006, 11:42 AM
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Personally, I'd think of something else, maybe. I think Rent could be okay, or Chorus Line. Both have drawbacks for preteens, I'd say. I really liked both, and loved Chorus Line, but somehow I kind of think there isn't a lot of action in that, it's more a thought piece.
I saw DRS just because John LIthgow is one of my favorite actors, and I thought it was very vulgar in many places. I was appalled, actually, as it was completely unnessary humor and added nothing to the show. I was surprised an actor of Mr. Lithgow's stature would agree to be in it with that script, although the vulgarities were not mainly by his character, but that little guy. A lot of the sexual action and sexual vulgarities that centered around that were not what I would ever take a preteen to. I don't know if those directors think that is just the latest trendiest thing or what is the cause of that. I am not an old curmudgeon, either, and am generally pretty liberal about things, but some of those songs and references in that show were disgusting.
I saw DRS just because John LIthgow is one of my favorite actors, and I thought it was very vulgar in many places. I was appalled, actually, as it was completely unnessary humor and added nothing to the show. I was surprised an actor of Mr. Lithgow's stature would agree to be in it with that script, although the vulgarities were not mainly by his character, but that little guy. A lot of the sexual action and sexual vulgarities that centered around that were not what I would ever take a preteen to. I don't know if those directors think that is just the latest trendiest thing or what is the cause of that. I am not an old curmudgeon, either, and am generally pretty liberal about things, but some of those songs and references in that show were disgusting.
