Broadway suggestions?
 

Family of 4 will be traveling to NYC at the beginning of August. This is our first trip there and I would like to go see something on Broadway. What would be suitable for teenage boys, 13 and 16 that they would enjoy? Also interested in restaurants around Times Square and the Theatre District for after the play. Thanks to all.

Was in NYC this past weekend. We saw The Lion King. Not really sure how difficult it is to get tickets because we received our tickets as a gift. Bit O have to assume that if you call a ticket agency now you will be able to purchase tickets for August. I must say this is the best play that we have even seen. It is suitable for all ages and is simply spectacular.....for all ages! A must see!!!! We had dinner in Little Italy where there were dozens or wonderful restaurants and went to Ferrara's for coffee and pastry after dinner. Not only was the food wonderful it was fun and a great place to walk around seeing the sights and enjoying the ambiance. We went to the Red Eye Grille on Sunday for Brunch. It was excellent as well. There are really hundreds and hundreds of wonderful choices in NYC. It really is a great place to visit.....I'm sure your boys will absolutely love it! <BR>

Depends on your teens, I know some teens do not like The Lion King, if you could even get tickets -- very difficult. Either they think it's too juvenile or too adult. I think adults tend to like it the most, followed by younger kids and then teens. How about Miss Saigon -- it's pretty adult, but if they are into serious movies and movies about war, I think they would be overwhelmed. Too bad Bring in de Noise, Bring in de Funk is over, that would have been perfect!! There is the new Savion Glover show Keep Bangin', but it is down in the Village. Still might make for a nice evening or even a matinee.

If you're at all interested in getting tickets for The Lion King, do it now! If you're lucky, you may get them. If you wait, you won't. <BR>Other than that show, you can wait on getting tickets for anything else. Probably the most "appropriate" shows for teenagers are "Footloose" and "Saturday Night Fever." Neither are great shows, but kids would probably enjoy. Also, Off-Broadway's "Stomp." However, those tickets are easy to get, and I'd wait until maybe June before deciding. ("Footloose" may be closed by then.) <BR>Otherwise, I really don't think they'd enjoy any others and/or the others are probably inappropriate for their ages.

I think there are plenty of shows your children might enjoy. I find it amusing when people think teens should be restricted to "teen-like" shows such as Footloose. How about some of the "big" shows like Phantom or Les Mis? Both are fabulous. My husband and I saw Jekyll and Hyde this past weekend and enjoyed it very much. It is violent - several murders. However, children your boys' ages should do just fine.

Marsha, <BR> <BR>If the blue man Group is still in NYC absolutely your teens would love it...it is very offbeat performance art that is totally wild, fun, eclectic, amazing music, hilarious, irreverent, etc....we saw the Blue men in Chicago last summer with our 4 children (ages 10 to 15 and a 16 year old Spanish foreign exchange student) all the kids agreed it was totally the highlight of the summer. I am certain they have a website...just look under "blueman" or something similar. Good Luck, maria

Ilisa, I'm not restricting recommendations to "teen-like" show. I honestly don't think a 13-year-old would enjoy Les Miz or Phantom nearly as much (if at all) as the three I mentioned and one I forgot, Blue Man Group, which Maria recommended. And that one's a great choice. (As for Jekyl & Hyde, I just think it's a lousy show! To each his own.) <BR>After reading Maria's post, I think she's right, Blue Man Group is a great recommendation for teenagers. <BR>As for restaurants after the theater, you might try Joe Allen's on 46th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues. It's kind of a show biz-type spot, with decent prices. And, if you're lucky, you might spot a celebrity or two after the theater in there. Would suggest reservations for post-theater dining.

Postscript to the above comments: Both Blue Man Group and Stomp are playing in the Greenwich Village area. (I notice you mention about going to the theater on Broadway and Greenwich Village is nearly 2 miles south). However, that shouldn't stop you, as you could find a lot interesting dining places down there, and your sons would probably find the area very interesting.

My first answer got lost so I'll try again. I agree with Ilisa--teens of my acquaintance like a broad range of plays. Les Mis was so popular when it first came out that lots of them 13 and up talked their parents into going more than once. How about "Aida," a musical from the producers of Lion King that we saw previewing in Chicago last Thanksgiving? It was on its way to Broadway to open (February? March?) and our party included 5 children aged 9 to 19 who all loved it. I think the harder thing to decide is the appropriate aspect.

Do the boys like Italian? If so, try Becco's for dinner where you get wonderful unlimited three pastas served from pans at your table until you would burst--and it is truly some of the best pasta anywhere. It's on restaurant row --west 46th street. Also there is Carmine's on 45th right off Times Square, family style Italian, jammed with people and lots of young folks. But my favorite "cheap eats" place is Virgil's Real BarBQ, on 45Th, (I think), or is it 44th? just east of Times Square. The name says it all. And yes, it's hard to top Joe Allen's for a show biz "buzz".

Another suggestion: <BR> <BR>Make advanced reservations for the NEW Hayden Planetarium at The Museum of Natural history. <BR>It just opened last week, and it is the most advanced planetarium in the world. The building is a 8 story all glass cube with a aluminum golbe 'floating' inside the cube- the plantarium is inside the globe. YOur boys will 'LOVE ' the Planetarium.

Just returned from NYC where we took our two teens, 13 and 15 to see Les Mis. They enjoyed it very much, but be advised that it is 3 hours, 15 minutes so be sure to eat before the shoe. They enjoyed Phantom a few months ago. Music Man will be opening in April and I am sure they would love that. My kids didn't care much for the planetarium and I will say the exhibits are really more technical than interesting. Your kids might like a performance at Carnegie Hall, depending on what is playing.

We were in NY in Sept....Went down to the theater where the Lion King is playing -- around 8 am --- we were the first there... got 2 cancellation tickets in 35 minutes for the 3rd row for $85. I have since let others know about this and so far--their luck for getting great seats via the cancellation line has also been successful. Good luck.