Broadway with teenagers
 

Any ideas for Broadway shows in April for family of four with 2 teenagers? Girl 14 boy 16.. was thinking Hairspray/Is he Dead/Rent.? Know daughter would love Legally Blonde...but son might gag at the thought

Alphabetically: Grease, Hairspray or Rent.

Rent is closing on June 1, so you can expect this to be a hot ticket until then. If you want to see it, you should buy tickets now.

Add Spring Awakening to your list ... infinitely better than Legally Blonde. Hairspray is great fun; Grease I guess one could stomach, but not my favorite show by any means. Also consider Xanadu, excellent and very entertaining.

If you choose "Spring Awakening," please read about it first to be sure you are comfortable with what your kids will be seeing onstage.

My daughter has seen it several times, the first when she was 14 like yours, and loves it. But, do educate yourself first on it.

Doug is correct about Grease not being the greatest show, but for young teenagers, it fills the entertainment bill and then some!

There was an article in the NY Times about 6 weeks ago regarding the appeal of Broadway shows to 12 and 13 year old girls. (Spring Awakening and others being the exceptions.)

There are brief descriptions of all Broadway musicals and plays in Time Out NY, New York, New Yorker, NY Times among others. Maybe your son could read them before deciding. Or just drop him off at ESPN Zone.

It is off Broadway but I've talking kids of all ages to see "STOMP".

How about Lion King? I have heard Spring Awakening is good, but has "mature" themes, as does Rent. I haven't seen it, so I can't recommend, but Young Frankenstein might work.

I would do Rent if you can get it, then Hairspray. I don't get Lion King except for little kids - but I know I'm in the minority (we didn't walk out since we had taken a niece and nephew).

I'd do Rent, it's an institution. I saw it the first time with my mom and 16 y.o. brother when I was 13, and if your teens are mature, they'll be fine. Spring Awakening is WONDERFUL but adult for sure (sex, abortion, implied sexual assault and suicide - but tastefully done, if that makes sense.) When it came out it was deemed "the new Rent." Again, depends on the comfort of your family.

Hairspray would be fun, as would Wicked, if you can get tickets. Lion King is breathtaking in its staging and costumes, but not the greatest story and music compared to other shows, in my opinion.

Bethke14, once again Rent is closing, so it is NOT an option for the poster going in April.

Glasgowgirl, the offBroadway show AltarBoyz is another option the teens will love. Discounted tickets at about $59 are available through June. See playbill.com.

NeoPatrick, according to Doug's post, Rent isn't closing until June 1st, so in fact it IS an option for April.

I, personally, would not take kids that age to see Spring Awakening or Rent.

Rent is closing June 1, 2008. I thought the OP meant April of this year - if they are going April 2009, then it will be closed.

I agree that Altarboyz is very funny, and would be topical for teens, since it mocks the whole boy band concept. Apparently, they actually sell $25 tickets to each show at the box office.

Now that I think about it, I was probably 14 or 15 the first time I saw Rent, so maybe it's not too mature after all. If I had to choose, I'd go with Rent. As mentioned, it doesnt close until June, so it will still be around in April.

No one here mentioned Spamalot. Its very funny and now stars Clay Aiken- of American Idol fame.

Unless the kids are VEY naive and sheltered they should be fine with both shows. We too my 12 year old nephew and a friend to Rent and they both lived it. (Granted they are city kids - but how naive are any teens with the availability of anything on TV and the internet?)

I wrote about this recently on another forum, but my husband & I just saw Grease and thought most high schools could do as good as job. Don't waste your money on it unless your kids REALLY like the idea of seeing the stars from NBC's "You're the One That I Want.," who, by the way, did a lousy job. We also saw Mama Mia which was a lot of fun and although it had it share of raunchy moments, overall it was a really upbeat happy show. Your daughter would love it because they're planning a wedding, and your son? Yeah, I'd drop him & your husband off at ESPN zone! Actually, I'd try hard for tickets to Lion King or maybe Little Mermaid, though I hear that's gotten lousy reviews across the board.

We all saw Mamma Mia in London when my kids were, I think, 15 (girl) and 17 (boy) and we all absolutely loved it. (didn't have the same appeal second time around in San Jose, but the first time was a hoot - everybody up in their seats dancing and singing....just a fun fun night)

I'd rethink Legally Blonde- my DH loved it, and i never ever thought he would. I think guys would get a kick out of it as much as girls-- moreso than the movie. I second Spamalot.

I decided to take everyone's advice myself and went to see Spring Awakening tonight. It was good, but yikes, I think it would be seriously uncomfortable for parents and young teens to see together.

I saw Hairspray and recommended it. I was disappointed in Grease.

I second the vote for Spamalot. We've seen the one in London and the entire family was laughing constantly. Very funny, but you have to be a Monty Python fan I guess to appreciate most of it.

I don't see that anyone mentioned Wicked. I know what you're thinking, but my son said it was okay and the rest of us loved it. We've seen it 3 times now.

Stomp is very loud, but very entertaining as well. It is easier to get tickets for as well.

Look up broadwaybox online for great discounts on all shows. I use it for NY and London.