I'm considering tickets to either Blue Man or jersey boys in Chicago for our family of 2 boys 10, 8 yrs and 14 yr old daughter. Would boys enjoy Jersey Boys?? Also, only tickets available right now are listed as either balcony obstructed view and aisle only(?) obstructed view. Does anyone know if these seats are worth the $$.

I'm also considering just seeing whats available at the day of show discount booth. does anyone know where the discount booth is and if there is a good selection of shows available??

Thanks for any input!

You are very unlikely to find Jersey Boys or Wicked tickets at Hot Tix as both shows are still selling out.

Jersey Boys sells the 10 seats in the front row beginning at 10 am the day of the performance for $25 each. The line begins forming around 8 or so and each person can buy two tickets. Check www.broadwayinchicago.com for complete info. As the show site says, the performance contains authentic New Jersey language so you may need to decide if it's appropriate for your boys.

Hot Tix booths are in the Cultural Center at East Randolph & Michigan or the Water Works Visitor Center at Michigan & Pierson. The shows that are available vary day-by-day. If a theatre has a large number of unsold seats for that day's performances, they'll make a percentage available to the discount sellers. If it looks as though the seats will sell for full-price, they'll hold them. You can check what's available each day at www.hottix.org.

I loved Jersey Boys--mostly the music--didn't care about the story line; didn't quite "get" Blue Man Group; but I think it would be just the opposite for younger kids. They'd like the antics of Blue Man Group.

Personally, I wouldn't buy obstructed view tickets.....

As adults we loved Jersey Boys and enjoyed Blue Man group. Watching the kids around us, I think they would like Blue Man Group better. Also, wouldn't get obstructed view seats.

For those ages, I'd agree that Blue Man is probably the way to go. The language in Jersey Boys is a little rough (lots of f-bombs.)

However, I believe that "obstructed view" seats mean that you miss some not very important images on a video screen. I'd call the theater to double check, but I don't think you miss any of the singing or acting. I've seen the show once with obstructed view, and it truly was no big deal (and I'm generally very picky about such things.) Also, if you want better seats, it might be possible if you split up your family (sitting 2 and 3, instead of 5 in a row.)

Either way, enjoy the show!

I wouldn't bring my grandkids that age to Jersey Boys. The language is way too gross- kind of as on the order of the Sopranos, if you every saw that program. Maybe even heavier overall.

Kids that age love, love Wicked. Even my grandsons did of 8 and 9 and the girls absolutely flipped.

Blue Man Group is goofy and IMHO, horribly overpriced- but if you like slapstick- and if they do- they will probably like it.

Personally, I wouldn't recommend any of these when there are better options available for less $$, IMHO.

When are you visiting?

If before August 10, I highly, highly recommend Cirque du Soleil's Kooza. I was just there for the Saturday afternoon performance (sold out) and saw many children of your family's ages in the audience.

If you go to the Travelzoo website, you'll see that there are still some discounted tickets (30% off) available for certain tiers and dates (NOTE: July 1-August 1 with black-outs).

If these are beyond your means or don't fit in with the schedule, then consider Cirque Shanghai's Gold over at Navy Pier.

Thanks for your replies. I went ahead and got tickets for Blue Man Group. I think the boys especially will love it. I found tickets on the main floor "poncho seat" area. After reading some of the threads, I'm wondering if I'll regret this. What is the extent of the paint/food that gets thrown into the audience?? Do we need to wear old t-shirts?

I would agree that there's lots of objectionable language in Jersey Boys, but the kids probably won't notice or remember it. Overall, this show is absolutely fantastic for the music. There are some "heavy" story lines as well, but again, the kids probably won't pay attention to that either, anticipating the next musical number.

As for obstructed views, I'm not familiar with that particular theater, but this probably means some of the video screen, or perhaps the brass section which appears toward the end, are not totally visible from those seats. I wouldn't worry about it.

Thanks "princess" for the remarks re: Kooza. We are really looking forward to this in Boston!

We loved the "Blue Man Group".

My husband and adult daughter and I were in Vegas for the Celine show last year. We purchased the tickets at the 1/2 off booth and went at 10:00pm after another show. "Blue Man" kept us wide awake with fun.

Your boys will love it! Your older clothes idea might be good. They do love to throw the paint.

Save Jersey Boys for the adults (definitely worth finding a childcare provider - It is one of my FAVORITES, but I'm in the 30-40 year old range). Jersey Boys has illicit language, sexual connotations, and reference to spending time in jail. On the other hand, Blue Man Group will be entertaining for the kids (first of all, they're blue! And furthermore, described as a supremely silly, long-running performance featuring music, gags, video, flying food, flying paint, and lots and lots of paper - what kid wouldn't want to see that?

I have kids the same age and I did take them to see Wicked, Mamma Mia and Legally Blonde, but only after checking reviews posted by other parents online. My main concern was adult content. Checking online reviews provided me with enough information that I knew NOT to allow my children to read the book "Wicked" first (more illicit than the stage). But seeing the show was okay - only suggested for 8 and older. And it was. I read the book and saw the production and can report back that most reviews were dead on.

Here's one site that was useful. Keep in mind that this link is based in NY, not Chicago, but it will give you a good idea of what parents and non-parents think and most productions do not change dialogue or props, usually only cast members, from city to city. You can change the search criteria in the box titled "Show Search" in the upper right hand corner.

http://www.broadwaybox.com/reviews/t...s_reviews.aspx

djkbooks, you're very welcome.

If I could, I'd leap over to Boston to visit again this September, but the gods are against me!

Since I can't, I'll just leave a crytic message of three words for you: "Wheel of Death".