BWW JR: You Never Forget Your First Broadway Show

 

One of my favorite mom friends just took her three boys to see their first Broadway show and was kind enough to write about the experience.  I hope this account brings back memories of your "first" as it did for me.  (Peter Pan with Sandy Duncan circa 1980).  Thanks, Julie, for your contribution to BWW Jr. 

-Erin Leigh Peck

YOU NEVER FORGET YOUR FIRST BROADWAY SHOW

by guest writer Julie Jacobs

I am a huge theater fan.  I try to get to see at least one show a month.  However, I am in a "mixed marriage" --my husband was ruined when he was younger since his grandmother would make him get dressed up in a blazer to take him to see shows.  Now he associates live theater with uncomfortable clothes.  So I have my "theater dates" and I leave my husband at home with our three boys.... seven-year-old Jasper and twin four-year-olds Zane and Lucas.

When I  found out I was having two more boys, I thought I would have to give up my future pedicures, pink frilly dresses and Broadway shows.  But much to my delight, my son Lucas is proving me wrong.  Still no pedicures and pink filly dresses but, boy, does that kid like a good show.

I didn't want to bring him to see a Broadway show until he was good and ready (the thought of him having a temper tantrum during the overture gave me the willies).  However, I found the perfect opportunity.  Lucas, despite being a very sweet natured kid, absolutely refused to be toilet trained.  I won't go into details here...just know that it was a struggle.  At the time, he was very into Mary Poppins so I had an idea.  I had a close friend who has done a lot of theater don a fake English accent and called him as the great nanny herself to tell him that if he listened to his mommy "spit spot" and went in the potty, he would get to come and meet her.   The kid had a grin from ear to ear.  Slowly but surely, he started to do his thing in the "most delightful way", encouraged with a few nudges that Mary would or would not be happy with his progress.  (I think he knew the whole time that it was all a ploy but he seemed to play along).

As promised, I took him to see Mary Poppins.  He agreed that it was only fair to bring his brothers along too.  I was thrilled, and even got my not-a-theater-fan-husband to join us.  All morning, Lucas kept asking "are we going to miss any of the show?" (he had been scarred by a late arrival for a circus a few months earlier).  So we made sure to leave plenty of time.

The excitement was building as we walked down 42nd Street.   I had decided to splurge on orchestra seats (having blundered before on balcony seats for a Yo Gabba Gabba concert...Jasper was not happy that we missed out on interacting with DJ Lance).  It was worth it.  The boys were enthralled by the size of the theater, and Lucas was beside himself waiting for it to start.  I told him that he would always remember this day just as I always remember going to see my first show (Grease in 1976).

I had told the kids to listen for the sounds of the instruments warming up and I got such a thrill when we heard the familiar notes starting up.  The twins, Zane and Lucas, crawled into my lap and we were all mesmerized by the colors, dancing and singing that greeted us.  The kids would point out anything they noticed that was different from the movie but luckily they were not bothered by the differences.  Zane had a billion questions about what he was seeing so there was a lot of ssshing going on, but clearly he was engaged.

By the way, one thing that made me realize that having boys isn't so bad came at intermission.  All three boys went with my husband to the bathroom while I went alone to the ladies' room.  The four of them were able to use the facilities, get a snack and get settled back in their seats all before I got back from waiting on the (very) long ladies' line.  Luckily, they saved me a Twizzler.

Probably the most shocking part of all was that Jasper happily sat through the whole thing (same kid who couldn't make it through a 90-minute animated film).  Gotta love live theater!  There really is nothing like seeing actors a few feet in front of you singing and dancing.  And when Bert danced upside down from the ceiling?  Doesn't get better than that.

After the curtain call, I told the boys that I had a special surprise.  I had contacted a friend-of-a-friend whose son was playing Michael Banks, and they offered to give us a backstage tour after the show!  We trudged around the corner in the snow and who was waiting for us outside but Mr. Michael Banks (a.k.a. Ethan Haberfield).  He and his mother Leorah ushered us inside and Ethan happily started pointing out all the interesting props and scenery.  Jasper, Zane and Lucas were giddy listening.  There was the living room set and there was the green dog that we saw in "Jolly Holiday" and best of all, there was Mary Poppins herself (she was giving her own tour to friends).   Jasper was filled with questions and Ethan could not have been sweeter.  Lucas was curious to know how they "made Ethan smaller on stage".  Hmm, how to explain perspective to a 4-year-old?

Of course, now I'm worried that my boys will be jaded having had such an incredible first experience with Broadway. But at least I have them hooked!  We are already arguing about which show we will go to next.

ABOUT JULIE JACOBS:

Julie Jacobs lives in New York with her husband, writer A.J. Jacobs, and their three boys.  Her fourth "baby" is Watson Adventures Scavenger Hunts which she helped develop and now serves as the Director of Sales and Marketing.  Watson Adventures organizes fun and informative scavenger hunts throughout the country giving hunters a unique way to explore a neighborhood or museum. She is very proud to say that more than 150,000 people have participated in a hunt!  Check out www.watsonadventures.com for more information.