Rare treat: suggestions for show?

[miatamel]

Posted: 9/1/16 at 5:00pm

I'm bringing my two girls, 12 and 15, to see Hamilton (thanks to you guys I got tickets after the Tony's!) 9/21 from the Deep South.  This is a rare treat and we are thinking now that we'd like to see another show on one of the three nights we are there.  Can you recommend one for us, a relative Broadway novice?
I was thinking of:
Matilda
Lion King
Aladdin
Chicago (because they love the movie music)

Open to any suggestions or opinions.
Thanks so much!

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 9/1/16 at 5:02pm

The Color Purple.

[rangersrule132]

Posted: 9/1/16 at 5:08pm

The Color Purple if they truly enjoy powerful vocal performance and are alright with a minimalistic production. I would say CATS if you are looking for a spectacle. Moreover CATS is a show that does kinda require an appreciation for dance as thats what the shows core really is. It would be a cool idea for them to compare choreography of both andy blankenbuehler shows. But if they don't care much for dance then I would most most definitely recommend The Color Purple.

Updated On: 9/1/16 at 05:08 PM

[Leaf Coneybear]

Posted: 9/1/16 at 5:21pm

Probably a little mature for your 12 year old, but Waitress is absolutely amazing.

[Valentina3]

Posted: 9/1/16 at 6:37pm

I'd personally recommend you not waste your money on The Lion King. The stage show is not very good. Especially if you're watching Hamilton in the same trip. 

If you all haven't seen it, I'd recommend watching Wicked. It's a fantastic show, and actually smart.

I agree with The Color Purple suggestion. I cannot recommend that show enough to literally anyone, but it will be exceptionally powerful and meaningful to teen and pre-teen girls. You can get good discounts too, which helps if you're planning on so many shows. :)

??????

??

[miatamel]

Posted: 9/1/16 at 7:13pm

We saw Wicked a couple of years ago and they loved it (of course).
I didn't consider The Color Purple because I was afraid some of it would be too mature for the 12 year old?  (We live in a very small town and homeschool so she's probably not as worldly as she might be otherwise, if that makes sense).

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/1/16 at 7:21pm

It is more tame than the book or film.  I just too my 15 son, and he loved it.  The Color Purple is really a phenomenal  show.

 

From your list, the only show I can fully recommend doing us Matilda.  It's got some wonderful staging  and it's a delight.

 

I'd still go with Purple.

Posted: 9/1/16 at 8:04pm

Matilda is a great show and most kids love it.

Updated On: 9/1/16 at 08:04 PM

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 9/1/16 at 8:17pm

Matilda for sure.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 9/1/16 at 8:31pm

Don't miss The Color Purple if you can see it. That's just a general guideline for anybody coming to Broadway. Parental guidance is totally up to you, of course, but it's one of the greatest triumphs to ever grace the stage.

Of the options you've listed, though, Matilda would be the best bet.

[verdigris]

Posted: 9/1/16 at 9:31pm

I highly recommend Matilda!

[AHLiebross]

Posted: 9/1/16 at 11:16pm

The Phantom of the Opera, if they haven't seen it. Sure, it's a spectacle, but it's still a lovely afternoon or evening of theatre. The singing, music, and dancing are fabulous, and the theme concerns the effects of bullying. Also, the original version (the one in NY, London, and on international tour) is, in my view, so different from the touring version in North America, that the latter changes the story. The touring version is grimmer and leaves a huge question regarding whether Raoul truly loves Christine or is merely trying to stop her from killing herself. The Phantom in the tour is violent towards Christine, and the presentation of "The Music of the Night" is underwhelming. The visual spectacle in the "Masquerade" scene is dumbed down. As a result, seeing the show on Broadway is a far superior experience, in my opinion.

Audrey

[¿Macavity?]

Posted: 9/2/16 at 12:01am

Of course my vote is for Matilda. It's such a good show, for all ages. It has a bit of something for everyone.

[A Director]

Posted: 9/2/16 at 12:23am

Take your daughters to see Fiddler on the Roof.

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 9/2/16 at 12:42am

Actually, I would agree with Fiddler on the Roof as well. It's a classic for a reason, this is a fine production and there are a lot of young female characters learning to find their own path in life that could really speak to them. And it should be reasonably easy to get really good seats at a discount.

[NZBOY2]

Posted: 9/2/16 at 7:14pm

Didn't The Lion King get like 6 tonys!

[freewilma]

Posted: 9/2/16 at 7:16pm

Middle schoolers love Aladdin.  High Schoolers like Aladdin too....but LOVE School of Rock.  

[NZBOY2]

Posted: 9/2/16 at 7:21pm

Would Something Rotten be too adult

[uncageg]

Posted: 9/2/16 at 9:01pm

I would suggest Matilda, since it will be closing at the end of the year or Phantom of the Opera. Phantom will be around for a long time but well worth seeing.

The Color Purple is incredible but if this is a rare treat I would go for something lighter than The Color Purple. Hamilton is serious enough but it is also the hottest ticket in town.

Or, go for Chicago if they Iove the music. It is not a spectacle but they may love getting to experience the music they love in the live show.

 

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 9/2/16 at 9:26pm

I'd definitely say School of Rock, Matilda, or Aladdin. School of Rock has a lot of heart and energy to it, Matilda has wonder and whimsy (but if you live near a touring stop and it's coming - you can also see it on tour) and Aladdin is just pure magic and spectacle. 

Updated On: 9/2/16 at 09:26 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/2/16 at 9:55pm

Matilda

[sydney16]

Posted: 9/2/16 at 11:02pm

Out of the shows you listed, I would recommend Aladdin. Last year, when I was 15 and my sister was 12 we saw Matilda with our mom and Aladdin with our whole family. My mom and I preferred Aladdin (a large part of that was due to James Monroe Iglehart - his performance pretty much makes the show). I agree with ClumsyDude15 who said that "Aladdin is just pure magic and spectacle" - it was such a lighthearted and joyful show. My now 13-year-old sister was a HUGE fan of Matilda the movie (she used to watch it over and over again) but I asked her just now and she said that she actually likes Aladdin and Matilda equally. For some reason people on this board seem to not like Aladdin, but my entire family (3 teens, 1 tween, and 2 adults) loved it (and liked it much better than The Lion King). Both are great shows, though, so you can't really go wrong with either - Matilda is more cute and quirky, while Aladdin is a spectacle.

Out of all shows on Broadway, though, I would recommend Wicked! I haven't seen The Color Purple yet, but it sounds like a good option, too, from what I've read about it. It doesn't seem to have the glitz and glamour that other Broadway shows do - for that, I can't imagine taking my 13-year-old sister to it (who is generally apathetic about seeing Broadway shows) but I would love to see it myself.

Updated On: 9/3/16 at 11:02 PM

[miatamel]

Posted: 9/3/16 at 2:34pm

Thank you all SO SO much for the suggestions and opinions!

School of Rock would have definitely been high on the list but they aren't playing the night we could go (9/22).

My 12 year old has been dancing since she was 3 and is the creative/artistic one.  My 15 year old is the intellect/reader with two left feet so it's hard to find one they would both like since they are polar opposites.  That would be why I'm ruling Cats out.  I'm ruling out Phantom because...well, Weber...sorry Weber fans!  The 15 year old would have loved to have seen Rotten but the 12 year old would be bored stiff (I'm actually dragging her to Hamilton, go figure).

Some of you have mentioned discounts codes and the likes.  Can y'all tell me where to find those or how that works?  Should I wait and buy tickets once we get to the city and perhaps there are discounts from our hotel concierge or is there a place to find them to buy ahead of time?  I guess I have narrowed it down to Aladdin, Matilda or CP.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 9/3/16 at 2:39pm

Of those three, miatamel, I would definitely pick between Color Purple and Matilda. Aladdin is truly not worth it, especially compared to your other two options (I would personally still say CP).

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 9/3/16 at 4:21pm

In terms of discounts, Matilda is more likely to have them over Aladdin. I feel like Aladdin would be better because it really does grasp your attention and when James Monroe is on stage as the Genie it's hard to not be enchanted by his charms (I also find Adam Jacobs and Courtney Reed as Aladdin and Jasmine respectfully charming, too). Matilda is wonderful and does have a whimsy to it, as well. It is a very smartly written show that works for both adults and kids. It's really your call, but I'm just throwing out my two cents because no matter which of the two you choose you're in for a fun evening.