Would you fly two teens from CA to NY to see Hamilton?

[NYfanfromCA]

Posted: 11/8/15 at 4:55pm

I am thinking of taking my two teenagers out of school in California next fall to see Hamilton.  Am I crazy? I have been listening to the soundtrack since it was released and am seeing the show next month and next May on my own. It is such an amazing story and history lesson!  I think they would love it!  The kids will be 14 and 17 next year, and have never really been to a show before.  I thought it would be a great introduction to Broadway.

I would have to take them out of school for about three days and risk a bit of grumpiness from teachers, buy airfare for the family (4), and find a place to stay for at least four nights.  Would I be better off saving a lot of $$$ (airfare, $1400, hotel $2000, show tickets $2000) and waiting for the tour to come to California some day?   I am thinking that for this show, seeing it in NY would be awesome for them.  I'd try to get tickets to Curious Incident, too, if it was still playing (they both read the book and really enjoyed it).  I would love to take them to see the original cast, but those tickets are long gone.

Sometimes I have these fun ideas, but implementation is usually super challenging.  My kids have never been to NY before but have been to D.C. once.  Do you guys think it is worth it to try?  I'd have to buy show tickets tomorrow morning, yikes!  I am not sure what tickets will even be selling for now!  Your ideas?

[Pootie2]

Posted: 11/8/15 at 4:59pm

Edited: Now seeing OP's response from #10 onward, not a great idea with too many red flags and risks.

Updated On: 11/10/15 at 04:59 PM

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 11/8/15 at 5:06pm

I'm not going to even get into the Hamilton part. I just think speaking as a parent of grown children that it's awesome to plan a special weekend in the middle of the school year when they don't expect it to have a family adventure, their first trip to NY before they both go off to college. Time goes by fast and to be able to share this all together is great. Only you can know if it's worth the cost to your family money wise but it's a wonderful idea if it works out. 

[JoseLee_]

Posted: 11/8/15 at 5:06pm

If you have the money to spend go for it. It will 100% tour. When In the Heights came to LA Lin Manuel Miranda starred in it, maybe he'll do the same for Hamilton.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/8/15 at 5:13pm

I don't understand the part where you take them out of school.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 11/8/15 at 5:15pm

Instead of taking them out of school next fall, why don't you take them when they are off during the summer? I don't think "Hamilton" is sold out thru the entire summer of 2016. 

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 11/8/15 at 5:16pm

I agree with KathyNYC, if you can swing it there is nothing more memorable than a family trip of this kind. Especially if they share the enthusiasm for the show with you... something you can share with them forever. 

Look into planning on a stricter budget if you are worried about the cost of the overall trip. I'm sure airfare and show tickets won't add up to as much as $2000, so you'll save some money there for more activities on your trip. 

I say go for it! 

[nicnyc]

Posted: 11/8/15 at 5:19pm

I would also say you should go for it!  Hamilton is a once in a lifetime experience you & your kids will treasure forever!  My best memories of my childhood are the trips to NYC to see shows.  While I'm sure Hamilton will eventually tour, this production in NYC is incredibly special - and I think it's too special to pass up if you can swing it financially.  Hope you have a wonderful time!

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 11/8/15 at 5:22pm

Wouldn't you want their first exposure to NYC to be a little longer and less hectic, and without the stress of catching up on schoolwork when they get back?

[NYfanfromCA]

Posted: 11/8/15 at 5:27pm

The money is a pretty big deal, so it would have to offset other future vacations and eating out at home, etc.  BUT, *my* desire for them to see this is over-the-top, and I would love for them to fall in love with shows and Broadway and NY like I did.  It would be a worthwhile investment .

If I knew it was going to tour and make it to the West Coast with any of the originals, I might consider it, but I've been disappointed in some of the past tours because of acoustics in the venues.

I really don't know if they would LOVE it, but my daughter has listened to half of the soundtrack and likes it.  My son is learning about the American Revolution in school right now, and he told me the other day that he learned about the Hamilton/Burr duel and wasn't it weird how I was talking about Hamilton and listening to the music at the same time he was learning about it.  I had him listen to the last two songs in the car on the way to school, and I was in tears explaining what was going on to him.  He said it was weird that everything is all connected.  Last summer, we took them to D.C. and then to Williamsburg and Jamestown and Yorktown.  Cool to have been to Yorktown with them, and then to have the battle in Hamilton!

My husband can't get past the third song on the soundtrack, so he's not a fan of rap.  I told him to skip around and then go back, but he hasn't tried again.  I think it will grow on him if he gives it another shot?  Got stuck at "My Shot."

[lite2shine]

Posted: 11/8/15 at 5:27pm

If you can swing it, do it. I took my son when he was 12 yrs old to NYC and DC and we saw War Horse which he enjoyed. He wanted to see BOM but I decided he needs to wait. Since then he saw BOM on tour and will see it again. 

 

However, about the timing, since you are talking kids out from school and spend good load of money, you should get good seats by buying next fall performance that will go on sale tomorrow unless you can get good seats for decent price during next summer. Btw you said they never saw a show before. They don't like the live theatre? I think you should introduce them to local theatre or tour productions to see if they appreciate the theatre or not. I've been taking my son to a live theatre since he was in a grade school. We had a family theatre subscription for several years. 

[NYfanfromCA]

Posted: 11/8/15 at 5:31pm

LizzieCurry said: "Wouldn't you want their first exposure to NYC to be a little longer and less hectic, and without the stress of catching up on schoolwork when they get back?"

I have thought about waiting until Spring Break 2017, which will be in April.  2017 seems like such a long time to wait, though, so that is why I am considering Fall 2016.  Summer would be difficult for my daughter who doesn't do well in heat (special needs with anxiety and sensory issues, among other things).  She loved our D.C. trip last June, but the humidity and high temps were too difficult for her.

 

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/8/15 at 5:34pm

This seems really complicated.  

[lite2shine]

Posted: 11/8/15 at 5:38pm

If your daughter has a sensory issue, you should skip Curious incident. It's sensory overloaded. If your son is 17 now, wouldn't he be busy w college applications next fall though? It seems waiting until spring 2017 is better choice. 

[Theatrefan2]

Posted: 11/8/15 at 5:41pm

That is $5400 for a trip to see Hamilton.   That is quite a bit of money.  You do not say how long you will be taking them out of school but if its really you that wants to see it rather than everyone I would objectively say wait. Do your children love MT that much?  You have said your husband can't get thru the 3rd song and your daughter likes the music - not love.    And talking about the revolution is not seeing Hamilton.  That would be staying longer and doing a proper revolutionary war vacation and some other shows.  Think twice about this. It most certainly will tour.

[macnyc]

Posted: 11/8/15 at 5:42pm

I love Hamilton and I think it's cool you want to do this. However, I would hesitate is one of them is a junior in high school. It's just too important a year to miss school. Early senior year is not a great time either. 

Updated On: 11/8/15 at 05:42 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/8/15 at 5:48pm

And if either of them is going thru the "hate everything about your parents" stage, you might face a crushing disappointment if one of them thinks the show is "just okay."
 

I'd rate for the tour, really.

[haterobics]

Posted: 11/8/15 at 5:54pm

Well, a new block of Hamilton tickets through October 31 goes on sale tomorrow at 10 a.m., so if you plan your dates ASAP, you shouldn't have to pay as much as you would through scalpers.

[NYfanfromCA]

Posted: 11/8/15 at 6:03pm

haterobics said: "Well, a new block of Hamilton tickets through October 31 goes on sale tomorrow at 10 a.m., so if you plan your dates ASAP, you shouldn't have to pay as much as you would through scalpers."

 

Yes, you are right, and this is why I am trying to figure this out before 7:00 AM my time tomorrow.  If I don't do anything, then the decision will be made for me, right?  The tickets will sell out and I won't think about it until the block for April 2017 releases!  

 

[NYfanfromCA]

Posted: 11/8/15 at 6:08pm

LizzieCurry said: "Wouldn't you want their first exposure to NYC to be a little longer and less hectic, and without the stress of catching up on schoolwork when they get back?"

 

Yes, a good point.  I would love to take them for a week, which means April 2017.  Summers are out of the question and even more hectic and more crowded.  I'm sure Spring Break is really busy, too.  Christmas time is crazy busy, and weather delays would be likely.  October seemed like a nice time to go .  My son is going to be 14, and my daughter is the one with special needs, so no college application stress to deal with next year.  My son would be the one with the homework, so we'd have to work with his teachers.  He is currently an A student.  I think it would be even harder to take him out as he gets older due to school getting more difficult and other commitments coming up (part-time job, extra curricular activities).

 

[NYfanfromCA]

Posted: 11/8/15 at 6:13pm

lite2shine said: you are talking kids out from school and spend good load of money, you should get good seats by buying next fall performance that will go on sale tomorrow unless you can get good seats for decent price during next summer. Btw you said they never saw a show before. They don't like the live theatre? I think you should introduce them to local theatre or tour productions to see if they appreciate the theatre or not. I've been taking my son to a live theatre since he was in a grade school. We had a family theatre subscription for several years. "

Yes, I was going to buy tickets in the morning if I decide to go for it.  They have been to some small kid shows when they were younger, and most recently we attended a chamber orchestra event at a historic theater in Los Angeles (and they loved it!).  True, not the same, but it was a good 2-hour orchestra experience!  I had wanted to get tickets to various shows on tour, like Shrek the Musical and Lion King and the other "kid-friendly" shows that are always recommended, but I always refrained because of the venues and extremely poor acoustics.  I guess I was hoping that their experience would blow them away if they could see a show in NYC.  

 

[NYfanfromCA]

Posted: 11/8/15 at 6:19pm

Theatrefan2 said: "That is $5400 for a trip to see Hamilton.   That is quite a bit of money.  You do not say how long you will be taking them out of school but if its really you that wants to see it rather than everyone I would objectively say wait. Do your children love MT that much?  You have said your husband can't get thru the 3rd song and your daughter likes the music - not love.    And talking about the revolution is not seeing Hamilton.  That would be staying longer and doing a proper revolutionary war vacation and some other shows.  Think twice about this. It most certainly will tour."

I would take them out Wed-Thur-Fri, if I did it.  I am going to see it next month and would want to wait until I saw it first if only the tickets weren't so hard to come by (at face value vs. insanely high resale prices).  I think the prices go up every time they release a new block of seats.

We'd explore a bit during the days...go to the 9/11 Memorial, MOMA, Central Park...my husband likes National Parks, so we could go to the Hamilton Grange...

 

[Comden Green]

Posted: 11/8/15 at 6:19pm

Just do it.   Make a memory.  Save money. Rent a nice Airbnb apt in a neighborhood.  Ride the subways.   I wouldn't worry about missing a few days of school.  They'll be fine. The experience will be more important than those few days of school.     Unless of course as someone mentioned you fear the hate the parents syndrome which may make everybody miserable.      Do it.    Good times.  

Dont wait for 2017.  Waiting a year is enough!

[JPeterman]

Posted: 11/8/15 at 6:19pm

Is it an option for you to just take your son? Then you could even go in the summer since your daughter wouldn't be going ... and it doesn't sound like your husband would complain if he didn't get to go.

The price of the tickets, plane and meals would be half, and your hotel room may be a little more affordable with two people instead of four.

Then in a couple years you could plan a different "senior graduation" trip for your daughter.

Updated On: 11/8/15 at 06:19 PM

[MVintheheartland]

Posted: 11/8/15 at 6:25pm

Yes! First of all,  you will be the coolest parent in the world. Second, your kids will remember this for a long time (I hope). I took both my kids to Europe the day after they graduated from high school, they saw shows in London, and they both remember these trips. 

Also, their friends will think they are really lucky. Don't worry about grumpy teachers. And yes, the history lesson from Hamilton will justify the trip.  (And don't listen to the nay-sayers on this board. Just do it!)

Have a great time!

 

Updated On: 11/8/15 at 06:25 PM