Would you take your children to the Theatre on Broadway (NYC)?

[madinmaryland]

Apparently there are parents that are starting to do this....

:wtf:



http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/07/theater/07broa.html?hp&ex=1165554000&en=68cbceef2f20f88a&ei=5094&partner=homepage

..snip
Four hundred and fifty bucks. That’s what it cost the Agnew family for a Saturday night performance of “The Lion King.” Whether that considerable chunk was spent for two hours and 45 minutes of delight or for one flustered and fuss-filled act followed by a hasty escape at intermission came down to one person: Harris Agnew, age 3.

“We’re questioning the thought process at this moment,” said Jim Agnew of Williamsburg, Va., who was standing in line before the show with his wife, Julie, and their children, Clark, 6, and Harris.

“If it goes well,” Ms. Agnew said, “this will be a magical experience.” She looked at Harris uncertainly. “We’re hoping.”

The perception of Broadway as a destination for families with children has been growing for years, keeping pace with the rise of the tourist audience. According to the League of American Theaters and Producers, the proportion of Broadway theatergoers under the age of 18 rose from 4 percent in 1980 to a peak of 11.6 percent in the 2000-01 season. Last season 9.6 percent were under 18, with a third of those — or 384,000 theatergoers — under 12.

..snip

:wtf:

..snip

“There are mothers breast-feeding in the audience,” said one usher at the Minskoff Theater, where “The Lion King” is playing. “Going to the theater has changed.”

Ticket sellers at most theaters recommend that children be 6 or older to attend a show, though that is advice, not policy. (Children under 4 are refused entry at some theaters.) Go to any Disney show or to “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!,” and you will find at least a stroller or two, if not a stroller parking lot. Parenting message boards like urbanbaby.com are filled with questions like “anyone know if broadway show Tarzan could be ok for a 2.5yr old?” Granted, these are shows aimed primarily at families. And all it takes is a visit to these productions to appreciate that most children do behave; there are more bathroom trips and perhaps a general squirminess among members of the audience, but not much more so than among the grown-ups at the more ponderous Broadway shows.

..snip

[Midlodemocrat]

1. I took my four year old to see Beauty and the Beast.

Her siblings were 8 and 10 at the time.

She loved it. Although she slept through a lot of the second act.

[madinmaryland]

2. By the time they are 6 or 7 they should enjoy the show.

Any younger is dicey. I can't imagine taking an 18 month old (even to a movie theatre)

[Midlodemocrat]

3. I took her when she was a baby to see one of the Stars Wars movies

because her brother was desperate to see it.

I sat in the back and was prepared to make a quick exit, but fortunately, she slept through the entire thing. I couldn't have gone if my husband wasn't with me to stay with the other two in case I had to bolt.

[madinmaryland]

4. You are braver than us!!

I'm glad it worked out well for you!

[Midlodemocrat]

5. LOL. Not really. We were at the mall having lunch and decided

to go see the movie. I couldn't exactly leave, so we played it by ear and she slept. We were lucky actually. Just good timing.

And, I'm sure there were theatre patrons who were worried about seeing a baby in a stroller at the movie because I've been to the movies plenty of times where there is a crying baby that doesn't get taken out.

I kinda wanted to see the film myself, but I would have beat a very hasty retreat if she woke and started to fuss.

[Avalux]

6. These people are nuts.

"We are hoping this will be a magical experience". The six year old might have fun, but I can almost guarantee that three year old will not be able to sit through an almost three hour performance - I just don't get what the parents are trying to accomplish with this absurdity. Will Mom and Dad decompensate when Harris Agnew starts throwing a fit and wants to leave? Stupid.

Maybe I sound harsh, but oh well.

[Rhythm]

7. my 5 year old sat through "Return of the King" in the movie theater...

and i was shocked. He was completely into it, though.

He's 6 1/2 now, and absolutely loves to watch musicals on DVD with me, too, so if we were going to NYC, i think i could get him to be a perfect gentleman for the evening if it was for "The Phantom of the Opera", "Rent", or "Chicago" (all of which he knows as well as most kids do 'Beauty and the Beast' or 'Lion King').

[Tyler Durden]

8. Movies, yes. BROADWAY??? Surely you jest....

...and don't call me "Shirley."

Seriously, this is a point of etiquette.

LIVE, LEGITIMATE THEATER IS NOT THE VENUE FOR SMALL CHILDREN. Even in Community Theater, we cringed on seeing munchkins in the audience. Uncontrolled spectators are for British Football, not Theater.

Conversely, I sent the equivalent of a Broadway ticket to World Relief and "Best Friends" (animal rescue) and felt pretty good about myself. We're going to NY to visit SO's relatives, and when she asked, "Broadway/Off Broadway: Yes/No?" I said HELL NO. WAY too expensive.

[madinmaryland]

10. Regardless of the price, how can you make children

at the age of two or three to sit through a two-three hour production. Hell, I would have a rough time sitting through something that long!! It's not fair to the children and the other people in the audience who have paid good money to see a production like that!

[Tyler Durden]

13. Tough on the actors, too.

I once saw a performance where someone had brought in a 2-3 year old who started to talk about 2 minutes into act 1.

The cast on stage stopped talking and they all turned to face the audience; "Mommie" then hustled her now shreiking li'l darling out of the theater to the uproarious applause of all.

[AngryOldDem]

9. It depends

Alhtough I think it's doubtful that the lil darlins' pictured above sat through most of Mary Poppins.

I think the earlier children are exposed to the arts, the better. But that said, they must also be able to sit quietly for a period of time. Starting them out with shows that are geared to kids (simple stories, lots of action, and over and done with in about an hour) are perfect. Our younger daughter, who does have some attention/concentration issues, has gone to a couple of theater seasons with productions such as this. She now loves attending other shows as well as concerts (she's 6).

[Rabrrrrrr]

11. To see a show like Wit, Proof, or Copenhagen, sure - but not a secular humanist

celebration of the occult and unchristian messages done by talking animals. Talking animals, for God's sake! It's an abomination!

On a serious note, though, no, I would not take small children to a Broadway production, even a kid-friendly one like Lion King or Beauty and the Beast - the shows are just too long. Longer than the movies.

And they're so *#(*^% expensive, too.

Plus, let's be honest - they CAN see the story on DVD, in a more artful form and artful way. They don't need to see that crap on stage.

Save the stage for something better.

And with the young kids, start them off with theatrical productions that are no more than an hour long.

[tigereye]

12. well, if the shows are family oriented, I don't see why not

my son sat through LOTR - and he also has sat through some medieval concerts pretty well. He was over 6, though. I don't know about toddlers, unless it's a really, really active/interactive show aimed at that age.

I like the idea that moms can take babies and little ones to movies, as long as they don't let 'em wail the whole time and are considerate. In the long run it really depends on the parents, I think. We sat next to a woman with a a baby at a movie once, and she and dad rocked the baby near the door when he fussed. It was fine.

I really wish they had had those mom and baby movies when my son was a toddler. :(

[Tyler Durden]

14. Movie, YES. Live theater, NO.

I didn't even take a kid to the symphony until they were at least 8. Manageable, and they stay quiet when told to (even if they don't like it).

[tigereye]

15. well, I've took my kid to see musicals a few times

he saw the Jazz Nutcracker when he was 4 or 5, but that was loud and has lots of dancing. He actually has been pretty good most times we have taken him anywhere to a more formal type of show. He did go to see Hamlet with us when he was 8.

I really think some young kids would do fine at musicals that are full of dancing and singing. But I can also see that someone who paid a fortune to see the latest serious play or the symphony probably wouldn't be happy to see toddlers in the next seat.


I just had a funny image of toddlers at a Pinter retrospective! (I'm sick, I know.) ;)

[Tyler Durden]

16. Ew.

's ok. I like sick people. Hey, I'd take a kid to a REAL kid oriented show, but Lion King on Broadway wouldn't be my choice.

Richmond community theater production of "The Wizard of Oz?" Sure. In that, a little infantile audience participation is to be expected. But a $150 a pop ticket for a Broadway show? If I'm in a paid seat, I expect QUIET ATTENTION except where laughter or applause is called for.

[Left Is Write]

17. Not at that age, no.