April Shows with 76 year old mom and 13 year old son

Hello! I'm coming to NYC Easter weekend with my 76 year old mom who loves big funny spectacle musicals and my 13 year old son. He and my  mom really enjoyed Matilda a few years ago. (It WAS great  for the whole family.) I love weird stuff, but also like funny and flashy...generally musicals. Haven't seen Hamilton or Cursed Child but neither are in the budget and I don't want to give up 4 hours to Harry Potter anyway. We can probably see 2 shows...maybe 3 but I think that might be too much. (Shows don't have to be "clean." My mom has a good sense of humor. She just likes BIG and FUN!) 

I think our best options are:

Beetlejuice (Son would like it. I like the movie. Not sure about mom?)

Tootsie (Musicals from movies are not really my thing, but I think my mom might like it?)

Oklahoma? 

My Fair Lady (Mom and I have both seen other productions. Seems good but not sure my son will like it.)

I really want to see Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus because I'm fascinated by Taylor Mac. It has Nathan Lane. I'm not really worried about "adult" material, but my mother might REALLY hate it unless it is super funny. 

Hadestown looked interesting, but I don't think funny--seems  very serious. I think mom would hate it. 

What do you think? Other suggestions? I think we're past Disney. My mom would probably like the Cher Show but I think my son would fall asleep. Last trip she hated me for choosing Dog in the Night and a small Bedlam production of Sense and Sensibility. So, I have to choose some fun things. 

Updated On: 3/12/19 at 11:21 AM

The Prom may be worth a look, as it seems to fit the fun musical category? Has some LGBT themes, and despite the high school setting/ensemble, it is the older actors who really own/steal the show.

Oklahoma isn't the big splashy revival version like MFL, but that may satisfy your desire for plays and her desire for musicals, since it is a darker read on the material?

Agree that Tootsie sounds like a good fit.

First Gary preview was last night, so I'd check that thread for insights. I read just enough to feel like I happily plan to keep my tickets for that one. 

The Prom!

I was going to say The Prom, even though I admittedly haven't seen it yet. Seems like it's winning over young people & adults though. So might be a good crowd-pleaser of a show.

Tootsie also sounds like it's going to be a crowd-pleaser. It's at the top of my list.

I would also recommend My Fairy Lady but it might be a little bit of a tough sell for your son. If he appreciates classic musicals then he may like this-- it's a great production.

I saw Beetlejuice in DC & while your son may love it, I'm not sure your mother will. It's visually stunning but also crass & vulgar. (I also thought it had major book problems & a really weak score, but that's just me.)

Gary: A Sequel To Titus Andronicus was interesting. It's another show with lots of crude humor but I don't think it's uproariously funny. (Still better than Beetlejuice though!) It's a good show but probably too crude for your mother (I saw lots of elderly couple walk out last night, fwiw) & too dull for your son (lots of introspective soliloquies which slow down the show).

And I would disagree with the person who called Oklahoma a "splashy" production. It's kind of the opposite of splashy. It's interesting staging & a very good production but I don't see 13-year-olds as its target audience. (Plus it might be too concept-y for your mother, if she cherishes the original.)

 

 

Tootsie or The Prom sound like the perfect choices.

I thought a 76 year old mum had a 13 year old son- I'd have liked to meet such a person!

I just realized I typed "My Fairy Lady" above, which is a show I now want to see.

roxannex said: "Thank you for all the suggestions. I have to admit that I saw info on The Prom, and I just thought it looked so stupid. We saw School of Rock a few years ago, and I thought it was horrible--not great set, just so blah...and The Prom seemed to give off similar vibes for me. So, I'm just surprised you all like it so much. Maybe I'm missing something. I am very LBGTQ friendly, so it's not the concept. It just didn't seem interesting, but maybe I'm wrong. I will look again.



I think Oklahoma and My Fair Lady are out. My mom says she doesn't want to see things she's seen before. Tootsie might be a good bet. Maybe I can send my mom and my son to The Prom while I see Gary. LOL."

The Prom is just completely so much fun. I loved every second of it. The cast is spectacular. 

And not in your big splashy musical category, but have you considered Come From Away. An appealing unique  and totally  feel good musical. Not to miss. Appeals to all ages. 

roxannex said: "Also, I know that Be More Chill or Mean Girls might appeal to the 13 year old demographic, but I've heard Be More Chill is actually awful, and I don't think my son would like the whole "teen" comedy thing. He's not that into things like that."

 

If your mom is really really hard of hearing Be More Chill might be a choice.  You might leave the theater deaf yourself.

Just sayin 

 

 

TOOTSIE is your best bet and get your tickets now!

https://tootsiemusical.com/

Updated On: 3/12/19 at 03:41 PM