Can an 11 year old see the show Hamilton alone?

[melanine08]

Posted: 1/13/19 at 9:33am

We've been thinking about seeing Hamilton but only have money for 1 ticket. My daughter is obsessed with Hamilton and has been begging to go for months. She's only 11 but she's pretty mature. She knows about the Reynolds Pamphlet and most of the vocabulary. (It makes me feel like I was an idiot at her age) Can she go alone? I could buy her ticket, let her go inside the theater, and wait outside. Is that possible????

[Hum a tune]

Posted: 1/13/19 at 9:46am

In my opinion, 11 is a little young.  My daughter saw her first broadway show alone last year.  She was 13.  We stayed with her until they scanned her ticket.  Had her stay in her seat during intermission. Picked her up as soon as it was over.  However, we had a very frank discussion about what to do if someone near her did something inappropriate (be loud and even stop the show if necessary).  We also established what to do if there was an emergency (fire alarm, terrorist attack, etc.).  Everything was fine, but I did have challenges paying attention to the show I was seeing.  You have to know your child and prepare them.  

[thebookofwhizzer]

Posted: 1/13/19 at 9:46am

I think its really up to you, and you sound comfortable letting her go. I know a family that let their two daughters go together alone at ages 12 and 10 and they walked them to the theatre and then had the kids text them at intermission and when the show ended so they could be there as soon as the show was over. Everything worked out!

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 1/13/19 at 9:56am

Why not wait until you could possibly afford to go with her or until she is a bit older. It is not like "Hamilton" is going to close soon !!

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 1/13/19 at 10:09am

I say go for it. Hamilton is a masterpiece of theatre and exposing children to such phenomenal art at a young age is great. Knowing all the music is one thing, but seeing the artistry live is an entirely different experience that she should get to have.

[HeatherAV]

Posted: 1/13/19 at 10:30am

I think this varies from family to family and the maturity of each individual child.  But you seem comfortable with the idea which I think means GO FOR IT!   I would explain to her how ushers are dressed in all black, etc., and they stand at the back of the theater during the entire show so your daughter can just get up from her seat and walk to the back of the theater if she needs help in the middle of the show.  The Hamilton audience, by and large, is a very mature group so I'm sure she'll be fine.  For example, I'm not sure I'd let her go to Rent or American Idiot alone - lovely fan base, but a rowdier group, for sure.  Yes, you can wait outside the theater for her and stay with her until they scan her ticket and then meet her immediately afterwards.  For your piece of mind, I'd suggest having her call you as soon as the show ends (including the end of the curtain call) and then staying on the phone with you while she walks out.  It can take 10+ minutes to walk out and you'll get nervous watching all the patrons stream out without seeing your daughter and she can easily walk out and talk on her phone to you at the same time.  

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 1/13/19 at 10:43am

Since we are talking about making a child feel comfortable (or at least a parent feeling comfortable about her kid seeing the show on her own at least,) The ushers for Nederlander wear blue shirts with black vests. I am not trying to come off as anything negative. Just wanted the OP to know that so, if she felt comfortable, she could inform her daughter as to whom to look for. 

Back when I was working there, there was a mother who's child was there solo. Now, I have no clue as to the age of the kid. However, one of the guys who works the lobby was kind enough to take her to her child's seat, and then when that was done with, he took her back down and out. Maybe they might do that again, maybe not. I honestly have no clue but that may be something to ask them there. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/13/19 at 11:13am

Im not sure if youre asking should see or will the theater allow her to. The answer to the latter is yes.

The other answer is harder - but you know your child, HER comfort level and your own.

Personally, i feel the answer is she's too young. Rather, MY kids would have been too young.

Its a conversation you need to have with her. What else has she done alone? You dont want to turn what should be a wonderful experience into one she doesnt enjoy due to self doubt.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/13/19 at 11:34am

My granddaughter was mature enough to attend shows alone when she was 9. Her brothers were different stories. (One of them ran up and down the aisles at a Boston Pops Holiday concert at the age of 7!)

You know your daughter's maturity level, so you be the judge.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 1/13/19 at 1:30pm

I would say to go for it.  I can only assume that she is very mature if that she has gotten that passionate about it.  I have never heard of the Reynolds pamphlet, and I have seen the show three times.  I would absolutely follow the approach that Hum A Song did.  I am guessing that it will be a life event that she will remember to the day she dies, her first Broadway show or at least her first show alone, its Hamilton, etc.

One other thing you may want to add on.  For 20+ years, I passed Trinity Church twice a day, coming from and going to the Path train.  I never knew that Hamilton and Eliza were buried there (and Pre-LMM, I probably would not have thought much of it).  Last year, we went there and were very glad that we did.  It is near Ground Zero, Wall Street, etc., so you can even make an afternoon of it,

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 1/13/19 at 3:28pm

Personally, I wouldn't let my 11 y/o be alone anywhere in NYC. But that's just me.

[Theatrefan2]

Posted: 1/13/19 at 7:41pm

Since the seats are so expensive I do not think its such a wise idea.  How can she enjoy not talking and sharing her thoughts at intermission or after the show with her parents?  In NY balcony seats are at least $299 if it is a hardship to pay for 2 tickets I definitely think that much for an 11 year old to attend alone is not the right decision.  Certainly not showing her the value of money what will she want next.  Just being real.

Enter the lottery.

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 1/13/19 at 7:51pm

Theatrefan2 said: "Since the seats are so expensive I do not think its such a wise idea. How can she enjoy not talking and sharing her thoughts at intermission or after the show with her parents? In NY balcony seats are at least $299 if it is a hardship to pay for 2 tickets I definitely think that much for an 11 year old to attend alone is not the right decision. Certainly not showing her the value of money what will she want next. Just being real.

Enter the lottery."

^^ This ^^ 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 1/13/19 at 8:43pm

melanine08 said: "We've been thinking about seeing Hamilton but only have money for 1 ticket. My daughter is obsessed with Hamilton and has been begging to go for months. She's only 11 but she's pretty mature. She knows about the Reynolds Pamphlet and most of the vocabulary. (It makes me feel like I was an idiot at her age) Can she go alone? I could buy her ticket, let her go inside the theater, and wait outside. Is that possible????"

 

Why don't you just save up and see it with your daughter this summer or fall together!? That's what I would do and not send her alone. Wait outside? That's a crazy stupid idea sending her alone!!!

Updated On: 1/13/19 at 08:43 PM

[PatrickDC]

Posted: 1/13/19 at 9:08pm

While she may be mature enough to be by herself, wouldn't it be a much better experience for her to experience it with you? She will likely have questions afterward, about the play but American history in general. It could lead to some very rich discussions between the two of you. 

What's the rush? HAMILTON will be here for years. When I want to make a big purchase, I use my Every Dollar app to set up a fund and put aside a few bucks each month. You might try that for the tickets. Your daughter, if she has the time between school and other activities, could earn some money through odd jobs, like taking care of a neighbor's dog or cat while they are away, running errands for elderly neighbors, etc. If she wants to see the show that badly, earning the money for the ticket could give her a lot of confidence and satisfaction. 

And as others have said, try the lottery, if that works with your situation and ability to travel to the theater on the same day. 

[SweetLips22]

Posted: 1/13/19 at 10:12pm

Well after frightening the bejesus out of her with all that.beware of stranger talk and how to stop the show!!! it's a wonder she still wants to go outside her house.

Take her to martial arts class instead and then say--you're own your own baby. She is actually going into a secured environment-a theatre and not some rave down at the docks. The odds she will sit next to 'a pervert'---are nil to none..

I often knock the knee or elbow of the person next to me-those cramped seats-and apologise. Will this young girl do as instructed and scream till the show stops?? Ridiculous.

[Wick3]

Posted: 1/13/19 at 10:50pm

I'm presuming you guys live within commuting distance to NYC? If so, why not enter the lottery every day and if your child wins, then both of you can go for $10 each! What a steal! Otherwise, maybe setup a payment plan or housework chores of some sort for the next 6-7 months or so that your daughter can feel that she earned the $$$ to see Hamilton? That's how I convinced my parents to take me to see Joseph back in the 90s.

Whichever you choose to do, make sure she gets a booster seat. I don't know her height at age 11 but I'd imagine it would be shorter than the average adult female.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 1/13/19 at 11:21pm

Jarethan said: "I have never heard of the Reynolds pamphlet, and I have seen the show three times."

 

Wait, huh? Am I reading that correctly? How have you seen the show three times and not heard of the Reynolds Pamphlet? 

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 1/13/19 at 11:36pm

First, the OP asked if her 11 y.o. could attend alone. Weve established that she can. Whether, she should is a matter best left to the OP.

Secondly, there is a song in the show that is literally called The Reynolds Pamphlet.

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 1/14/19 at 3:59am

I also agree with the person who said that she should feel that she earned the money for the show. I don't want to tell you how to raise your kid (and this certainly is not an indictment on you, as I do not know you), but it feels like these days, we're raising children in a manner of being afraid to say no to them, and make them wait for what they want. Or maybe make a plan of "If you get all A's until the end of the year, you can go in the summer." She may have been begging to go for months, but has she done anything to earn that privilege?

Again, I'm not accusing anyone of anything, but when I was growing up, I earned every reward I got. We should bring that back.

Updated On: 1/14/19 at 03:59 AM

[BWAY Baby2]

Posted: 1/14/19 at 5:32am

If your daughter is obsessed with Hamilton- which is a wonderful obsession at any age- I say- yes- send her alone if you can only afford one ticket- wait for her at intermission and after the show- and buy her the best ticket you can afford. I went to the theater with a friend eat 13- and my parents took me to shows when I was 8 or 9. Nothing like early experiences to nurture habits that can last a lifetime- and what obsession could be better for a child- or an adult- than loving quality theater? Don't worry about spoiling her- this is one treat she will remember for the rest of her life. Still remember seeing Funny Girl at age 13- obsessed with Barbra- and those memories are still with me- when I go to the Winter Garden- can't stop looking up at my right box seat. I would suggest taking your daughter the theater- and waiting outside for her after the show- I agree NYC is not a place for children alone. 

Updated On: 1/14/19 at 05:32 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/14/19 at 5:42am

^couldnt disagree more with your comments about the content - if the kid is already "obsessed" with it, she knows its content.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 1/14/19 at 8:48am

^ This!

[MyLife]

Posted: 1/14/19 at 9:28am

Another idea, if you live in or very close to the area. Stalk Stubhub tickets at about 30 minutes prior to curtain. On Friday, for example, 2 great seats int he Rear Mezz opened up at $79 a piece! You could purchase them, print them out, and head straight to the theater. That way you both can see the show at a fraction of the cost it would take for you to just buy one ticket at face value AND the scalpers lose!

 

You can buy tickets on the app and print them off at a hotel's business center nearby.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 1/14/19 at 11:18am

BWAY Baby2 said: "I agree NYC is not a place for children alone."

Oh please. NYC is relatively safe.