I'm traveling to New York with my 6 year old- what should we do

[slw]

Posted: 10/1/03 at 11:24pm

We have tickets for Cabaret- I know not appropriate for a 6 year old- but HUGE fan of Adam Pascal as is my son. We plan on getting tickets for Little Shop. We are going to be there from Thursday October 23- and leaving Sunday. Need some neat ideas for a 6 year old. Thanks for your help.

Sarah
edited to ask is Cabaret that bad for a 6 year old- he loves the music and most likely will not understand it- just don't want to get nasty looks. Updated On: 10/1/03 at 11:24 PM

[Amy Archer]

Posted: 10/1/03 at 11:45pm

There are several scenes in Cabaret that are really inappropriate for a six year old to be seeing. You may have some explaining to do after "Two Ladies" in particular.

I've also heard that some young children have been terrorized at Little Shop. Without spoiling anything, the show doesn't end as happily as the movie does, which may be what is scaring the little ones.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 10/1/03 at 11:51pm

Try Millie, Wicked (i'm assuming that it has been made child-friendly as opposed to the novel, which is NOT child friendly), or one of the Disney shows

[cabarethed]

Posted: 10/2/03 at 12:06am

In Cabaret the girls are scantily dressed and there is a lot of sexy dancing, but most of the innuendo will probably go right over his head. As the Emcee, Pascal won't be wearing a whole lot and will be very sexual with men and women, explicitly so in Two Ladies. PM me if you want details. Just a warning, it comes directly after the song Perfectly Marvelous (when Sally is pleading to stay in Cliff's apartment). I've seen young kids there before. The ushers might warn you that there's some "adult" material in there if you're worried about your son seeing that. It's not terrible though.

[PennyLou]

Posted: 10/2/03 at 12:14am

I don't think it's the story ending as to what happens to the characters that is scaring the little kid. I think it's when there singing "Don't Feed The Plant" I don't want to give it away but if I weren't up in the mezz the first time I would have cried lol. but if you sit a little father back or in the front of the Mezz he should be fine. The first time I saw it there was a 5 year old and a 8 year old behind me and they loved it. One little girl came out of the theater telling her Mom she wasn't going to the dentist again but other then that It's a fun show. For a little kid I think I would recommend Hairspray because it's up beat and a fun show to watch, Beauty and The Beast (might be more for little girls then little boys but it's a good show)or Wicked if it's more kid oriented then the book.

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 10/2/03 at 12:47am

Good musicals for a 6-year-old, in my opinion, would be 42nd Street, Gypsy, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and of course the Disney shows.

[JO125]

Posted: 10/2/03 at 7:39am

You can also check out what the New Victory Theater has playing that weekend. They have a series of wonderful family friendly shows. You can check them out at www.newvictory.org (I think that's the right addresss)I believe for a schedule.

I have kept my kids away from Cabaret. Lots of hard to explain sexual situations during "Two Ladies" which might go over a six year olds head but bring some questions if you are sitting close enough.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 10/2/03 at 9:09am

I think Little Shop is fine for a six year old. The plant gets...well let's just say big...at the end. The kids I saw there seemed more amazed by it then anything else.
Cabaret on the other hand can be pretty explicit in parts. There is one scene where various sex acts are simulated behind a curtain. Might not be great for a six year old.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 10/2/03 at 9:46am

Definately do Wicked. My friend in San Fransisco took her 6 year old daughter and said she chatted about nothing else for weeks and kept regaling her little brother and sister, (4 and 2), with tales of "Elphie" and "Glinda" and "Your Ozness", (I guess a lot of characters address the Wizard in this manner, (?).

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 10/2/03 at 9:58am

of course make sure your six year old sees some other special new york sights such as:

the skating rink at Rockefeller center

central park (don't miss the zoo)

the holiday show at Radio City Music Hall

have a wonderful time:)

[PennyWise]

Posted: 10/2/03 at 10:02am

Just a word of advice - I saw Cabaret this past New Year's Eve.... There was a couple who went in right before us who had a child - probably 7 or 8 years old. The ushers/ticket takers said that children were not allowed and didn't seem willing to let the child in. We were allowed to go in ahead of them, as the couple was arguing with the theatre employees, so I'm not sure how that ended up.

At any rate, I would strongly encourage that you take your son to a different show. There are so many wonderful shows that would be so much more fun and appropriate for a child.

[Amy Archer]

Posted: 10/2/03 at 10:05am

Maybe Titus Andronicus is playing somewhere...

[ChristineDaae]

Posted: 10/2/03 at 10:24am

Maybe Little Shop of Horrors or Lion King?

I'm going to see Cabaret when Adam comes to! I can't wait!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 10/2/03 at 12:45pm

Sarah, I have to sincerely commend you for taking your son to a show he likes, regardless of the content matter. My mother did the same, and I think that's the reason I have a mature sense of theatre now. Cabaret is a brilliant, moving show that, given the proper preparation for it, will make for an amazing theatre experience for your son. Especially now that Tom Bosley is out of the cast and Blair Brown is in.... I think I may go to see it once again before it closes, as well.

At any rate, I'm sure your son will love it very much. And you'd be surprised at what goes over children's heads. (It took me a good ten years to realize what The Miller's Son in A Little Night Music is about!)

As for other shows, how keen is your son on opera? The New York City Opera has rather inexpensive ticket prices and some great operas running right now, including The Magic Flute (great great opera for kids), Lucia DiLammermoor (don't listen to VoiceAnth on this one) and La Finta Giardiniera. Going to the opera is an amazing experience in and of itself.

I also agree that (while I personally do not want to see it), Wicked may be a good choice for kids. Also incredibly fun for both adults and kids is De La Guarda, playing off-Broadway on the East Side, right near beautiful Union Square. That may also be a good complement to Cabaret (god, now I'm starting to sound like a sommalier).

And TeacherOfTheater is absolutely right. The fountain at Lincoln Center (especially when it's lit up at night with the Met behind it and everything) will blow his mind.

[tkts]

Posted: 10/2/03 at 12:46pm

From Telecharge about Cabaret:

May be inappropriate for 16 and under. This is a highly provocative and gritty production of CABARET and is not recommended for children.
Children under 4 are not permitted into the theatre.

[WhatDoINeedWithLove?]

Posted: 10/2/03 at 1:05pm

Yeah I say Little Shop, Mamma Mia, Hairspray, or Millie! All child friendly and will keep a 6 year old entertained!

[slw]

Posted: 10/2/03 at 3:07pm

Thanks for all the input- His father and I have been talking to him about it and i think he will be fine. I think a great way to start of his broadway theater. He has seen Beauty and the Beast and will be seeing lion king next april. So he's off to a good start. Are there any cool places to eat. Wer plan on going to all the major attractions - just need some more suggestions. We will probably only see those two shows.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/2/03 at 3:09pm

Angus McIndoe is a steakhouse that has become a fairly popular theatrical hangout. Joe Allen's is always a good shot if you want to see theatre people.

hey, might as well make a theme of it!

[Maggie]

Posted: 10/2/03 at 3:10pm

Going to Carmine's is where I normally go but the wait can be hours if you don't have reservations.

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 10/2/03 at 3:28pm

Mars 2112 would be fun for your son. You ride on a spaceship to get to the restaurant, and aliens are roaming while you eat.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 10/2/03 at 3:30pm

Maybe a show like STOMP would be kind of cool for him.

[Hello Gorgeous]

Posted: 10/2/03 at 4:08pm

I personally didn't like Mars2112, I don't know. I guess I was still in shock, because I had met Bernadette Peters for the first time that day. Everything seemed different after that for the rest of the day LOL

As for shows, I would go with the Disney shows, Hairspray or Millie.

[JO125]

Posted: 10/2/03 at 6:36pm

As far as restaurants go, I highly recommend Serendipity 3 on E. 60th Street. Great ice cream concoctions, the frozen hot chocolate is heaven. It gets very crowded but is not a children's theme restaurant.

Oh and for really great Italian food, casual, friendly atmosphere, and reasonably priced, I love Don Giovanni on 44th Street off of 9th Ave. It's not a touristy place

A word of advice for Cabaret if it's okay. When you see the threesome go behind the screen for "Two Ladies", you might want to distract your son from paying attention to that scene. Besides not wanting to hear "Mommy, what is the man doing behind the curtain?", the scene might be disturbing to him even if he does not quite understand what is happening. Just a suggestion from one parent to another. It's a great show. Enjoy!

Also, if you can see it,"The Blue Man Group" off-broadway is a great show and fun for all. My kids loved Hairspray, Little Shop, and Mamma Mia Updated On: 10/2/03 at 06:36 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 10/2/03 at 9:12pm

I second the Don Giovanni plug. Amazingly good, amazingly low-priced and a wonderful Italian atmosphere. Also a good, inexpensive Italian place is Cafe Tacci on 110th and Broadway. I'm also a big fan of Cafe Mozart on W. 70th and Cafe Lalo on (I believe) W. 83rd for desserts and atmosphere.... Hell, I just like to eat.