Recommendation for Students

I am bringing a group of high school students to NYC at the end of April 2011. I am trying to get tickets for a Broadway show, but can't decide which will be best for them to see. As a Broadway enthusiast. I want them to get a good idea of the awesomeness of Broadway and not be bored or unimpressed. This is will be the first time traveling to the City, even the first trip on a plane, for many of them. I tried for Wicked and they are sold out for our dates and WSS is closing. Here are my other options:

The Lion King
Mary Poppins
Spiderman
Chicago
Phantom

What are your thoughts? Keep in mind these are students and I want them to be able to understand and be able to follow the story while getting a classic Broadway experience.

Definitely Phantom. As a student who recently graduated high school. Phantom would be perfect for an introduction to theater.

Chicago would be good. My first instinct for big schools groups with lots of people who really don't know theatre is to go with a high-energy show with lots of dancing. So Chicago fits that, also Memphis or Mamma Mia! Another one to maybe consider would be Billy Elliot, since I've never met anyone who didn't at least enjoy that show.

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Thanks for the input. This is just a group of high school students........no drama background. I think we are going to try for Spiderman with Chicago as a back-up.

Great ideas. Since you're taking an eclectic group of students, I think Spider-Man is by far the best choice. Out of the options you mentioned, The Lion King and Mary Poppins may be too juvenile. However, since The Lion King is such a spectacle, the students may enjoy themselves regardless. Conceptually, Spider-Man will appeal to teenage interests more than any other show. It's a recognizable title and quite a spectacular production (from what I hear). While some students may appreciate Phantom, others will be bored to death. Chicago is probably the best second choice. But I'd really aim for Spider-Man, since that appeals to a much wider audience (many of whom may not be as interested in musical theatre). If that doesn't work out, I'd also consider How to Succeed, solely because Daniel Radcliffe is starring. Every teenager knows Harry Potter, and would probably be excited to see him in such an intimate venue.

And a comment to ahhrealmonsters - while the musical theatre greats should be respected, Broadway is not a "sacred" art form. Like any other entertainment medium, it's constantly evolving. There will likely always be room for the classics (ex. South Pacific, etc.), but in my opinion, productions such as Spider-Man are the wave of the future. And while your "special Broadway moment" may have been seeing a show like Anything Goes, for these students that moment may be Spider-Man. Big ideas will propel Broadway into the 21st century, and help sustain our wonderful industry.

Updated On: 12/3/10 at 06:58 PM

marcblack-

I completely agree, but Spiderman is even further- it is something that has never been done before. There has never been a show with that high a budget, etc. I haven't seen the show, so I can't really talk, but I feel that a primary introduction, while not necessarily R&H, should have at least 1% of anything that musical theatre has been for the past 100 years. Yes, trends change. But I feel that to appreciate the trends, you have to know where they came from. You wouldn't teach American History from the year 2000, would you?