Show to see with daughter

[broadway4me]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 10:13am

I take my daughter up to NY about every 4 months or so to see a show. She is a huge bway fan (she does local stuff with theatre) and hopes to one day be on bway herself. Anyway, she is nine and I'd like any input on what show to take her to when we go again in October. So far, she's seen BATB, POTO, Wicked, Hairspray and Lion King. POTO is by far her favorite!

I'm thinking maybe Sweet Charity or Mama Mia. How would either of these be for a nine year old girl? Any other suggestions or comments? By the way she has no interest in seeing CCBB after listening to some of the music...Sorry to CCBB fans

Thanks in advance!

[liotte]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 10:18am

Mamma Mia is good for a 9 year old, I'd wait a little bit with Sweet Charity.
All Shook Up is great for kids, lots of bright sets and energetic musical numbers.

[uncageg]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 10:33am

If she is mature for her age, I would say, take her to see Charity.

[Patronus]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 10:37am

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Naked Boys Singing, and since she liked Phantom, why not try Piazza? The shows aren't remotely similar, but if she can sit through Phantom, then the wonderful music and story of Piazza that might bore some children might be a wonderful experience for your daughter.

And yes, I am joking about Naked Boys Singing.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 10:39am

I was going to suggest Chitty, but, that's out the window.

Anyway, I'd say Sweet Charity over Mamma Mia! Charity's a so-so production of good material. Mamma Mia! is a spectacular production of... a silly story. It's great for pure entertainment value, but if your daughter is very into theatre, I think she'd probably like Charity better.

[liotte]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 10:43am

I think Charity might be a bit too complex and mature for a 9 year old, which is why I'd vote for Mamma Mia instead. And I still recommend All Shook Up. The jukebox musicals, though they may be "silly", are great for kids and are extremely fun and entertaining.

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 10:58am

I recommend All Shook Up or The Light in the Piazza. All Shook Up as first choice, though.

[Sant]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 10:59am

How about THE PRODUCERS? Or SPAMALOT?

[broadway4me]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 11:14am

Thanks for the info so far. She is very mature...what is it about Charity that you think might be too mature for her? Is it overly suggestive...or just the story in general? This is the show that I'm leaning more towards.

How about Ave Q...I mean aren't there puppets and all, ha ha I'm JUST kidding about taking her to that one!

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 11:17am

You know, I'm gonna suggest The Light in the Piazza. It's such a great mother-daughter musical.

And, I'm sorry she's not interested in Chitty. Seeing Raul Esparza perform on Broadway is in my opinion THE TRUE Broadway experience.

[VonTussleGirl]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 12:02pm

Well, Sweet Charity is about, to put it succinctly, a hooker. But it's pretty much fantastic.

The Light in the Piazza is also beautiful. And as for Mamma Mia, if she's very much into theatre, then she'll find it a bit silly, but it is a fun and rather enjoyble show.
Updated On: 9/12/05 at 12:02 PM

[liotte]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 12:07pm

I really wish someone had told me the Light in the Piazza was like an italian opera before I went to see it. While the actors were very talented and I know a lot of people like the show, I was bored and couldn't get into the music or the story. Nor could the 10 year old I was with.

I bring kids to shows a few times a week, and while I have seen most of the musicals with kids from ages 8 to 12, their favorites have been (in no particular order) Wicked, Hairspray, All Shook Up, Mamma Mia, and Rent (the older ones).

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 12:16pm

ha, true, Chrysanthemum - if she's into acting, she can certainly learn a thing or two from seeing Raul perform.

[wendy72]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 12:17pm

What about Spelling Bee?--my daughter is also nine and has seen BATB, Lion King, Big River on tour---she saw "BEE" on the Tonys and wants to see that. Of the two you've mentioned, I would suggest "Mama Mia" because I think ABBA's music is pretty infectious.

[peach]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 12:19pm

Too bad Little Women closed - that would have been good for a nine-year old.

I agree with the others - All Shook, Up, Mamma Mia, etc. Sweet Charity might be a *little* bit mature (in terms of themes - smoking, drinking, hookers) for her, but some of those references may just go right over her head at the same time.

I haven't seen it yet, but what about Spelling Bee? Maybe some of the other board members can provide some insight there.

[liotte]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 12:22pm

I think a lot of the spelling bee humor- the definitions and sentences- will go over a 9 year old's head. That's the best part of the show.

[cathywellerstein]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 2:04pm

i would recommend all shook up for fun. if she's more into phantom though, maybe take her to light in the piazza. or maybe take her to see phantom again. it's always fun to see a show more than once!

[lamentingenvelope]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 2:32pm

Charity, definately. The suggestive stuff will most likely just fly over her head, so it's definately something the both of you can enjoy.

[broadway4me]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 2:43pm

Thanks everyone! Yeah, I know that Charity is a hooker...but honestly I think that will go over her head. I mean is it blatant? She saw Hairspray a few months ago and every bit of the adult stuff went right over her head...she loved the show and the music though!
Updated On: 9/12/05 at 02:43 PM

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 3:23pm

It isn't that overt by today's standards, really, but it is the basis of the show. And of course, there's always "Hey, Big Spender!", which is pretty sleazy.

I second those suggesting "Spelling Bee", although it's not nearly as big a musical theatre piece.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 3:25pm

Sweet Charity is a bubbly and bright show, which is great for children.

Honestly the only really racy part is "Big Spender", and in the second act Oscar thinks Charity is a virgin. That will probally go over her head. I think she will get caught up in the wonderful song and dance being performed, and the subject matter will go over her head. And not to mention this is considered one of thes best Broadway scores ever written, it would hardly be a bad thing to introduce her to some GREAT music!
Updated On: 9/12/05 at 03:25 PM

[hearthatstrue]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 3:30pm

I'd say All Shook Up. I think she'd have a lot of fun. Even though Mamma Mia! has a decent mother-daughter story, she might get bored. I know my little cousin did when she saw it. The Light in the Piazza might be okay, if she's mature enough. It's a beautiful score and story. Have fun!

[moowithme111105]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 3:32pm

i think Chairty might be pretty fun, i know the music is pretty catchy.

[worrell4077]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 4:09pm

If you can manage to get a ticket, SpamAlot(very funny). Also, maybe The Producers, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, or All Shook Up.
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[ghostlight2]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 4:27pm

Nonononono, NOT The Producers, or DRS. Too adult. Charity I'll buy, but 9 is just too young for the other two.