What show should I take an age group 13-18 to see for first broadway show?- Page 2

[Princeton Returns]

Posted: 6/6/14 at 7:36am

I would say the sex of the students is important too. If there are boys, not already into theatre, then id avoid Wicked, Cinderella, Matilda etc. Also taking into account being careful not to expose kids to themes that their parents may not approve of Id say Aladdin or Newsies.

Is there a reason The Lion King isnt being included?

[The Other One]

Posted: 6/6/14 at 8:30am

Pippin.

[Wickedmonkey332]

Posted: 6/6/14 at 9:09am

Gomez- I totally disagree about Matilda- the fact that the story revolves around five-year old does not mean that it is geared for that age range. Most of the people who enjoy it most are teenagers like me who appreciated the growing up theme because we are in the center of that time at present. It is also dark, funny, and colorful- all of which will keep the students attention. And Phantom is not boring for anyone who is mature enough to appreciate it. Believe me- no non-thespian teenager wants to watch it. And most Thespian students have seen the movie or concert version. Take them to something they haven't memorized yet.

[Gomez3]

Posted: 6/6/14 at 10:04am

I'm sorry, where do you go to school? Tijuana? Speaking as a teenager myself, the romanticism of Phantom brings teens in. We're a part of a generation that LOVES romance, sappy or not - Twilight, Fault in Our Stars, The Notebook, etc. Phantom may be a musical, but that by no means discredits it from being an enjoyable movie for teenagers.

Also, to those saying Aladdin wouldn't be enjoyable for teenagers -- teens love Disney. Seriously! We grew up with those movies, and as 'campy' as they may be, we all love them.

Matilda is un-relateable. Sure, some of us may have read the book as a child, but I honestly can't remember any part of it, and the movie holds no significance to this generation.

Updated On: 6/6/14 at 10:04 AM

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 6/6/14 at 10:18am

omg I suddenly feel old.

I was 16 when Phantom of the Opera opened on Broadway. I was infatuated by it. Had already seen several Broadway musicals by that time too. My first was actually Peter Pan with Sandy Duncan and Christopher Hewett when I was in second grade.

I would say - take them to Phantom of the Opera. Around that same time I also enjoyed Les Miz too and saw the video tape recording of Pippin with Ben Vereen.

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 6/6/14 at 11:08am

Pippin. It has a great story, great music, and they will be enthralled with the acrobatics. I would definitely have enjoyed this when I was a teen, I think it would perfect.

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 6/6/14 at 12:56pm

I have taken countless high school groups to see Phantom and they always loved it.

[mjohnson2]

Posted: 6/6/14 at 2:04pm

Wicked, Matilda, or Pippin are all (really) great shows that are family friendly without being too candy coated and are great fun without angering anybody. Plus the music in all 3 of them is fabulous.

[South Florida]

Posted: 6/6/14 at 2:07pm

Wicked or Pippin

[Broadwaybound94]

Posted: 6/6/14 at 2:09pm

I do have to take into consideration these kids have never been exposed to live theater. Some of their parents are deployed so I'm looking for a more lighthearted show or something they will be excited about even days after seeing it. I want these kids to have fun during the performance and want them to see a show that will mesmerize them and a show that will be in their memories for a long time. My first broadway show I saw was Porgy and Bess and I was around their ages and to this day I remember how blown away I was. I want the kids to have the same reactions.

[dreaming]

Posted: 6/6/14 at 2:30pm

Pippin

[Essie4]

Posted: 6/6/14 at 2:37pm

Yeah, I think Pippin may be your best bet, then. You can probably get great seats to it so that's a plus.

I may also point out that it would be better to take them to a non long running show. Keep in mind that shows like Pippen/Matilda won't be around forever, whereas stuff like Wicked/Phantom will be around for years to come and can be put off to a later date.

Updated On: 6/6/14 at 02:37 PM

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 6/6/14 at 2:53pm

I still say Aladdin. For kids who have probably seen the movie or could easily do so in preparation, Aladdin has some totally amazing effects that they will remember for a long time. And I am still grinning over some of the fun stuff weeks later.

[Broadwaybound94]

Posted: 6/6/14 at 3:49pm

Anybody know the best website to check prices for group tickets?

[ethan231h]

Posted: 6/6/14 at 4:10pm

Pippin is an excellent choice for teens especially for their first Broadway show!

[BrerBear]

Posted: 6/6/14 at 4:32pm

Pippin as a first choice, Matilda as a second.
Teens that age might really relate to the themes of the main characters, and both have a dark enough edge that teens won't find them childish.

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 6/6/14 at 4:51pm

As a first Broadway expeience, take them to something they haven't already seen in a movie theater. Introduce them to an original story that uses the resources only the theater can provide to tell the story. Pippin would fill the bill and the kids would love it. If not for the parental concern, Kinky Boots would work as well. The kids probably wouldn't bat an eye at the Lola/Angels stuff, but the folks are a different story. Newsies is sufficiently different than the film (which these kids probably haven't seen anway) and it's about kids their age. Maybe one of them would have that "I want to do this!" moments.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 6/6/14 at 6:07pm

I would avoid of Mice and Men. I went to a matinee two weeks ago, where there were busloads of High School Kids, who laughed hysterically at Lenny's climatic moment with Curly's wife. They laughed again at the ending, "Tell it again George...". I and my partner were really quite angry. I don't think the kids were mature enough to grasp the relationship of these two me, or the very real life obsticles the character of Lenny had to endure.

[Broadwaybound94]

Posted: 6/6/14 at 6:35pm

What about a show like Once, Bullets Over Broadway or Gentlemans Guide? I'm looking for shows with reasonable group sales prices for the show it is .

[hanabana]

Posted: 6/6/14 at 6:54pm

I think Aladdin would be best. I think they would appreciate the familiarity of the material and some of the songs.
Newsies would be my second choice - and I think prices are pretty reasonable with that.
Matilda would be third.
Once is beautiful, but it might not amuse the teenagers. They might be bored...
Gentleman's Guide, despite it being a show about murder, does not include any profanity or graphic violence (not really anyway), so it could be a good choice. It's a fun show.

[MVintheheartland]

Posted: 6/6/14 at 7:39pm

Aladdin or Wicked.

[binau]

Posted: 6/6/14 at 7:55pm

"Matilda is un-relateable. Sure, some of us may have read the book as a child, but I honestly can't remember any part of it, and the movie holds no significance to this generation. "

I'm not surprised actually, despite "a bunch of children on stage" Matilda is an intelligent and witty musical that would be lost on many teenagers. I say better off you all go and see Phantom and leave the seats at Matilda free for someone who can actually think about the issues and appreciate the clever music and lyrics.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/6/14 at 8:15pm

Un-relatable? Poppykosh. The majority of my HS kids loved it. I love how people assume THEIR feelings speak for the masses.

As for Once, my students raved about it like no other show I've ever taken them to, IF Gentleman's Guide is still open next spring, it's first on their list of what to see.

(Please remember, my students are pretty theater-savvy.)

[Gink]

Posted: 6/6/14 at 8:53pm

I'd say Aladdin or Pippin. I took a 15 year old girl and an 18 year old boy to Aladdin and all of us loved it--it was a lot of fun. Pippin was fantastic--they really elevated that show with this production--and it may be easier to get good seats to Pippin. For a first show,I'd hate to have them sit in the nose bleed seats at Aladdin. I'd skip Cinderella--it's a bit cloying. Bullets was good but not as much fun as Aladdin or Pippin. Newsies has some great dancing(if you can get past street kids dancing like that) and again, you might have a better chance getting better seats than Aladdin. We liked Matildaa lot, but didn't love it. Aladdin, Pippin and Newsies are more of a 'spectacle' show. We haven't seen Kinky Boots or Gentleman's Guide.

[Gink]

Posted: 6/6/14 at 8:55pm

I'd avoid Matilda--the parents die--might not be the best with kids' parents deployed.