For the whole family: The New York Children’s Theater Festival!

Go Green!
Prince Charming’s Quest for Love and Ecology in NYC
Friday April 20, 2012 at 5:30 PM
Saturday April 21, 2012 at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM

Scheme of the Super Bullies
Friday April 27, 2012 at 5:30 PM
Saturday April 28, 2012 at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM

The Velveteen Rabbit
Friday May 4, 2012 at 5:30 PM
Saturday May 5, 2012 at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM

Marjorie S. Dean Little Theatre at the West Side Y
10 W. 64th Street and Central Park West
$18 per person ($15 for YMCA Members)
All Festival Tickets Available Through Ovationtix.
Call 866.811.4111 or click here.

Welcome to 21st century Godspell, filled with audience participation, references to Charlie Sheen, Steve Jobs, Lindsay Lohan and Donald Trump, and wine served on stage during intermission. Set in the Circle in the Square Theatre, an intimate theatre in the round, this modern day production of Stephen Schwartz’s classic musical, veers from the original. While the story itself remains the same, many of the songs and much of the dialogue have been modernized. The actors take the stage with cell phones in hand, break into rap and beat box, pull audience members on stage to play charades and pictionary, refer to current events and pop culture, and even do the electric slide while singing “Day By Day”. At one point, a character says, “It’s your father. He wants you to add him on Facebook.”

There are no traditional sets. The story is told on a stage that is mostly bare, a trap door to a pool of water beneath, a ladder, and some other sparse props. Four guitarists are placed around the stage in the midst of the audience, a drum set is placed in the back row, and a piano is built into the stage. The focus here is on the energetic and talented cast; Hunter Parrish (Showtime’s “Weeds”, Spring Awakening), Anna Maria Perez de Tagle (“Hannah Montana”, “Camp Rock”) and Telly Leung (“Glee”, Wicked, Rent). In addition to being strong singers, the nontraditional cast engages in some innovative maneuvers, at one point creating a person out of pieces of newspaper and at another ripping paper to simulate the sound of tap shoes. The direction by first time Broadway director Daniel Goldstein is sharp, witty, and fresh.

This is indeed a refreshing twist on the show we all know and love. Treat yourself to a fun night out. You know you deserve it.

Godspell
Circle in the Square, 1633 Broadway @ 50th St.
Click here for tickets
Ticket Discount Code: GSMDR79
$79.50 / $89.50 (Sat Eves)
Certain black out dates apply
Valid through 12/23/11
For more blog posts on Broadway’s Godspell visit MamaDrama.

The other night, I attended a show… IN A GYM. This was not one of my kids’ shows, but rather an exquisite bare bones production of a new Michael John LaChiusa musical that whisks you away to another world. Queen of the Mist is the true story of Anne Edson Taylor who, in 1901, attempts to jump down Niagra Falls in a barrel. Tony Award nominee, Mary Testa, literally leaves you speechless as Anne Edson Taylor. In her mind blowing tour de force, she is perfection in this role. As Anne says, “I am a phenomenon.” And she is. Mary Testa is supported by a larger than life cast and a brilliant vehicle of dense music, lyrics and direction.

The audience becomes completely invested in Queen of the Mist from two sets of bleachers opposite each other, just feet away from the action. There is a small orchestra down one end behind a screen, and the set consists of little more than an old piano on wheels, a bath tub, and pieces of wood on wheels (which they use to “row down the river”). The strong ensemble cast of Broadway vets each convincingly transform into multiple roles throughout the show. The brilliant music by Michael John LaChiusa, of The Wild Party Fame, is rich and sophisticated. A real treat after so many empty rock musicals of late. And the direction, by Jack Cummings III, ties it all together seamlessly.

Thank you MamaDrama for inviting me and thank you
Transport Group for commissioning this brilliant piece. I might just have to see it again.

Treat yourself to date night in the gym. You will laugh and cry and are guaranteed to talk about something other than the kids the whole way home.

Queen of the Mist
The Gym at Judson Memorial Church
243 Thompson Street at Washington Square South
General admission tickets start at $58;
Premium reserved seating tickets start at $65
For tickets and information: www.transportgroup.org or phone 866-811-4111
DISCOUNT CODE: $10 off with code TGMAMA

For more blog posts on Broadway’s Godspell visit MamaDrama.

In five days, the New Parents Expo is coming to NYC (October 15 and 16). Because of our special relationship with New York Family magazine, iKidNY has 100 vouchers to give away to expectant and new parents from the NY Metro area. That’s two adults per voucher for the most extraordinary New Parent Event of the Year (value $40)!

Sign Up Right Now: It’s first come, first serve. The first 100 people write in and mention iKidNY will receive a special voucher for 2 adults to be used either Saturday or Sunday. (Children are free)

Send your email to NewParentsExpo@manhattanmedia.com

Required Info: Name, address, and email address, and how you heard about the offer. Just say “iKidNY.”

Most importantly, ENJOY THE EXPO.

You can read all about the event at NewParentsExpo.com, but if you want to cut to chase here are the highlights:

* Happy Infants & Toddlers: The beloved Dr. Harvey Karp (author of “The Happiest Baby on the Block”) will be giving the keynote address each day, elaborating on his methods for raising happy babies (and getting them to sleep) and happy toddlers (and getting them to listen to you)!

* Incredible Speakers: Beyond Dr. Karp, Dr. Bob Sears, Liz Lange, Ali Wing (of giggle), Rosie Pope, Cool Mom Picks and other parenting and pregnancy luminaries will be speaking on everything from having a healthy child and a healthy home, to stylish but practical family shopping, to getting along as a new family.

* The Goods: Over 100 Exhibitors and the best brands and services and stores and experts for pregnancy, baby and toddler.

* The Attractions: Stroller Test Track (if you don’t have one) & Stroller Tune-up (if you do) * Special Lectures for New Dads (invaluable) * Child Play Area

* The Prizes: Big Prizes: $1,500 Nursery Gift from giggle! World Class Spa Getaway! * Full Package From Classic Kids Photography! Plus, strollers, high-chairs… the works……

* The Answers: Sleep! Feeding! Child Gear & Furnishings! Early Enrichment! Preschool! There’s a special area devoted just for your questions.

Sounds great, right? But don’t forget to REGISTER NOW for your free vouchers. Email NewParentsExpo@manhattanmedia.com, and mention iKidNY. And note: if you’re one of the families who happens not to be in time for the voucher, write in anyway and they’ll send you a special discount code for the event.

Enjoy and please say hello – I’ll be at the Expo too, of course!

Lara

Desert Island Comic Zine Party
Saturday October 15th, 1 to 4pm
Recommended for families with kids 8 to 14
Location: Whitney Museum of American Art, 945 Madison Ave

Whitney Family Programs and Desert Island present a comic book fair featuring some of the most up and coming independent illustrators in New York City. In conjunction with the exhibition Lyonel Feininger: At the Edge of the World, featuring Lyonel Feininger’s pioneering comic strips in the Chicago Sunday Tribune, contemporary comic artists will be displaying and selling their work – prints, zines, buttons, and more! Kids and families can explore Feininger’s comics through drawing activities in the galleries, and each participant will receive limited edition prints by each artist to compile their own comic book.

This event will feature work by Partyka Collective (Shawn Cheng, Matt Weigle, John Mejias, and Sean McCarthy), Estrella Vega, Jen Tong, Tom Toye, Chris Patch, Jungyeon Roh, Sto, Chris Uphues and Noah Lyon.

No registration required; just drop in!