theater Archives - Page 6 of 11 - Have Sippy Will Travel

Finding Neverland on Broadway @NeverlandBway

November 30, 2015 by Samantha 8 Comments

After spending most of our life hearing about the magic of Neverland, have you ever wondered what inspired Peter Pan and Neverland? That is what the play Finding Neverland brings to light. Based on the Academy Award®-winning film, that has the same name, the show tells the story of a play-wright, J.M. Barrie and he was inspired to write the stories of Neverland.

Barrie has been lacking on his creativity and inspiration when he meets the beautiful widow Sylvia and her 4 sons, Jack, George, Michael and Peter. (Incidentally, currently playing Barrie is Matthew Morrison, of Glee and about a million other things. Not only were we delighted to see Matthew Morrison live, but also got to see So You Think You Can Dance season 10 winner Amy Yakima, who is as of now playing Peter Pan as well as dancing in the show.)

After hearing the young boys tell stories of magical escapades in the world of Neverland, Barrie write a play that most of the high-society theatergoers in London have ever seen. Despite taking a giant risk, Barrie wrote the play and discovered, just like in his play, When you believe, you can fly.

Finding Neverland, directed by Tony® winner Diane Paulus, also known for Pippin, Hair, features an original score by composer Gary Barlow and Grammy® winner Eliot Kennedy, with a book by celebrated playwright James Graham and choreography by three-time Emmy® winner Mia Michaels.

This is a great play to see with your family. Packed with beautiful visuals, lots of laughs and songs that will stick with you, this timeless story will remind you that you never really grow up. The staging was really fun and quite something to see- the ending was really sad but amazing and beautiful, but I don’t want to ruin it for you .

Many people (including yours truly) have enjoyed Finding Neverland, including Mary Poppins herself, Julie Andrews, who absolutely loved it. Ms. Andrews came with her daughter and grandchildren. And, after the show, they all took pictures with the cast and gushed over how much they enjoyed it.

The cast was ecstatic. Check out this photo taken backstage of Julie Andrews and Finding Neverland star Laura Michelle Kelly (who, coincidentally, originated the role of Mary Poppins in the stage version both in London and on Broadway).

Below are links to Instagram photos of the cast members and Julie Andrews if you’d like to see some more.

https://instagram.com/p/7l92ItI4E3/
https://instagram.com/p/7lmUghAo48/

https://instagram.com/p/7l80wbv_K4/

https://instagram.com/p/7l7XzEgtt9/

Finding Neverland plays at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater (205 West 46th Street). The schedule is as follows: Tuesday at 7:30pm, Wednesday at 2pm & 7:30pm, Thursday at 7:30pm, Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm & 8pm, Sunday at 3pm. Tickets can be arranged online at www.FindingNeverlandTheMusical.com, by calling Ticketmaster at (877) 250-2929 or in person at the Lunt-Fontanne box office, located at 205 West 46th Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenues. For more information, please visit www.FindingNeverlandTheMusical.com.

Follow the magic on Twitter and Instagram: @NeverlandBway

Filed Under: Holiday Gift Guide, Holiday Gift Guide 2015, review, theater Tagged With: broadway, theater

EVER AFTER at Paper Mill Playhouse

May 22, 2015 by Samantha 1 Comment

My son and I had the opportunity to see Paper Mill Playhouse’s Ever After, and we both enjoyed it. My son, surprisingly, liked it more then I did, and talked about it for days. Based on the fable “Cinderella”, but from the perspective that this wasn’t any damsel in distress waiting for some guy to come save her, this show is fun, funny, and great for families to see.

A bit silly at times (there is a song and dance where Danielle, aka Cinderella is thought to be the Gypsy queen from heaven and the prince is her goat companion in human form) it is all in good fun, and my son really enjoyed it. Another fun addition was Leonardo da Vinci, who has a ball thrown in his honor, is a good friend of the Prince’s after a harrowing event at the beginning of the story, and steps in to save the day more then once.

This is a great show for kids of all ages, and a great one for the whole family. Booster seats are located in the rear of the theater for smaller kids should you need them. Ever After is a fun twist on a classic, something different for your children then the Disney damsels, and pays homage to a woman who knows how to take care of business. Grab your tickets sooner rather then later for this entertaining show!

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Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Producing Artistic Director, Todd Schmidt-Managing Director) is proud to announce complete casting for the world-premiere musical Ever After, directed and choreographed by three-time Tony Award^® winner Kathleen Marshall (Anything Goes, Nice Work If You Can Get It), featuring a book and lyrics by Marcy Heisler and music by Zina Goldrich.

Paper Mill Playhouse presents the world premiere of a new musical based on the 1998 film starring Drew Barrymore and Anjelica Huston. This is no fairy tale. Ever After sets the record straight on the fable of Cinderella. Her name was Danielle and it was always about her wit, her smarts, her strength and her good friend Leonardo da Vinci. She makes her own dreams come true. Warm and romantic, funny and smart, this is the musical you’ve been waiting for.

“We’re thrilled to present the world premiere of this beautiful musical,” commented Mark S. Hoebee, Producing Artistic Director for the Millburn theater. “I am delighted to showcase a new musical with strong, female leads, created by strong, female artists including Kathleen Marshall, Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich.”

The award-winning design team of Broadway veterans will feature Derek McLane (scenic design), Jess Goldstein (costume design), Peter Kaczorowski (lighting design), Nevin Steinberg (sound design), Mary-Mitchell Campbell (music supervision), David Gardos (music direction), Leah Loukas (hair and wig design), Rick Sordelet (fight direction) and casting by Telsey + Company.

Ever After begins performances Thursday, May 21, 2015, and runs through Sunday, June 21, 2015.

Ever After will be performed at Paper Mill Playhouse eight times a week, Wednesday through Sunday. Performance schedule: Wednesday at 7:00pm, Thursday at 1:30pm and 7:00pm, Friday at 7:00pm, Saturday at 1:30pm and 7:00pm and Sunday at 1:30pm and 7:00pm. Tickets are on sale now and range from $28 to $99. Tickets may be purchased by calling 973.376.4343, at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office at 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online at www.PaperMill.org. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express accepted. Groups of 10 or more can receive up to a 40% discount on tickets and should call 973.315.1680. College students can order $20 rush tickets over the phone or in person at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office on the day of the performance.

Filed Under: lifestyle, theater

See THE MERCHANT OF VENICE at the CENTER FOR JEWISH HISTORY

May 14, 2015 by Samantha Leave a Comment

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE by William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare’s classic THE MERCHANT OF VENICE will be performed in New York on June 10th at 3pm (Preview), 14th at 7pm (Opening), 22nd and 24th at 8pm 2015.

The lead role of Shylock will be played by international Actor and Baritone DAVID SERERO. (www.davidserero.com)
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Filed Under: entertainment, theater

Chuggington Live! The Great Rescue Adventure

May 13, 2015 by Samantha Leave a Comment

If you have a little Chuggington fan at home, you will want to get tickets for this train-tastic adventure, coming to the Beacon Theater in NYC! But hurry, this show will speed away before your know it, leaving your little conductors wanting more.

About The Show

“Join Wilson, Koko and Brewster on the most traintastic day ever in CHUGGINGTON LIVE! The Great Rescue Adventure. The trainees have started their Advanced Training, and are eager to master their new roles that test courage, speed, and determination. When Koko finds herself in trouble at Rocky Ridge Mine, it’s up to her friends to help her. Do the trainees have what it takes to put their newly learnt skills into practice? Can Wilson come to Koko’s rescue and fulfill his dream of becoming Chug Patrol hero?
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Filed Under: entertainment, kids, theater Tagged With: kids shows, live shows, NYC

Radio City New York Spring Spectacular

April 28, 2015 by Samantha 9 Comments

This past weekend, we took my son to see the Radio Cit Music Hall show, the New York Spring Spectacular. He loved the Christmas Spectacular, so we hoped he would love this one just as much. The show is set in NYC, and is about a tour guide who has been bought out by a company that wants to go virtual. The performers visit all the highlights of NYC’s tourism hotspots, complete with random visits from the Easter Bunny (hey, it’s Spring after all). You can also see some other fun characters- we saw Minions, Paddington Bear, Dora the Explorer, and Power Rangers who made appearances.

There is familiar music throughout the show, as well as some new. There is also quite a bit of audience interaction, including one singled out and made to sing on camera (and broadcast on the large screen on stage). Everyone is handed 3D glasses for some fun experiences, and you are loaned “magic” bracelets that glow and sparkle at certain points during the show. (Give them back at the end.) The dance numbers are fun and new- our favorite was “Singing in the Rain”, where the Rockettes all danced in raingear with umbrellas, and two male members got fairly well soaked while tapping away.
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Filed Under: entertainment, review, theater Tagged With: NYC, theater

Take Me To Church- The Hunchback of Notre Dame explores the light and dark sides of it’s characters

March 25, 2015 by Samantha 6 Comments

Moving. Heartbreaking. Stunning. All words I would use to describe Paper Mill Playhouse’s production of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”, and I didn’t expect to react so strongly in the least.

Paper Mill, which produces beautiful shows right here in NJ, never ceases to amaze me. With talent second to none (and that means Broadway as well- since many of it’s stars also preform on the Great White Way, you don’t need to trek into the city to see a top-notch performance) and not a bad seat in the house, we always enjoy the shows at Paper Mill Playhouse. This one, however, might be my favorite so far, in no small part because I was not expecting to love it so much.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame at Paper Mill Playhouse; Photo by Matthew Murphy; Michael Arden (Quasimodo) and the company of The Hunchback of Notre Dame

A fan of Victor Hugo, who wrote the novel, I thought that the Disney movie was cute if (of course) simple, as it was intended for young audiences. The movie lost what to me were some key characters to understanding the story, modified others deeply, and lost the tone of the novel and story. The music was nice, and the singing exactly what you would expect from a Disney film. I was expecting a cute, fun show. However, I found myself knocked off my feet within moments, at the opening song “The Bells Of Notre Dame”. The full orchestra and choir took one right to the period and atmosphere, and was incredibly moving.

With minimalist scenery and props, the cast really took center stage and full focus. The lack of many scenery changes or much going on in the background only adds to the production- it seems right at home for the time period. It is raw, sparse, the way one might imagine medieval Catholic services to have been. The characters are complicated, deep and feel human. There is no pure evil villain and our heroes have moments of weakness, each with conflicting feelings and acts. You are able to see the good inside even the most flawed character, and your heart breaks with them all as the story rings on.
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Filed Under: lifestyle, review, theater

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular

December 2, 2014 by Samantha 1 Comment

This past weekend, we went into New York City to see the The Radio City Christmas Spectacular. It’s one of those things that you need to do at least once in your life, if not more often (if you are close enough that you are able).

Starting on November 7, and running through December 31, you and your family and friends can go see one of NYC’s iconic show’s (and some of the world’s most iconic dancers) to really get the holiday season started.

My son was able to meet some of the lovely ladies of the Radio City Rockettes, which was of course fun. (There was a teenage boy waiting behind us, I think it was a little more fun for him, but still.) The Rockettes have been performing at Radio City since 1932, and during the Christmas season they preform 7 days a week. The Rockettes also perform every year at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC and America’s Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit. This past week, they also lit the Empire State Building red and green for Christmas. Gotta love those hard-working ladies!
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Filed Under: holidays, review, theater

Disney On Ice presents Frozen

November 27, 2014 by Samantha 2 Comments

We recently saw the new Disney On Ice show, Frozen. My son loved it, but the little miss loved it even more. Mickey, Minnie, and friends were the first to hit the ice, which brought shouts of joy from the audience. The kids were all excited (and lets face it, everyone loves Mickey and Minnie). But when Elsa and Anna hit the stage, the screaming and screeching from all the little girls (and plenty of their parents) was deafening.

All the little Elsa’s and Anna’s in their dress up clothes, with wands and tiaras being shaken around in the air excitedly, could hardly contain themselves as the show began.

The songs were “sung” (or played on the speakers and lip synched) not only by the skating cast, but full volume by every little girl (and some boys) in the audience. OK, and again- plenty of parents. You know who you are. When “Let It Go” came on, I thought the walls were going to come down, LOL.

The kids had a great time, and you will too. Check out when the show is coming to your town! Visit the Disney On Ice website (http://www.disneyonice.com) for a full listing.

For more information, please read the below-

Tickets On Sale Now for Touring Skating Spectacular
Featuring Dynamic Sisters Anna and Elsa, Appearing for the First Time in a Live Production

Disney On Ice spectacular will bring the Academy Award^® winning and number one animated feature film of all time, Disney’s Frozen, to life. The Academy Award^® winning tale will be told live for the first time in this production, capturing the dynamic between two royal sisters, Anna and Elsa. Anna, a girl with an extraordinary heart, embarks on an epic journey to find her sister, the magical Elsa, who is determined to remain secluded as she finally feels free to test the limits of her powers. Rugged mountain man Kristoff, his loyal reindeer Sven, the lovable and hilarious snowman Olaf and the mystical trolls help Anna along the way in this story about love conquering fear. Audiences will get to sing along with such musical masterpieces as “Let it Go,” “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” and “Fixer Upper.”

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