When the producers of the 2-time Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning comedy invited our family to watch this spoof of Alfred Hitchcock’s murder mystery – 39 Steps, I wasn’t sure what to expect for our 7 year old. However, from the moment the lights dimmed and the stage broke into life, our 7 year old became progressively spellbound by the experience.
As an adult, I was absolutely thrilled by the brilliance with which a cast of 4 was able to play a 140 characters. This clever and absurd rendition of Alfred Hitchcock’s murder mystery was filled with unexpected interpretations and wildly hilarious moments. What I enjoyed most about the performance was being reminded that great theatrical performances don’t need extravagant sets, costumes or a 100 piece orchestra. 39 Steps is a performance where the power of suggestion and exaggeration tug your imagination out of the closet and transport you into a different reality. We thoroughly enjoyed this show filled with many laughs, mystery, suspense, and a touch of romance.
I was a little concerned that the story line of a murder mystery would be too much for a 7 year old. There are 2 shooting scenes where blanks are fired from a revolver that caused him to jump visibly, but all in all, the comical way in which these events unfolded on stage did not disturb him at all. In any case, I was delighted that he was able to appreciate the artistry with which the directors and actors commanded on this stage. Theatre is an art form that young people are slowly loosing the appreciation for as productions lean more and more on special effects to draw their audiences in. 39 Steps isn’t so. It’s artistically ingenious and I was delighted that our 7 year old had the opportunity to savor it.
It was with great sadness that I learned that 39 Steps just announced that their last performance will be Jan 16, 2011. Time is running out to watch this brilliant performance. I highly recommend that families with kids ages 9 and up try to catch the show before it’s final bow.
Here’s one of my favorite scenes from 39 steps.
Planning your trip to New York with kids? Check out:
The Steal: Win 2 Tickets to the comedy 39 Steps
Details: One lucky winner will win two tickets to a performance of 39 Steps at New World Stages in New York City
Winner: One (1) winner
Prize: Two Tickets to any performance of 39 Steps
HOW TO ENTER TO WIN: Leave a comment telling us which scene you liked the best. Watch scenes of 39 steps here.
For additional entries, feel free to do any or all of the following. Each one counts as an extra entry but be sure to LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ONE.
- Follow 39 Steps on Twitter
- Like 39 Steps on Facebook
- Write a review on Trekaroo and post a link to it in the comments each review gets you 5 entries
- Subscribe to the Trekaroo Blog
- Tweet a link to this Monday Mad Steal via @Trekaroo
- Post this on your Facebook Wall using the Facebook Share link above
- Fan Trekaroo on Facebook
- Follow Trekaroo on Twitter
- Post this giveaway on your blog
- Subscribe to Trekaroo in your reader
Rules and guidelines:
- 18 years of age or older
- US Residents only (Alaska and Hawaii residents are not eligible to win the Koolatron Travel Cooler)
Deadline to enter: Sunday,December 26, 2010 at 11:59PM PST
Contest Restrictions: Prize is valid for two full price orchestra/mezzanine seats to The 39 Steps on a select performance through January 16th, 2011. Winner will have the option to choose from a variety of dates. Some blackout dates apply.
The Deal: Trekaroo Families Get Up to 50% off Tickets
$39 – Best available seats (Wed & Thurs performances only)
$55 – Rear Mezzanine seats (all performances)
$65 – Orchestra & Front Row Mezzanine (all performances)
SAVE OVER 50%! Tickets regularly priced at $69.50 – $89.50.
HOW TO ORDER:
1. VISIT http://www.BroadwayOffers.com and use code TNHHC210
2. CALL (212) 947-8844 and mention code TNHHC210
3. BRING a printout of this discount to New World Stages at 340 West 50th Street
Restrictions: Offer valid for select seats at all performances through 1/16/11. Limit 10 tickets per order. All prices include a $1.50 facility fee. Offer is subject to availability and may be revoked at any time.
What is Monday Madness?
Every Monday, Trekaroo announces on our blog, either a fantastic giveaway or an incredible deal. It could be a green water bottle, a hotel stay on Maui or theme park tickets. Return every Monday to the Talking Trekaroo Blog for the details. Want a reminder? Become a Trekaroo member or follow us on facebook or twitter.
Thanks to Contest for Moms, Online Sweepstakes, CashNet Sweepstakes, and Sweepstakes Advantage.
The winner selected by Random.org is #8. Congrats Michelle L!
Trash cans to zippo lighters, sweeping brooms to newspapers, there is no end to the creative use of unusual objects to make music and rhythm. Our somewhat non musical family left the performance of STOMP skipping (and gasp) dancing down the streets. To say the least, Stomp is infectious and inspiring. This many time Emmy Award winning show can be appreciated by anyone of any age because the show centers around rhythm, music and dance – something that speaks universally to any human being. However, you’ll be blown away that the artists behind STOMP have taken what is so fundamental to the human experience and elevated it to an unforgettable experience.
Recently, Trekaroo Superoo Carol Cain (NYCityMama) took her 10 year old son for the first time to watch a performance of STOMP on Broadway at New York City’s Orpheum Theatre.
“The energy of the music and of the artists on stage really draw in the audience of all ages. The scene encourages audience participation, something kids will also enjoy. As for my 12 year old, he didn’t move around in his seat as much as he did in my womb 12 years ago, but he did have a big smile – the same one I imagined he had each time I saw the show before he was born.”
Read full reviews of Stomp on Broadway with Kids on Trekaroo
For more information on the show, go to www.stomponline.com
Related Articles:
- Hot List of Best Places to take Kids in New York City (NYC)
- New York City During the Holidays with Kids
- Where Families Should Go in NYC when the Weather’s Bad
The Steal: Win 2 Tickets to See STOMP!
Details: One lucky winner will win 2 tickets to watch an Emmy Award winning performance of STOMP in New York City at the Orpheum Theatre
Winner: One (1) winner
Prize: Two (2) tickets to watch a performance of STOMP in New York City valid between Nov 2 and Dec 19, 2010 for the following performances. (Value: $147)
- Tuesdays at 8:00PM
- Thursdays at 8:00PM
- Sundays at 3:00PM
Not Valid: November 25-28, 2010
How to Enter to Win: Leave a comment telling us what other New York City attractions you are excited to visit when you go to watch STOMP.
Here are some ideas recommended by Trekaroo families: Activities for kids in New York City
For additional entries, feel free to do any or all of the following. Each one counts as an extra entry but be sure to LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ONE.
- Write a review on Trekaroo for any place you’ve been to with the kids and post a link to it in the comments (include your Trekaroo username) each review gets you 5 entries
- Subscribe to the Trekaroo Blog
- Tweet a link to this Monday Mad Steal via @Trekaroo
- Post this on your Facebook Wall using the Facebook Share link above
- Fan Trekaroo on Facebook
- Follow Trekaroo on Twitter
- Post this giveaway on your blog
- Subscribe to Trekaroo in your reader
Rules and guidelines:
- 18 years of age or older
- US Residents only
Deadline to enter: Sunday, Nov 7, 2010 at 11:59PM PST
The Deal: $39 Tickets – that’s 50% off
Don’t want to take the chance of not winning? You can purchase tickets to watch STOMP for an unbelievable 50% off the regular price. Pay just $39 per ticket when you use the Discount code: MOMS
($39 tickets including facility fee, regularly $73.50)
VALID: Nov 2nd thru Dec 19, 2010 for performances on Tuesday-Friday at pm, Sat & Sun at 3pm
Limit six tickets per order. Subject to availability. Not valid on prior purchases.
Click here for tickets: http://www.stomponline.com/landing/specialmoms.html
Offer Not Valid: Nov 25-28
What is Monday Madness?
Every Monday, Trekaroo announces on our blog, either a fantastic giveaway or an incredible deal. It could be a green water bottle, a hotel stay on Maui or theme park tickets. Return every Monday to the Talking Trekaroo Blog for the details. Want a reminder? Become a Trekaroo member or follow us on facebook or twitter.
Thanks to Contest for Moms, Online Sweepstakes, CashNet Sweepstakes, and Sweepstakes Advantage.
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LiLing Pang is a contributing writer for Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
by Beth Keklak (trekaroo alias BAT)
I just saw the newest edition on Broadway, The Miracle Worker by William Gibson play at the Circle in the Square Theatre with my cousin and 9-year-old son. I was unsure how my son would perceive this play since he had only ever seen musicals and New York plays are often better when you “leave the kids at home”. Let me just sum up our experience at The Miracle Worker with one word: phenomenal.
Prior to going to the show I asked my son if he knew who Helen Keller was. He had heard of her and knew she was both blind and deaf, but beyond that was unsure. He had not heard of Annie Sullivan, her teacher. I printed out the educational guide for teachers on the show’s website and reviewed it with my son to familiarize him with the story.
Upon entering the theater to take our seats I was immediately struck by the intimacy of the theater. It is arranged in an oval shape with no “real” stage. The stage is on the floor in the center of all the seats which are situated stadium style, looking down onto the stage. The patrons in the front row could literally reach out and touch the performers. The next thing I noticed was the lack of a set. There was no big backdrop and no flashy props. The only furnishings and props used were simple and necessary to the scene. The only object use to create separate rooms or an indoor/outdoor setting was a mere door frame. The rest was left to your imagination. This minimalist approach only added to the overall experience of the performance, keeping the attention on the performance itself.
The show opens to Katie and Captain Keller hovering over a cradle. The doctor assures them their daughter will live which sends relief through the worried parents. They quickly realize that she cannot see or hear them, which sent a new set of fears through them. We move on to see Helen as a 6-year-old child who is prone to throw tantrums. This seems to be her only way to communicate when she is frustrated. The family considers sending her to an asylum, but Aunt Ev insists they continue to seek the help of specialists.
It is here that Annie Sullivan is introduced. She moves from Boston to be Helen’s teacher. Annie has never had the chance to teach, having just graduated from the Perkins Institute. It is an adjustment for both Annie and the family, but her tenacity and determination enable her to teach Helen patiently and creatively. She immediately begins signing into Helen’s hand the names of every object she hands to her. Through games, discipline, a war of wills, and unending efforts, Annie gives Helen a language to use with the rest of the world.. Eventually, we see Helen’s brain begin to engage and understand the language that Annie has been trying to teach her. And as we often say, the rest is history.
I was surprised to learn that this was the Broadway debut for much of the cast. They appeared on stage as if they have been their all of their lives. The performances were extremely moving. I could feel the frustration and determination of Annie Sullivan played by Alison Pill along with the rest of the audience. 13-year-old, Abigail Breslin’s performance of Helen was believable. While she may not have needed to learn a lot of lines, the mannerisms of her character were captured beautifully. Overall, the show was very well written. It delivered the story of Helen and her Miracle Worker with a surprising infusion of light humor throughout.
My 9 year old son’s take on the performance:
“I liked it. I really liked the characters, especially how Annie Sullivan was teaching Helen to sign so she could talk. Even though it was a serious play it was a little funny too.” His observation that made me a proud mama and showed me he got it! “I can’t imagine being blind and deaf. It must be like living in a dark silent world”.
As a mom, I felt it was an appropriate play for my 9 year old and geared for children 8 years of age and up. I noticed other kids in the audience who looked to be approximately the same age. Due to the length of the performance and the intimacy of the theater, parents will need to use their judgment to determine whether their child can sit still in a $100 seat for a 2-hour show and enjoy it. (Kids under the age of 5 are not allowed to attend) If they are unfamiliar with Helen Keller, the synopsis sheet from the website’s educational guide was very useful in explaining the story to my son.
If you’ve got a tween or teen, be sure to bring them along to see The Miracle Worker. It will be a night they’ll remember. To purchase tickets, call (212) 239-6200 or buy online at Telecharge.com.
Related Articles:
- For nearby activities for kids in New York City
- For kid-friendly hotels in NYC
- Hot List of Best Places to take Kids in New York City (NYC)
- Where Families Should Go in NYC when the Weather’s Bad
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Beth Keklak is a contributing writer on Trekaroo, a reviews website dedicated to helping parents explore and travel with kids. Tickets to review the show were complimentary and did not require the reviewer to express a particular point of view.
Are you in the holiday spirit yet? I’m sitting at my parents house in Houston, Texas. It’s about 65 degrees outside and the house filled with relatives from 4 different generations. The moms have been running back and forth to the mall, the dads are busy looking for a flat panel TV and luckily, my son’s napping so I can actually update you on all the Monday Mad Steals of today.
Given it’s the holidays and everyone’s running around seeing friends and families and getting in those last-minute gifts on the list,the Finian’s Rainbow giveaway runs through December 30th, so join in on the fun. Just tell us your favorite Broadway show and you’ll be entered to win 4 tickets to Broadway’s newest show for families in New York City.
Finian’s Rainbow is a new Broadway Musical in New York City that has it all. This musical will make you laugh, cry, and dance as you watch this memorable fairy tale played out in a brilliant spectrum of color. The story is centered around an Irishman Finian McLonergan and his daughter Sharon who travel to a small Southern town in the mythical state of Missitucky with plans to bury a stolen pot of gold in the shadows of Fort Knox on the mistaken belief it will grow and multiply.
“A perfect musical for kids 10 and over, who enjoy musical comedy and are enthralled more by the art of acting and music than shows and high tech spectacles.” – nycitymama (Full review of Finian’s Rainbow for families)
The Steal – Free Tix
Trekaroo is giving away 4 tickets to see Finian’s Rainbow to two lucky families.
Number of Winners: Two (2)
Prize: 4 Tickets to see Finian’s Rainbow in New York City in the month of January. (Retail value: $240+) Restrictions apply.
To enter:
Share in the comments what your favorite musical or show was as a child. Be sure to leave your email address.
For additional entries
- Post a link to this giveaway on Twitter, Facebook or on your blog. Each post is an entry, leave a comment about where you have posted.
Rules and guidelines:
18 years of age or older
US Residents only
Deadline to enter: December 30th, 2009
The Deal – Discount Tickets
Now through December 20th, Trekaroo families can get select orchestra and mezzanine row seats to see Finian’s Rainbow for $59 tickets (Tues-Fri) and $75 tickets (Sat + Sun). Go to Broadway Offers or call Telecharge at 212-947-8844 and use our special discount code FRBOW75.
February 2nd, 2010, KidsNightonBroadway is offering half price tickets to Finian’s Rainbow.
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What is Monday Mad Steals?
Every Monday, Trekaroo announces on our blog, either an fantastic giveaway or a incredible deal that is only being offered on Trekaroo for a short time. It could be a green water bottle or tickets to the hottest show on Broadway. Return every Monday to the Talking Trekaroo Blog to find out what the steal of the week is. Get a reminder every Tuesday when our weekly digest goes out (you have to be a member of Trekaroo). Or be a Facebook fan to be the first to know.
Thanks to Contest for Moms, Online Sweepstakes, CashNet Sweepstakes , and Sweepstakes Advantage,.
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Esther Lee is a contributing author on Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | FL | HI | MA | NY | PA | TX | VA and now IL and WA and DC
