The Bright Lights of Broadway with "Matilda", Shubert Theater, NY, NY

"Matilda the Musical" 

The Shubert Theater

225 W. 44th, NY, NY

One of the most important reasons for living in the "Big Apple" is the access to one of the world's most amazing performing arts scenes. It has been a good year for us both with the kids "Spider-Man, Turn off the Dark" and without "Of Mice and Men" (ok Spider-Man was not that awesome, but James Franco surprisingly was). 

We racked up playbills this year like we owned the place.  But by far the best performance  has been this adaptation of the amazing Roald Dahl book, "Matilda."

Perhaps you are living on another planet and never experienced "Willy Wonka" or "The Witches," but if you have, you know that there is no greater children's author dead or alive. "Matilda the Musical" did not disappoint (and I hate musicals and book adaptations in general). From the fantastical moving "scrabble" set to the nine year old lead that nailed it, our boys were equally inspired to tryout one day for the "Great White Way."  So whether you're in town for good or the weekend, make it out to see this show before it's too late!

Berenstain Bears Bare All; Leventhal-Sidman Jewish Community Center, Newton, MA

Guest Blogger: Kami Lewis Levin

 Leventhal-Sidman Jewish Community Center 
333 Nahanton Street
Newton, MA

I grew up in performing arts magnet schools.  I danced, my brother sang and played guiter, and my sister was in the theatre.  (Go on.  Say with an obnoxious British accent.)  Performing is in my blood.  And so, I want to raise my children to love artistic endeavors.  So far, so good.  Sydney, Liji and Seth have formed a Sunday morning rock band that plays the likes of Frere Jacques in their particular punk style.  And, we have an awesome art table that the kids sit at and draw on for hours.  But we haven't done much in the way of theater-going, so when Seth noticed that the Berenstain Bears were performing at the Newton J.C.C., we were all over it.

It turns out, the J.C.C. actually has children's theater performances quite regularly through their Magic Ark Performance Series.  Who knew?  (Probably you, but not me...)  For us, the Berenstain Bears was a perfect match because of late, Sydney has been quite obsessed with that beary crew.  

And, I'd like to think he was pretty psyched for some alone time with me. 

The show was sold out, as most J.C.C. shows are, so Seth was brilliant to purchase our tickets online in advance.

There were mats set up in the "orchestra" section so kids could sit nice and close.  Risers with chairs filled up the house and this house was packed to the gills with laughing, bear-loving folk between the ages of 2 and 82.  The set, costumes, singing and dancing combined to produce high-quality children's theater.  The plot was a mish-mash of three different Berenstain Bears stories, two of which Sydney and I practically knew by heart.  The hour long production was a perfect outing for a cold, gray, winter's day.

The Big Apple Hits Beantown: Big Apple Circus, Boston, MA

Big Apple Circus

Government Center

Boston, MA

I was totally a Ringling Brothers kid.  I loved the lion tamers, the elephants, and everything in between.  So, I was shocked to find out one rainy Saturday in New York that there was more to the circus than just clowns and wild beasts.  This was my third outing to see the Big Apple (second for Sydney, first for Lij) and I think it was the best.  "Bello is Back!" and this time with a vengeance.  

The MC announced that Bello had returned this year, and I was delighted.  Evidently Time magazine agrees, naming him the best clown in town.  It wasn't simply this guy's three foot hair, or his long line of circus ancestors (200 years!).  Bello has it all.  The man can fly with the Aniskin trapeze troupe, run down the competition on the Wheel of Wonder, and makes Grandma the clown look like an amateur at Friday Night Standup. 

Sure, we bought the mandated hotdog, icee, waters, juice, blinking glasses and Big Apple Circus Truck.  Throw in another $10 for discounted parking and if mom hadn't paid we wouldn't have gotten out of there for less than a hundred spot.  But, as impressed as I was, Lij and Sydney were in heaven.   The horse trainers had my kids on the edge of their seats.  The dog trainers were simply adorable.  As if the performance wasn't enough, mom told us about their Clown Care at Children's Hospital, where she brings them around to make really sick kids laugh.  How can a circus get any better than this?

The generous folks have also offered a little discount for my readers, so check them out at:

To purchase your discounted tickets to the Big Apple Circus:

Online: http://bigapplecircus.org/bostonpop.aspx  and submit the code POP10 in the Promotional Codes box

By Phone: CALL 888-541-3750 and mention code POP10

In Person:  Big Top Box Office  10AM–6PM daily. No service fee. Bring a copy of this blog post

*Offer good on select seat locations and performances. Must present this blog post to receive discount at the box office. Performance schedule subject to change. Offer is subject to availability; not valid on prior purchases; cannot be combined with other discounts or promotions. This offer can be revoked at any time. Discount amount varies. Limit 8 tickets per order. No refunds or exchanges. Telephone and Internet orders are subject to standard service fees.

Performing Live!: The Center for Arts in Natick (TCAN), Natick, MA

Performing Live!: The Center for Arts in Natick (TCAN)
Guest Blogger: Kami Lewis Levin
Livefromthefence.blogspot.com
14 Summer Street
Natick, MA


Reasons to venture:

• Low stakes theatre for kids, it's ok if they talk through the show, everyone else is too...
• Eat and drink in your seats, straight from our favorite Bakery on the Common.
• An incredible performance space, bringing you back to Natick's industrial past

Where do you take your kids for an afternoon out on the town?

Rainy Day Cape: The Cape Cod Museum of Natural History

Rainy Day Cape: The Cape Cod Museum of Natural History 869 Main Street
Brewster, MA Reasons to venture:

• Isn't it nicer to see jelly fish in a tank than at the beach?
• The Cape Playhouse has morning performances. We caught the High Peaks Juggling Show and laughed our way through the rain.
• Old school fun at the Orleans Bowling Center

How do you keep from pulling out your hair when it rains on the Cape?