The Best Live, Kid-Friendly Entertainment
November 23, 2010, By William Browning 0 comments
When it comes to live entertainment there are many kid-friendly choices available for parents to consider. Whether you are traveling with your kids or a quality show is on tour locally, planning to take in a live-show is always a winner, hands down. Child-friendly entertainment is no longer limited to music and plays alone as science and shows intended to broaden one's cultural experience are now the norm.
Nothing says "special occasion" as when a parent takes their children out for a day of fun and enjoyment to a live stage show. Consider some of these options when you want to broaden your child's cultural horizons at a local theater or if you happen to be in New York City and can attend a Broadway show. Your child will be enthralled by the spectacle and talk about the show for months and even years to come.
Broadway
Every year the Broadway League sponsors Kids Night on Broadway when a child ages six to 18 gets in free to select Broadway shows with a paying adult. This includes theaters on the actual Broadway in New York City as well as participating theaters throughout the United States. Check with your local performing arts center to see if any shows are eligible in your neighborhood.
For more details you can check the Kids Night on Broadway website. Musicals involved in New York include "Stomp," "Billy Elliot, the Musical," "The Lion King," "Lombardi," "Mary Poppins" and "The Pee-Wee Herman Show". Dates for 2011 have not been announced as of yet so keep checking the website for further details. In New York, Kids Night on Broadway includes admission to a party at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.
Live Tours
There are many family-friendly tours that are currently traveling throughout the United States. Ticketmaster has a long list of shows and availability for classics such as "Disney on Ice," "Beauty and the Beast," "Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey," "Radio City Christmas Spectacular" and the Harlem Globetrotters. There is something for everyone from younger kids to older ones.
Something new for 2010 and 2011 is a tour sponsored by NASA called "Mad Science: Star Trek Live" which has its home base at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. There is also a touring version coming to a city near you. Using state-of-the-art technology and live actors, "Star Trek Live" uses modern science to solve a problem in the "Star Trek" universe when a renegade Romulan attacks Earth. Help two Starfleet cadets ward off the menace and learn how to live in space. This show makes science cool now that "Star Trek" is back and better than ever.
Musical groups
If music is your son or daughter's forte then there are plenty of unique performances you won't want to miss. For the holiday season the Trans-Siberian Orchestra brings its blend of high tech wizardry and electronic sounds to theaters nationwide from November to December. All of your favorite holiday tunes are presented in a larger-than-life production. You can purchase tickets through Ticketmaster.
The Lakota Sioux Indian Dance Theatre tours throughout the world and the United States to support ongoing programs on the Rosebud Indian Reservation. Traditional and sacred costumes, dances and music are performed on stage in a truly unique experience. Listen to drums, flutes and rhythms of sacred chants and watch bright costumes dance across the stage. This is something you won't want to miss. Check your local theater or university for any local performances as the Lakota Sioux Indian Dance Theatre tours constantly.
Powerful drums reverberate throughout the room as you see dozens of men on stage pounding away in traditional Japanese garb. You will be amazed when you witness the splendor, synchronicity and raw power of Kodo's One Earth Tour in 2011. Kodo has been touring for years and starting in January they go from the west coast to the east coast and up into Canada bringing unique Japanese drums to North America. Kodo is a must-see for a high-energy performance.
Any of these choices are high-quality professional productions that can be just for fun or even an educational and cultural experience. No matter the reason for attending a live performance, the experience will truly be memorable for both father and son alike.
