The other week, I had the chance to check out Pretty Woman on Broadway, and what a fun night it was! Perfect for a girls’ night out, Pretty Woman on Broadway is full of nostalgia, upbeat music and thrilling choreography.
Perhaps because I was a teen when the movie Pretty Woman came out, but I complete forgot the risqué storyline until I was sitting in Nederlander Theater. Pretty Woman on Broadway was true to the movie and boasted the same 90s pop vibe. Composers Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance paid homage to the original film with so many great songs throughout this musical.
Samantha Barks’ portrayal of Vivian Banks was lovely, as was Andy Karl’s Edward Lewis. Their chemistry was palpable and exceeded my expectations. The beauty of Broadway includes enjoying a live show and experiencing full theatrical production in person. With that, it was fun enjoying the show with friends, while we shared laughs and enjoyed a show!
If you’re looking for a fun, nostalgic show to see with girlfriends, be sure to check out Pretty Woman on Broadway.
Tickets are as low as $59 at Ticketmaster. Use MOM1 for a discount at Ticketmaster.
This post is made possible by support from Pretty Woman: The Musical. All opinions are my own.
It’s been a blustery few weeks here in NYC/NJ. Despite the snow last week, my older son and I had the chance to check out King Kong on Broadway. Technology, choreography combined with Broadway flair, King Kong was quite the production, and one that blew my 11 year old away.
King Kong
King Kong on Broadway followed a similar storyline to that of the classic. With the magic of a computerized backdrop and projector,the main settings took place in 1930s NYC, SS Wanderer and Skull Island. Each major backdrop was seamlessly projected to set the stage and create an unmistakable story surrounding the iconic settings. We were most impressed with SS Wanderer and how the audience was taken “onboard” Carl Denham and Ann Darrow’s excursion to Skull Island. The way the stage morphed into the bow of a ship was so unique and truly a sight to see.
The main sight of this show, was, hands-down, King Kong. This massive animatronic Gorilla descended onto the stage with an undeniable presence. Together with the orchestra’s accompaniment and the troupe who make King Kong come to life, the larger than life Gorilla made heads turned and jaws drop with every scene he shook. With the animated back drop, impeccable lighting and the King’s Company who worked together to control his every movement, King Kong was a believable Gorilla and a thrill to watch.
Christiani Pitts who played Ann Darrow is a beautiful and commanding lead. To share the stage with a two-ton animatronic Gorilla is no easy feat, however, Pitts pulled it off with grace. Eric William Morris’ Carl Denham was an entertaining, albeit smarmy producer. The vocals were collectively a beautiful production, but King Kong was definitely the star of this show.
King Kong
After the show, we were treated to a talkback with several members of the cast. From this intimate chat, we learned quite a bit about the cast, including how they spend upwards to 7 hours a day practicing and training to make the show come together. We were able to get a little more perspective on Kong and how the King’s Company Ensemble must thrust, jump and maneuver themselves to make Kong come to life. The cast members who operate as the VooDoo Operators control the facial movements by computers from a room above. All of the people who are in the King’s Company range from break dancers, dancers, performers, but none other than one of the VooDoo operators were puppeteers before this show.
Above all, King Kong was unique and often mesmerizing, if not quirky. The namesake of the show provided an unforgettable spectacle, and a production that will wow even the young Broadway goers.
Full Disclosure: This post is made possible by support from King Kong Broadway. All opinions are my own.
The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NYSPCC) and families from NYC will join forces on Sunday, June 4 for the Annual Family Benefit to see Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on Broadway. With as many unique opportunities that come our way on The Next Kid Thing, I do my best to find ways to give back. By sharing this information, I hope you or someone you know, might be interested in attending NYSPCC’s benefit.
As the world’s first child protection agency, The NYSPCC responds to the needs of abused and neglected children, and those involved in their care, by providing best practice counseling, legal, and educational services.
Through research, communications and training initiatives, we work to expand these programs to prevent abuse and help more children heal. This benefit directly supports the organization’s child sexual abuse prevention program, Safe Touches: Personal Safety Training for Children. The NYSPCC is led by Executive Director Dr. Mary L. Pulido who has worked to help child victims of abuse and neglect for more than three decades.
The Family Benefit Co-chairs are Marisol Brekka, Chani Churchill, Eliza Dyson, Peter Espy, Liza Oneglia, and Tatiana Perkin.
As a parenting blogger who volunteers for various causes, I believe it’s critical to ensure the safety and welfare of our children. I’m so fortunate that my beliefs align with NYSPCC’s ongoing efforts. When they approached me to help share this important event, they reinforced that “We are both working towards bridging the gap that can form between the child and the caretaker.”
For reservations and inquiries please reach out to events @Nyspcc.org or 212-233-5500 ext. 240
With Frozen winning an Academy Award for best animated feature, among a few other accolades, the insta-classic Disney tale of two sisters is still all the buzz.
And since Frozen is still flying high this winter, the movie’s other star, Kristen Bell sings quite a few of our favorites. Her duet with Santino Fontana (Hans) in Love is an Open Door was recently released exclusively by Disney Movies Anywhere. In case you weren’t aware, Disney Movies Anywhere is Disney’s all-new, cloud-based digital movie service. Frozen is now available digitally to own.
Santino Fontana was the prince in Broadway’s Cinderella so my older son and I are totally smitten with this clip. To watch a Broadway star on stage and then to have him voice a Disney character is pretty cool for a young kid to appreciate.
Photo credit: Theatermania
Frozen Blu-Ray/DVD/Digital Combo Pack to be Released on March 18
With all this talk about Frozen, even though it’s already availably digitally, I’m excited about for when the Blu-Ray/DVD drops on March 18th. Like many Blu-Ray and DVDs, Frozen will have quite a few exclusive features.
Here are a few of the exclusive features that will be available on the Frozen Blu-Ray/DVD/Digital combo pack.
The Making Of Frozen (Blu-ray, Digital)
D’frosted: Disney’s Journey From Hans Christian Anderson to Frozen (Blu-ray, Digital)
Breaking The Ice – The Real Making Of Frozen (Blu-ray, Digital)
4 Deleted Scenes with introduction by Directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee
Original Theatrical Short – “Get A Horse” (Blu-ray, Digital & DVD)
“Let It Go” Music Videos by Demi Lovato, Martina Stoessel & Marsha Milan Londoh (Blu-ray, Digital & DVD)
Frozen Teaser Trailer (Blu-ray, Digital & DVD)
Making of Frozen still with Jonathan Groff, Kristen Bell and Josh Gad
If you’re anything like us, when we find a favorite movie, we watch it non-stop, sometimes til the disk breaks. We can’t wait for this release!
