BWW JR: Peter PANtomime at MMAC- KIds Love to Watch Kids

If you're looking for weekend plans, you still have time to catch the kids from SHUFFLES dance and musical theatre academy strut there stuf at Manhattan Movement and Arts Center.  Peter PANtomime tells the classic Peter Pan story with a tap-dancing twist, and all the performers are kids. (All except three Broadway guest artist mentors including Liza Gennaro who directed me in my college production of ON THE TOWN and is the associate choreographer of Peter PANtomime).  I brought my three-year-old last night and he was captivated.  Just the fact that he sat still for an hour impressed me, but more impressive were a few of the young Broadway stars-to-be on the stage.  I guess that's what you get when you attend a New York City dance recital.  Some of the kids here are the real deal!  It's a long way from my strip-mall dance studio in Connecticut, that's for sure. 

Shuffles is a Broadway tap and musical theater school for kids and teens.  Director Gail Pennington Crutchfield started the school in the fall of 1992.  Having just closed her sixth Broadway show and being the mother of a five and a two year old, the school was born out of her desire to give her own children the best possible musical theater performing experience.  Shuffles gives the students a unique combination of solid tap and musical theater technique with a love of performing. 

You still have two chances to catch the show this weekend.  Tickets are $30 for tonight's performance at 7:30 or if you're in a charitable mood, you can join Tina Fey at the $100/ticket performance to benefit SAVE THE CHILDREN today at 5:30.  For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the shows website at http://www.manhattanmovement.com/event/peter-pantomime/.

Erin Leigh Peck is a New York based actor, writer and mother. She has performed on and off Broadway, in regional theatre and on tour, in films and on television. She most recently appeared Off-Broadway in The Toxic Avenger Musical and can often be seen on television in various commercials. Erin's play Mother of Mine is a contemporary 'dramedy' about pregnancy, parenthood and postpartum. She is the proud and busy mother of two extremely awesome kids. Please visit her web site, www.ErinLeighPeck.com.

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