Broadway Playhouse Series Begins With the Gershwins

Merkin Concert Hall's Broadway Close Up series introduces children age 4-11 to classic Broadway shows through mini-musicals, medleys, sing-alongs and games in which children participate. Now in its 6th season, Broadway Close Up has delighted both children and adults with playful presentations of musicals by Leonard Bernstein, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Alan Menken and many others.

This season, families will get the inside story on George and Ira Gershwin, Stephen Sondheim and "Yip" Harburg. The cast includes Jason Robinson, Kathryn Markey, Christina Bianco, Martin Landry, Gabriella Stravelli and host Sean Hartley.

Sun, 1/8/12 at 11 am
Broadway Playhouse: George & Ira Gershwin
An exploration for family audiences of the Gershwin brothers' Broadway legacy, with songs from Strike Up The Band, Porgy And Bess and Girl Crazy.

Sun, 2/5/12 at 11 am
Broadway Playhouse: Stephen Sondheim
At last, we take on the great Sondheim in a kid-friendly exploration of Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, Follies and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.

Sun, 3/18/12 at 11 am
Broadway Playhouse: "Yip" Harburg
Celebrate E.Y. "Yip" Harburg's playful, inventive lyrics from Broadway (Finian's Rainbow) and Hollywood (The Wizard of Oz).

Kaufman Center provides free or discounted tickets to special Monday morning Broadway Playhouse performances for children from Title 1 schools. For more information, email BPH@kaufman-center.org.

Tickets ($20) at kaufman-center.org/mch or 212 501 3330.

Photo Credit: Gabriel Rivera