Erin Leigh Peck - Page 7

The first Broadway Show my parents ever took me to see was Peter Pan. I remember this fluttery feeling in my stomach as the orchestra started to play the overture, and a few years later I was surprised to experience that same feeling as I waited off stage to make my entrance during a summer camp production of 'Charlotte's Web' (I played the Narrator). Of course I soon grew up, got training and also got critical and even though I still love performing in and attending shows, it's rare that I feel the butterflies. But last week, at Paper Mill Playhouse's production of Newsie's the Musical, I could feel them....and they were fluttering around inside my seven-year-old daughter's tummy as she sat beside me!

This past weekend, my family welcomed a new era of family theatre reporting: My daughter, almost eight, is officially too old for 'Baby Shows' and my son, age three, is ready to sit in a chair for more than 47 seconds. I have a feeling that my kids will be taking turns helping Mommy with her writing job, but this past weekend we found something that was good for for all of us: The Vital Theatre Company's production of Uncle Pirate.

This month, Broadwayworld Jr. and I are proud to be a part of a new initiative that's perfect for the theatre-loving parents who read this column. It's called MamaDrama NY, and it's here to remind us that even though we love taking our kids to the theatre, the best stuff out there is usually just for adults and most of us would like a little help from fellow theatre-loving parents when deciding what's worth the cost of the sitter! The shows covered by MamaDrama NY have been especially selected for you, the discerning yet busy parent who craves great theatre but can't afford to waste time or money. When you visit the MamaDrama NY page here on BroadwayWorld.com, you'll see blog posts from top parent bloggers, letting you know the real deal on great theatre....without the drama.

Last week, at the end of BoradwayWorld Jr.'s 'Fall Flash' article which highlighted the best family theatre options for fall, I added on a ‘just for parents' recommendation for those of us who make it a priority to see theatre that's worth the cost of the sitter. A lot of you liked this, and that's why it gives me great pleasure to announce a new partnership between BroadwayWorld and MAMADRAMA NY.

With all the chaos of getting two kids back to school, making the transition from summer to cool weather and preparing for the upcoming High Holidays, it's been hard to get my kids to the theatre. This weekend we'll be back on the family theatre circuit, checking out the return of UNCLE PIRATE at Vital Theatre Company. Until then, here's a sneak peak at what fall in New York has to offer your junior theatre fan:

The Berenstain Bears LIVE! and sponsors NY Metro Parents, Manhattan Movement and Arts Center and Theatermania partner to bring Michelle Obama's 'Let's Move' to Bear Country, featuring a FREE performance of The Berenstain Bears LIVE! The first 100 families who download our 'Let's Move in Bear Country' pledge found at www.BerenstainBearsLive.com/LetsMove will be awarded two tickets to the event, which includes a pre-show Healthy Snacktime, a FREE performance, a post-show dance lesson, and face painting and photos with the Bears. 'Let's Move in Bear Country' takes place on Sunday, September 25th at 3:30pm at Manhattan Movement and Arts Center.

The Broadway production of Catch Me If You Can will be closing on September 4th after almost six months at the Neil Simon Theatre. If you've been putting it off, now is your last chance to catch it (if you can.....OK, I'm gonna stop doing that now). The show, which-is-based-on-the-film-which-is-based-on-the real life story of legendary con artist Frank Abagnale Jr., is not a children's show and not your typical family musical, but I jumped at the chance to see it when I was invited to a special blogger night last week. I'm glad a went, because I do think that this is a great show for older kids and that should be good news to families who will get a chance to see the tour which is set to launch next year.

For the past several months, I've been getting a lot of emails from all of you asking if your child is the right age to see Spiderman. I haven't answered because I saw the old version, before they did a complete overhaul of the script, score, structure and pretty much everything else. The new version features a plot that is much easier for kids to follow. Luckily, my favorite character THE LIZARD is still there. He kind of looks like Barney's cousin which gives me such joy because I think I'm going to dress my dog up like him for Halloween. I just need a tiny lab coat.

How often are you silly? If you have little kids (which pretty much all of you reading this article do), you probably spend a lot of time trying to be silly or trying to make your kids laugh at how silly you are. But I'm talking about that crazy, jittery, 'take on the world' feeling of pure silliness that you get from riding a scooter or swimming at night or seeing a really, really, really funny show.

Kickin' it Old School in the 100 Acre Woods My daughter is seven years old, and she suddenly seems to be maturing at rocket speed. I swear she was a child when I put her to sleep last night, but when she woke up she had become....(Oh God)....A TWEEN.

MAMA (BEAR) KNOWS BEST They may be bears. They may live in a tree. Their children may walk to school by themselves. But one thing about the Berenstain Bears Live is accurate and holds water in the modern world: The Mom is ALWAYS right.

The Best Bets for Kids and Family Theatre this Summer (again) Last week I shared some of my favorite summer offerings for Kids and Families looking for a little relaxation, entertainment and (yes thank you) air conditioning. We called it Summer Flash, and it was so popular that I'm back for part two. (Ok, I got complaints about not including some shows). But no worries! There's room in the BroadwayWorld Jr. sandbox for everyone to play! So here we go.....

The Best Bets for Kids and Family Theatre this Summer Is it just me, or is everyone a bit on edge? School is ending, schedules are changing, nannies are quitting and those of us who aren't spending the summer on the beach are wondering what in the world we are going to do with the kids and if it will be air-conditioned. Here are a few suggestions to keep everyone cool and entertained.

Lauren Kennedy: Timing is Everything While Actress and Super Mom Lauren Kennedy does her part to always see the silver lining in any situation, it does seem as though the stars tend to align for this Broadway veteran. After doing plenty of long running Broadway shows (Les Mis, Sunset Boulevard and Side Show, to name a few), Parenthood struck at a convenient career moment. I wanted to find out how Lauren makes it all come together so smoothly.

When I found out I'd be covering Wonderland for BroadwayWorld, I wasn't sure if I should bring my seven-year-old daughter. As most of you know by now, the whole premise of this column is a mom (me) bringing her kids to the theatre and reporting back to you about the experience. But that doesn't mean I'm going to subject my kid to something she's not prepared for, and in this case, the decision was not obvious to me.

Recently, I had the pleasure of taking my seven-year-old daughter to her very first Broadway show. (I don't count the time was so graciously invited by a friend's grandmother to enjoy full-price, orchestra seats to Lion King and ended up watching from the monitors in the lobby after running out of the theatre in fear. She was only four.) After months of eagerly co-piloting her mother through the New York children's theatre scene, it was finally time to break into the majors. What better first Broadway show could there be for a nice Jewish girl and her mother than Sister Act the musical!

In preparation for my family's visit to Dreamworks Theatricals' MADAGASCAR LIVE, now showing at Radio City through April 24th, I rented the original film from an actual Blockbuster store. This was because I couldn't find it on-demand or instant streaming from Netflix or Amazon or even for purchase on iTunes. I couldn't even find a copy of MADAGASCAR at my local Blockbuster Express kiosk. I had to put on shoes and walk to an actual Blockbuster store where I nabbed up one of only two available copies of this apparently now classic film. It was all so very 1990's (except I was in my 2011 body....darn it).

About 40 minutes South of the starry lights of Broadway, along New Jersey Transit's Midtown Direct line, you'll find the town of Maplewood, New Jersey and it's neighbor, South Orange. Dubbed 'Where Broadway Comes Home to Sleep', this idyllic suburb is home to a healthy contingent of commuting, Broadway performers, many of whom are parents. Lucky for those of us who are true fans, these talented suburbanites have created a new theatre company housed in the beautiful, South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC). Named MDR (Midtown Direct Rep) after the train line that gets its members to work eight times a week, the company includes an impressive list of some of Broadway's best including Norbert Leo Butz, Christiane Noll, and Michele Pawk just to name a few.

Given all that has been happening on planet Earth lately....Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Middle-East unrest, Charlie Sheen....it seems like a perfect moment to take off into outer space and to explore our options elsewhere. And that's exactly what Allie, a nine-year-old dreamer from Skokie, Illinois, sets out to do in the Vital Theatre Company's latest production, AWESOME ALLIE: FIRST KID ASTRONAUT.

When my friend Erin asked me to check out GUSTAFER YELLOWGOLD'S INFINITY SOCK with my four and seven-year-old daughters and then write about my experience, I was both excited and nervous. I was excited because my always 'on the go' family is constantly looking for new things to do and see around the city, but I had some apprehension about the 'job' part of this. You see, ever since becoming a mom, I have involuntarily started taking naps when at shows. Perhaps this has something to do with the fact that I never have a stretch during the day without hearing whining and ‘mommy' every other minute? I agreed to take on the challenge, and hoped for an engaging, upbeat show that would help me stay awake and interested.