Aladdin - New York

By Mark A. Robinson 
 
Nothing quite beats a romantic stroll through Manhattan on Valentine’s Day, complete with a nice dinner, tickets to a show, capped off by a magical horse-drawn carriage ride through Central Park or a stolen kiss while watching the ice skaters in Rockefeller Center. However you decide to cap off your excursion into Cupid’s grove, dinner and a show are a must. Here are five Broadway outings paired with restaurants in the theatre district guaranteed to satisfy that special someone this Valentine’s Day.  
 
Don Giovanni and Moulin Rouge! The Musical 
One great place to get a delicious and affordable Italian dinner in and around the Theatre District is at Don Giovanni found at 358 W 44th Street. From mouthwatering soups and salads to ooey gooey entrees like Gnocchi Marinara, Eggplant Parmigiana, and a wide assortment of brick oven pizzas, this eatery is the perfect stop before a night at Moulin Rouge! The Musical, conveniently located just a few blocks away at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. A taste of Italy is the perfect precursor to your next stop in Paris, where “the greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return” at this spectacular show. 
 
Toloache: Bistro Mexicano and Tequila Bar and Some Like It Hot  
Some like it hot, others like it hot and spicy, while most people like it hot, spicy, and just a touch romantic. Why not pair an evening at one of Broadway’s “hottest” new musicals Some Like It Hot with dinner and drinks at Toloache: Bistro Mexicano and Tequila Bar. Situated at 251 W. 50th Street, the venue’s menu guarantees to heat up your evening with flavorful offerings such as Pollo Toloache (chipotle- marinated chicken breast), Paella de Quinoa, and Enchiladas Borrachas. After you’ve enjoyed a shot or two of tequila, make your next stop Broadway’s Shubert Theatre for a night of heart-racing laughs, love, and infectious music with Some Like It Hot starring Tony winner Christian Borle.  
 
John’s of Times Square and Aladdin  
Maybe you plan on taking the kids out for Valentine’s Day? That requires a very different plan for your little cherubs than the traditional romantic outing. Disney’s Aladdin is full of humor, spectacle, action, and yes, a romantic trip on a magic carpet ride (a hint of romance for the adults). So where can an entire clan go for a family-friendly pre-show dinner? John’s of Times Square at 260 W. 44th Street is a sit down pizzeria ensconced within a former church. Featuring coal-fired brick oven pizzas with a multitude of topping choices, the kids can design their own dinner. Parents can feed the family without breaking the bank!  
 
The Lambs Club and Hadestown  
For a higher-end dining experience in the heart of the Great White Way, why not treat that special someone to a trip to the Lambs Club at 132 W. 44th Street? Highlights of the menu include their sumptuous Heirloom Squash (grilled and marinated squash, Australian black truffles, pistachio, miso), the Wagyu Skirt (“panzanella," tomato, cucumber, baguette and of course the Lamb Chops (fairytale eggplant, shishito peppers, pine nuts, crispy shoulder). The elegant atmosphere will be the perfect contrast to your next stop: the dystopian world of Hadestown playing at the Walter Kerr Theatre. There you can take in the achingly poignant love story of Orpheus and Eurydice, a musical where a man literally goes to hell and back for the woman he loves. Nothing beats a grand gesture like this, especially for Valentine’s Day.  
 
Sardi’s and SIX  
Finally, maybe you are not in the mood for romance or celebrating this day of amour. That’s fine. You can skip the Valentine’s festivities and still take in a Broadway musical preceded by a tasty meal. What currently-running Broadway show is the most ideal for you VD haters out there? Well, SIX fits the bill. The six wives of Henry VIII don’t exactly have much love for that moody monarch in their lives (two of these ladies were beheaded, after all) but they certainly have loads to say about heartbreak. And what restaurant in Manhattan pairs best with the theme of beheadings? Why Sardi’s, of course! The restaurant is decorated with caricatures of Broadway celebrities (mostly captured from the neck up). Sardi’s is an iconic theatre landmark and a show-going tradition. A diverse menu guarantees there is something for everyone! And who knows, maybe you will find a love for Valentine’s Day after all?

Help kids understand what the show will be about. 
There is no need to give young audiences an explanation of the musical’s entire plot, but giving them a basic understanding of what the show is about will certainly help them better enjoy the experience. This pre-show discussion will offer them an opportunity to ask questions and, as they watch, more easily follow the story and fill in any details. 

Help young theatergoers process the experience. 
Just as that pre-show discussion can add to a child’s comprehension and appreciation of a show, a post-performance discussion can be just as important. Theater is an experience that can be treasured and processed long after the curtain comes down. Encourage young audience members to talk about what they liked, ask questions they might have, and also share with them your feelings about the show. This is also an opportunity to begin setting them up for their next theater outing. 

By Mark A. Robinson 
 
Spring’s here and with it comes a new Broadway season brimming with compelling entertainment options. This April, we have some exciting recommendations on what shows you will most-assuredly want to see as we patiently wait for that “Lusty Month of May” (sung about in one of this season’s eagerly anticipated offerings, Camelot) to drive out the April showers.  
 
Aladdin 
Are you in search of a show that has something for everyone? Rub that magic lamp and look no further than Disney’s Aladdin. This musical is a mix of high adventure, dazzling spectacle, romance, humor and nail-biting drama. Want an infectious melody? Check. Do you enjoy mesmerizing choreography? It’s there! The story of a street rat who goes on the journey of a lifetime and finds his self-worth along the way speaks to the hopes and dreams in all of us.  
 
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child  
Generations have reveled in getting lost in the epic stories found within the pages of the Harry Potter novels by J.K. Rowling. There is something about the idea of a secret world of magic where good triumphs over evil and where the bonds of friendship are everlasting that makes us wish to be transported there. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the continuing story of the beloved series, introducing a whole new generation of witches and wizards who join a parade of our favorite characters with magic around every turn. 
 
Kimberly Akimbo 
What would life be like if you looked like an old lady, but you were really a teenager? Kimberly has a disorder where her body ages at a rapid pace, but inside she is still a high schooler navigating life’s biggest challenges: peer pressure, dysfunctional families and falling in love. One of the most unconventional yet undeniably excellent musicals to open this season, Kimberly Akimbo has music by Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home) and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire (Shrek: The Musical), with a book based on Lindsay-Abaire’s play of the same name. Critics and audiences alike are raving about the heart and humor of Kimberly Akimbo. 
 
New York, New York 
Whether it’s Liza Minnelli’s or Frank Sinatra’s version, the Kander and Ebb song “New York, New York” remains a pop culture staple, a beacon of hope that if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. It is 1946 and an aspiring musician and a young singer meet, fall in love, and together they strive to “make it big,” all with the Big Apple serving as the backdrop to their journey. Featuring an exhilarating new score by the incomparable John Kander & Fred Ebb (with additional lyrics by Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda), this new musical stars Colton Ryan (Girl From the North Country) and Anna Uzele (Once On This Island).  
 
Camelot 
A musical with a time-honored score by Lerner and Loewe (My Fair Lady) and a story based on the enduring legend of King Arthur, the Lincoln Center Theatre revival of Camelot is now in performances. Equal parts witty comedy, passionate love triangle and heartbreaking tragedy, Camelot first appeared on Broadway in 1960. This new production features a revised book by Aaron Sorkin (A Few Good Men) and direction by Lincoln Center’s musical Merlin, Bartlett Sher (The King and I, The Light in the Piazza). Be sure to get your ticket for a seat at “The Round Table” and witness first-hand the rise and fall of mythology’s most-celebrated kingdom.  
 
Andrew Lloyd Webber's Bad Cinderella 
This may not be the “Cinderella” of your childhood, but it is definitely a unique spin on a timeless classic. Musical theatre composer Andrew Lloyd Webber (The Phantom of the Opera, School of Rock) and lyricist David Zippel (City of Angels, Disney’s Hercules) have concocted an original concept for the beloved tale. In Bad Cinderella, the Prince is an awkward introvert whose only friend is the title character – an opinionated misfit disliked by most of the town for her non-conformist ways. When the crafty Queen determines her son needs to be wed...and quickly...is their love story doomed from the beginning, or will they find their “happily ever after” could be achieved simply by being true to themselves all along?