Did you know that Broadway is the number one attraction for visitors in New York? Yeah! No wonder new musicals and new plays are announced every year! It is a classic program, it is part of the soul of the city. The productions are more and more perfect and this is something that you can do with the whole family, you know? Coming to New York, be sure to include a musical on your travel itinerary! And, on today’s post, let’s take a look at some options that will please everyone, of all ages.
Anastasia – First of all, I think it’s worth starting by clarifying a super ordinary question: Anastasia is not a Disney musical. The musical is inspired by the Anastasia (1956) movie and Anastasia animated movie, released by Fox in 1997. To give a summary, the plot tells the story of Anastasia and her royal family, captured by the firing squad of Romanov, who kills her entire family. The girl is said to be dead – but the truth is that Anastasia survives. However, as she has lost her memory, she wanders through the streets of St. Petersburg, where people still wonder about the possibility of her being alive. Her grandmother, who left for Paris before the family murder, offers a reward to anyone who finds Anastasia – she becomes a living legend without knowing it. With the prize money in play, there are plenty of girls pretending to be her. This is where we are introduced to Dmitry and Vlad, who are planning to train the perfect trickster to be Anastasia. Anya, Anastasia’s name now, turns out to be a perfect candidate for Dmitry and Vlad’s plan. However, throughout the execution of the plan, the two end up beingsurprised by her performance, which reveals memories that even she did not know she had.
Why is it a good option? The protagonist is a strong and determined young woman, but also full of insecurities and doubts. Her love life is only a detail because the character is involved with a much bigger problem, which is discovering himself and finding his origins. Besides that, the music and the costume are amazing. Also, Vlad (John Bolton) will make you laugh!
Anastasia is not on Broadway anymore
Come from Away – this musical tells of an untold story of September 11, 2001. Discover the other side of the fateful September 11, 2001, and how the Gander community in Canada has welcomed 7,000 travelers from around the world. A lot of people don’t know, but after the tragedt, 38 planes and 7,000 passengers traveling to the United States were diverted to the small town of Gander in Newfoundland and nearby towns. The city, which on a normal day receives about 6 flights, saw its population increase from nine thousand to about 16 thousand! The musical shows the apprehension of the residents, who were not prepared to receive so many people, and the fear of the passengers, who were not prepared for such a situation – many of them had been flying for more than a day. The name of the musical – Come From Away – is due to the fact that the natives of Newfoundland gave to the foreigners, the “that came from far”. Another interesting fact is that people were not yet in the age of smartphones by then, so most of the passengers had no way of communicating with the family or even knowing what was happening. They were taken on buses and vans to shelters, such as the Salvation Army Camp and the Gander Academy, not knowing where they were, where they were going, and when they would return to the United States, since American airspace was closed.
Stomp! This is an Off Broadway performance. Musicians and incredible actors create frenetic melodies using unconventional instruments such as lighters, garbage cans and even brooms. You will live an experience with music, colors, dance and magic! It is an unique combination of percussion, movement and visual comedy. It’s a classic of the city – it’s performing since 1994, that is, for over 20 years! – and, according to the New York Times, is “as fresh and exuberant as if it had premiered yesterday.” Of course, there is nothing like it.
Why is it a good option? Because the performance is creative and nothing obvious. The cast enchants the audience with the unprecedented way of making music.
Wicked – What happened before Dorothy landed in Oz? It all started at Shiz University, where the perky, popular Galinda is tricked into rooming with the gloomy (and green) Elphaba, who has only come to the school to care for her sister, Nessarose. Galinda spends all her time worrying about getting into Madame Morrible’s magic seminar and winning the attention of Winkie prince Fiyero, while Elphaba senses some mischief going on behind the scenes in Oz. All of the “Animals,” including their teacher Dr. Dillamond, are being silenced and mocked. When Elphaba showcases a proclivity for magic, Madame Morrible takes her and Galinda to meet the Wizard, but while Elphaba’s dreams of social change might endear her to Fiyero, the Wizard — and the world — has other plans for her destiny. Based on Gregory Maguire’s novel of the same name, Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman’s musical explores the underbelly of Oz and how the good — and the wicked — might not always be what they seem.
Why is it a good option? Able to provoke laughter and tears, the musical brings a modern script that dialogues with the reality of the contemporary young people. From speech to body language, dramaturgy ironises the stereotypes of the popular and excluded girl easily found in schools. In addition to the emotion, Wicked generates a timeless reflection of the incessant search for a common enemy. The show is the kind of intelligent entertainment that can please any age.
Laura Peruchi is a Brazilian blogger, author, and entrepreneur. She has lived in Manhattan with her husband since 2014. Since then, she has shared on her blog varied content about the Big Apple. From travel tips, including unusual things to do, shopping tips, etiquette, restaurants, and a lot more, her blog has become a reference in Portuguese (also available in English) for anyone planning a trip to New York City.
