Where-To-Go Wednesday: Broadway Up Close and Cagney

We were given a free Broadway Up Close Tour for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own based on our experience.

What: Broadway Up Close Tour Act I

Where: Tour starts at 41st St. between 8th and 9th

            (in front of the Nederlander Theatre)

            New York, NY

Who: Teens and Up

Mom's view: Although, we have been on several walking tours of Broadway, I can honestly say we have never been on a more informative tour than our Broadway Up Close Act 1 Tour. Whether you know a lot about Broadway and its history or not, you will definitely learn things you never knew on this tour. For instance, did you know that the AMC movie theater on 42nd Street used to be a Broadway theater and that it used to be several blocks over from where it is now? If you want to learn how and why it was moved take this tour. These facts are just a small taste of the fascinating trivia you will learn on this tour. Our tour guide, Tim, the owner was full of information which he was happy to share with us.  Even though Tim's main vocation is acting, you can tell he really loves what he is doing and enjoys sharing what he knows with the guests on his tour. His enthusiasm spills over to anyone who attends one of his tours, and you can't help having a good time too when your touring with Tim. Tim has a great group of other tour guides working for him too so even if you don't get him to lead you on your tour I'm sure you will still learn a lot and you will still have a good time on your Broadway Up Close Tour. 

I would highly recommend this tour for anyone who is interested in history and particularly the history of Broadway and Broadway Theatres. I would not recommend it for anyone who has trouble walking for long periods of time or for young children who would probably get bored and/or tired. However, teens especially those that are really into theater and/or history would probably enjoy it as well as tweens who are interested in these subjects and are patient enough for a long period of walking around and taking in a lot of information. The tour which we attended was only one of three tours that Broadway Up Close offers. Each tour covers a different section of Broadway. It would literally take several hours to cover all of Broadway the Broadway Up Close way which is to share as much interesting information as they can possibly can. I wouldn't mind take a full day tour like that no matter how exhausting it would be. However, I am sure not a lot people feel the same way. Accordingly, if you want to find out about any of  one these tours or sign up to attend one of go to http://www.broadwayupclose.com/. As for us, we hope to attend Broadway Up Close's Act II and Act III tours in the near future and share more about them in future posts.
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We were given free tickets to Cagney for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What: Cagney

Where: Westside Theatre - Upstairs

              407 W. 43rd St.

              New York, NY

Who: Recommended for teens and above

Mom's view: If you don't think a musical about a movie actor who mostly played bad guys could be good, you haven't seen Cagney. If you are afraid that the focus of the show will be on the gangster characters Cagney is best known for playing, it is not. The show focuses on Cagney's life as whole including his constant desire to try to break away from that image. Cagney stars the talented Robert Creighton in the title role, and he is backed up by a troupe of five equally talented actors all of whom play a variety of different roles. The songs which include both songs from Yankee Doodle Dandy and original songs are mostly fun along with a few touching ballads. The dancing is top notch. If you are a fan of tap dancing, you will particularly enjoy this show. All in all, there is a lot to like about the show. Cagney is recommended for teens and above. However, there is not really anything objectionable about the show except a little bit of fighting and a little bit of implied violence from Cagney's movies. Accordingly, tweens especially those that enjoy musicals, nostalgia about old movies and or actors from the past and/or tap dancing would probably enjoy it as well. For more information or to order tickets go to http://www.cagneythemusical.com/.

And that's Mom's view. Tune in to tomorrow's Talking Topics post for Aurella's view of Broadway Up Close Tours and Cagney.

photo credits: All Cagney photos by Carol Rosegg