More Theater Monday - Broadway Playhouse: Alan Menken

We were given free tickets to Broadway Playhouse: Alan Menken for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

Broadway Playhouse a series that teaches kids about famous composers recently wrapped up its three (3) show 2017 series with its third and final show of the season about  Alan Menken.

What: Broadway Playhouse

Where: Merkin Concert Hall
             Kaufman Music Center
             129 W. 67th St.

Who: All ages

When: March 5, 2017

Me - Broadway Playhouse: Alan Menken was fun I liked it because I liked the songs. I like Disney and Alan Menken wrote a lot of music for Disney. He wrote music for Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, and Newsies among others. He also wrote the music for Little Shop of Horrors. At Broadway Playhouse, they told us about Alan Menken, and his sister was even there at the end. They sang songs. This time they had two sing alongs. One was Under the Sea from The Little Mermaid. The other was Beauty and the Beast. They brought kids on the stage to play a game like they always do. This time they played a game where they gave clues and kids had to guess the sea creatures they were talking about. At the end of the show, they acted out Beauty and the Beast in their unique way. This little boy was playing Gaston, and he had to propose to Belle. It was funny! There was also a little girl who was playing Belle's Dad. That was funny too! Over all, I had a really really good time at Broadway: Playhouse and I would really recommend going next season. I am really looking forward to next season myself!

Mom - While we enjoyed all three of this season's Broadway Playhouse shows, the final show regarding Alan Menken, may have been the best one yet. Since Alan Menken has written the music for so many popular Disney movies, the children in the audience were much more familiar with his music ahead of time than they generally are for a Broadway Playhouse show. They were really keyed up for the show which only added to the over all excitement of the show. I had forgotten that aside from Disney animated movies Alan Menken also did the music for the Disney live action movie, Newsies the part live action and part animated, Enchanted,  and even the horror spoof, Little Shop of Horrors among other things. Currently,  Menken is respresented  on Broadway by the smash hit, Aladdin which will be starting it's 4th year on Broadway later this month. He is also  represented by the new show, A Bronx Tale based on the movie of the same name. However, A Bronx Tale is not recommended for children under 13 and no songs from the show were sung in the Broadway Playhouse show. Plenty of Menken's other songs were sung in the show though. With the usual, skits, sing-a-longs, games and a quick Broadway Playhouse version of Beauty and the Beast to end it all, the show was great fun as always and enjoyable for all ages. We look forward to Broadway Playhouse's next season

The next season of Broadway Playhouse will begin in the Winter of 2018. It is currently scheduled to include shows about Leonard Bernstein, whose shows include West Side Story; Jerry Herman whose shows include Mame, Hello Dolly and La Cage Aux Folles, and Andrew Lloyd Webber, whose shows include Cats, School of Rock and Phantom of the Opera. For more about Broadway Playhouse's next season keep following this blog and read our Sunday Scoop posts where will bring further information to you as we receive it.

And that's our view. Tune in tomorrow for Tips for Tuesday.

Photo credits: All Broadway Playhouse photos by John Johansen