Most people have definitely heard about the magical and musical world of Broadway in New York, but having heard about it and then actually experiencing it are two different things. Broadway caters to the whole family, meaning that there’s something for everyone. It’s good to know a little bit about the plot of a play, so let’s dive in and explore the beauty that is Broadway.
The Lion King
An all-time favorite, that’s without a doubt. You will most probably know the story of The Lion King from your own childhood, a Disney-animated feature that follows the adventures of the young lion Simba, who is the heir of his father Mufasa. Every tale needs a villain, and that’s where Simba’s wicked uncle Scar comes in, who plots to take the throne for himself by luring father and son into a stampede of wildebeests. But Simba miraculously escapes, and only Mufasa is killed. Simba returns as an adult to take back his homeland from Scar with the help of his friends Timon and Pumbaa.
While the Disney animation is already fantastic, the Broadway show is the cherry on top, having been recognized as the best musical of all time and featuring music by Elton John. If you are interested in sharing this precious moment with your children or other loved ones, there are matinee shows held at the Minskoff Theatre in New York; find more info in hellotickets.
Aladdin
This one is almost in a league of its own, or maybe on par with classics like Beauty and The Beast or Cinderella. As the story goes, Aladdin is a lovable street urchin who meets Princess Jasmine, the beautiful daughter of the sultan of Agrabah, and very much out of his league. While visiting her exotic palace, Aladdin stumbles upon a magic oil lamp that unleashes a powerful, wisecracking, larger-than-life Genie. As Aladdin and the genie start to become friends, they must soon embark on a dangerous mission to stop the evil sorcerer Jafar from overthrowing young Jasmine’s kingdom.
Filled with love, laughter and mystery, Aladdin is a timeless piece. Also originally created by Disney, Aladdin is incredibly special to many and epitomizes the purity of childhood and enjoyment. Thanks to brilliant staging, well thought-out depiction of characters, some novel songs and the always hilarious humor of the Genie, this Broadway musical is one for the books. Being held at the New Amsterdam Theatre New York, a once-in-a-lifetime experience awaits anyone lucky enough to see Aladdin and all his friends come to life.
Moulin Rouge
This Moulin Rouge movie takes you back over 100 years to an Englishman named Christian living in Paris in 1899, where he sees and falls in love with a fantastic singer at the Moulin Rouge called Satine. However, this is not a straightforward love story, as Satine has been promised by the manager of Moulin Rouge to a Duke in return for the rich fellow to fund the manager’s next production. The musical is filled with twists and turns as the young lovers meet in secret, but the Duke has no idea and has the wedding date set already, intending to marry Satine soon. But, she is not being completely honest about her past and her motives, as she hides a fatal secret from both Christian and the Duke.
Although the Moulin Rouge musical held at Hirschfeld Theatre it is not a copy of the movie, the musical still has all the essence of the film as well as the scenery, including the symbolic red mill, the giant elephant and all the flavor of the cabaret. It’s good that it’s not a duplicate of the original movie, otherwise it may be a little boring. But boredom is certainly not what awaits you at this drama-filled and emotional version of the classic.
MJ – The Life Story of Michael Jackson
This one is an absolute must-see for every Michael Jackson fan, and even those who don’t know that they’re fans yet. After you experience this unique musical at the Neil Simon Theatre, directed and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, so you know the choreography is going to be spectacular, you’ll never want to stop dancing. Of course, spectators will be serenaded with MJ’s most famous hits, including songs like “Thriller”, “Billie Jean”, “Bad” and “Black or White”.
Very special about this musical is that it was created with the assistance of his children and family, meaning that viewers get a look into the life and mind of Michael Jackson like they’ve never been able to before. It focuses much less on the drama that surrounded his life, and more on his passion for music and his die-hard attitude to making it and sharing it with the world.
In a time where things seem tense and tough, where work is the absolute priority it seems, taking your family, loved ones or spouse on a trip to New York to experience and enjoy Broadway is like waking up to the sun shining on your face and a freshly brewed cup of coffee on your side table—simply a treat.
For more information, check out our New York City Travel Guide.
