Breaking News: Mother with Young Children Attends Off-Broadway Theatre Performance in Manhattan

New York, NY - Sunday, March 11 - The Sunday afternoon performance of The Big Meal was attended by the usual matinee goers with one notable exception. The performance was also attended by Anna Sandler, a mother of three young children, living in suburban New Jersey who admitted:

"I never go to the theatre these days. Well, let me re-phrase - I never see grown-up theater anymore. I see tons of kids shows. Dancing monkeys, talking mules, singing puppets - I see that kind of stuff all.the.time."

So why was Ms. Sandler able to attend The Big Meal? One word: PLAYTIME! This revolutionary new concept in childcare made it possible for Ms. Sandler to watch, enjoy and reflect on the nuanced performance taking place on stage before her without simultaneously wondering if a child would ask to be taken to the bathroom, or ponder if it was time to leave - because there were no children with her.

Has Ms. Sandler discovered how to clone herself? No, not at all. She was able to experience the show without sleeve tugs, tissue requests or the need to quietly hiss, "leave your sister alone!" because her daughters (ages 6 and 8) were enjoying the babysitting services provided by PLAYTIME! on the 3rd Floor of the theatre venue, while she herself sat watching the show with the company of her very own mother and an audience full of other adults on the 4th Floor.

Later, the children would report that their time on the 3rd Floor with PLAYTIME! was filled with fun games and a pirate adventure, and even put-on their own pirate vests that they had made to further illustrate their explanation.
Ms. Sandler explained to us that her story does not need to be unique.

"It's totally easy. I think really anyone could do it - well, anyone with a child between the ages of 4 and 12. Just sign-up online for PLAYTIME!, fill out a quick online form which asks for some basic information about your kids, and then enjoy a grown-up theatre performance."

We will continue to report further breaking news stories of parents attending shows both on and off-Broadway as we hear them. If you have information of any similar incidents, please leave the details below!

Performances of The Big Meal are playing at Playwrights Horizon through April 22, 2012. Show runs 1 hour and 25 minutes with no intermission.

PLAYTIME! is dedicated to providing creative, affordable ($15 per child for the duration of the performance) childcare so grown-ups can see great shows.

Disclosure: Thanks to MamaDrama I received two free tickets to The Big Meal as well as childcare services from PLAYTIME! 

Annie the Musical Returns to Broadway this Fall!

Annie the Musical is coming back to New York City's Broadway this fall, and I couldn't be more excited about the timing as my daughters at ages six and eight are prime ages to be Annie-groupies.

My eight-year-old has taken to singing Maybe around the house, and I feel like I am just a step away from my hear breaking every time I hear her sing it. So yes, I'm sure I will be taking my kids to see the revival of Annie the Musical when it opens in about 250 days from now.

And if you have a daughter who doesn't just want to see Annie the Musical, but wants to be Annie - here's her chance. Currently auditions are taking place for the part of Annie in several cities as well as online. So get to it, stage moms!

When I was at Toy Fair last month, I saw this adorable Madame Alexander Annie doll, set to be released around the same time the Annie show opens. She has incredible details, and the expression on our face captured the essence of Annie perfectly.

Disclosure: I had always planned to post about the Madame Alexander Annie doll, because well, she's pretty awesome. I would probably have included a link to the Annie show site in my review. But I decided to definitely include the link when I got an email that implored me to link to the Annie website and "if you do help spread this news and respond with a screen shot or link to your post we will invite you to a special insider only event this Spring."

Now I've been at this mommy blogging long enough to know that companies never, ever ask us mommy bloggers to do something for them without doing something super-incredible in return, so I'm guessing this insiders event is gonna be (in the words of my children) epic. Grooming lessons with Sandy? How to polish Annie's patent leather shoes? Who knows? I'll let you know, when I do.

And no, I received no other compensation.