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!