Archives for July 2017

Review: ‘Endangered! The Musical’

This past Sunday, my family and I visited New York City’s International Zoo.

Never heard of it? Well, that’s because this zoo was set center stage at the Davenport Theatre right in the heart of Manhattan. The “zoo” is the backdrop to the brand new off-Broadway show, “Endangered! The Musical,” which tells the story of a budding kid reporter who gets stranded with a group of endangered animals in the middle of a record-breaking storm.

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Directed and choreographed by David Chase Gosselin, “Endangered! The Musical,” is a delight for the senses. Through heartwarming songs, foot-tapping dances, and funny pop-culture references sprinkled with educational tidbits, audiences are treated to 70 minutes of pure entertainment.

Each of the talented, multi-cultural cast members brought their characters (tamarind, skunk, crocodile, crane, cheetah and panda bear) to life with witty dialogue coupled with their respective, uncanny “animalistic” attributes.

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Photo by Jeremy Daniels

The musical is an amusing way to introduce little ones to the importance of taking care of the ecosystem and looking after all living things, not just people. Afterall, earth is the only planet we have and we must do our best to preserve it and all its creatures. Again, this show does an outstanding job of addressing these issues in ways that are engaging and interesting to children.

Both of my kids enjoyed the show from start to finish. My son was especially enthralled by the music and occasional flashing lights.

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If you’re a parent of a young child in the New York City area, I highly recommend catching this wonderful musical.

Click here for show times and ticket information.

Disclosure: I was provided complimentary tickets for review purposes only. All opinions  expressed are my own. 

What shows have your family seen this year? 

Cirque du Soleil’s ‘OVO’ Gets Bugged Out in Brooklyn

There are circuses and then there’s Cirque du Soleil.

The popular Canadian-based entertainment troupe has been wowing audiences since the early 1980s, and this week my family got to see its latest show, “OVO,” right in the heart of Brooklyn.

Inspired by the ecosystem, OVO, which means “egg” in Portuguese is a captivating production showcasing dancers and acrobats dressed as colorful insects and creatures as they live, eat, play and flutter about in breathtaking stunts. When they encounter a mysterious egg, the curious creepy-crawlies are fascinated by the enigmatic sight.

Comprised of 50 performing artists from around the world, spectators are treated to eye-catching costumes, stunning choreography and jaw-dropping feats that defy gravity. Both of my kids enjoyed the show from start from finish. Their eyes lit up even more when the green crickets leapt and bounced from a nearly transparent trampoline to a giant rock-climbing wall set center stage.

If you’re looking for a thrilling evening for the entire family, head to the Barclays Center or NYCB Live and catch this awe-inspiring show.

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“OVO” runs at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn through Sunday, July 9th and at NYCB Live on Long Island  from August 30 through Sunday, September 3rd. Click here for ticket information. 

**Full disclosure: I was comped a pair of tickets for review purposes only. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Have you ever seen a Cirque du Soleil show? If so, which one did you see?