Bringing Kids to Theater

the Theater-Going Habit

Great seats. That is my mother-in-law’s first and most important piece of advice for bringing kids to a performance. Down front, enveloping sound, comfortable seats. My partner says that balcony seats with a view of the orchestra and room to drop and play with toys is also a choice he liked as a 7-year-old.

Last week I was signing up the middle school down the block to go see Evita at the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) in Cambridge, MA. The A.R.T. produces splashy shows that transfer capably to Broadway: Six, Natasha Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, Finding Neverland, the revivals of 1776, Pippin and Porgy and Bess. A group from this school went to see Life of Pi there and loved it. So, building on that enthusiasm, I am aiming at getting the entire school community - like, everyone, every. single. person. - to go to Evita this spring.

$5 per person for students and chaperones on Wednesday matinees. Wonderful. I can auction off 2 full-price tickets to cover that expense.

Teacher …