King Kong has Everything you want in a Broadway Show is written in partnership with King Kong Broadway

My kids are born and bred New Yorkers– so after 14 years it’s hard to dazzle my son with a family trip into New York City (I know these kids have it TOO GOOD!) At this point we’ve seen the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and have done all the touristy quintessential NY activities.

But there are some pursuits for my kids that never seem to get old–and that’s Broadway! Like true New Yorkers my  two city kids took the Staten Island ferry to the subway straight to Times Square and arrived at the Broadway Theatre, 1681 Broadway.

They enjoyed a brother and sister night out on King Kong on Broadway.  The truth is– they have been DYING  to see it since it premiered on the great big Broadway stage! And they were not disappointed– according to my son, King Kong has Everything you want in a Broadway Show.

Keep reading for my son’s experience– aka King King Kong has Everything you want in a Broadway Show and why it’s a must see for your teens!

King Kong has Everything you want in a Broadway Show

King Kong has Everything you want in a Broadway Show 

written by Jackson Mushnick

Parents as you are walking through Manhattan with your kids, you see a Broadway show with the silhouette of a giant gorilla and  a woman. Expecting an amazing sight that your children will enjoy for the colossal props, you venture to see the show, and although they do garner much excitement from seeing a mechanical ape, as you watch their eyes wander in amazement you notice something as well.

Right before your eyes a fantastic ensemble with great dancing and singing is in unison and you watch leads with beautiful voices. You further notice the intricate stage crew controlling King Kong and the immense emotional layers of the show’s characters, and as your children watch in awe, you do as well as you have never seen a show with as great a supporting cast and leads. You find yourself both intrigued at what information you’ll learn next as well as impressed about how well the ensemble can sing, dance and move all the right props on and off the stage in perfect sequence.

This show is “King Kong” and although I’m a mere teenager I can’t find a better match to complete this analogy than me. I felt the same way I believed almost all parents felt who brought their children to this show: surprised.

As the teenager who found himself right in between seeing a giant gorilla and becoming extremely ecstatic, and enjoying a play for its background elements, King Kong was the perfect show for me. As a teen who expected a show to only concern one main icon, I found myself extremely enveloped when the show turned out to be much more than what appeared on the surface.

It starts out with a dirty NYC and a woman singing her heart out about her wishing to become queen and quickly finding the villain of the play: a director who wishes to cast her in a movie that concerns their trip to skull island. You watch as the most creative assemblage of stage pieces is used to create a restaurant seating and a boat and then skull island. You feel as though you’ve been transported to another universe as you are blown away by the fact that you’ve realized that you are now waiting for King Kong.

Then King Kong pops out with a large roar as your small children look on with wonderment. You then notice that the show is provoking your emotion. You’re angered when the director decided to catch King Kong and take advantage of him, you begin to gain a lot of sympathy for the sensitive, loving King Kong. It’s only when they take King Kong back to New York and you see the animal tied up and starving itself that you become genuinely upset and want to free him. When you see the shy, awkward worker for the director tear up and reveal his story you realize how truly deep this show has become. You can’t help cheering when King Kong escapes and sobbing when he died at the end.

The lovable animal you had come to know and love had passed and you can’t help but feel devastated. Who would’ve ever thought that a mechanical ape would make you weep? Then you realize the true message of the show is a cause that teens easily get behind: animal rights. You can’t see King Kong’s innocent eyes and not realize that animals are sentient and feel emotion.

Beyond the great stage crew, ensemble and leads is a message that the show does a great job of getting across:the ethical treatment of animals. That is why I, as a teen can truly appreciate and enjoy “King Kong” for its ideas go far behind a robotic primate. So the next time you go to Broadway consider getting tickets to see King Kong, because although you make think your children will love it  you and your teen will too. 

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