A new service designed to enhance the Broadway experience for fervent theatergoers recently debuted on the Great White Way. The series features a pre-performance cocktail reception, preferred seating and a post-show Q&A with select members of the cast.
Last week the curtain was raised on Connected to Broadway and Family Travel Forum was in the house! Connected to Broadway is a new initiative by NewYork.com, which partners with hit shows (opening night was Kinky Boots, next up August 22, 2013 is Phantom of the Opera) to provide a connection between patrons and the cast by offering a limited number of orchestra or front mezzanine seats as part of an exclusive package.
The fun begins with a cocktail and hors d'oeuvres reception 90-minutes prior to curtain time, with each ticketholder receiving two free drinks. On our opening night, the reception was on the mezzanine landing at the Al Hirschfeld Theater (his self-portrait adorns the theatre marquee), home to "Kinky Boots" and a terrific collection of the great caricaturist's work chronicling the greatest stars and productions on Broadway over the past 60 years. Take a look:
Half an hour prior to show time we were led to good center seats in the third row of the mezzanine. After the show, we congregated with the other Connected to Broadway initiates in the first two rows of the orchestra, where the Stage Manager introduced himself and briefly gave us an overview of the show and what was involved in creating the boots.
Members of the cast joined him one by one after they changed into their street clothes to field questions from yours truly and others. It was an intimate and interesting back-and-forth with cast members, who were funny and shared some great stories about the pre-Broadway tryouts in Chicago. This visit with the cast lasted about 20 minutes, at which point we all had to leave so the theatre could be cleaned for the following night's performance.
As with every exclusive offer, there is an exclusive price attached. Connected to Broadway charges $279-$299 per event (our tickets alone were $124) but it may be just the ticket for families with aspiring 'show people' in tow.
According to NewYork.com, where you can search for upcoming events, a portion of the proceeds goes directly to the charity Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS,and you realize how near and dear this cause is to the actors in the show when they thank you repeatedly for contributing during the Q&A afterwards.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
