Broadway and Luxury in the City that Never Sleeps
If you’ve been around the block a few times, you’ll know that luxury isn’t just something external, it’s a feeling one gets of being treated well and enjoying the finer things in life. What better place to explore luxury and exclusivity than in New York City? Most people have definitely heard about the magical and musical world of Broadway in New York, but having heard about it and then actually experiencing it are two totally different things. Broadway caters to the whole family, meaning that there’s something for everyone. It’s good to know a little bit about the plot of a play, so let’s dive in and explore the beauty that is Broadway in New York.
Landing in New York
Depending on where you’re coming from, be it national or international, arriving in NY can already start in style and luxury. Just before landing at JFK International Airport, you’ll be treated to a stunning skyline, even at night the city flickers so bright that you’ll see it. The best way to travel is obviously in business class (or even first class if you’re that lucky), and you can inquire about upgrading a few hours before your flight. Oftentimes, it’s less expensive to book a standard flight ticket and then upgrade shortly before departure than to purchase a business class ticket outright. Once settled in NY, it’s time to start planning your activities, and hitting a Broadway show simply has to be on that list. Even if you’re not a musical fan or enjoy the opera, there’s something for absolutely every member of your family to enjoy. Broadway tickets do sell out fast, so make sure that you pick your poison and make that booking online.
Top Broadway Tips: The Lion King
You’ve landed safely and have gotten your first few glimpses of NY, whether that’s from your hotel or a home exchange you organized well in advance, now it’s high time to enjoy. A luxury that isn’t material and some may have forgotten about, is having the luxury of time. Time to spend with your loved ones on a trip to New York, time to sit down together with your kids and discover mindfulness, time to visit cafes, people-watch and practice being grateful for the moment. Everyone thinks that life is eternal, that it’ll never be their time to go, and what NY makes you realize is that while you will one day leave, this—right now—is true living, and that luxury of time is not a matter of course.
Take the time to see an all-time favorite story: The Lion King. There’s hardly a person on this earth who doesn’t know the lion king, which is a Disney-animated feature that follows the adventures of the young lion Simba, who is the heir of his father Mufasa. Every tale needs a villain, and that’s where Simba’s wicked uncle Scar comes in, who plots to take the throne for himself by luring father and son into a stampede of wildebeests. But Simba miraculously escapes, and only Mufasa is killed. Simba returns as an adult to take back his homeland from Scar with the help of his friends Timon and Pumbaa. While the Disney animation is already fantastic, the Broadway show is the cherry on top, having been recognized as the best musical of all time and featuring music by Elton John. If you are interested in sharing this precious moment with your children or other loved ones, there are matinee shows held at the Minskoff Theatre in New York.
Aladdin
This one is almost in a league of its own, or maybe on par with classics like Beauty and The Beast or Cinderella. As the story goes, Aladdin is a lovable street urchin who meets Princess Jasmine, the beautiful daughter of the sultan of Agrabah, and very much out of his league. While visiting her exotic palace, Aladdin stumbles upon a magic oil lamp that unleashes a powerful, wisecracking, larger-than-life Genie. As Aladdin and the genie start to become friends, they must soon embark on a dangerous mission to stop the evil sorcerer Jafar from overthrowing young Jasmine’s kingdom. Filled with love, laughter and mystery, Aladdin is a timeless piece. Also originally created by Disney, Aladdin is incredibly special to many and epitomizes the purity of childhood and enjoyment. Thanks to brilliant staging, well thought-out depiction of characters, some novel songs and the always hilarious humor of the Genie, this Broadway musical is one for the books. Being held at the New Amsterdam Theatre New York, a once-in-a-lifetime experience awaits anyone lucky enough to see Aladdin and all his friends come to life.
MJ – The Life Story of Michael Jackson
The first two Broadway shows mentioned above are similar, not in terms of their storyline of course, but rather of who would enjoy them. The last tip is a completely different one and it’s an absolute must-see for every Michael Jackson fan – and even those of you who don’t know they’re fans yet. After you experience this unique musical at the Neil Simon Theatre, directed and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, so you know the choreography is going to be spectacular, you’ll never want to stop dancing. Of course, spectators will be serenaded with MJ’s most famous hits, including songs like “Thriller”, “Billie Jean”, “Bad” and “Black or White”. Get ready to dance, laugh and cry – maybe all at the same time.
Feature Photo by Nicolai Berntsen on Unsplash
