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The New York Botanical Garden - 6:00 PM
Grand Central Gallery Annex - 10:00 AM
Museum of the City of New York - 10:00 AM
The New York Botanical Garden - 6:00 PM
The New York Botanical Garden - 6:00 PM Pick
Grand Central Gallery Annex - 10:00 AM
Museum of the City of New York - 10:00 AM
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The New York Botanical Garden - 10:00 AM
Grand Central Gallery Annex - 10:00 AM
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A Garden Grows In Midtown: The Ohmies Take the Stage
My daughters live for theater: Give 'em a stage filled with music and dancing and they're set. So I was excited to to bring them to The Ohmies: Morning Wish Garden, an interactive kids' show that just opened up Off Broadway.
Five minutes into the performance their reactions were obvious. My five-year old was enthralled by the colorfully costumed cast (especially the beautiful butterfly and silly caterpillar), catchy tunes and intricate set with a talking moon. On the other hand, my seven-year old had to be led out of the theater for loudly bemoaning the show's "stupidness." Ouch. There you have it. The Ohmies will be a hit with any kid who's still hooked on Dora. If your kids are already over Nick Jr. you better leave them at home.
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The story's pretty simple: Siblings Bella Butterfly (Jessica Stewart) and Carlin Caterpillar (Hansel Tan) want to plant a "wish garden," but Mr. Sun isn’t around to help it grow. With the guidance of Mrs. Moon, they set off to find Mr. Sun. A Dora-like map helps the duo navigate various obstacles, and they make friends along the way like Gisbert Grasshopper (Kyle Scatliffe), Daisy Dog (Ashley Tobias) and Sylvio Snake (Benjamin Fisher).
The narrative abounds with positive messages about overcoming fears, keeping active, expanding your vocabulary and taking turns—in fact, all of the preaching dulled the fun at times. But the preschoolers in the audience didn’t seem to mind and who knows, maybe some of that stuff will sink in. Since show creators Laurie Miller and Ben Tollefson have a background in children's television, they clearly know all about edutainment.
There are lots of songs and loads of interactive play, mostly dance-inspired yoga moves (they're the OHMies... get it?). Throughout the 55 minutes, kids and parents are encouraged to move around the open space, hopping like grasshoppers, slithering like snakes and flying like butterflies on antimicrobial fitness mats. Chairs are available for grandparents or you, if you want to veg out during the show.
But I recommend getting in there and shakin' it alongside your children; it’s truly a fun workout. Make sure you and your kids wear comfy clothes and socks. I arrived in a dress and heels. My downward-facing dog became a crouching dog, lest I provide the folks behind me with a very different kind of show!
The Ohmies: Morning Wish Garden is playing at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater September 25. Click here for schedule. $35.
Want to see The Ohmies for free? Click here for a chance to win a family four-pack of tickets to the show
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Photos courtesy The Ohmies
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Peter Jay Sharp Theater
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