Enjoy a play while your kids enjoy PLAYTIME! at Playwrights Horizons

Written by Carol Cain on 28 March 2011

So often I hear parents tell me how they can’t do certain things they love or go to plays they enjoy as much anymore because they have kids.

Not only are the logistic of arranging to have care for your children -so that you can go out- annoying and time consuming, it can also be expensive.

I tell a lot of parents that though my husband and I make it a point to schedule date night so that we can reconnect as a couple and enjoy this amazing city we live in, there are those times when date night comes along and we are just too exhausted from the day.

One organization that has taken this burden into consideration when thinking of strategies that would help increase and diversify their audience is the Playwrights Horizons, a long standing theater that has been a part of the off-Broadway community for many years now and is dedicated to showcasing new works, helping many to make their entry into the Great White Way. Playwrights Horizons has served as a intricate part of growth of theater through the launch and assistance of many theaters artists and their work.

It has now also launched a program called Playtime! at Playwrights Horizons to facilitate the attendance of to the theater of the audience who love it but can’t often enjoy it because of difficulties with childcare. For a flat fee of $15 per child (ages 4-12), theater goers can rely on the wonderful care of their children provided by Studio Sitters, a group of “Artsitters”, or artists who have made it their goal to incorporate creativity and fun in the time spent with your kids.

My husband and I recently brought in our 4 and 5 year old to Playtime! so that we could see one of the first performances of Kin, now playing at the theater till April 17.

The performance itself was magnificent. Directed by Sam Gold (Circle Mirror Transformation, Tigers Be Still, Duak Rings a Bell) and brilliantly written by Bathsheba Doran. Emotional on so many levels, with a captivating and ever-changing scene that transport you geographically and through time.

As I watched this wonderful performance only once did my mind wonder to my kids, how they were, if they were having fun. But I was immediately comforted by the fact that they were just upstairs and I was but a tap on the shoulder away.

I should not have worried. When I went to get them they were full of energy and excitement, with a collection of art work that had creating in the time I had enjoyed the show and with fun songs they had learned to share.

This moment was better than any recent date night I have had and it wasn’t even 4:00 in the afternoon.

Playwrights Horizons is hoping other local theaters will partner with the program and offer it to their audiences. It would certainly help many families who enjoy the theater, but not the hassle of arranging for a sitter to get there, and it would help our beloved theater community in striving and continuing to deliver the great works from great artists.

The currently available schedule for Playtime! at Playwright Horizons is as follows:

During the run of Kin, PLAYTIME! will be offered during the following performances:

Sunday, February 27, 2:30 matinee

Sunday, March 20, 2:30 matinee

Saturday, April 2, 2:30 matinee

During the run of Go Back to Where You Are, PLAYTIME! will be offered during the following performances:

Saturday, April 2, 2:00 matinee

Sunday, April 10, 2:0 matinee

Saturday, April 30, 2:00 matinee

I am giddy still that I got to enjoy such a wonderful performance of Kin and that at the same time my kids were having such fun. A truly great program I encourage you to try and support for growth. Visit the Playwrights Horizons website for more information on their current and upcoming performances and for information on the Playtime! program.

Photos courtesy of Playwrights Horizons.

Disclosure: Performance tickets and access to PLAYTIME! were provided courtesy of PLaywrights Horizons for the purpose of this review. The views and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. For more information please refer to the disclosure page.