The OHM in The Ohmies: Theater, Exercise and Imaginative Play

Written by Carol Cain on 10 July 2011

So I went to take my kids to see The Ohmies, a new musical show for younger kids that has returned to NYC till September 25, 2011.

Here’s the deal: I wasn’t sure what to expect. It seemed so incredibly sweet and sugary, that I thought maybe my kids would love it, but I would, once again, be stuck in a show for little kids anxious for it to end. Because let’s admit it, it’s usually how it goes.

We arrived to Playwright Horizon’s Peter Jay Sharpe theater on 416 West 42nd Street and my boys were full of energy. They happily greeted the staff and were delighted to find out that all that jumping and falling and movement was actually a welcomed part of the show. They were also thrilled when asked to take off their shoes and show off their socks.

Not sure how I missed this when reading about The Ohmies, but it’s not just a show that teaches kids to be active and encourages them to do in their story line, they encourage and invite them to do so throughout the show!

The stage set up is wonderful. A large room with a few rows of seats for parents and a large matted area for the kids (as well as those adults who wish to join them).

The main characters, Bella Butterfly and Carlin Caterpillar, are extremely cute and sweet, as are their friends, and as they tell their tale, they manage to do something amazing: they get kids to exercise. I’m not just talking about making them get up and dance (though they do that too), I’m talking about starting and ending with stretches, a little bit of yoga (thus OHMies) and some low impact cardio. The kids had no clue, but as I sat in the row of seats and watched my kids do the downward dog through play participation, I couldn’t help but realize how brilliant this show really is.

Needless to say, by the end of this 50-minute performance the kids were exhausted, not so full of energy and mood to run around. But they were also happy and had enjoyed the show. We were able to keep them from falling asleep on the train by talking to them about the story and their favorite characters.

As for me, I enjoyed watching my boys be active and get so involved in a performance. The show’s interactive element is a nice touch and really gets little ones to experience theater in a way that is exciting for them. They were really able to capture their imaginations and make them use their bodies as a way to help the story along. It was really cute to watch and I laughed seeing my kids get so into it.

This is a great show to bring the kids to, especially now that they are off from school and looking for ways to release some energy and be creative at the same time.

You can purchase tickets to see The Ohmies through Ticket Central online HERE. For more about the show and other information, please visit The Ohmies website HERE.

Disclosure: I received compensation for promotional services for The Ohmies, as well as tickets to attend the show. This review is independent of those services and the opinions expressed here are entirely my own.