NYC Fun: New Amsterdam Theater Tour, Mary Poppins and Posing with Mickey

Written by Carol Cain on 27 November 2011

Disney is huge in NYC. I know, you are asking yourself, “What?” But, truth is, Disney was one of the the first major investors in the Times Square area before Times Square was what it is today. Its presence on the then grumbling 42nd street set the tone for what was to come and encouraged change, much of which transformed the area to something no one could have imagined possible at the time.

Its investment was in the performing arts, and it did so in what is the New Amsterdam Theater. But the theater already had a wonderful history before that. For a long time the theater was the home of the Ziegfeld Follies, George White’s Scandals and Eva LeGallienne’s Civic Repertory Theatre. In 1937 it was used as a cinema which closed in 1985. Walt Disney Corporation leased the aging building in 1993. Hugh Hardy, architect known for his extensive work in renovating many cultural icons in NYC, performed his magic on this theater as well and between 1995 and 1997 renovated the New Amsterdam to be the flagship for Disney Theatrical Productions for presentations on Broadway.

Now, there is tons that I could say about this historic landmark. But that would be boring because a lot of the rich history is in the details of the building and design, and to really appreciate it all you have to see it for yourself.

Luckily, as of Spring 2012 guests will have an opportunity to take part in the personal tours of the theater, including backstage access, a walk across the majestic stage and prop room, and maybe even hear a ghost story or two. Pricing for these tours has yet to be set (I will update this post once I have that information), but expect the tour to be about 90 minutes long, depending on photo ops and such.

The tours will be available for groups of 15, but arrangements are being developed to accommodate individuals as well. During the tour visitors will also receive a limited addition pin to commemorate the experience.

When we went on the tour we did so a few hours before we went to see Mary Poppins, currently being showcased there (before it was the Lion King, and getting to touch the props for that incredible show was pretty exciting!).

Touring the theater and learning all there is to know, then enjoying the awe-inspiring production of Mary Poppins afterwards was a pretty unique NYC moment. If you are planning to come to NYC around that time, or were thinking of catching the show some time soon, I would recommend the extra investment and doing both for a truly magical moment.

Mary Poppins on its own was a grand and spectacular production, very much what one would expect from a Disney theatrical experience. I was welcomed to bring my younger children (5 and 6) as guests, but honestly, I don’t know if anything later than an early show would have sustained them for long, and there were some parts that would have lost their interest. However, older children will love it.

Come back in a few weeks to this post for updates and more information on this tour. In the meantime, do consider visiting and seeing the show. You will not be disappointed!

To further compliment our Disney Memories in Times Square, we participated in the fun event they hosted where guests could pose with their favorite virtual characters on a larger then life Times Square marquee. We were fortunate to pose with Mickey Mouse himself, and though my 5 year old was kind of shy at the sight of him, the picture we received afterwards and the smile on his face that followed were truly enough to make this a day to remember.

For tickets to see Mary Poppins, you can visit the New Amsterdam Theater online HERE. The New Amsterdam Theater is located at 214 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Disclosure: Tour and two tickets to see Mary Poppins were compliments of the Walt Disney Corporation for the purpose of this. There were no requests that any particular point of view be expressed. All opinions shared here are strictly my own.