Roundabout’s J.P. Morgan Chase Family Series, for subscribers under 18 and their parents, provides much more than just a ticket.
Ruth Sovronsky (pictured with daughter Kyra) recently attended a pre-show workshop at the Players Club on Gramercy Park, where Roundabout’s Education staff engaged the attendees with exercises in observation and perception in the theatre. Sovronsky says the series makes theatre much more approachable. "It gives you an insider’s guide into what you’re about to see," she explains, "and it takes your understanding of the play up a notch, as well as giving the playwright’s and designers’ perspectives." She also credits the series with exposing kids to a wide variety of theatrical styles and nurturing her son’s love of theatre. (Alex is now studying theatre and literature in college.)
The Bloom Family is enjoying their fourth year as Family Series subscribers. Nancy (photographed with her husband Michael and daughter Jessica) finds the workshops and study guides helpful, especially for younger theatregoers. "It gives them a key for looking at the show. It draws them into the play more." For Michael, Roundabout’s inclusion of classical repertory was the draw. "I thought it was important for Jessica to be exposed to classical theatre," he explains. "As she gets older, she’ll be able to look back and remember what she’s seen." Michael’s plan seems to be working; Jessica fondly recalls a favorite production of George Bernard Shaw’s Arms and the Man. She enjoyed both the play’s wit and the opportunity to speak with actors at a post-performance discussion (a regular element of the series).
