Go BIG or Go Home
What Happens When A Small-Town Family Visits The "World's Largest"... Whatever!

Radio City Music Hall: World’s Largest Indoor Theater

Radio City Music HallI made the mistake – once – of hosting a 4th birthday at home for one of my progeny. The Boy’s birthday is in May, and I was overly confident that it would be a nice day for lots of outdoor games and activities. Then it rained. We ended up playing animal charades 587+ times, until I (gasp) put on a DVD.

So on the occasion of The Girl’s 4th, the possibility of a birthday party wasn’t even presented to her. Instead, we hyped up a trip into NYC to see the Madagascar Live! show at Radio City Music Hall, followed by lunch and shopping at Dylan’s Candy Bar. Funny thing…they both fit the “Go BIG” profile as world’s largest…interesting…

Where we went, and who was coerced into going:

The four of us drove into New York City (a 90-minute trip) for the day. We had tickets to see Madagascar Live! at Radio City Music Hall. The kids love a trip into “The City,” and as long as Matt does the driving, everyone is happy.

WHY did you go there, exactly?

Radio City Music Hall is the world’s largest indoor theater, but it’s also one of the loveliest. And it’s a quintessential New York landmark which I wanted the kids to experience. It was serendipitous that a kid’s show was scheduled for The Girl’s birthday weekend, providing the perfect opportunity for all of us to see it together. The last time I was there was over 15 years ago for a Barry Manilow concert.

Go ahead and snicker…I’ll wait…

The size of the Music Hall is deceiving from the outside. Its marquee is a full city-block long. Its auditorium measures 160 feet from the back to the stage, and the ceiling is 84 feet high! The stage is framed by a huge proscenium arch that measures 60 feet high and 100 feet wide. The shimmering gold stage curtain is the largest in the world.

For most events, the seating capacity is approximately 6,000, with seats on the orchestra level and three mezzanines. They’re shallow, so the view is good even in the nosebleed seats.

Madagascar

Wearing our lemur glasses...some more willing than others

Okay, what was so cool about it?

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