Contrary to popular belief, luxury isn’t actually something external, it’s a feeling that you get when being treated well and enjoying the finer things in life. And what better place to explore luxury and exclusivity than in New York City? People may believe that at its core, luxurious living is about spending large amounts of money, but that’s not the case. While New York is not inexpensive, there are plenty of things to do and experience that bring you a feeling of luxury, but don’t necessarily break the bank. Let’s dive into the world of Broadway in the city that never sleeps.
The Lion King
An all-time favorite, that’s without a doubt. You will most probably know the story of The Lion King from your own childhood, a Disney-animated feature that follows the adventures of the young lion Simba, who is the heir of his father Mufasa. Every tale needs a villain, and that’s where Simba’s wicked uncle Scar comes in, who plots to take the throne for himself by luring father and son into a stampede of wildebeests. But Simba miraculously escapes, and only Mufasa is killed. Simba returns as an adult to take back his homeland from Scar with the help of his friends Timon and Pumbaa.
While the Disney animation is already fantastic, the Broadway show is the cherry on top, having been recognized as the best musical of all time and featuring music by Elton John. If you are interested in sharing this precious moment with your children or other loved ones, there are matinee shows for the Lion King at Broadway held at the Minskoff Theatre in New York. You can also switch things up by visiting the New York ArtExpo on one of the days that you aren’t being serenaded by Broadway shows.
Aladdin and His Magic Carpet
This one is almost in a league of its own, or maybe on par with classics like Beauty and The Beast or Cinderella. As the story goes, Aladdin is a lovable street urchin who meets Princess Jasmine, the beautiful daughter of the sultan of Agrabah, and very much out of his league. While visiting her exotic palace, Aladdin stumbles upon a magic oil lamp that unleashes a powerful, wisecracking, larger-than-life Genie. As Aladdin and the genie start to become friends, they must soon embark on a dangerous mission to stop the evil sorcerer Jafar from overthrowing young Jasmine’s kingdom.
Filled with love, laughter and mystery, Aladdin is a timeless piece. Also originally created by Disney, Aladdin is incredibly special to many and epitomizes the purity of childhood and enjoyment. Thanks to brilliant staging, well thought-out depiction of characters, some novel songs and the always hilarious humor of the Genie, this Broadway musical is one for the books. Being held at the New Amsterdam Theatre New York, a once-in-a-lifetime experience awaits anyone lucky enough to see Aladdin and all his friends come to life. After the show, be sure to check out all the foods of New York as well.
Moulin Rouge Like You’ve Never Seen it Before
This Moulin Rouge movie takes you back over 100 years to an Englishman named Christian living in Paris in 1899, where he sees and falls in love with a fantastic singer at the Moulin Rouge called Satine. However, this is not a straightforward love story, as Satine has been promised by the manager of Moulin Rouge to a Duke in return for the rich fellow to fund the manager’s next production. The musical is filled with twists and turns as the young lovers meet in secret, but the Duke has no idea and has the wedding date set already, intending to marry Satine soon. But, she is not being completely honest about her past and her motives, as she hides a fatal secret from both Christian and the Duke.
Although the Moulin Rouge musical held at Hirschfeld Theatre it is not a copy of the movie, the musical still has all the essence of the film as well as the scenery, including the symbolic red mill, the giant elephant and all the flavor of the cabaret. It’s good that it’s not a duplicate of the original movie, otherwise it may be a little boring. But boredom is certainly not what awaits you at this drama-filled and emotional version of the classic.
MJ – The Musical
This one is an absolute must-see for every Michael Jackson fan, and even those who don’t know that they’re fans yet. After you experience this unique musical at the Neil Simon Theatre, directed and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, so you know the choreography is going to be spectacular, you’ll never want to stop dancing. Of course, spectators will be serenaded with MJ’s most famous hits, including songs like “Thriller”, “Billie Jean”, “Bad” and “Black or White”. Very special about this musical is that it was created with the assistance of his children and family, meaning that viewers get a look into the life and mind of Michael Jackson like they’ve never been able to before. It focuses much less on the drama that surrounded his life, and more on his passion for music and his die-hard attitude to making it and sharing it with the world.
It was mentioned earlier that time is not a given, that people who are alive and well should celebrate that. And the people of New York feel the same. Pure luxury is having a different perspective from others, seeing the world for what it is and not wanting for anything other than a happy life. Of course, a Broadway show or a breathtaking hotel room don’t hurt, but luxury comes from being grateful for what you have been given, what’s within.
