Editor’s note: Cultural opportunities are endless in New York City. We recently collaborated with “Escape To Margaritaville: The Musical” to take several NYC Dads Group members and their significant others out for a special, pre-Mother’s Day date night. Member Corbin Younger reviews this feel-good musical.
Broadway is a great escape from the daily grind into a world of fantasy, music and excitement. The Jimmy Buffett-inspired Escape to Margaritaville show allowed 20 members of the NYC Dads Group and their other halves to do just that on a rare Hump Day night without the kids.
Afforded such an opportunity, my wife and I arranged babysitting, and it felt great to get out of our weekday routine. When I arrived at The Marquis Theatre sporting my Hawaiian shirt and sandals, I was in the right place. The theater lobby was altered into a full-scale tiki bar. Frozen margaritas in hand, my wife and I were transformed from parents into Parrotheads for the night, sipping away as we let the worries of work and parenting melt as we enjoyed the show.
“Escape to Margaritaville: The Musical” is based on the island-flavored songs of musical legend, Jimmy Buffett. Just as Mama Mia used the songs of Abba to drive the plot, Buffett’s breezy tunes were the basis for the plot of this story. The leads, Alison Luff and Paul Alexander Nolan, had tremendous voices, breezy yet powerful island gusts with gusto. The show delivered exactly what you would expect: light, festive music; laid-back attitude; lots of good times that immersed the audience in a tropical paradise.
Escape to Margaritaville ended on a high note, with most everyone leaving with a souvenir beach ball, a way to bring home a memory of our Margaritaville moment. Most couples left quickly to get back home to the kids and relieve our babysitters, happy to have enjoyed a welcome escape from reality for a few hours.
My wife and I were not the only ones to relish in this entertaining show, based on these comments from fellow NYC Dads’ Group Members:
My wife and I are not Jimmy Buffett fans, but this show was so entertaining! Humorous, well-written, great dance and song numbers that kept us smiling. We are so happy we went! What a great date night! — Greg Kessler
Thanks to Escape to Margaritaville: The Musical for creating the entertaining, beach party experience we desperately needed for this date night surrounded by a crew of NYC Dads and their significant others. I was smiling from ear to ear during this lively show that was filled with classic Jimmy Buffett tunes, vacation vibes, and a charming wit that I didn’t anticipate. Also, it was awesome to celebrate 50th birthdays with member Kevin McKeever and the wife of another member, Kate Interrante, in epic fashion. — Lance Somerfeld
My wife and I joined NYC Dads Group for the Escape to Margaritaville experience and were so thrilled to take part. Jimmy Buffett’s songs are wonderful, timeless good-time tunes and who doesn’t appreciate a tiki bar in a theater? The night out was the perfect midweek pause with my wife to enjoy each others’ company (sans baby), sing along with the show and remember what vacations before kids used to be like. — Andrew Zinn
We want to thank Escape from Margaritaville for affording us this sweet opportunity, and to the NYC Dads Group for putting together such a wonderful evening. We are out of Parrothead mode and back to parenting mode, but this break from routine reminded us that parents need to kick back and relax from time to time.
Disclosure: The team at “Escape To Margaritaville: The Musical” provided complimentary tickets for NYC Dads Group members to attend the show. The opinions expressed in this review are heartfelt, honest and 100 percent our own.
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