‘Rocky, Broadway’ Knocks Out These Fathers on the Great White Way

NYC Dads Group prepare for ROCKY Broadway!

Editor’s Note: One of the most amazing things about New York City are the cultural opportunities we can experience with our families.  Our latest Dads Night Out collaboration with ROCKY, Broadway was a real treat.  NYC Dads Group member, Corbin Younger, does a nice job of reviewing this must-see musical. -L.S. 

Last week, a dozen fathers from NYC Dads Group gathered to see the new hit musical, Rocky, Broadway.  Before the show, we began comparing notes on our kids, their ages, stages, and our backgrounds.  In other words, male bonding.  We then entered the theater to experience the ultimate Broadway musical for male bonding, Rocky.  Based on the iconic Sylvester Stallone movie, this show did not disappoint.  Familiar elements from the movie adapted well to a musical setting.  From jogging up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art to punching sides of beef, all the images we are familiar with are present.  Every shout out of “Yo, Adrian!” by Rocky illicits chuckles from the audience.  Yet, what really makes this show memorable is its heart.

The first act does a wonderful job of developing the characters of Rocky and Adrian.  The audience gets a feel for South Philly, the poverty, and the desperate need to become more than current circumstances.  Adrian questions whether she can do better than Rocky, a down and out fighter and part-time enforcer, while Rocky questions whether he could have been more than a ‘ham and egger,’ whether he could have been a contender if the right breaks came his way.  Amazingly, this break comes when Apollo Creed’s (current title holder) opponent gets injured, and in a fit of inspiration and desperation, Apollo decides he wants a local underdog to fight him for the heavyweight championship.  Apollo is played wonderfully over the top, complete with his 1970’s period mod squad entourage.  This includes great character development leading us to the ultimate scene, the final battle.

This show moves into a completely different realm in the second act when the ultimate title fight is about to begin.  Audience members from the first 15 rows in the Orchestra are ushered onto bleachers on stage, and the stage transforms into a boxing ring which takes up those previously occupied seats, giving the entire audience a feel like they are in a boxing arena watching the spectacle.  And spectacle it is!  The battle between these two warriors is beautifully choreographed, bloody, and emotionally charged.  My heart was racing with each blow.  This is a show which packs a wallop right until the final decision.  Few Broadway shows leave you on such a high note as Rocky does with its knockout punch.  This show delivers with its finale, allowing us all to root for the contender with the “eye of the tiger.”