Submitted by Brooklyn Mamas Contributor Alicia Harper.
You can also check out Alicia at her personal website mommydelicious.com

Recently, my son and I had the opportunity to see The Ohmies at The Peter Jay Sharp Theater on West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenue. And, boy did we have a great time!

As we entered the theater, we entered Ohm Land and were immediately introduced to The Ohmies, a butterfly, a grasshopper, a caterpillar, a puppy dog, and a Spanish-speaking snake.

While trying to find Mr. Sun to help their wish garden grow, The Ohmies encounter several obstacles. And the lessons that they learn are sure to teach the kiddies a lesson… or five.

For instance, if The Ohmies weren’t teaching us about the canine family, metamorphosis, and scientific terminology, they were showing us how to work together as a team or be super and loyal friends.

The show provides the perfect combination of interactive entertainment and engagement – the audience is invited to sit on the set, get moving, and let their imaginations run wild as they sing and dance to original music. Flying like a butterfly, hopping like a grasshopper, slithering like a snake, and helping The Ohmies shake off the worries has never been more fun!

Only an hour long, the show is the perfect length of time for children (ages 3-8 years old) and adults alike. The show will run from Saturday, July 23rd until Sunday September 25th and performances will take place on Thursdays (10am, 12pm, 3pm), Saturdays (12pm, 3pm), and Sundays (3pm).

And to add to the fun, children and parents are invited to meet the cast for pictures and conversation immediately after the show! Love it!

What are you waiting for?! Visit their website, www.theohmies.com.

Disclosure: I was provided with complimentary tickets to see The Ohmies. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

“The kids had no clue, but as I sat in the row of seats and watched my kids do the downward dog through play participation, I couldn’t help but realize how brilliant this show really is.”

The Ohmies, a new musical show for younger kids that has returned to NYC till September 25, 2011.

Here’s the deal: I wasn’t sure what to expect. It seemed so incredibly sweet and sugary, that I thought maybe my kids would love it, but I would, once again, be stuck in a show for little kids anxious for it to end. Because let’s admit it, it’s usually how it goes.

We arrived to Playwright Horizon’s Peter Jay Sharpe theater on 416 West 42nd Street and my boys were full of energy. They happily greeted the staff and were delighted to find out that all that jumping and falling and movement was actually a welcomed part of the show. They were also thrilled when asked to take off their shoes and show off their socks.

Not sure how I missed this when reading about The Ohmies, but it’s not just a show that teaches kids to be active and encourages them to do in their story line, they encourage and invite them to do so throughout the show!

The stage set up is wonderful. A large room with a few rows of seats for parents and a large matted area for the kids (as well as those adults who wish to join them).

The main characters, Bella Butterfly and Carlin Caterpillar, are extremely cute and sweet, as are their friends, and as they tell their tale, they manage to do something amazing: they get kids to exercise. I’m not just talking about making them get up and dance (though they do that too), I’m talking about starting and ending with stretches, a little bit of yoga (thus OHMies) and some low impact cardio. The kids had no clue, but as I sat in the row of seats and watched my kids do the downward dog through play participation, I couldn’t help but realize how brilliant this show really is.

Needless to say, by the end of this 50-minute performance the kids were exhausted, not so full of energy and mood to run around. But they were also happy and had enjoyed the show. We were able to keep them from falling asleep on the train by talking to them about the story and their favorite characters.

As for me, I enjoyed watching my boys be active and get so involved in a performance. The show’s interactive element is a nice touch and really gets little ones to experience theater in a way that is exciting for them.  They were really able to capture their imaginations and make them use their bodies as a way to help the story along. It was really cute to watch and I laughed seeing my kids get so into it.

This is a great show to bring the kids to, especially now that they are off from school and looking for ways to release some energy and be creative at the same time.

“For my son (and me) being able to interact with the story and characters was one of the best parts.”

I recently posted about The Ohmies Returns to Peter Jay Sharp Theater and I hope some of my readers were quick to snap up tickets to the show. If you haven’t taken your family to see The Ohmies yet then your missing out. Recently I took my son to see the show and he (we) had the best time.

As the show goes on the kids join in with sing songs, stretch’s and other physical movements with the characters. For my son (and me) being able to interact with the story and characters was one of the best parts.

It was great to see them come off stage and dance around with the kids. The story itself is filled with lesson that help children learn to believe in themselves and help others. They even learn new words from Gisbert Grasshopper, who seems to be a walking encyclopedia.

At the end of the show there is a meet and greet where the kids can take photos with their favorite character. I tried to get a photo Gisbert Grasshopper but the kids rushed him before I could. I found it funny my son chose to take a photo with Daisy Dog and Sylvio Snake first AND then Carlin Caterpillar. I suspect he had a crush on Daisy

THE OHMIES: MORNING WISH GARDEN runs 55 minutes with no intermission and is performed in an open theater space in which the audience has fun interacting with the cast and each other on antimicrobial fitness mats. (Limited seating is available for those who can’t sit on mats.) Loose-fitting clothing – and colorful socks! – are recommended for everyone.