Date Night? See a Musical!

When is the last time you and your spouse got a little dressed up and did something that didn't require bringing backup Goldfish crackers in your purse? 

Yep, I figured as much...

We all hear about the much revered "Date Night" and how it's supposed to be some kind of magical marriage elixir, made to erase all problems and arguments. Don't get me wrong, it helps. But sometimes just finding the right date creates tension all on it's own (Dinner? Loud bar? Quiet bar? Which movie? The arguments just write themselves.)

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You know what I say? Bring on the Broadway, baby!

My husband and I went to see Deaf West Theatre's production of "Spring Awakening" on Sunday and it was by far the best date we had been on in a long time. 

It helped, of course, that the production was STELLAR. The musical is a teen angst rock opera with lots of sexual confusion and kick-butt music, but what made this production shine was its outstanding creativity and direction.

The show used a combination of hearing and deaf actors, and the whole thing was either signed or creatively captioned on the walls with a projector. Having seen that show on Broadway on a previous husband date (that was 2007, not the last time we went out together, although sometimes it feels like it), I was pleasantly surprised by how much more I enjoyed this version.

As my hubs and I discussed at intermission, it was so fun to see such creativity and thought put into a musical. It was like watching an all star basketball game, the best all together at once. 

Notice that we discussed something non-kid related? 

The acting, singing and movement were mesmerizing and we were both brought to tears several times.

Tears that had nothing to do with the day-to-day frustrations of parenting.

So why do I say see a musical on your Date Night? Because it (if done right) will inspire you to think about something new and give you a conversation with your spouse that you wouldn't have had otherwise. In that, you will connect like adult humans.

Start with this outstanding production, and then keep going to see the arts together. 

You might even find yourselves holding hands and making direct eye contact. Remember that?

Yep, I figured as much...

Spring Awakening is running through June 7th at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Arts and you can get tickets at www.thewallis.org.

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