Picture this, you’ve had a delicious dinner, coffee, desert, and even a drink. The lights get low and suddenly your transported to a little Italian restaurant in the middle of New Jersey. There’s singing, dancing, Italian accents, and priests with cell phones. Sound intriguing? The Westchester Broadway Theatre offers just this experience as they proudly present their newest show, Mambo Italiano.
Dinner and a Show in One
If you’ve never before been to the Westchester Broadway Theatre in Elmsford, you’re missing out. The theater offers a variety of shows throughout the year. You can have a Broadway experience without leaving the comforts of Westchester County. Plus, as an added bonus to your experience, the show comes with a lovely three course meal. Service was quick and everyone was helpful and lovely. For showings of Mambo Italiano the menu focuses on some Italian classics like Eggplant Parmesan and Chicken Marsala. The food was plentiful and tasty. The menu had a large variety of choices to fit any palette. There was also a large variety of drink choices ranging from soft drinks to mixed cocktails to complete your dining experience. Afterwards, diners are treated to a simple dessert and coffee as the lights go down and the theater extravaganza begins.
Time To Mambo
The show opens to introduce you to the famiglia Barbieri, owners of a little Italian restaurant in New Jersey circa Y2K. Right away the opening number produces giggles across the audience as you connect with the traditions, trials, and tribulations of the family. Maria and Gino Barbieri want nothing more than to keep their traditional lives going in the ways in which they have been brought up, while their grandkids, Anna and Angelo, have other ideas.
The show features fun and flashy dance numbers (think sequined suits) as well as lovely songs that highlight the voices of the main characters. Alexandra Amadeo Frost, who plays Anna, had a voice powerful enough for Broadway, and was a real treat to listen to. If you are looking for a night of comedy, singing, and dancing, this definitely is for you. However, it may be best to leave the littles at home for this show as some of the lyrics and jokes did get a little edgy. (I mean, I laughed but I wouldn’t want to explain the joke to my eight year old!). 
Being of Italian heritage, I found many similarities between the traditions in my family and those on stage. However, the themes presented in this show are surely universal enough to appeal to everyone in the crowd. It hits on ideas of love, loss, and the deep desire to be understood, which crosses over all cultures.
Mambo Italiano is currently in the pre-broadway stages and is based on the play and screenplay by Steve Galluccio and Emile Gaudrealt. The show is slated to play through September 29, 2019 so grab your tickets now. There are several showtimes to choose from with matinees and evening performances seven days a week.
If you can’t make it to Mambo Italiano, be sure to check out the theatre’s other upcoming performances. Next up is the classic show, An American In Paris, which will run in October and November. The Westchester Broadway Theatre also offers many holiday shows, comedy nights, and fun musicals. They even offer shows for children (is it too early to start thinking about brunch with Santa?)
Tickets for dinner and the show run in between $59 and $89 depending on the performance chosen. Discounts are available for children, students, and seniors! They also offer group rates for organizations and businesses. Check out their website for more information!
I hope you will go take in a show and enjoy the Broadway experience right in your own backyard!
