New on Broadway: "Bring it On!"

"Bring It On!" is a high-energy musical opening this fall on Broadway.  If the name sounds familiar, it should be.  The musical is based on the cheerleader movie series that mostly went straight to video, but that is where the similarities end.

The Broadway production of "Bring It On!" features exciting live cheer routines, great music, better acting and the energy of 30 people debuting on Broadway at one time.  It's an ideal show for meeting and incentive groups traveling with spouses. 

Shackman Associates provides corporate meeting and destination incentive attendees with unique Broadway experiences that have included backstage passes and interaction with the productions stars.

New on Broadway: "Chaplin"

Fresh off of winning the San Diego Theatre Critic's Award for Best Musical during its run at The LaJolla Playhouse, "Chaplin" is headed for Broadway in New York City.

The musical, which chronicles the story of silent film icon Charlie Chaplin as he moved from London to become a Hollywood film star, will begin previews on August 21. 

Shackman Associates New York provides corporate meeting and destination incentive attendees with unique Broadway experiences including backstage passes and interaction with the stars of the production.

Only in New York City: Vegan Donuts!

Shackman Associates has another meeting food idea you'll only find in New York - Vegan Donuts.

In our continuing series of posts about healthy, savory food ideas for your destination meeting, several companies with locations around Manhattan, are leading a renaissance of the entire concept of eating donuts. 

Any good vegan can finally know how to appreciate fresh doughnuts daily with few flavors made from seasonal fresh and sometimes organic produce.  For example, Organic Orange, Fresh Raspberry,  Pistachio, Almond Marzipan, Pomegranate and Fresh Apple Cinnamon.

Here are the common denominators you won't find in your meeting break pastries:

No Trans fat.
No Preservatives.
No Artificial Flavorings.
No Eggs.

Some donuts are also gluten-free. 

3 Ways Your Meeting Can "Beat the Heat"

The US can get quite hot in the summer and 2012 could the hottest yet. 

So how can your corporate meeting and destination incentive attendees beat the heat?

Shackman Associates has 3 ice-cold ideas in New York City:

1. Ice rink in a ballroom.  We recently ran a gala event at a major hotel with a temporary ice rink in the middle of the ballroom.  Included was a live performance by professional skaters and an opportunity for meeting attendees to join in .

2. Sub Zero Ice Cages.  If your group is looking to cool off on the wild side, downtown features sub-zero ice cage bars with a vodka drinking room.  One venue is ideal for groups with a gypsy party trolley from your hotel and back.

3. Polar at the Marcel.  With fluffy and furry while pillow and icy mirrors, your group can indulge in the venue's unique menu of mixology including:  The Tundra; and Operation Highjump, featuring "42 below" vodka.

Meeting Break Idea: Gourmet Greek Yogurt Bars in NYC

Tired of the usual pastry and coffee at your destination meeting?  Are food trucks yesterday's news? In New York City, an exciting breed of "Yogurt Bars" have opened in Manhattan near many major hotel venues.

Greek yogurt, with thicker consistency than more sugary competitors found in many supermarkets, has become increasingly popular because it's low in fat and high in protein. 

Chobani and Dannon have opened stores in SoHo, which is close to multiple new boutique hotels, and at Grand Central Station in Midtown, a five minute walk from the Waldorf and Hyatt.  Like New York's gourment coffee houses which attract tens of thousands of tourists, yogurt bar menus include items you can't get anywhere else in the US - for example, yogurt featuring chopped figs and walnuts with honey drizzled on top, or yogurt with cucumbers or olive oil.

Katie Holmes Returns to Broadway

Fresh from her divorce settlement with Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes is wasting no time getting her career back on track and her first stop will be Broadway. 

She will star this fall in the new dark comedy “Dead Accounts" by Theresa Rebeck, a Pulitzer Prize finalist whose play, "Seminar", was a big hit on Broadway last year. 

Katie Holmes, who made her Broadway debut in 2008 in a revival of Arthur Miller's "All My Sons", will portray Lorna, a somewhat regular person on a diet, who is living with her aging parents in Cincinnati while trying to pull together her life. 

The Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien (“The Coast of Utopia,” “Hairspray”) is directing the five-character play, which will run at the Music Box Theater this fall.

Shackman Associates New York has provided corporate meeting and destination incentive clients with unique Broadway experiences that include backstage passes and interaction with talent from the production. 

For more information about run dates for Dead Accounts, contact us at dmc@shackmanassociates.com.

4 New Tech Features for Meeting Scavenger Hunts

We have blogged multiple times about uses of QR codes at corporate meetings and destination incentives.  We recently incorporated QR and GPS into a scavenger hunt in Central Park in Manhattan and more advances have been made to make team building activities like this even more exciting.

Among the newest features available for a scavenger hunt are:

1. Mobile optimized web-based applications that will work with all types of mobile devices
2. Synergy to track your group's progress and see how your competitors are doing
3. No need to download a gaming app
4. A platform admin portal, QR window client and other elements such as T-shirts, posters, pillows and pop-up banners.

Not surprisingly, New York City leads the US in venues with QR codes.  This includes most public attractions, hotels and many retailers.  With expanded technology, Shackman Associates can help your meeting group customize any scavenger hunt with efficient scheduling, unique challenges, and enhanced interactivity with locals. 



Photo courtesy of Worldseeker