Surviving Student Tours in Manhattan

Three Days in NYC with 40 Teenagers, 12 Chaperones and A Night at the Opera

It’s a cliche, but I’ll say it anyway - I Love New York. The city that never sleeps, the city of dreams, and the city where I, a professional tour director, regularly manage to keep a group of 30 to 40 teenagers and their chaperones alive, entertained, and (mostly) on schedule. My latest three-day adventure was a whirlwind of Times Square pizza, epic Broadway performances, and impromptu salsa dancing. Here’s how it all went down.

We kicked off the trip with a visit to the Statue of Liberty, where this talented group filmed a Tik Tok video singing the National Anthem a capella with the great lady as a backdrop. I had chills - but not just from their artistry. Cold winds whipped through the harbor, and after one look at the kids’ faces (and one particularly dramatic shiver from a 14-year-old), the group leader decided to skip Ellis Island. Pro tip: Always check the weather, and always have a backup plan.

To warm up, we walked quickly to Brookfield Place for a scatter lunch. For the uninitiated, a scatter lunch is when you release 50 teenagers into a food court and pray they don’t all spend their lunch allowance on bubble tea and Tsum Tsums (If you have kids, you know). Miraculously, everyone returned on time, though one kid did try to convince me that a Starbucks frappuccino counted as a meal. I couldn’t really argue with him, having had a pumpkin spice latte breakfast on several occasions.

Next up was the 9/11 Memorial. This is always a somber moment, and I was impressed with how respectfully the students conducted themselves. Even the most talkative kids fell silent as they took in the solemnity of the site. It’s moments like these that remind me of the power of travel to teach new perspectives and bring history into the present day. I feel so fortunate to be able to broaden young minds, and maybe a few not as young minds as well.

After our contemplative interlude, we flipped the script and took the subway to the electric extravagance of Times Square, because nothing says “New York” like a giant LED billboard and 35 teenagers trying to take the perfect selfie. Dinner was at John’s Pizzeria, where I demonstrated the proper New York-style way to eat pizza by folding it in half lengthwise. By the end of the meal, half of the kids were covered in pizza sauce and I was running low on my ever present supply of wet wipes. ALWAYS have a supply of wet wipes on a student tour. Sometimes I have no idea how they get as sticky as they do, but I’m ready for it.

The day ended with Hadestown on Broadway, one of my favorite musicals of all time. The students were mesmerized by the music, and even if they struggled to follow all of the Greek myth nuances of the story, they were emotionally invested. Those who listened to my advice to bring tissues were grateful for the tip.

Day two began with a singing workshop led by an actual working New York actor who won the kids over with equal parts talent, expertise and relatable humor. Listening to these teenagers belt out the complex harmonies of ‘One Short Day’ from Wicked at 10 a.m. is equal parts inspiring and terrifying. Where does this talent come from?

The class was a perfect preparation for our afternoon, with a matinee of Wicked on our itinerary. As a seasoned tour director, I’ve seen this show more times than I can count, and as a lifelong musical theater devotee, it never gets old. The students were predictably familiar with Act One, having seen it in the movie, but Act Two was a revelation, with gasps during the dramatic scenes and, again, tears at the end. Special accolades go out to Lencia Kebede, making her Broadway debut as the first full time Black Elphaba, and Allie Trimm as Glinda. Both have the impossible task of following up on the huge successes of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande on screen, and they have not only met the challenge, they shine like the stars they are. Remember those names, I can totally envision each of them accepting Tony awards down the line.

Dinner was at Havana Central, where the kids discovered the joys of Cuban food. Highlights included the student who tried to order a mojito (nice try, kid) and the group that spent 20 minutes debating whether plantains are just fancy bananas. (Verdict: yes, but don’t say that in front of a Cuban chef.) The meal ended with impromptu salsa dancing, because nothing says “cultural enrichment” like watching a group of teenagers attempt to salsa in a crowded restaurant. We finished the day with a private visit to historic St. Bartholomew’s Church where the students sang an amazing mashup of Carol of the Bells and The Bells of Notre Dame from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. I may have teared up. Just a little.

Our final day started with a visit to RiseNY, an interactive attraction that takes guests through the iconic history and unique culture of New York City. The experience begins with a simulated subway ride that ends with an entrance into series of immersive exhibits that celebrate New York’s music, film, fashion, theater, and more. Then visitors take a simulated flight over and through NYC, ending with a New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square. It’s Soarin’ over NYC, and it’s an absolute blast. I highly recommend it for all New York travelers. Next up was the Museum of Broadway, where the students geeked out over costumes, set designs, and the history of theater in New York. Another must see attraction, especially for theater lovers.

Lunch was at Rockefeller Center, where the kids were supposed to eat lunch but instead blew all their spending money at the Lego store, Nintendo store and F.A.O. Schwartz. Of course they didn’t consider that they’d have to lug their shopping bags around the city for the rest of the day, but who thinks of practical details like that when the Lego Dark Millennium Falcon is 10% off? After the shopping spree, er, lunch, the group toured Radio City Music Hall. The students were excited to set foot on the same stage as the Rockettes, and I got to sit back and enjoy the fact that, for once, no one was asking me where the bathroom was.

Dinner was a family-style feast in Chinatown. Feeding 50 people all at once in one of the busiest neighborhoods in NYC is not for the faint of heart, but it’s a lot of fun passing around platters of fried rice, sweet and sour pork and dumplings. This time, we managed to keep the chaos to a minimum, though I did have to reassure one distraught girl that an empty fortune cookie is not a sign of impending doom.

The trip ended with a little bit of high culture, a performance of Fidelio at Lincoln Center. Not an option I would have selected, as opera isn’t exactly a crowd-pleaser for teenagers, especially a German opera about a woman who dresses as a man to free her political prisoner husband. I was having trouble keeping my own eyes open and was pleasantly surprised when the group leader allowed his charges to return to the hotel at intermission if they wished. I immediately offered to lead the departing group, which ended up being the majority of students and ALL the chaperones. The group leader stayed with the 12 die-hard students that wanted to make it all the way to the end of the show, and I thanked the gods for the gift of an earlier bedtime than I had expected.

Final Thoughts
As a professional tour director, I’ve learned to expect the unexpected. Kids late back from lunch? Check. I have extra time built in to the schedule to prepare for that possibility. Extra tall chaperone having leg room issues at the theater? Check. I pull out the aisle seats in advance and set them aside just in case. Existential questions about missing fortunes? Double check. Time to recall those long ago improv classes. But at the end of the day, it’s all worth it. Seeing the city through the eyes of these kids—whether they’re marveling at the skyline from Statue of Liberty or trying their first real New York City pizza—reminds me why I love this job. And it’s a good thing I do, I have 3 more trips in March alone. Gotta get my laundry done quick!

Until then, New York, keep the pizza hot and the lights bright. I’ll be back soon—with another 30 to 40 teenagers and their chaperones in tow.

P.S. If you’re one of my students reading this, yes, I saw you snag that last dumpling on our way our of the restaurant. I’m always watching.