Making your holiday list? Gifts for all ages

It’s not only your youngsters who deserve holiday treats. Here are some special gifts — naughty and nice — to delight “kids” of all ages.
“The Amazing Max” returns to New York through New Year’s Eve to enchant all with master magician Max Darwin’s meld of astonishing tricks. This critic brought a few young’uns to his show a few years back — and still remember the truly magical glow of that day. The tricks were mind and eye-boggling and fun, fun, fun — with lots of “helping” young audience participation.
“Magic Max” makes objects pop out of thin air, seeming to surprise even the master himself. And the young set get a magic lesson to take home! Regular and Premium “Magic Carpet” seats available now at www.theamazingmax,com or (866) 811-4111 or (212) 352-3101.This glorious adventure is recommended for ages 3 and up — and the child in you!
It’s the perfect time to surprise the whole family with “Kids Night on Broadway.” From Jan, 9-15 young people 6 to 18 will receive a free ticket to a Broadway show, when accompanied by a full-paying adult. Broadway shares this annual gift — that also includes pre-theater activities, restaurant and parking discounts and more each year — offering the best of Broadway from “Aladdin” to “Beautiful,” “If-Then, ”Les Mis,” “Side Show,” “Wicked” and “You Can’t Take It With You.” Particulars and specials events at kidsnightonbroadway.com. Surely a gift that will keep on giving!”
‘The Ride’ is enchantment on wheels!

With special holiday prices for all, “The Ride” celebrates its third year, now through Jan 4. with a magical 4-mile journey that explores “The Celestial Lights of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanza” with an on “The Ride” Bus cast, videos, music and special onsite choreographed performance events. If you’ve ever experienced the magic of the Big Apple from the comfort — and with the ongoing entertainment of this glorious trip — it’s a must to bedazzle the whole family… like seeing a Broadway show and being in one at the same time!
Each tour bus features surround sound, 40 video screens, pauses at planned stops where guests can “hop off” to interact with the shows professional performers. If you’ve been, you know its always standing ovation at journey’s end matches any Broadway super-show! Individual tickets (act now) and schedule (5 to 9 shows daily) at experiencetheride.com and (866) 811-4111
‘Disenchanted’ is ribald, hilarious entertainment
One of the cleverest new musicals to arrive off-Broadway since “Forbidden Broadway” departed — additionally graced by the most dazzling cast in town — this adult spoof (upper teens and up) has already enjoyed a dozen sold-out productions nationwide. Now lighting up the Theatre at St. Clements with non-stop laughter, “Disenchanted” is the brainchild of Dennis T. Giacino (book, music & lyrics), magically directed with no parodies barred by Fiely A.Matias.
The show is currently booked for nine weeks, but a long extension would be a glorious gift to all who appreciate those who suffered the travails of Snow White (awesome Michelle Knight who also “emcees” the evening), Cinderella (Becky Gulsvig), Sleeping Beauty (Jen Bechter), Pochantas (Lili Picard), The Little Mermaid and Rapunzel (Alison Burns) and irrepressible big-voiced Soara-Joye Ross as “The Princess Who Kissed the Frog”— have arrived to give notice they’re not going to take the subjugation one more minute!
For two glorious hours this magically gifted troupe, bedecked in brilliantly executed costumes (Vanessa Leuck) that at first reflect pampered show-case royalty —show off the increasingly naughty emancipated mindset of this wholly irreverent standing ovation winner. The times that reflect their “disenchantment” find voice in Giacino’s “Without the Guy,” “Secondary Princess,” a raucous “All I Wanna Do is Eat” and “A Happy Tune?” There is also a message to take home after the very hi-jinks (a mermaid who drinks from her potty!) and other emancipated acts!
For a holiday treat, make a visit to these damsels deliciously damning “the princess complex” to assert that the 21st century really is the new Age of Enlightenment! You’ll likely want to visit this free-wheeling frolic more than once — with the men in the audience laughing even harder (if possible) than us damsels. Reserve your tickets at Ovation Tix at (866) 811-4111 or visit disenchantedthemusical.com.
CRITIC’S ALERT: For theater buffs the most rewarding gift of the season may be “The Best American Short Plays:” 2012-2013 just released in August by applausebooks.com. For this most recent edition editor William W. Demastes has chosen the subject hot tempers and cold decrees. Each of the short plays is a gem — fascinating to read and reflect upon. At $19.99 a most bountiful gift to give — especially to yourself!