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Once upon a time I did musical theater! I actually majored in musical theater in college. For me, one of the best things about living so close to New York City is being able to go in to see musicals so often. Over the years I have taken my kids to a fair number of musicals as well. They have loved them almost as much as I do.

When most people come to NYC they come and want to see Wicked, The Lion King, and Phantom of the Opera. These are all great shows, and we have enjoyed them as a family. However, those are always playing, and you might want to see a show that is less likely to be there the next time you visit.

Why Should I Take My Kids To See A Broadway show?

• It is part of a quintessential New York visit!
• A Broadway show is the very highest caliber musical in the world. Nothing you see elsewhere will have the budget, the talent, or the overall production value.
• Musical Theater can be entertaining, exciting or sad. You can feel exhilerated, angry, hopeful and joyous all within the same show. In short, it offers you an opportunity to become part of a show instead of just watch one. Live theater is as dependent on the reaction and feeling from the audience as it is on the script. You can’t have one without the other.
• They will have a frame of reference for other musicals as they grow.

How To Get Tickets

Playbill.com

Every single show on Broadway is on Playbill.com and you can buy tickets through them (sometimes through Ticketmaster or another 3rd party) but it’s a great place to find tickets and discounts. Most of the hot shows or popular shows won’t have discounts, but some of the shows that have been around for a while will.

Why use Playbill? I generally use Playbill.com when I want to see a show that I can find through other means or for tickets I will need to get months in advance. For example, if I want to buy Hamilton tickets (and who doesn’t) I know I will have to buy tickets months ahead of time, so it would be a perfect time to check Playbill.

Pros: Get tickets to the shows you want to see and leave nothing to chance.

Cons: You will pay full price which is generally over $100 per ticket and often more.

TKTS

This is an organization in NYC that offers the public an opportunity to buy discount tickets to broadway performance on the day of. There is a ticket booth at between Broadway and 7th Avenue at 47th street, right behind the big red stairs. You check out their listings and prices and you can see a Broadway musical or play that very day paying less than face value of a ticket. It is a way to keep theater houses full and it keeps tourists who haven’t planned ahead very happy.

Pros:

• Generally great seats. Most tickets I have gotten through TKTS have been toward the front of the house.

Cons:

• You have to wait in an enormous line with hundreds of other theater goers to get to the ticket booth. (I have personally waited for more than an hour and a half on a weekend.)
• You only get the selection of shows that happen to have last minute that day.

TodayTix

TodayTix is a newer addition to the Broadway show ticket world. It is a concierge service that works with theaters to offer discount tickets to shows in a similar way to TKTS. However you can buy tickets a month in advance on their app. It is an easy to use app that allows you to search with filters to find the show you want to see.

This is my personal favorite! We use TodayTix for almost every show we see because we can plan ahead.

Pros:

• Broadway show tickets are priced from $40-$70 versus $100 and up.
• You can plan a month in advance for the shows you want to see.
• Easy to use app that can search in New York and other major cities around the world.

Cons:

• Not every show is available although most are!
• Seats aren’t generally as good as TKTS.

To use TKTS check out the app here.

Which Musicals You Should See With Your Family

Frozen

This Disney movie was made into a musical and has all the charm and wonder of the cartoon but in real life! If you have kids who loved Frozen the movie, they will love Frozen the musical. The musical follows the same story line as the movie, but it does have a few new songs.

Recommended for: People who like to know the music going into a musical, families who loved the movie

Wicked

Ok, I know I said most people want to see Wicked in my intro, but there is a reason for it! It’s fabulous. It is a real Broadway experience. The lobbies are decorated to give you a taste of the musical you are about to see; the curtain is a treasure trove of fun things for the kid to look at; and it is a spectacular and over the top production.

Wicked is the prequel to the Wizard of Oz and is the story of Glinda, the good witch, and Elphaba, the Wicked Witch. They meet at school and, after a rocky start, become good friends until Elphaba makes a drastic decision. You will love the music, the dancing, the costumes, you name it!

Recommended for: People who only have time to see one Broadway show ever!

King Kong

The critics panned this show but our family found it to be fabulous! The story may not be the most original, but the dancing was first rate, and the Giant Ape, which is half animatronic and half puppet, is one of the most incredible things I have ever seen on the stage!

King Kong tells the story of a young actress who finds it difficult to make ends meet during the depression. She is hired to make a movie on Skull Island by a director and that puts her in contact with the Giant Ape who lives on Skull Island.

Recommended for: boys who have trouble sitting still in a typical musical.

Aladdin

If you have seen the new live action movie, you are probably already singing the songs! Aladdin the musical has been running for 3 years and shows no sign of slowing down. The story of Aladdin and the genie who can grant three wishes comes to life with a “real” flying carpet along with all kinds of other magical effects.

Recommended for: anyone who wants to see if Broadway does it better than Holywood!

Beetlejuice the musical

The most family-friendly of the 2019 Tony nominees. Beetlejuice is so much better than the movie you saw when you were young. Somehow putting it on stage with the suspension of belief that is inherent in live musicals, the story shines.  A couple who happens to find themselves dead, decide to haunt the new owners of their house. The result is a funny, sometimes naughty, adventure. The set is a riot of color and texture, and you will love all the fun little touches.

Recommended for: Someone who wants to see a Tony nominee or someone who really likes jokes about death.

Dear Evan Hansen

The 2017  Tony Award winner is still packing the house. Dear Evan Hansen tells the story of a boy who struggle with the social world of high school. An encounter with the school bully leads Evan to tell a small lie that has enormous consequences. This is a poignant and moving musical with music you will be singing for years to come. Plus, you can actually afford to get tickets now without selling your unborn children.

This musical deals with some pretty heavy topics like suicide and drug abuse, so I wouldn’t recommend it for young kids. I would say kids 12 and up would do just fine. Don’t let the topics scare you away! This is one of the top 10 most moving musicals I have ever seen, and it is a great one to share with your kids.

Recommended for: Someone who wants to be moved by a musical and not just entertained.

Tips For Taking Your Kids To A Broadway Show

• Check the age requirements for kids before booking a show. Most Disney musicals state that your child must be 4 or over. But it varies from show to show.
• Dress up as nicely as you can (I know it is hard when you are sightseeing all day) it helps your kids value the experience and sometimes being dressed nicely helps your kids behave nicely!
• Go to the bathroom before you find your seats. The bathrooms are crazy at intermission at every theater I have ever seen.
• Get there at least 15 minutes early. It is much easier to get your kids settled if you aren’t climbing over people and running to the bathroom.

I hope this inspires you to enjoy musical theater with your kids! Let me know what shows you go to and how much you love them.