Children's Theater & Live Shows for Kids in NYC
Find the best children's theater near you on our interactive map & calendar, where we're listing family friendly shows on broadway, plus more upcoming plays, musicals, concerts & kids shows in NYC!
Many of these are live shows for kids that offer shorter lengths or interactive performances meant to engage younger audiences.
Help other parents discover a new show to watch with their family by liking & commenting on any you've seen. And if we've missed any great NYC kids theater shows near you, please recommend them below so we can add to the list!
Disney Aladdin (New Amsterdam Theatre)
Alexandra F.: This is one of the few stage adaptations of Disney movies that I have really enjoyed, as the live performance really adds a sense of magic to the story. It helps that Alan Menken wrote the music for the show, too!
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Lyric Theatre)
One of the greatest fantasy book series for kids continues its story onstage, where the children of Harry Potter, Ron & Hermione, and even Draco Malfoy have their own magical adventures at Hogwarts and beyond.
Gazillion Bubble Show
Bubble artist Fan Yang has been wowing audiences with this unique stage show. Now, his wife, children, and brother are also part of this New York City performance. This show features bubbles, laser effects, and soapy masterpieces. Theatergoers may even find themselves inside of a bubble. It's an unbubblievable experience that will make kids of all ages laugh and smile. This is a 60-minute performance with no intermission.
The Play That Goes Wrong (New World Stages)
Monty Python meets Sherlock Holmes in this hilarious kid-friendly show about opening night of a murder mystery production where everything goes wrong.
Disney The Lion King (Minskoff Theatre)
Kelly R: The familiar story and dazzling puppetry in The Lion King make it a great choice for a first Broadway musical for young kids, but my tweens loved it, too! If you can, it's fun to get an aisle seat so you have a great view when the actors parade through the audience.
& Juliet (Stephen Sondheim Theatre)
Alexandra F.: This musical is SO. MUCH. FUN! It tells a "what if" story, imagining a new ending to the Romeo & Juliet tragedy if Juliet had decided to go on living rather than killing herself upon discovering Romeo's death. With the help of her friends, her nursemaid, and some of the most popular pop songs of the last couple decades, Juliet goes through a journey of self-discovery that will have you dancing in your seat, and leave you with a gigantic smile on your face. Though I saw plenty of younger kids in the audience, I think the focus on relationships and identity probably makes it most appropriate for mature tweens and up.
Wicked (Gershwin Theatre)
Alexandra F.: Catching a Broadway show is a must when you're in NYC, and I think Wicked is one of the best musicals ever made, period. It also happens to be one of the most kid-friendly! It tells the untold story of the Wizard of Oz, giving us a behind-the-scenes look into the unlikely friendship between the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. Incredible music, a fabulous and original (but also familiar!) story, and an absolutely dazzling stage presentation makes this a must-watch broadway show. In our family, both the adults and kids loved it!
Primary photo: Courtesy of Carnegie Hall © Jennifer Taylor
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