A Kid’s Theater Guide For Parents

A mother and her daughter enjoying bubbles and colors at Gazillion Bubble Show.
Photo Credit: Gazillion Bubble Show

It’s no secret that New York City is a theater lover’s dream, what with all the Broadway, Off-Broadway, dance, and musical performances we have at our fingertips on any given day of the week. However, you might not know all the amazing theater resources available for the very littlest New Yorkers: your kids! Whether they are aspiring Broadway stars who can belt out the lyrics to every Annie number, or you as parents just want to take advantage of exposing them to a bit of age appropriate culture (mommy-and-me date night, anyone?), there’ss plenty of theatrical options to fit every taste.

Below, we’ve rounded up the hit shows for Fall 2017 that are not to be missed. If you live in one of the luxury Glenwood buildings close to the theater district, such as Crystal Green, Emerald Green, or The Sage, you are only a hop, skip, and a jump away from these fabulous performances on the Great White Way!

 

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Fun For The Whole Family: Gazillion Bubble Show

Now in its 10th year in The Big Apple, the Gazillion Bubble Show is an unbubblievable (like what we did there?) performance that kids of all ages are guaranteed to love…even their adults! The smallest toddlers in your family will delight as bubbles literally surround them in the audience, while the tweens will be impressed by the bubble magic demonstrated on stage…especially if they’re lucky enough to end up literally INSIDE a bubble. Combined with music, laser lighting effects, and plenty of entertaining acting to go along with the bubble masterpieces, this theatrical masterpiece created by Fan Yang, 16-time Guinness-record holder for blowing the biggest soap bubble ever, is not one to be missed!

For children under the age of 2, stop by the box office on your way in and snag a reduced price lap ticket for them.

The Details: The show runs for 60 minutes with no intermission. Tickets range from $55 to $75 and may be purchased here.

Three actors playing The Very Hungry Caterpillar on stage.
Photo Credit: The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Perfect For The Smallest Kiddos: The Very Hungry Caterpillar

The famous children’s book by Eric Carle, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, has been made into a theatrical performance and is in NYC this fall! The smallest New Yorkers will be enchanted and delighted by the show’s 75 lovable puppets, showcased in the faithfully adapted books by Mr. Carle: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, 10 Little Rubber Ducks, The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse, Mister Seahorse, The Very Lonely Firefly, and of course, the star of the show: The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Besides the fact that the show covers many of your little one’s favorite childhood books, the other reason this show is ideal for tiny tots is because it is a “non-shushable” show, meaning they don’t expect kids to be quiet throughout the performance! Another plus: all performances are autism friendly–which is great for not just children with autism, but any child with even slight sensory issues.

While this show is a total go for all ages, it’s important to note that every person must hold a ticket. If you have a little one under the age of 1, you can stop by the box office on your way into the theater and purchase a $5 “lap ticket” for them to enjoy the show from the comfort of your lap.

The Details: The show runs for 55 minutes with no intermission. Tickets range from $25 to $90 and may be purchased here. There is no room for stroller parking at the venue, so plan accordingly!

A close up view of Anastasia on Broadway actors.
Photo Credit: Anastasia on Broadway

Broadway Shows Children Are Sure To Love

This Fall is a fantastic time to take your child to a show on Broadway, as there are many produced and performed specifically with children in mind. They include Disney favorites such as The Lion King, Anastasia, and Aladdin, and shows based off of famous children’s books such as Wicked and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Some theater’s give a specific age cut off on their website (for example, Anastasia will not admit children under the age of 4 into the theater, but they suggest the show for children aged 7 and up.) Even considering these guidelines, it’s hard to make a blanket statement of at exactly what age children are ready to sit through an entire Broadway show, so some important questions parents can consider to gauge readiness levels are:

  • Is my child able to comfortably and quietly sit through a 2 and a half hour performance (plus intermission) in an intimate theater? (i.e. take into consideration that Broadway theater seats are very small and very close together–much like airplane seats! If your child is still at an age where they are kicking the seat in front of them, they may not be ready.)
  • Considering most Broadway theaters do not have elevators, is my child able to climb what could be several levels of stairs to get to our seats, and sit safely on a mezzanine?
  • Is my child going to be able to enjoy discussing the show, both before and after, and appreciate the different aspects of theater, such as costumes, singing, dancing, and set design?

If you were able to answer yes to these questions, chances are your child is at an appropriate age to head to their first Broadway production!

Any tried and true tips you’ve used with your kiddos at the theater? Share with us on Facebook and Twitter!

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