When the weather gets cold, the lights go up! Whether you’ve got visitors in town or are looking to treat the family to a fun night out, now’s the perfect time to hit the pause button on your endless loop of Netflix repeats and experience live theater, from local beloved classics to the newest productions to hit Broadway. What are the must-see family-friendly shows this year and the best Broadway shows for kids? We’ve rounded up the best seats in the house!
Finding Neverland: Watch Matthew Morrison and soon Kelsey Grammar bring the story of playwright, J.M. Barrie, to life as he pulls from his personal experiences to create the Neverland world and the story of Peter Pan. Perfect for kids ages 7+, this performance is packed with amazing visuals, memorable songs, and a timeless story about the power of imagination. (Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, 205 West 46th Street, NYC; Ticket prices start at $72; Tickets available now - July 2016; Purchase tickets here.)
George Balanchines Nutcracker: The amazing production of this holiday classic will enthrall even the youngest theatergoers with awe-inspiring dance, costumes, sets, music and one-of-a-kind visual effects like the one-ton Christmas tree that grows to an astonishing 40 feet during the performance. (New York City Ballet at the Lincoln Center, 20 Lincoln Center, NYC; Ticket prices start at $65; Tickets available now - January 2016, Purchase tickets here.)
Hamilton: The story of Alexander Hamilton never seemed so cool. Set to hip hop, this show has been the hottest ticket on Broadway and has received rave reviews from everyone from Oprah to the President- even our skeptical 12 year old and 8 year old are begging to see it again. If you can snag tickets that don't bankrupt you- it's a must-see. (Richard Rodgers Theatre, 226 West 46th Street, NYC; Ticket prices start at $99; Tickets available now - October 2016, Purchase tickets here.)
School of Rock: Now in previews, we're already hearing this musical is as crowd-pleasing as the Jack Black movie which follows a failed, wannabe rock star who poses as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school and ends up turning his class into a rock band. (Winter Garden Theatre, 50th Street and Broadway, NYC; Ticket prices start at $59; Tickets available now - June 2016, Purchase tickets here.)
The Very Hungry Caterpillar: Everyone's favorite Eric Carle children's books emerges from the pages and comes to life on stage with 75 magical puppets in this enchanting and beautiful theatrical experience - perfect for the whole family to enjoy. (47th Street Theatre, 304 West 47th Street, NYC; Ticket prices start at $49.50; Tickets available now - March 2016, Purchase tickets here.)
Mad Libs Live!: Based on the most popular word game of all time, this truly interactive musical changes at every performance thanks to the audience! You'll be laughing along as the audience is asked to help four teenagers try to win a singing competition by filling in some of the words to their silly songs. (New World Stages, 340 West 50th Street, NYC; Ticket prices start at $49.50; Tickets available now - January 2016, Purchase tickets here.)
New Jersey Ballet Nutcracker: The wonderful production of this classic holiday story will enchant kids and adults with beautiful dancing, colorful costumes and scenery, and magical special effects. (Bergen PAC, 30 N Van Brunt St., Englewood; Performance on December 5 and 6, 2015, Ticket prices start at $25.75; Tickets available now - December 2015, Purchase tickets here.)
The Funny Monster Who Ate My Peas - An ArtsPower Production: This funny musical tells a story of a boy who doesn't want to eat his peas and tries to make a deal with some friendly monsters to eat them for him. Kids of all ages will enjoy watching this engaging tale to see how much the boy is willing to give away. (Kaplen JCC on the Palisades, 411 E. Clinton Ave., Tenafly; Ticket prices start at $12; Performance on February 28, 2016, Tickets available now - February 2016, Purchase tickets here.)
Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas - A Vital Theatre Company Production: If your kids love over-the-top outfits, colorful holiday decorations and expanding their vocabulary, they'll love this energetic and entertaining performance. Perfect for kids ages 2-7, they will laugh and sing along as they watch Fancy Nancy in all her glory get ready for the holidays. (WP Presents Shea Center for Performing Arts, 300 Pompton Rd., Wayne, NJ; Ticket prices start at $15; Performance on December 5, Tickets available now - December 2015, Purchase tickets here.)
Disney on Ice Treasure Trove: This skating spectacular is filled with all your favorite Disney characters and classic Disney stories that the whole family will enjoy. (Prudential Center, 25 Lafayette St., Newark, NJ; Ticket prices start at $15; Performances January 13 - 18, 2016, Tickets available now - January 2016, Purchase tickets here.)
The Laurie Berkner Band: Celebrate the holidays with the queen of children's music, Laurie Berkner! Kids will have a blast singing along to well-known holiday songs like "Jingle Bells" and "Frosty the Snowman" plus Laurie Berkner classic favorites such as "We Are The Dinosaurs" and "Pig On Her Head". (Tarrytown Music Hall, 13 Main St, Tarrytown, NY; Ticket prices start at $35; Performance on December 19, 2015, Tickets available now - December 2015, Purchase tickets here.)
Peppa Pig Live: Your kids' favorite TV pig is making a big splash on stage for the first time ever. Be entertained by Peppa Pig, her family, and all her lovable friends in the action-packed performance filled with singing, dancing, games, and muddy puddles, of course. (Beacon Theatre, 2124 Broadway, NYC; Ticket prices start at $40; Performances on April 9 and 10, 2016, Tickets available now - April 2016, Purchase tickets here.)
Fly Guy and Other Stories - A Theatreworks USA Production : This sensory-friendly, new musical is a compilation of popular children’s books and only open to classes and families with children with autism. Perfect for kids ages 4-9. (WP Presents Theater for Children with Autism, 300 Pompton Rd., Wayne, NJ; Ticket prices start at $8; Performance on December 7, Tickets available now - December 2015, Purchase tickets here.)
If you're looking for more information on the Broadway Shows be sure to check out the articles here for more details.
