On a family trip to New York City, one of the attractions you can’t miss is the Theater District. Broadway caters to kids, with many kid-friendly shows currently running.

Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast opened in 1994 on Broadway and has been pleasing crowds of all ages for 15 years now. This is a great one to go see after you’ve already rented the movie and gotten the whole family familiar with the songs.

Blue Man Group: Tubes

Very bald and very blue, Blue Man Group is a growing theater company that uses music, comedy and multimedia theatrics to create amazing live entertainment. The fun and celebratory atmosphere at their shows invites old and young alike to an unforgettable theatre experience.

Hairspray

Tween and teen girls flock to this classic on Broadway, probably thanks to the recent film version starring big names like Zac Efron, James Marsden, John Travolta, and Amanda Bynes. You can’t beat the costumes and the music

Little Mermaid

A Disney classic, this relatively new show comes to Broadway, offering Ariel’s story of a mermaid who seeks out love on land, as well as the extraordinary music that goes along with it. Another show that will entertain audiences of all ages, but of course is a favorite of young girls.

Lion King

Debuting in 1999, The Lion King Musical is Broadway’s ninth longest-running show. A Tony- and Oliver award winning production, the show featuring the music of Elton John and lyrics of Tim Rice has been performed worldwide. Don’t miss the opening.

Mary Poppins

Based on the 1964 London Musical, Mary Poppins first came to Broadway in 2005 and is one of the most popular Disney family shows on Broadway, having recently celebrated its 1000^th performance.

Shrek the Musical

Since its opening night in December of 2008, this show based on the Dreamworks movie has been nominated for eight Tony awards! For younger kids, this may be the most familiar show on Broadway.

Wicked

The untold story of the witches from the Wizard of Oz, Wicked is one of the newest, and highest-grossing productions on Broadway. Producers say they don’t specifically target the predominant fan base of teenage girls, and that the story is sure to entertain all ages.

Off Broadway

There aren’t many stated “family” shows on off-Broadway, but one has become popular with families. Children’s letters to God: New York City off-Broadway Theater Review at the Lamb Theatre features five kids aged 10 to 15 reciting letters children have written to God.

Whatever show you choose, it’s asked that you only bring children age 6 and up to Broadway shows. Theater crowds paid good money for their tickets and would prefer not to be disturbed! For the more popular shows, book your tickets in advance if possible. Some shows offer matinees, but if you catch an early dinner in the Theater District before the show, most shows won’t keep older kids up past their bedtime. And don’t worry about dressing up. Let kids wear what they want and they’ll have a better time.

Image Credit: jdnx, Flickr