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Family-friendly shows and performances in NYC – updated!

Book some tickets and take the kids to a performance the whole family will love!

By Meredith Kurnov, Editor & Publisher of Macaroni Kid Brooklyn NW July 25, 2024
Blue Man Group drumming splashes of colorful paint
Image Credit: Blue Man Group

Living in a city bursting with the best talent, entertainment, and venues the world has to offer, we are so fortunate to have such convenient access to quality family performances! Here's a comprehensive round up of upcoming and ongoing family-friendly entertainment in and around BK and NYC over the next few months. We update the list regularly. Feel free to bookmark and circle back to this list for birthdays and special occasions! Missing a family-friendly show? Email us!

Subscribe to our weekly email for upcoming events and more more local fun! 

BROOKLYN SHOWS

Barclays Center in Downtown Brooklyn
In the heart of Brooklyn since 2012, at the crossroads of Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues, Barclays Center is setting a new standard as the showcase venue for the world's most thrilling entertainment and sports events. Upcoming family-friendly highlights:





The Jalopy Theatre in Red Hook
The Jalopy Theatre and School of Music is a multi-faceted arts space showcasing evolving folk and traditional music and art from NYC, the Americas, and the world. Programming supports artists, fosters multi-generational community, and provides enrichment and education about our shared musical heritage. Upcoming family-friendly highlights:





Kings Theatre in Flatbush
Discover the beauty of Kings Theatre, a historic venue in the heart of Brooklyn. Originally opened in 1929 and reopened after meticulous restoration in 2015, Kings boasts a rich history and stunning architecture that has made it a beloved cultural landmark for generations. Upcoming family-friendly highlights:




Brooklyn Bridge Park
Annual programming includes many performances! Check the schedule for upcoming events.




BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn
New York City’s longest-running, free, outdoor performing arts festival, every summer at the Lena Horne Bandshell in Prospect Park.





The Old Stone House & Washington Park in Park Slope
The Old Stone House and Washington Park is a historic house museum, a Revolutionary War battle site, and the original home of the Brooklyn Dodgers. We are also a neighborhood cultural institution focused on connecting the past to the present through educational, environmental, and arts programming all year round.




Brooklyn Public Library
The Brooklyn Public Library maintains an impressively diverse mix of programming and performances for all ages. Click link above to check out their calendar! Pictured: Dweck Center at Central Library in Grand Army Plaza.




Family Magic Shows at Brooklyn Magic Shop in Carroll Gardens
Ongoing: Select Saturday or Sundays | $25/ticket | For ages 5+

A 60-minute fun and engaging Family Magic Show. Through storytelling, lots of audience participation, and fun magical illusions; the entire family will leave feeling completely enchanted. Perfect for a fun-filled magical family day, right in the heart of Carroll Gardens!




Rock and Roll Playhouse at Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg
Ongoing: Sundays at 12pm, 11am doors | Tickets are $16, Kids under 1 are free

Performing songs created by the most iconic musicians in rock history, The Rock and Roll Playhouse band offers its core audience of families with children age ten and under games, movement, stories and an opportunity to rock out in an effort to educate children and explore their creativity. Brooklyn Bowl has a full kid-friendly menu, adult-friendly bar, and bowling! 




Marionette Puppet Shows at Puppetworks in Park Slope
Ongoing: Saturdays, Sundays, & holidays at 12:30pm & 2:30pm | Tickets are $10 for kids, $11 for adults

Puppetworks is an intimate, nonprofit theater founded in 1980 presenting marionette puppet-show versions of classic tales.




Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Flatbed Follies
Select summer dates across NYC | FREE

Bindlestiff Family Cirkus’ Flatbed Follies is an outdoor mobile venue that brings the performing arts into the streets. Developed in response to COVID, Flatbed Follies instantly became a vehicle offering joy and wonder to a recovering world. Performances take place upon innovative parade float stages modified to present circus acts. There is even a calliope wagon providing authentic circus music.





Puppetsburg shows at locations around Brooklyn
Showtimes and pricing varies | For ages 0-4

Puppetsburg does interactive, culturally relevant puppet shows for 4mos-4yrs. Our shows are 45 minutes long and involve dancing, instruments, dress-up "photo-ops," and bubble time (!) followed by a different puppet story each week.





Hopalong Andrew kids concert at locations around Brooklyn
See locations below | $20 per family (cash or venmo)

Hopalong Andrew sings cowboy songs about city life, for young cowpokes performed in the great tradition of the American West. Locations include Dekalb Market Hall/CityPoint, Underwood Park, CityPoint BKLYN, Cadman Park, Fort Greene Park, and Carroll Park. Check Instagram for the latest schedule.




MANHATTAN SHOWS
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts Kids, Teens, and Family Programs at in Upper West Side
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (LCPA) is a cultural and civic cornerstone of New York City. The primary advocate for the entire Lincoln Center campus, our strategic priorities include: fostering collaboration and deepening impact across the Lincoln Center resident organizations; championing inclusion and increasing the accessibility and reach of Lincoln Center’s work; and nurturing innovation on stage and off to help ensure the arts are at the center of civic life for all. LCPA presents hundreds of programs each year, offered primarily for free and choose-what-you-pay, including many specially designed for young audiences, families, and those with disabilities.


Bessie's Big Shot at Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre in Central Park 
Ongoing: Thurs-Sundays through August 31 at 11am & 1pm | $10-15 Tickets | For ages 3-8

In this fun and high-flying, family-friendly adventure, Bessie the cow dreams of joining the circus. But can she lift more than Ziegfried, the strongest man in the world? Fly on the trapeze high above the crowd? Come root Bessie on in this variety show as she attempts the impossible and searches for her special talents. 


Fairytale Shows at the Galli Theater in FiDi 
Ongoing, Select weekend dates | Adults $25/Kids $20 | For kids 3+ 

The Galli Theater produces per year 10—14 modern and innovative adaptations of fairy tales from around the world that entertain and teach valuable life lessons. Galli’s unique style is that all shows are very interactive and with lots of improv elements. Past Fairytales performances include: The 3 Little Pigs, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, The Princess and the Pea, Rapunzel, Cinderella.


Vital Theatre Company at Actors Temple Theatre in Midtown
VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is a community of artists who believe that a shared theatrical experience profoundly affects people’s lives. We create stories that challenge our audience to ask questions, make discoveries and engage in dialogue.


92nd Street Y in Upper West Side
The 92nd Street Y, New York is a world-class cultural and community center where people all over the world connect through culture, arts, entertainment and conversation. For over 150 years, we have harnessed the power of arts and ideas to enrich, enlighten and change lives, and the power of community to repair the world.


Family Performances at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall's mission is to present extraordinary music and musicians on the three stages of this legendary hall, to bring the transformative power of music to the widest possible audience, to provide visionary education programs, and to foster the future of music through the cultivation of new works, artists, and audiences


BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center
BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center, the longest operating performance venue in lower Manhattan, is dedicated to identifying, supporting and presenting established and emerging artists in a variety of disciplines, including music, dance and children’s theatre to the diverse Metropolitan audience.


Family Saturdays with NYC Ballet at Lincoln Center in Upper West Side
October 5, March 1, May 31 | Tickets start at $22 | For ages 5+

Join us as we make our way through the Company ranks, showing you the path from young student to professional dancer. Find out about dancers’ training, daily preparation, and what it is like to perform onstage at Lincoln Center in this interactive presentation designed especially for family audiences. This program will give you an exclusive sneak peek behind the curtain at the look of a dancer’s life.


Kids Theater Shows at The New Victory Theater in Midtown
New Victory brings kids to the arts and the arts to kids in and beyond New York City. Powered by New 42, whose mission is to make extraordinary performing arts a vital part of everyone’s life from the earliest years onwards, New Victory connects its audiences to new cultures, artists and stories through its international programming online and in its historic Times Square theater.


The Little Orchestra Society 92nd Street Y
October 26-27, December 7-8 | For ages 3-10

L.O.S. KIDS is an experiential presentation of orchestra music for children and families. What is better than one amazing composer? TWO of them, of course! Gershwin and Copland visit 92NY to share their love of NYC, and to fill our hearts with their iconic music! Young composers join to have their pieces premiered, alongside soloists and dancers from the New York Theatre Ballet School. Let’s celebrate the City in style!


Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center in UWS
Merkin Hall’s innovative programming, intimate scale and near perfect acoustics have earned it a reputation as one of New York City’s finest concert venues. Noted in the New York Times for its “reputation for avant-gardism of a cool and cerebral nature,” Merkin presents adventurous work—including many world premieres—by contemporary composers and some of today’s most acclaimed and inspiring performers.


NYC Children's Theatre at Theatre Row in Midtown 
The mission of New York City Children’s Theater is to promote children’s literacy and social development through sustainable, accessible professional theater productions and arts-in-education programs.


Teatro SEA in the Lower East Side 
Established in 1985, SEA (Society of the Educational Arts, Inc.), is the premiere Bilingual Arts-in-Education Organization and Latino Children’s Theatre in the United States. SEA has created and produced a combination of educational theatre productions and art workshops/programs specifically designed to examine, challenge and create possible solutions for current educational, social and community issues.



 

Ongoing Broadway and Off-Broadway shows:

Recommended for all ages:

  • The Gazillion Bubble Show Step into an interactive bubble world and be dazzled by spellbinding lasers, spectacular lighting effects, and jaw-dropping masterpieces of bubble artistry. Discounted tix 
  • The Very Hungry Caterpiller Show (September 7-October 27) Dive into Eric Carle’s vibrant world in a critically acclaimed 4-part show, 75 magical puppets bring 4 beloved children’s classics to life for audiences young and old.

Recommended for ages 3+:

  • Blue Man Group (Children under 3 are not permitted.) Join three enigmatic bald and blue men for a multi-sensory experience. Discounted tix

Recommended for ages 5+:

  • Little Shop of Horrors (Children under the age of 4 are not permitted.) Experience this cult favorite musical as it was meant to be seen. 

Recommended for ages 6+:

  • Aladdin (Children under the age of 5 will not be admitted.) The beloved Disney story is brought to thrilling theatrical life. Discounted tix
  • Back to the Future (Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theatre.) The award-winning new musical based on Robert Zemeckis' hit 1985 movie arrives on Broadway. Discounted tix
  • The Lion King (Children under the age of 5 will not be admitted.) Pride Rock comes to life in Disney’s long-running hit. Discounted tix

Recommended for ages 8+:

  • & Juliet The Olivier Award-winning West End hit featuring the songs of Max Martin arrives on Broadway. Discounted tix
  • Hadestown (Children under the age of 4 are not permitted.) The Tony-winning musical that follows the mythical quest of Orpheus. 
  • Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Children under the age of 4 are not permitted.) Experience J.K. Rowling’s magical universe like never before. 
  • MJ the Musical (No one under the age of 5 will be permitted into the theatre.) The life story of Michael Jackson arrives on Broadway.
  • The Play That Goes Wrong A celebration of the best of live theater… and the worst.
  • The Wiz The Tony Award-winning musical eases on down the road to Broadway! Discounted tix *Closes August 18*
  • Water for Elephants The new musical based on Sara Gruen's best-selling novel of the same name arrives on Broadway. Discounted tix
  • Wicked (Children under the age of 5 are not permitted.) Meet the witches of Oz before Dorothy dropped in.

Recommended for ages 9+:

  • Spamalot (Children under 4 will not be admitted.) The show that set Broadway back 1,000 years returns!

Recommended for ages 10+:

  • Bad Cinderella Andrew Lloyd Webber's new musical arrives on Broadway! 
  • Hamilton (Children under the age of 4 are not permitted.) A fresh look at the era of the Founding Fathers.
  • Merrily We Roll Along Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff and Lindsay Mendez star in the Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's musical.
  • SIX: The Musical (Children under the age of 4 are not permitted.) A pop concert spectacle featuring the six ex-wives of Henry VIII. Discounted tix
  • Suffs Shaina Taub's epic new musical telling the story of the suffragists as they fight for the women's right to vote. Discounted tix
  • The Life and Slimes of Marc Summers (Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theatre.) Icon of a generation Marc Summers tells his story in a new play written by Alex Brightman.
  • The Notebook (Children under the age of 4 are not permitted.) The musical adaptation of Nicholas Sparks' novel comes to Broadway, featuring music by Ingrid Michaelson. Discounted tix

Recommended for ages 12+:

  • Moulin Rouge The Musical (Children under the age of 4 are not permitted.) A theatrical celebration of truth, beauty, freedom and love.
  • Sweeney Todd Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford star in Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's classic musical. 
  • Some Like it Hot (Children under the age of 4 are not permitted.) A new musical comedy based on the 1959 film of the same name. 
  • Titanique The music of Céline Dion combines with the Oscar-winning Titanic for a hysterical and joyful slay-fest.

Recommended for ages 13+:

  • Chicago (Children under 4 will not be permitted.) The Tony-winning revival of Kander and Ebb’s musical will razzle dazzle you.
  • Here Lies Love (Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theatre.) The immersive disco pop musical based on the rise and fall of Imelda Marcos, featuring a score by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim.
  • Kimberly Akimbo (Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theater.) David Lindsay-Abaire and Jeanine Tesori's musical adaptation of the acclaimed play of the same name arrives on Broadway. Discounted tix 
  • Stereophonic A new play about a band on the brink of blowing up, featuring music by Arcade Fire's Will Butler. Discounted tix
  • The Book of Mormon (Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theater.) The nine-time Tony Award-winning Best Musical. 
  • The Cottage (Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theatre.) Eric McCormack, Laura Bell Bundy, Lilli Cooper, Nehal Joshi, Alex Moffat, and Dana Steingold make up an amorous, glamorous cast in the new comedy written by Sandy Rustin and directed by Jason Alexander.

Visit CertifiKID for more deals. Please note: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase through these links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.Thank you for your support!

NYC BOROUGHS & BEYOND

Nearby Circuses with discount offers from CertifiKid

Queens Theatres

  • Queens Theatre (Flushing Meadows Corona Park)
    Pair the trip with a visit to the Unisphere, New York Hall of Science, Queens Zoo, or Queens Museum.
  • Flushing Town Hall (Flushing)
    Pair the trip with a visit to a delicious local restaurant (hello dim sum or barbecue!)

Bronx Theatres

Staten Island Theatres

New Jersey Theatres

Have a performance to add to the list? Email us at MacKidBrooklynNW@MacaroniKid.com.







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    Meet Your Publisher

    Meredith Kurnov

    Meredith

    I am a local mom with two busy and active kids. I have loved and lived in Brooklyn for 17 years; from riverfront parks to crave-worthy restaurants, fun events, and our amazing "village" – who’s got it better than us?! I am thrilled to share a roundup of the best local events, activities, & businesses with you in one easy-to-use website and weekly email.

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