The NYC thread had me thinking about kids and broadway shows

How old was your DC when you took them to their first show on Broadway? DS # 1 will be 3 in May. He LOVES The Lion King, do you think if I bought tickets to take him in August/September, he would be to young? I would probably take him to the movie theatre first to see if he could handle that before taking him to Broadway, just wondering what other parents did.

Re: The NYC thread had me thinking about kids and broadway shows

We took each of my girls to their first Broadway show for their 4th birthdays (kids these days...I was 21 the first time I went to Broadway!). In fact, my 2nd DD went to see Lion King. I'd say both girls were fidgety by the 2nd act when they were 4, but they kept it together.

My son is nearly 3.5 and there would be no way I'd spend over $100 at this point for a show--what if he lost control, disturbed others, and then I had to remove him and waste $$$? PS, he's great at movies.

I think it depends on the individual kid, but do check the show's website because it might specify age 4 and older only.

Re: The NYC thread had me thinking about kids and broadway shows

It really depends on the kid. My older DS just went to his first broadway show after he turned 7. But he has gone to "kid" shows like Elmo, Fresh Beat, Yo Gabba Gabba since he was a little over a year. My younger one is 4 and I don't see taking him for a while. I don't want to spend all that money and have it be torture for him or anyone else.

Re: The NYC thread had me thinking about kids and broadway shows

I would not take a child younger than 5 to a broadway show. Many including Disney Broadway shows ask that you don't take a child younger than 5 to their shows. My kids are 6 1/2 and 4 1/2. I plan on taking them to see a broad way show when they turn 7 and 5 later this year. I would not want to waste my $$$ on a show when they are too young. Go see a local theater and get them used to the theater. There are a lot of wonderful children's shows out there for kids to enjoy that are 2-5. edit - I asked this exact same question when my kids were the same age as your DC is now and I am very glad I waited.

Message edited 3/30/2014 4:43:25 PM.

Re: The NYC thread had me thinking about kids and broadway shows

We took my daughter just last month to see Cinderella on Broadway. My mil bought her tickets for her 4th birthday. She did great until the 2nd act. I think she would have been fine if it was either a matinee showing or if she napped a little before hand. The show started at 7pm and she was exhausted by the time the 2nd half started

The NYC thread had me thinking about kids and broadway shows

DD will be 4.5 when we see Aladdin in May. We're going to a matinee so I think she will be fine.

Re: The NYC thread had me thinking about kids and broadway shows

I'm a broadway fan... But no shows til much older!
I'm sure some kid, somewhere did well...
But I personally wouldn't bet on it!

The NYC thread had me thinking about kids and broadway shows

Thanks ladies! DH & I are such huge lovers of Broadway, we try to go to 2-3 shows a year, and we really want to instill that love in our boys. But I think you are all right, I will see how he is a year from now and MAYBE take him at age 4, but if not I will wait until he is 5 or 6. I will look into children's productions for now.

Re: The NYC thread had me thinking about kids and broadway shows

We started with the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, which I believe is only an hour, maybe 90 minutes.

I would love to take DC to a Broadway show and am kicking myself for missing Annie However, it's $$$ and I'm reluctant to spend that on a Disney show that is just like the animated movie. This is totally IMO, I know people rave about them, it's just not what I want to see at this point.

For what it's worth, there are so many good local, even high school and college productions around that are inexpensive and a nice way to introduce kids to live theatre.

Re: The NYC thread had me thinking about kids and broadway shows

DD went to Cinderella at 4 yrs old and the 8 pm show with my inlaws. She hung in there until the car ride home.

She was more restless with radio city christmas show and that was morning and shorter! Go figure!

Re: The NYC thread had me thinking about kids and broadway shows

I took my DD to Mary Poppins when she turned 5. I don't think I would do any younger. The shows are LONG. We ended up leaving at intermission because the seats were horribly cramped in that particular theater, and she was getting antsy (as was I). We saw Matilda last Summer at 6, and she LOVED that, and we had no issues making it through the entire show.

Re: The NYC thread had me thinking about kids and broadway shows

I took DD to see Annie and she was just over 2.5 at the time. BUT she had sat through 2 middle school theatre productions and 2 sesame street live shows. Most shows though have a no one under the age of 4 admitted. I do want to take her to see other shows but not for another year or so until she is 4.

The NYC thread had me thinking about kids and broadway shows

took m y son to see radio city at 3 and the girnch that stole Christmas at 3 -but both were 90 minutes and no intermission - he was great for 90% of it

we took him at 4 to see spiderman on broadway - he was great for 90% and then got fidgety toward the end - that is when a special snack comes in handy - but he loved the play and I will never forget when the green goblin talked to him in the middle of the play - but we go to a few shows a year at northport - and he sits great through the children's shows

my dh and I both love broadway - my son saw plays before going to a movie -

it matters a lot on the kid - we saw older kids at spiderman not wanting to go back to seats after the intermission. The intermission actially can screw them up a little - my son does not really like the break

The NYC thread had me thinking about kids and broadway shows

My DD saw the lion king in January! she'll be 4 at the end of May. She really liked it.

The NYC thread had me thinking about kids and broadway shows

We took my DD to see Cinderella at 3 1/2. She was transfixed the entire show. We bring her to a lot of local theater and ballets though so I knew that she'd do great. It really does depend on the individual kid.

Re: The NYC thread had me thinking about kids and broadway shows

It really depends on the kid. My parents started bringing me to Broadway shows when I was 5, but I was a really well-behaved, quiet kid. Right now, with my daughter's very loud voice and high activity level, I can't think of anything beyond local kids' shows.