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Musical lists

Family-friendly musicals

These are the Broadway musicals that work best for a mixed-age audience: clear stories, memorable songs, and little or no mature content. Annie and Matilda center on resourceful young heroines, the Disney shows (The Lion King, Aladdin, Frozen) bring familiar films to the stage, and classics like Peter Pan and The Sound of Music have been family favorites for generations.

This list is written for parents planning a theatre trip and for teachers and directors choosing a school or community production. Each show links to a full guide with the plot, songs, and characters, and the notes flag scary villains or sad moments so you can judge what suits your audience.

18 musicals on this list.

  • Peter Pan1954 · Charlap & Styne · Golden AgeFlying children, pirates, and a boy who never grows up make this a natural first musical for young kids.
  • The Sound of Music1959 · Richard Rodgers · Golden AgeSeven von Trapp children and songs like Do-Re-Mi delight kids; the threat of the Nazi takeover adds tension in the second half.
  • Annie1977 · Charles Strouse · ComedyA plucky orphan, her dog Sandy, and the anthem Tomorrow make this a favorite, as kids love seeing a child outsmart the grown-ups.
  • Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat1982 · Andrew Lloyd Webber · Sung-throughShort, colorful, and full of catchy songs in many styles, including an Elvis-style Pharaoh, it is a favorite for school productions.
  • The Wizard of Oz1987 · Harold Arlen · JukeboxDorothy and her three friends follow the yellow brick road; the Wicked Witch of the West may frighten the youngest viewers.
  • Beauty and the Beast1994 · Alan Menken · ComedyDancing dishes, a talking candelabra, and Be Our Guest charm kids, though the Beast's temper and the angry mob can be intense for little ones.
  • The Lion King1997 · Elton John · Rock/PopGiant animal puppets and Circle of Life amaze all ages, though a sad loss early in the story may upset younger children.
  • Seussical2000 · Stephen Flaherty · ComedyHorton, the Cat in the Hat, and the Whos bring Dr. Seuss books to life in bright, silly songs that suit young audiences.
  • Mary Poppins2006 · Sherman Brothers · ComedyA magical nanny, chimney sweeps dancing across the rooftops, and Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious make this a reliable family outing.
  • Shrek The Musical2008 · Jeanine Tesori · ComedyFairy tale misfits, a talking Donkey, and plenty of gross-out humor keep kids laughing while the story celebrates being different.
  • The Little Mermaid2008 · Alan Menken · ComedyUnder the Sea, a scene-stealing crab named Sebastian, and a showy sea witch make it a hit with young Disney fans; Ursula can be scary.
  • Newsies2012 · Alan Menken · Rock/PopAthletic dancing and a story of working kids standing up to powerful adults inspire older children and teens; it includes some fighting.
  • Cinderella2013 · Richard Rodgers · Golden AgeA gentle fairy tale with magical on-stage costume changes and Rodgers and Hammerstein songs, ideal for a child's first musical.
  • Matilda the Musical2013 · Tim Minchin · ComedyA bookish girl with special powers takes on a horrible headmistress; kids cheer the revolt, though Miss Trunchbull may scare little ones.
  • Aladdin2014 · Alan Menken · ComedyA larger-than-life Genie, a magic carpet ride, and quick jokes make this a crowd pleaser for kids who know the movie.
  • School of Rock: The Musical2015 · Andrew Lloyd Webber · Rock/PopKids in the cast play their own instruments live, which thrills young musicians and shows children taking the spotlight.
  • Charlie and the Chocolate Factory2017 · Marc Shaiman · ComedyGolden Tickets, Oompa-Loompas, and a candy-filled factory delight kids, as the spoiled children's fates are played for dark laughs.
  • Frozen2018 · Anderson-Lopez & Lopez · ComedyElsa, Anna, Olaf, and Let It Go performed live make this a must for young Frozen fans, with the bond between two sisters at its heart.

More lists of musicals

All Broadway musicals A to ZMusicals by composer