39 Must-Watch Musicals the Whole Family Will Enjoy

Do you love musical theater? Are you hoping to raise theatrical kids? Do you long to expose your kids to the productions you have either seen or have always wanted to see?

Well, never fear. Here is a list of movie musicals you can watch and discuss with your kids at home as they grow. Of course, live musical theater comes with a steeper price tag than home-viewing options. So why not watch film versions at home first and then decide which shows to see on stage?

Once you’ve previewed and ranked your top musical selections as a family, you can decide which musical productions to attend. Then you can make the most budget-friendly decisions for your family.

Ready to burst into song? Here is a list of recommended films to check out, broken down by age:

Children

1. The Lion King


2. The Little Mermaid

3. Beauty and the Beast

4. Aladdin


5. Annie


6. You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Kids)

7. The Wizard of Oz


8. Mary Poppins


9. Singin’ in the Rain

10. The Music Man

11. Meet Me in St. Louis

12. The King and I


13. Peter Pan


14. Fiddler on the Roof

15. The Sound of Music

16. Pirates of Penzance

17. Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory

Tweens

18. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

19. High School Musical

20. Newsies


21. Oliver!


22. Guys & Dolls

23. Into the Woods

24. Hairspray


25. Bye Bye Birdie

26. White Christmas

27. Thoroughly Modern Millie

28. My Fair Lady

29. Mamma Mia!

30. Grease


31. West Side Story

32. The Phantom of the Opera

33. Oklahoma!

Teens

34. Funny Girl 


35. Little Shop of Horrors 


36. Dream Girls 


37. RENT 


38. Les Misérables 


39. Chicago 


Musical Theater Viewing Options

• DVD
• 
Streaming video
• 
High school productions
• College productions
• Community theater productions
• Children’s theater productions
• Outdoor summer productions
• Professional productions in your nearest city
• 
Shakespearean festivals
• Broadway tours

• Travel to New York City

Ways to Save Money on Theater Tickets

• Try out the local high school or college productions. They might be better than you expect and the ticket prices are usually inexpensive.
• See if you can usher shows at your city theater in exchange for a discount on tickets.
• Identify the best budget seats at your nearby theaters and then purchase your next set of tickets the first day tickets become available.
• Get on mailing lists and e-mail lists for your favorite theaters so you can always stay abreast of upcoming shows.
• Search the Internet for coupon codes for your favorite city theaters before you buy online.
• Like and follow your favorite theaters on social media and watch for any giveaways or discounts advertised there.
• Rally friends, club-mates, or community groups and ask for a group rate. H Check for off-peak tickets (weekday nights) at a lower rate.
• If you know you’ll want to see every show of the season, buy a subscription and save a bundle.

Author, journalist, and writing coach CHRISTINA KATZ is married to a high school theater director, which means her fam- ily has memorized the scores of more musicals than she can count. She hopes you will support local and regional theaters in your area.

The post 39 Must-Watch Musicals the Whole Family Will Enjoy appeared first on SWFL Family.

I began acting when I was five years old. I played the dragonfly in a production of Froggy Day in Lindentown with KidzAct. From there, I was hooked, and I did KidzAct every summer.

Eventually, I starred as Veruca Salt in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Jr. in fifth grade when my elementary school performed at the Naples Philharmonic (now Artis-Naples). I performed in the first Youth Outreach Summer Program with Opera Naples and have continued every summer since. I performed in Children for the Arts Foundation productions through middle school, eventually continuing my involvement by directing the shows in high school. I’ve been an audience member watching the amazing theater that is produced in Naples. I am now pursuing a degree in theater at Florida State University (go ‘Noles!). All of these experiences have led me to become a better version of myself. And I have seen these same transformations in the students I have directed. Becoming involved in theater and performing at a young age can help your children learn many important skills.

Confidence

Many kids struggle with self-confidence as they grow up. Theater is an excellent way to combat this tendency in your kids. As they work toward goals through rehearsals and performances, they are able to see that they can accomplish anything they put their mind toward, even if it’s out of their comfort zone. The standing ovation at the end of a show is a visual affirmation of the pride they feel.

Providing an outlet

On the other end of the spectrum, some young kids have so much personality that it can be hard for a parent to handle. Theater is a fantastic way to channel that energy into something productive and positive. Kids learn to focus their natural vivacity into the high-paced environment of a performance.

Self-expression

As students enter the tween years, they often begin to experience moodiness and are reluctant to share problems with parents. It is incredibly hard to get through to children once they have shut down, and it is difficult to try and introduce strategies of self-expression once they are already in this stage. Parental suggestions are scorned and the gap becomes increasingly difficult to bridge. If kids already have a safe space where they can vent these new emotions in a positive manner, it can help them deal with the mountains (or are they molehills?) that arise with growing up.

Teamwork

For kids who aren’t athletically inclined (like me), it can be difficult to learn teamwork as easily as those playing team sports. Theater allows children to be part of a group and work together to reach a common goal. Learning to be responsible for parts of a greater whole is integral to the art of theater.

Public speaking

In college, the one class all of my friends dreaded was public speaking. They had never learned how to speak clearly, to mitigate filler words such as “um” and “like,” or to project their voices. Because I started theater at a young age, all of this is second nature to me. I had the skills to be successful while my friends struggled. I have watched the kids I worked with learn to articulate their words and to clearly communicate their thoughts. Even though a lot of theater is memorizing someone else’s words, at its core, theater allows kids to learn how to tell a story so an audience understands it. This skill is integral to almost every job there is, from law to teaching to politics. Audiences come in sizes big and small, and with a background in acting, your child will be set up for success.

Why Theater?

“Theater gives children the opportunity to not only showcase their talent, but to be involved in the arts. It develops their creativity, imagination, expression, as well as promotes confidence, and self-esteem, along with lifelong skills of critical thinking, public speaking, and teamwork.”

– Tish Poorman, executive director, Children for the Arts Foundation (www.facebook.com/ChildrenForTheArts)

“Being involved in the arts has a lasting impact on your life, especially for those who start at an early age. I have seen major transformations occur in students through their involvement in the arts. I have watched many shy children blossom into confident performers, which then helps them become self-assured individuals in their every day life. Especially for teenagers, it is incredibly important to find a place of belonging – a place where they feel comfortable being themselves and a place where they have meaningful and positive friendships. Often, the stage or the rehearsal room becomes that place of joy and comfort. It provides them with a niche, which keeps them away from many alternative activities that can be negative and destructive. Instructors become positive role models who challenge and support them to be responsible young adults who express themselves in a healthy manner and respect others.”

– Robin Frank, director of educational outreach, Opera Naples (operanaples.org)

“Theater makes us world citizens. It allows us to connect and engage with each other, to more deeply understand relationships, and to develop the vocabulary to articulate our feelings. We become better problem solvers and more compassionate human beings, able to develop empathy, to see different points of view, and to speak in front of a group. Academically, we learn how to understand and analyze language, how to write in different voices, and how to identify motif, subtext, and poetic forms. We also learn about different historical periods, cultures, and regions. Finally, theater gives us a safe space to address complex emotions, explore social issues, and make positive life choices.”

– Hester Kamin, director of education, Gulfshore Playhouse (gulfshoreplayhouse.org)

“Our theater classes all focus on building confidence. The performing arts is an important way to work on team-building skills, Cooperation, working towards a goal and accomplishing that goal as a team. Our performing arts programs focus on building personal confidence. Plus, if you need help speaking in front of people and thinking on your feet improv classes are for you. KidzAct, it’s a great way to learn new skills and make new friends!”

– Craig Price, director of education, KidzAct (naplesplayers.org)

The post Theater is Helping Kids Become Better Versions of Themselves appeared first on SWFL Family.