39 Must-Watch Musicals the Whole Family Will Enjoy

Burst Into Song?


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.