SHOWS
While we very much miss live performances, we are loving high quality broadcasts of family-friendly productions at home. All are free or low-cost, and your kid can freely talk/question/dance along.
See our list of holiday shows and online music for more virtual performing arts.
Kris Kringle The Musical
In this new online musical, an evil toy company CEO crosses paths with a starry-eyed, jobless toymaker whose family name carries a curse with the power to destroy Christmas. Kris Kringle teams up with Santa and Mrs. Claus, the beautiful Evelyn Noel, a band of hilarious Apprentices and Elves, and magical Toys to remind…
We The People
Rock out with the America’s original “Boy Band” — the Founding Fathers. Join George Washington, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson as they trade their powdered wigs for power chords to help an ambitious teen.
This beautifully filmed production of a musical revue makes social studies exciting and accessible. Learn about the three…
42nd Street
The recent West End revival of tapping-extravaganza 42nd Street streams for free (through 2 pm Sunday) on YouTube this weekend as part of the Shows Must Go On! series.
Based on the 1933 Busby Berkeley movie musical, this cheery show tells the story of a starry-eyed young actress who comes to New York to audition…
Estella Scrooge
See a musical modern retelling of A Christmas Carol with additional characters and plot lines from Great Expectations, Little Dorrit, Bleak House and other great Dickens’ novels. Featuring Broadway star Betsey Wolfe as Estella Scrooge, a Wall Street tycoon with a penchant for foreclosing with Tony Awrd winners Patrick Page, Clifton Duncan and Danny Burstein.
Alvin Ailey Opening Night Virtual Benefit
Alvin Ailey Dance Theater starts off its digital season with a celebration of 60 years of Ailey’s beloved masterpiece with “Revelations Reimagined” filmed at Wave Hill Public Garden olus, appearances by special celebrity guests Sterling K. Brown, Jasmine Guy, Jillian Hervey of Lion Babe, Nigel Lythgoe, Tarell Alvin McCraney, Phylicia Rashad, Shonda Rhimes,…
A Christmas Carol Starring Jefferson Mays
The timeless tale of Ebenezer Scrooge comes to thrilling new life as talented Tony Award winner Jefferson Mays plays over 50 roles. Staged at Washington Height’s United Palace without a live audience exclusively for this production. A magical feat of storytelling and virtuosic acting (that may be a bit spooky and intense for younger kids).
…
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Emit Theatre presents an interactive digital retelling of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Enjoy this classic story retold with a contemporary audience in mind right from the comfort of your own home. Kids will be able to play along and help characters throughout the course of three episodes, performed weekly. A pre-show activity will take place during…
The Steadfast Tin Soldier
Experience Tony Award-winning Lookingglass Theatre Company’s family-friendly production of The Steadfast Tin Soldier. Written and directed by Mary Zimmerman and based on Hans Christian Andersen’s story about a little tin soldier who never gives up, Chicago’s beloved holiday tradition (recorded in 2019) streams into homes everywhere.
Explore Family Activities on the website – Create a…
The Hip Hop Nutcracker
Watch a spirited holiday mash-up for the entire family recorded live at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Virtuosic break dancing tells an uplifting, family-friendly story set in the 1980s and today. Maria-Clara and the Nutcracker Prince go on a dream adventure battling a gang of mice, visiting the land of sweets and learning the lessons…
Sleep Squad
This family-friendly, interactive, virtual theater experience turns your home into a rocket ship to launch kids into their dreams. Unique, kid-driven comedy and music from the Story Pirates create a new kind of bedtime ritual.
Tony Award Nominee Lilli Cooper guides adventurers through three different enchanting virtual experiences, adapted from stories written by real kids…
The Wizard of OZ
Broadway Training Center of Westchester presents live streams of The Wizard of Oz featuring students grades 4-12 from throughout Westchester, Rockland, the Bronx and Connecticut.
Forest of Feelings
New York Children’s Theater and Yo Re Mi present an interactive show live on Zoom that teaches the youngest theatergoers about emotions, music, and yoga. When two friends discover a lost laugh, with the audience’s help, they must take a physical and musical journey through the forest to return it to its faraway home.
Show Up, Kids Online
See a free Spanish language Spanish-language interactive family comedy Zoom show. Interact with the actress/comedian Denisse Estefany Mendoza in a fresh twist on kids’ shows as the audience helps write, design and direct a show.
Personalized virtual birthdays (in Spanish and English) also available.
Folksbiene Virutal Chanukah Spectacular
Usher in the Festival of Lights with the National Yiddish Theater Folksbiene. Enjoy a virtual evening of music with a mix of live performances and video greetings from with more than fifty performers from around the world including Mandy Patinkin, Billy Crystal and Barry Manilow.
Virtual Performances of New York Theatre Ballet’s The Nutcracker
In lieu of Brookfield Place’s annual free performance of New York Theatre Ballet’s The Nutcracker, watch dancers from the New York Theatre Ballet perform vignettes throughout the swanky shopping center (home to the not-cancelled Luminaries and a virtual Reindeer Roundup) This kid-friendly version of the Tchaikovsky’s beloved holiday ballet set in Art Nouveau-style circa…
Met Opera Free Student Streams
Each week, watch one opera specially selected for young audience members, along with opportunities to learn more about the production and hear from some of the amazing artists who helped make it happen. Download illustrated synopsis and educator guides plus join live artists chats, arts workshops and more.
Additional daily Live in HD screenings of…
Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Musical
Tony nominee Matthew Morrison stars in the musical adaption of the Christmas classic along with winner Denis O’Hare as adult Max (The Grinch’s faithful dog), Booboo Stewart as young Max, and Amelia Minto as Cindy-Lou Who. The Broadway musical will be filmed live from London and broadcast in NBC.
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker
The lavish New York City Ballet Nutcracker that started it all in 1954 is a rightly beloved American tradition – and now available on your TV. Watch a broadcast filmed at Lincoln Center in 2019 featuring Maria Kowroski as the Sugarplum Fairy, Tyler Angle as Her Cavalier, Megan Fairchild as Dewdrop, and more than 50…
Adventure Players Live!
Join NYC children’s theater company Adventure Players Live! for weekly online performances. Zoom into the Great Great Forest, an interactive world filled with whimsical characters and wild places. Features music, storytelling and movement designed to involve each child with new adventures every week. The company’s ensemble of professional artists and educators aims to nourish kids’…
L.O.S. Kids: Hansel & Gretel
The delightful Little Orchestra Society concerts go virtual this season with actors, young soloists, dancers, special guests, animatio and more. See a professional Orchestra – and the hilarious Professor Treblemaker – in an interactive format. In December, explore Humperdinck’s classic fairytale opera.
Videos available for two weeks after the premiere.
The Olc Vic Christmas Carol
The Old Vic’s big-hearted, smash hit production of Charles Dickens’ immortal classic returns to its London stage this year, to be performed live from our auditorium and streamed to homes across the world.
Come together with your household or with friends and family online to take part in the music and merriment of this uplifting…
Broadway Princess Holiday Party
Broadway’s original Cinderella, Belle, and Jasmine celebrate the season in a cinematic live-streamed concert from Feinstein’s/54 Below. Two-time Tony-nominee Laura Osnes (Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella), Tony-nominee Susan Egan (Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and voice of ‘Meg’ in Hercules), and Grammy-nominee Courtney Reed (Disney’s Aladdin) sing the petticoats off every princess and holiday song in…
The Young Americans The Magic Of Christmas
Watch talented, spirited youth ages 15-21 sing and dance in a holiday-themed revue in an annual tradition gone online. For nearly 60 years, The Young Americans has been touring the world and impacting the performing arts community on a global scale through its music, performances, and educational programs and services. Performance is free, but donations…
A Season of Hope and Inspiration
Enjoy a night of holiday songs with Broadway Inspirational Voices, a diverse, professional choir of Broadway artists with guest stars including Patti LuPone, Leslie Odom Jr. and Billy Porter.
Home for the Holidays
Some of Broadway’s most celebrated stars perform songs based on traditions from their homes and from where their shows are set. Songs comedic to heartfelt include the welcoming warmth of Come From Away‘s Gander, Newfoundland and the rich culture of South Africa through cast members from The Lion King. The illustrious lineup includes Alan Cumming,…
Step Afrika!’s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show
Watch the world’s first holiday show highlighting the African American tradition of stepping, a feast for the eyes and ears. Fabulous and furry friends from the Arctic Kingdom – Popper the Penguin along with polar bear twins, Pinky and Polo – join exceptional dancers to celebrate in song and dance.
Paul Winter’s 41st Annual Winter Solstice Celebration
Seven-time Grammy winner Paul Winter and his colleagues annual feast of music and dancing from the diversity of cultures and creatures of the world goes online. Watch be a retrospective tapestry highlighting iconic performances from the first four decades of the event.
In keeping with the inclusivist embrace of the solstices and the intercultural,…
EduHam at Home
Explore the world of the Broadway phenomenon Hamilton and America’s founding era. Access free materials to create songs or scenes inspired by history. Follow in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s footsteps, learning how he incorporated primary sources into the songs he wrote for the show. Includes video clips of the show; interviews with Miranda, Alexander Hamilton biographer Ron…
Ailey All Access
The acclaimed Alvin Ailey dance company shares full length videos of past performances. Also see videos of company members dancing the landmark Revelations and other pieces together from home, join free online dance classes and check out the great Resource Guide for Educators.
Find free live and on-demand classes for all ages in a variety of dance…
ArtsPower Theatre On Demand
Watch ArtsPower’s acclaimed, full-length literature-based musicals and dramas online. Includes fun activities that families can complete together. School Editions with a multiple-lesson, academic course also available.
Currently showing Chicken Dance, Anne of Green Gables and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.
The Paper Bag Players At Home
Watch short sketches from The Paper Bag Players, an acclaimed NYC troupe that makes stories out of cardboard and paper, paired with questions and/or activities that will help children think more about what they’ve watched and provide opportunities for them to create and imagine on their own. Play games and make cars, crazy faces, and…
Lincoln Center At Home
Watch short #concertsforkids recorded (at home) by world-class artists including musician Etienne Charles celebrating a cross-section of cultures from the African Diaspora, Soul Science Kids weaving soul, funk, hip-hop and educational themes and many more diverse voices.
Learn puppetry, dance, songwriting and other art forms with simple materials found at home with Lincoln Center…
Trusty Sidekick Theater Company
Watch archival videos of imaginative interactive family-friendly performances designed for as young as two-years-old. Also join the artists for on-demand peeks behind the scenes and creative mini-classes. New show posted each Monday.
Kennedy Center Education
Explore music, dance, theater, opera, visual and media arts through informative and engaging Kennedy Center Education interactive lessons with music videos. Learn about African-American History, US President’s Favorite Music, all sorts of dance, Dance, popular American songs and more.
Designed for grades K-12.
Met Opera Streams
See weekly free streams of an opera specially selected for young audience members, and hear from some of the artists who helped make it happen. Download illustrated synopsis, coloring pages, informative educator guides and more.
Additional daily Live in HD screenings of the Met’s repertory are not necessarily kid-friendly (watch out for murder/rape/etc), but the…
Broadway HD
Broadway HD offers free 30-day trials of their their streaming live theater library. Family-friendly choices include Cats (live, not the creepy movie), Cathy Rigby’s Peter Pan, Royal Ballet’s Alice’s Advenbtures in Wonderland and Disney Broadway Hits at Royal Albert Hall. Use code BDWYRoulette (courtesy of Broadway Roulette).
Also watch full-length musicals, opera and concerts on PBS Great…
Kaufman Center
Kaufman Music Center’s social channels posts Online Encores of favorite moments from past performances. See videos of Broadway Playhouse, one of our favorite kids’ performance series, celebrating composers like Jeanine Tesori (Shrek The Musical and Steven Schwartz (Wicked) with entertaining tales, killer songs and fun mini-musicals. and short classical music-themed Orli…
NEW VICTORY ARTS BREAK
Learn circus tricks, songwriting, puppet making, tap dance, magic and more skills inspired by the diverse shows at New Victory Theatre, an amazing NYC performing arts venue for families. Watch excerpts from past and sadly cancelled productions. Currently featuring partners from around the world.
New Victory Dance
See and experience New York City’s most exciting dance companies with seven pre-recorded video chapters featuring performances and at-home activities guided by teaching artists. See and learn Mexican folk dance, tap dance, tango, modern dance and more.