60+ Musicals for Kids – A Full List of Shows
Whether you’re helping your child find new shows to audition for, or looking for great family-friendly shows to go see together, it’s good to get familiar with what’s out there. Here’s a list of the most notable musicals for kids!
The following list is broken down into three categories – “Musicals for Kids to Perform”, “Musicals for Young Audiences”, and “Family-Friendly Musicals”. Each category is sorted alphabetically.
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Musicals for Kids to Perform
The following musicals were specifically written to be performed by a full cast of children.
101 Dalmations KIDS
Music/Lyrics/Book: Various
Musical Type: Contemporary/Post-Golden Age
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Music/Lyrics/Book: Charles M. Schulz
Musical Type: 1965 TV Special /Contemporary Musical (2013)
A Very Merry Unauthorized Children’s Scientology Pageant
Music/Lyrics/Book: Kyle Jarrow
Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)
Alice in Wonderland JR.
Music/Lyrics/Book: Various
Musical Type: Golden Age/Contemporary
Bugsy Malone
Music/Lyrics: Paul Williams Book: Alan Parker
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1976)
Captain Louie
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz Book: Anthony Stein
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Dear Edwina
Music: Zina Goldrich Lyrics/Book: Marcy Heisler
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Finding Nemo JR
Music/Lyrics: Robert Lopez, Kristen Anderson-Lopez
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Freckleface Strawberry
Music/Lyrics: Gary Kupper Book: Gary Kupper, Rose Caiola
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
How to Eat Like a Child
Music/Lyrics: John Forster Book: Delia Ephron, Judith Kahan, Forster
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary
Junie B. Jones
Music: Zina Goldrich Book/Lyrics: Marcy Heisler
Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)
Moana JR.
Music/Lyrics: Opetaia Foa’i, Mark Mancina, Lin-Manuel Miranda
Musical Type: Contemporary
Nativity!
Music/Lyrics/Book: Debbie Isitt, Nicky Ager
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Runaways
Music/Lyrics/Book: Elizabeth Swados
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1978)
The Aristocats KIDS
Music/Lyrics: The Sherman Brothers, Rinker, Huddleston, Louiselle, Bernard
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary/Contemporary
The Big One-Oh!
Music: Doug Besterman Lyrics: Dean Pitchford Book: Timothy Allen McDonald
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
The Grunch
Music/Lyrics/Book: BBB Press
Musical Type: Contemporary
The Jungle Book KIDS
Music: The Sherman Brothers, Gilkyson, Heisler, Louiselle
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age/Contemporary
The Most Epic Birthday Party Ever
Music/Lyrics/Book: BBB Press
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Winnie the Pooh KIDS
Music: The Sherman Brothers, Robert Lopez, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Will Van Dyke, Cheryl Davis
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age/Contemporary
Musicals for Young Audiences
The following children’s musicals are often performed by adults for an audience of kids. But they can also sometimes be performed by a cast of children!
A Year With Frog and Toad
Music: Robert Reale Lyrics/Book: Willie Reale
Musical Type: Contemporary (2002)
Elephant and Piggie’s “We Are In a Play”
Music: Deborah Wicks La Puma Book/Lyrics: Mo Willems
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Fancy Nancy
Music: Danny Abosch Lyrics: Abosch, Susan DiLallo Book: DiLallo, Abosch
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Music: George Stiles Book/Lyrics: Anthony Drewe
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
My Son Pinnochio
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz Book: David Stern
Musical Type: Golden Age/Contemporary (1940/2000)
Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical
Music/Lyrics: Greg Borowsky, Douglas Lyons Book: Melvin Tunstall III
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Spookley The Square Pumpkin
Music: Jeffrey Zahn Lyrics/Book: Joe Troiano
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾
Music: Pippa Cleary Lyrics: Jake Brunger, Cleary Book: Brunger
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
The Three Little Pigs
Music: George Stiles Book/Lyrics: Anthony Drewe
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Family-Friendly Musicals
The following musicals can be enjoyed by children and adults alike! Many of the following have mixed casts of children and adults.
A Christmas Story
Music/Lyrics: Benj Pasek, Justin Paul Book: Joseph Robinette
Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)
Aladdin
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics/Book: Chad Beguelin Lyrics: Tim Rice, Howard Ashman
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary/Contemporary (2011)
Anastasia
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Book: Terrence McNally
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Annie
Music: Charles Strouse Lyrics: Martin Charnin Book: Thomas Meehan
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1976)
Annie Warbucks
Music: Charles Strouse Lyrics: Martin Charnin Book: Thomas Meehan
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1993)
Beauty and the Beast
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics: Howard Ashman, Tim Rice Book: Linda Woolverton
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1994)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Music/Lyrics: Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman Book: David Greig
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Music/Lyrics: The Sherman Brothers Book: Jeremy Sams
Musical Type: 1968 Film/Contemporary Musical (2002)
Cinderella
Music: Rodgers Book/Lyrics: Hammerstein Book: Douglas Carter Beane
Musical Type: Golden Age/Contemporary (1957/2013)
Descendants
Book/Additional Lyrics: David Blaemire Adaptation: Madeline Smith
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Doctor Dolittle
Music/Lyrics/Book: Leslie Bricusse
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1998)
Elf
Music: Matthew Sklar Lyrics: Chad Beguelin Book: Bob Martin, Thomas Meehan
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Frozen
Music/Lyrics: Robert Lopez, Kristen Anderson-Lopez Book: Jennifer Lee
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Hans Christian Andersen
Music/Lyrics: Frank Loesser Book: John Fearnley, Beverly Cross, Tommy Steele
Musical Type: Golden Age (1952)
Honk!
Music: George Stiles Book/Lyrics: Anthony Drewe
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1993)
Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue
Music/Lyrics: Tom Adair
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1974)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Music: Mel Marvin Lyrics/Book: Timothy Mason
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1994)
James and the Giant Peach
Music: Justin Paul Lyrics: Benj Pasek Book: Timothy Allen McDonald
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Mary Poppins
Music/Lyrics: The Sherman Brothers, George Stiles, Anthony Drewe Book: Julian Fellowes
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age/Contemporary (2004)
Matilda
Music/Lyrics: Tim Minchin Book: Dennis Kelly
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Newsies
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics: Jack Feldman Book: Harvey Fierstein
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary/Contemporary (1992/2011)
Oliver!
Music/Lyrics/Book: Lionel Bart
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)
Peter Pan
Music: Styne, Charlap, Rittman Lyrics: Comden, Green, Leigh Book: Barrie
Musical Type: Golden Age (1954)
Peter Pan: A Musical Adventure
Music: George Stiles Lyrics: Anthony Drewe Book: Willis Hall
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1996)
Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka
Music/Lyrics: Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley Book: Tim McDonald, Bricusse
Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)
School of Rock
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Glen Slater Book: Julian Fellowes
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Schoolhouse Rock Live!
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Keating, Ferguson, Hall
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1993)
Seussical
Music/Book: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics/Book: Lynn Ahrens
Musical Type: Contemporary (2000)
Shrek
Music: Jeanine Tesori Lyrics/Book: David Lindsay-Abaire
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Snoopy!!!
Music: Larry Grossman Lyrics: Hal Hackady Book: Lockhart, Whitelaw, Grac
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1975)
The Lion King
Music: Elton John Lyrics: Tim Rice Book: Rodger Allers, Irene Mecchi
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1997)
The Little Mermaid
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics: Howard Ashman, Glenn Slater Book: Doug Wright
Musical Type: 1989 Film/Contemporary Musical (2007)
The Music Man
Music/Lyrics: Meredith Willson Book: Franklin Lacey, Wilson
Musical Type: Golden Age (1957)
The Spongebob Musical
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Kyle Jarrow
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
The Wind in the Willows
Music: George Stiles Book: Anthony Drewe Book: Julian Fellowes
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
The Wizard of Oz
Music: Harold Arlen, Herbert Stothart Lyrics: E.Y. Harburg Book: John Kane
Musical Type: Jazz Age/Pre-Contemporary (1939/1987)
Tuck Everlasting
Music: Chris Miller Lyrics: Nathan Tysen Book: Claudia Shear, Tim Federle
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown
Music/Lyrics: Clark Gesner Book: John Gordon Additional Songs: Andrew Lippa
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1967)
Other blog posts you might like:
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Which of these musicals for kids is your favorite?
Or have you ever played a role in any of the above musicals for kids? Feel free to share in the comments below! And if you like these types of lists, check out the musical database. That’s where you’ll find musicals sorted by composer, theme, setting, and more!
Author: Stacy Karyn
Stacy Karyn is the founder of Theatre Trip, author of The Thespian’s Bucket List, and creator of The Cast Album List. She has a TESOL drama certificate, a BA in theatre, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.
