Musical Lists

60+ Wonderful Family-Friendly Musicals for Kids

Whether you’re helping your child find new shows to audition for, or looking for musicals that are family friendly, it’s good to get familiar with what’s out there. Here’s the full list of 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

Cast Size: 12+


A Very Merry Unauthorized Children’s Scientology Pageant

Music/Lyrics/Book: Kyle Jarrow

Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)

Cast Size: 10


Alice in Wonderland JR.

Music/Lyrics/Book: Various

Musical Type: Golden Age/Contemporary

Cast Size: 19+


Bugsy Malone

Music/Lyrics: Paul Williams  Book: Alan Parker

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1976)

Cast Size: 30+


Captain Louie

Music/Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz  Book: Anthony Stein

Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)

Cast Size: 10+


Dear Edwina

Music: Zina Goldrich  Lyrics/Book: Marcy Heisler

Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)

Cast Size: 8


Finding Nemo JR

Music/Lyrics: Robert Lopez, Kristen Anderson-Lopez  Adaptation: Lindsay Anderson

Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)

Cast Size: 15+


Freckleface Strawberry

Music/Lyrics/Book: Gary Kupper  Book: Rose Caiola

Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)

Cast Size: 7+


How to Eat Like a Child

Music/Lyrics/Book: John Forster  Book: Delia Ephron, Judith Kahan

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1984)

Cast Size: 20+


Junie B. Jones

Music: Zina Goldrich  Lyrics/Book: Marcy Heisler

Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)

Cast Size: 6-10


Moana JR.

Music/Lyrics: Opetaia Foa’i, Mark Mancina, Lin-Manuel Miranda

Musical Type: Contemporary

Cast Size: 20+


Nativity!

Music/Lyrics: Nicky Ager  Lyrics/Book: Debbie Isitt

Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)

Cast Size: 20+


Runaways

Music/Lyrics/Book: Elizabeth Swados

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1978)

Cast Size: 20


The Aristocats KIDS

Music/Lyrics: Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman, Al Rinker, Floyd Huddleston, Bryan Louiselle, Michael Bernard

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary/Contemporary

Cast Size: 19+


The Big One-Oh!

Music: Doug Besterman  Lyrics: Dean Pitchford  Book: Timothy Allen McDonald

Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)

Cast Size: 9


The Grunch

Music/Lyrics/Book: BBB Press

Musical Type: Contemporary

Cast Size: 20+


The Jungle Book KIDS

Music/Lyrics: Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman, Terry Gilkyson, Marcy Heisler, Bryan Louiselle

Musical Type: Post-Golden Age/Contemporary

Cast Size: 15+


The Most Epic Birthday Party Ever

Music/Lyrics/Book: BBB Press

Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)

Cast Size: 24+


Winnie the Pooh KIDS

Music/Lyrics: Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman, Robert Lopez, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Will Van Dyke, Cheryl Davis

Musical Type: Post-Golden Age/Contemporary

Cast Size: 20+


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)

Cast Size: 5


Dog Man: The Musical

Music: Brad Alexander  Lyrics/Book: Kevin Del Aguila

Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)

Cast Size: 10+


Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

Music: Deborah Wicks La Puma  Lyrics/Book: Mo Willems  Book: Mr. Warburton

Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)

Cast Size: 6


Elephant and Piggie’s “We Are in a Play”

Music: Deborah Wicks La Puma  Lyrics/Book: Mo Willems

Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)

Cast Size: 5-8


Fancy Nancy

Music/Lyrics: Danny Abosch  Lyrics/Book: Susan DiLallo

Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)

Cast Size: 6


Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Music: George Stiles  Lyrics/Book: Anthony Drewe

Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)

Cast Size: 6


My Son Pinocchio

Music/Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz  Book: David Stern

Musical Type: Golden Age/Contemporary (1940/2000)

Cast Size: 13+


Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical

Music/Lyrics: Douglas Lyons  Music: Greg Borowsky  Book: Melvin Tunstall III

Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)

Cast Size: 4


Spookley The Square Pumpkin

Music: Jeffrey Zahn  Lyrics/Book: Joe Troiano

Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)

Cast Size: 10


The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾

Music/Lyrics: Pippa Cleary  Lyrics/Book: Jake Brunger

Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)

Cast Size: 20+


The Three Little Pigs

Music: George Stiles  Lyrics/Book: Anthony Drewe

Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)

Cast Size: 5


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)

Cast Size: 25+


Aladdin

Music: Alan Menken  Lyrics/Book: Chad Beguelin  Lyrics: Tim Rice, Howard Ashman

Musical Type: 1992 Film/Contemporary Musical (2011)

Cast Size: 20+


Anastasia

Music: Stephen Flaherty  Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens  Book: Terrence McNally

Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)

Cast Size: 21


Annie

Music: Charles Strouse  Lyrics: Martin Charnin  Book: Thomas Meehan

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1976)

Cast Size: 15+


Beauty and the Beast

Music: Alan Menken  Lyrics: Howard Ashman, Tim Rice  Book: Linda Woolverton

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1994)

Cast Size: 20+


Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Music/Lyrics: Marc Shaiman  Lyrics: Scott Wittman  Book: David Greig

Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)

Cast Size: 20+


Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Music/Lyrics: Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman  Adaptations: Jeremy Sams, Ray Roderick

Musical Type: 1968 Film/Contemporary Musical (2002)

Cast Size: 15+


Cinderella

Music: Richard Rodgers  Lyrics/Book: Oscar Hammerstein II  Book: Douglas Carter Beane

Musical Type: 1957 Film/Contemporary Musical (2013)

Cast Size: 15+


Descendants

Music/Lyrics: Various  Lyrics/Book: Nick Blaemire  Adaptation: Madeline Smith

Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)

Cast Size: 25+


Doctor Dolittle

Music/Lyrics/Book: Leslie Bricusse

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1998)

Cast Size: 9+


Elf

Music: Matthew Sklar  Lyrics: Chad Beguelin  Book: Bob Martin, Thomas Meehan

Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)

Cast Size: 15+


Frozen

Music/Lyrics: Robert Lopez, Kristen Anderson-Lopez  Book: Jennifer Lee

Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)

Cast Size: 20+


Hans Christian Andersen

Music/Lyrics: Frank Loesser  Book: John Fearnley, Beverly Cross, Tommy Steele

Musical Type: Golden Age (1952)

Cast Size: 21+


Honk!

Music: George Stiles  Lyrics/Book: Anthony Drewe

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1993)

Cast Size: 20+


How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Music: Mel Marvin  Lyrics/Book: Timothy Mason

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1994)

Cast Size: 8+


James and the Giant Peach

Music: Justin Paul  Lyrics: Benj Pasek  Book: Timothy Allen McDonald

Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)

Cast Size: 20+


Mary Poppins

Music/Lyrics: Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman, George Stiles, Anthony Drewe  Book: Julian Fellowes

Musical Type: 1964 Film/Contemporary Musical (2004)

Cast Size: 20+


Matilda

Music/Lyrics: Tim Minchin  Book: Dennis Kelly

Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)

Cast Size: 20+


Newsies

Music: Alan Menken  Lyrics: Jack Feldman  Book: Harvey Fierstein

Musical Type: 1992 Film/Contemporary Musical (2011)

Cast Size: 30+


Oliver!

Music/Lyrics/Book: Lionel Bart

Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)

Cast Size: 20+


Peter Pan

Music: Moose Charlap, Jule Styne  Lyrics: Carolyn Leigh, Betty Comden, Adolph Green  Book: Sir J.M. Barrie

Musical Type: Golden Age (1954)

Cast Size: 15+


Peter Pan: A Musical Adventure

Music: George Stiles  Lyrics: Anthony Drewe  Book: Willis Hall

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1997)

Cast Size: 30+


School of Rock

Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber  Lyrics: Glenn Slater  Book: Julian Fellowes

Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)

Cast Size: 35+


Schoolhouse Rock Live!

Music/Lyrics: Various  Book: George Keating, Scott Ferguson, Kyle Hall

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1993)

Cast Size: 6


Seussical

Music/Book: Stephen Flaherty  Lyrics/Book: Lynn Ahrens

Musical Type: Contemporary (2000)

Cast Size: 13+


Shrek

Music: Jeanine Tesori  Lyrics/Book: David Lindsay-Abaire

Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)

Cast Size: 20+


Snoopy!!!

Music: Larry Grossman  Lyrics: Hal Hackady  Book: Warren Lockhart, Arthur Whitelaw, Michael Grace

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1975)

Cast Size: 7


The Lion King

Music: Elton John  Lyrics: Tim Rice  Book: Rodger Allers, Irene Mecchi

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1997)

Cast Size: 20+


The Little Mermaid

Music: Alan Menken  Lyrics: Howard Ashman, Glenn Slater  Book: Doug Wright

Musical Type: 1989 Film/Contemporary Musical (2007)

Cast Size: 20+


The Music Man

Music/Lyrics/Book: Meredith Willson

Musical Type: Golden Age (1957)

Cast Size: 25+


The SpongeBob Musical

Music/Lyrics: Various  Book: Kyle Jarrow

Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)

Cast Size: 40+


The Wind in the Willows

Music: George Stiles  Lyrics: Anthony Drewe  Book: Julian Fellowes

Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)

Cast Size: 6+


The Wizard of Oz

Music/Lyrics: Harold Arlen, E.Y. Harburg  Music: Herbert Stothart  Book: L. Frank Baum, John Kane

Musical Type: 1939 Film/Pre-Contemporary Musical (1987)

Cast Size: 24+


Tuck Everlasting

Music: Chris Miller  Lyrics: Nathan Tysen  Book: Claudia Shear, Tim Federle

Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)

Cast Size: 23


Willy Wonka JR.

Music/Lyrics: Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley  Adaptation: Tim McDonald

Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)

Cast Size: 15+


You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown

Music/Lyrics/Book: Clark Gesner  Additional Songs: Andrew Lippa

Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1967)

Cast Size: 6


Other blog posts you might like:

Classic Musicals

Musicals for High School

• Musicals for Middle School

• Musicals Based on Movies


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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!


Stacy Karyn, Author of Musicals for Kids.
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 holds a BA in theatre, a TESOL drama certificate, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.


 

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