Musical Lists

55+ Family-Friendly Musicals for Kids – The Full List

Last Updated: May 6, 2025

Are you looking for family-friendly musicals that everyone can enjoy? Whether you’re looking for shows suitable for children or productions that resonate with the entire family, you’ll find them all here. Explore the complete list of musicals for kids below.

If that’s not what you’re looking for, here are Musicals for Kids to Perform and JR Musicals.


Post Contents:

Musicals for Young Audiences

Family-Friendly Musicals


These children’s musicals are usually staged by adults, but some can be performed by children. Created to entertain kids, these shows work with either adult or youth casts.


A Year with Frog and Toad

Music: Robert Reale  Lyrics/Book: Willie Reale

Musical Type: Contemporary (2002)

Cast Size: 5


Captain Louie

Music/Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz  Book: Anthony Stein

Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)

Cast Size: 10+


Children’s Letters to God

Music: David Evans  Lyrics: Douglas J. Cohen  Book: Stuart Hample

Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)

Cast Size: 5+


Dear Edwina

Music: Zina Goldrich  Lyrics/Book: Marcy Heisler

Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)

Cast Size: 8


Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Music/Lyrics: Michael Mahler, Alan Schmuckler  Book: Kevin Del Aguila

Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)

Cast Size: 15+


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


Freckleface Strawberry

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

Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)

Cast Size: 7+


Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Music: George Stiles  Lyrics/Book: Anthony Drewe

Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)

Cast Size: 6


Henry and Mudge

Music: Bree Lowdermilk  Lyrics/Book: Kait Kerrigan

Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)

Cast Size: 5


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: 6-15


Peace, Love and Cupcakes

Music/Lyrics/Book: Rick Hip-Flores

Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)

Cast Size: 15+


Pinkalicious

Music/Lyrics: John Gregor  Lyrics/Book: Victoria Kann, Elizabeth Kann

Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)

Cast Size: 10+


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 Big One-Oh!

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

Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)

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


These musicals cater to both children and adults, offering an inclusive experience for audiences of all ages. Many of the following shows 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  LyricsTim 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


Anne of Green Gables

Music/Lyrics: Norman Campbell  Lyrics/Book: Donald Harron, Elaine Campbell, Mavor Moore

Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1965)

Cast Size: 29


Anne of Green Gables

Music: Nancy Ford  Lyrics/Book: Gretchen Cryer

Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)

Cast Size: 10


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+


Boop! The Musical

Music: David Foster  Lyrics: Susan Birkenhead  Book: Bob Martin

Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)

Cast Size: 15+


Bugsy Malone

Music/Lyrics: Paul Williams  Book: Alan Parker

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1976)

Cast Size: 30+


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: 12+


Elf

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

Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)

Cast Size: 15+


Finding Nemo

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

Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)

Cast Size: 25+


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: 20+


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+


Miracle on 34th Street / Here’s Love

Music/Lyrics/Book: Meredith Willson

Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1963)

Cast Size: 10+


Mrs. Doubtfire

Music/Lyrics/Book: Karey Kirkpatrick  Music/Lyrics: Wayne Kirkpatrick  Book: John O’Farrell

Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)

Cast Size: 20+


Nativity!

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

Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)

Cast Size: 20+


Newsies

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

Musical Type: 1992 Film/Contemporary Musical (2011)

Cast Size: 30+


Once Upon a Mattress

Music: Mary Rodgers  Lyrics/Book: Marshall Barer  Book: Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller

Book: Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller

Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)

Cast Size: 25+


Peter Pan

Music: Moose Charlap, Jule Styne  Lyrics: Carolyn Leigh, Betty Comden, Adolph Green  Book: 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: 25+


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: 15+


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: Roger 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: 18+


The Wizard of Oz

Music/Lyrics: Harold Arlen, Yip 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


Wicked

Music/Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz  Book: Winnie Holzman

Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)

Cast Size: 21+


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



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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 enjoy exploring these lists, check out the musical database, where you can discover musicals organized by composer, theme, setting, and much 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 ListShe holds a BA in theatre and a TESOL drama certificate, with experience working and interning in Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.

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