85+ Musicals With Kids in Them – A Full List
Whether you’re helping your child find new shows to audition for, or looking to produce a musical that features children, it’s good to get familiar with what’s out there. Here’s a list of the most notable musicals with kids in them!
The following list is broken down into three categories – “Musicals With a Full Cast of Kids”, “Musicals with Kids in Them”, and “Musicals Featuring One Child”. Each category is sorted alphabetically.
* Here’s a similar list of musicals that children will enjoy watching!
Please note: This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to make a purchase through one of the following links, we may earn a small commission on the sale at no additional cost to you. See our disclosure for more info.
Musicals with a Full Cast of Kids
A Very Merry Unauthorized Children’s Scientology Pageant
Music/Lyrics/Book: Kyle Jarrow
Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)
Cast Size: 10
Music/Lyrics: Paul Williams Book: Alan Parker
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1976)
Cast Size: 30+
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz Book: Anthony Stein
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Cast Size: 10+
Music: Zina Goldrich Lyrics/Book: Marcy Heisler
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Cast Size: 8
Music/Lyrics/Book: Gary Kupper Book: Rose Caiola
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Cast Size: 7+
Music/Lyrics/Book: John Forster Book: Delia Ephron, Judith Kahan
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1984)
Cast Size: 20+
Music: Zina Goldrich Lyrics/Book: Marcy Heisler
Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)
Cast Size: 6-15
Music/Lyrics/Book: Elizabeth Swados
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1978)
Cast Size: 20
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown
* This cast of children can also be played by adults
Music/Lyrics/Book: Clark Gesner Additional Songs: Andrew Lippa
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1967)
Cast Size: 6
Musicals With Kids in Them
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics/Book: Lynn Ahrens Book: Mike Ockrent
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1994)
Cast Size: 18+
Music/Lyrics: Benj Pasek, Justin Paul Book: Joseph Robinette
Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)
Cast Size: 25+
Music: Andrew Lippa Lyrics/Book: Brian Crawley
Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)
Cast Size: 12+
Music/Lyrics/Book: Jill Santoriello
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Cast Size: 24+
Music: Arthur Schwartz Lyrics: Dorothy Fields Book: George Abbott, Betty Smith
Musical Type: Golden Age (1951)
Cast Size: 11+
Music: Charles Strouse Lyrics: Martin Charnin Book: Thomas Meehan
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1976)
Cast Size: 15+
Music/Lyrics: Irving Berlin Book: Dorothy Fields, Herbert Fields
Musical Type: Golden Age (1946)
Cast Size: 35+
Music: David Shire Lyrics: Richard Maltby, Jr. Book: John Weidman
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1996)
Cast Size: 11+
Music: Elton John Lyrics/Book: Lee Hall
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Cast Size: 20+
Music/Lyrics/Book: Lionel Bart Book: Joan Maitland
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1962)
Cast Size: 20+
Music: Frank Wildhorn Lyrics: Don Black Book: Ivan Menchell
Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)
Cast Size: 14+
Music: Jeanine Tesori Lyrics/Book: Tony Kushner
Cast Size: 16
Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics/Book: Oscar Hammerstein II
Musical Type: Golden Age (1945)
Cast Size: 22+
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Music/Lyrics: Marc Shaiman Lyrics: Scott Wittman Book: David Greig
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Cast Size: 20+
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz Book: John Caird
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1991)
Cast Size: 12+
Music/Lyrics: Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman Adaptations: Jeremy Sams, Ray Roderick
Musical Type: 1968 Film/Contemporary Musical (2002)
Cast Size: 15+
Music: Sammy Fain Lyrics: Paul Francis Webster Book: Pearl S. Buck, Charles K. Peck, Jr.
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)
Cast Size: 13+
Music/Lyrics: Various Lyrics/Book: Nick Blaemire Adaptation: Madeline Smith
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Cast Size: 25+
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Tim Rice
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1976)
Cast Size: 10+
Music: Scott Frankel Lyrics: Michael Korie Book: Richard Greenberg
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Cast Size: 18+
Music: Jeanine Tesori Lyrics/Book: Lisa Kron
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Cast Size: 11
Music/Lyrics/Book: Frank Loesser Book: Lesser Samuels
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)
Cast Size: 20+
Music: Scott Frankel Lyrics: Michael Korie Book: Doug Wright
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Cast Size: 9
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Arthur Laurents
Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)
Cast Size: 35+
Music/Lyrics: Frank Loesser Book: John Fearnley, Beverly Cross, Tommy Steele
Musical Type: Golden Age (1952)
Cast Size: 21+
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Music: Mel Marvin Lyrics/Book: Timothy Mason
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1994)
Cast Size: 8+
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics: Martin Charnin, Raymond Jessel Book: Thomas Meehan
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1979)
Cast Size: 14
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: James Lapine
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1986)
Cast Size: 18
Music/Lyrics: Paul Gordon Lyrics/Book: John Caird
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1995)
Cast Size: 15+
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Tim Rice
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1968)
Cast Size: 20+
Music/Lyrics: Todd Matshikiza Lyrics: Pat Williams Book: Harry Bloom
Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)
Cast Size: 20+
Music/Lyrics: Claude-Michel Schönberg Lyrics: Alan Boublil, Herbert Kretzmer, Jean-Marc Natel
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1980)
Cast Size: 30+
Music/Lyrics: William Finn Book: James Lapine
Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)
Cast Size: 15+
Music: David Arnold Lyrics: Richard Thomas Book: Richard Bean
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
Cast Size: 20+
Music/Lyrics/Book: Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, George David Weiss Book: Morton DaCosta
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1968)
Cast Size: 18
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+
Music/Lyrics: Tim Minchin Book: Dennis Kelly
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Cast Size: 20+
Music/Lyrics: Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane Book: Hugh Wheeler
Musical Type: 1944 Film/Pre-Contemporary Musical (1989)
Cast Size: 20+
Miracle on 34th Street / Here’s Love
Music/Lyrics/Book: Meredith Wilson
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1963)
Cast Size: 6+
Music/Lyrics/Book: Karey Kirkpatrick Music/Lyrics: Wayne Kirkpatrick Book: John O’Farrell
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
Cast Size: 12+
Music/Lyrics: Nicky Ager Lyrics/Book: Debbie Isitt
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Cast Size: 20+
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics: Jack Feldman Book: Harvey Fierstein
Musical Type: 1992 Film/Contemporary Musical (2011)
Cast Size: 30+
Music/Lyrics: Maury Yeston Book: Arthur Kopit
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1982)
Cast Size: 27
Music/Lyrics/Book: Dan Goggin
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1998)
Cast Size: 10
Music/Lyrics/Book: Lionel Bart
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)
Cast Size: 20+
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: 25+
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Book: Terrence McNally
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1996)
Cast Size: 20+
Music: Marvin Laird Lyrics/Book: Joel Paley
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1992)
Cast Size: 7
Music/Lyrics/Book: Noël Coward
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1961)
Cast Size: 17
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Glenn Slater Book: Julian Fellowes
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Cast Size: 35+
Music/Lyrics/Book: Leslie Bricusse
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1992)
Cast Size: 40+
Music: Gary Geld Lyrics/Book: Peter Udell Book: Philip Rose, James Lee Barrett
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1974)
Cast Size: 20+
Music/Book: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics/Book: Lynn Ahrens
Musical Type: Contemporary (2000)
Cast Size: 15+
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics/Book: Oscar Hammerstein II Book: Joshua Logan
Musical Type: Golden Age (1949)
Cast Size: 30+
Stop the World – I Want to Get Off
Music/Lyrics/Book: Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1961)
Cast Size: 13
Music: Kurt Weill Lyrics: Langston Hughes Book: Elmer Rice
Musical Type: Opera (1947)
Cast Size: 30+
Music/Lyrics/Book: Paul Simon Lyrics/Book: Derek Walcott
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1998)
Cast Size: 25+
Music: Marvin Hamlisch Lyrics: David Zippel Book: Neil Simon
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1993)
Cast Size: 13+
Music: Claibe Richardson Lyrics/Book: Kenward Elmslie
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1971)
Cast Size: 15
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics/Book: Oscar Hammerstein II
Musical Type: Golden Age (1951)
Cast Size: 40+
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Tim Rice
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age/Contemporary (1965/2005)
Cast Size: 8+
Music: Elton John Lyrics: Tim Rice Book: Rodger Allers, Irene Mecchi
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1997)
Cast Size: 20+
Music/Lyrics/Book: Meredith Willson
Musical Type: Golden Age (1957)
Cast Size: 25+
Music: Jerry Bock Lyrics: Sheldon Harnick Book: Sherman Yellen
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1970)
Cast Size: 11
Music: Lucy Simon Lyrics/Book: Marsha Norman
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1991)
Cast Size: 24
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II Book: Howard Lindsay, Russel Crouse
Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)
Cast Size: 25+
Music: Cy Coleman Lyrics: Betty Comden, Adolph Green Book: Peter Stone
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1991)
Cast Size: 25+
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+
Music/Lyrics: Maury Yeston Book: Peter Stone
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1997)
Cast Size: 35+
Music: Chris Miller Lyrics: Nathan Tysen Book: Claudia Shear, Tim Federle
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Cast Size: 23
Music/Book: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Jim Steinman Book: Patricia Knop, Gale Edwards
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1996)
Cast Size: 23+
Musicals Featuring One Child
Music/Lyrics: Daniel Messé Lyrics: Nathan Tysen Book: Craig Lucas
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Child Role: Young Amélie
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Book: Terrence McNally
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Child Role: Young Anastasia
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics: Glenn Slater Book: Chazz Palminteri
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Child Role: Young Calogero
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics: Howard Ashman, Tim Rice Book: Linda Woolverton
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1994)
Child Role: Chip
Music: Mark Sandrich, Jr. Lyrics/Book: Sidney Michaels Additional Songs: Jerry Herman
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Child Role: Little Boy
Music/Lyrics: Andrew Lippa Book: John August
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Child Role: Young Will
Music/Lyrics/Book: Robert J. Sherman
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Child Role: Perry
Music/Lyrics/Book: Christopher Curtis Book: Thomas Meehan
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Child Role: Young Charlie
Music/Lyrics/Book: Leslie Bricusse
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1998)
Child Role: Tommy Stubbins
Music: Matthew Sklar Lyrics: Chad Beguelin Book: Bob Martin, Thomas Meehan
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Child Role: Michael
Music/Lyrics/Book: William Finn Book: James Lapine
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1990)
Child Role: Jason
Music/Lyrics/Book: William Finn Book: James Lapine
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1992)
Child Role: Jason
Music/Lyrics: Michael John La Chiusa
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Child Role: Amy Carter
Music: Tom Kitt Lyrics: Michael Korie Book: James Lapine
Musical Type: Contemporary (2021)
Child Role: Archie Leach
Music: Mark Baron Lyrics/Book: Jeffrey Jackson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Child Role: William
Music/Lyrics: Walter Marks Book: Ernest Kinoy
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1968)
Child Role: Ally
Music: Justin Paul Lyrics: Benj Pasek Book: Timothy Allen McDonald
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Child Role: James
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Book: Frank Galati
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
Child Role: Rufus
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics: Glenn Slater Book: Janus Cercone, Warren Leight
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Child Role: Jake Mcgowan
Music/Book: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics/Book: Glenn Slater Book: Ben Elton, Frederick Forsyth
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Child Role: Gustave
Music/Lyrics: Jerry Herman Book: Jerome Lawrence, Robert E. Lee
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1966)
Child Role: Young Patrick Dennis
Music/Lyrics/Book: William Finn
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1981)
Child Role: Jason
Music: Claude-Michel Schönberg Lyrics: Alain Boublil, Richard Maltby, Jr.
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1989)
Child Role: Tam
Music/Lyrics/Book: Rob Rokicki
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Child Role: The Kid
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics/Book: Lynn Ahrens
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1990)
Child Role: Little Ti Moune
Music/Lyrics: Cole Porter Book: Herbert Fields, B.G. DeSylva
Musical Type: Golden Age (1940)
Child Role: Geraldine (Jerry)
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz Book: Roger O. Hirson
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1972)
Child Role: Theo
Music: Judd Woldin Lyrics: Robert Brittan Book: Robert Nemiroff, Charlotte Zaltzberg
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1973)
Child Role: Travis Younger
Music: Charles Strouse Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz Book: Joseph Stein, David Thompson
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1986)
Child Role: David Hershkowitz
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics: Sheldon Harnick Book: Sherman Yellen
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1976)
Child Role: Young Prince Edward
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II Book: Tom Briggs, Louis Mattioli
Musical Type: 1945 Film/Pre-Contemporary Musical (1996)
Child Role: Violet
Sunday in the Park with George
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: James Lapine
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1984)
Child Role: Louise
Music/Lyrics: Andrew Lippa Book: Marshall Brickman, Rick Elice
Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)
Child Role: Pugsley Addams
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Alexander Dinelaris
Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2012)
Child Role: Fletcher
Music/Lyrics: Peter Allen Book: Nick Enright, Martin Sherman
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary/Jukebox (1998)
Child Role: Young Peter Allen
Music/Lyrics: David Yazbek Book: Terrence McNally
Musical Type: Contemporary (2000)
Child Role: Nathan Lukowski
The Great British Bake Off Musical
Music/Lyrics: Pippa Cleary Lyrics/Book: Jake Brunger
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
Child Role: Lily
Music: John Kander Lyrics/Book: Greg Pierce
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Child Role: Noah
Music/Lyrics: Andrew Lippa Book: Jules Feiffer
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Child Role: Jimmy Jibbett
Music: Henry Krieger Lyrics: Robert Lorick Book: Charles Blackwell
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1983)
Child Role: Willie
Music/Lyrics/Book: Pete Townshend Book: Des McAnuff
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1992)
Child Role: Young Tommy
Music: Dana P. Rowe Lyrics/Book: John Dempsey
Musical Type: Contemporary (2000)
Child Role: Little Girl
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: David Zippel Book: Charlotte Jones
Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)
Child Role: Child
Music: Jeanine Tesori Lyrics/Book: Brian Crawley
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1997)
Child Role: Young Vi
Music: Frank Wildhorn Lyrics/Book: Jack Murphy Book: Gregory Boyd
Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)
Child Role: Chloe
Want a weekly list of stagey surprises?!
Which of these musicals with kids in them is your favorite?
Or have you ever played a role in any of the above musicals with kids in them? 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 holds a BA in theatre, a TESOL drama certificate, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.