All the World’s a Stage!
At Jersey Family Fun, we most enjoy providing our readers with ideas about where to spend time with your kids. We review playgrounds, amusement parks, museums and places where kids can be kids, but we also like to suggest places you may not think of for your little ones. Brace yourselves for this suggestion – the theater is also a great place for kids!
A guide to local upcoming family theater productions and shows at New Jersey performing art centers, theatres, and theaters.
I admit that I love living so close to New York City, for the mere fact that I can enjoy the lights and magic of a Broadway show in less than a 2 hours drive. However, New Jersey has a plethora of theaters that offer top notch children’s performances of all genres. From magic shows, to bands, to plays and musicals, these fun performances offer something for even the youngest audience member. Why not take a break from all of today’s technical entertainment and introduce your children to the wonderful world of the performing arts.
5 Reasons to Bring Your Kids to Local Theater Productions in New Jersey
- No need to travel! High schools, middle schools, even elementary schools put on productions. The time it takes to get to New York or any other city for a show can be prohibitive, not to mention the late starting time of many professional productions.
- Easy on your wallet. While Broadway shows can cost hundreds of dollars for a night out (just for the tickets, forget about transport and food), a night at a local show can be cheaper than a movie ticket. Costs do vary, but we’ve seen shows as low as $5/ticket.
- Support your community. That money you spent on tickets? It goes back into the school you are supporting. Help ensure future shows by seeing one this year!
- See a future Broadway star. Shanice Williams, the star of NBC’s The Wiz was very recently on the stage at Rahway High School, and a cast member from the mega hit “Hamilton” danced and sang on the stage at Linden High School. There are thousands of stories like that throughout our state.
- Nurture the star quality in your own child!
As parents we believe we know what our kids like. But the truth is, until they’re exposed to some activities, they don’t even know what they themselves will like. Maybe you think your active son only likes sports, or your shy daughter has no interest watching outgoing people sing and dance. Watching could lead to a passion for performing from a child you thought was shy or sporty. There’s a place in the theater for everyone and there are actual Broadway classes at many dance/music studios.
Need more convincing that the theater is a place for your children?
I recently sat down with Brooke Moriber, a local musician who got her start on the Broadway stage. She recently opened for the Gin Blossoms at Montclair’s Wellmont Theater and talked with us about her career path, and the importance theater had for her rise in fame. After multiple roles on and off Broadway, she is now writing and performing her own music. Brooke’s mother Suellen had been an actress, and nurtured Brooke’s determination and talent. After ballet classes and piano classes, Brooke was discovered by a manager, who heard her sing and led to her role as Young Cosette in Les Miserables. Her career in theater has brought her on stage with Cyndi Lauper and working with great mentors. Her advice to parents about kids and theater? “They have to want to do it.” It’s a long road of hard work, but Brooke would say it’s led her to her true passion of a recording career. Suellen’s advice? “Let them follow their passion.”
For venues, theaters, theatres, and others interested in promotional opportunities on Jersey Family Fun, please contact Jennifer, Publisher.
Local Upcoming Family Theater Productions
Upcoming Atlantic County Theater Productions
- Eagle Theater, Hammonton, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
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- Stockton Performing Arts Center, Pomona, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
Upcoming Bergen County Theater Productions
- Porch Light Theater, Glen Rock, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
- Bergen Performing Arts Center, Bergen, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
Upcoming Burlington County Theater Productions
- Bridge Players Theater Company, Burlington, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
- Burlington County Footlighters, Cinnaminson, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
- Moorestown Theater Company, Moorestown, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
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- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
- Rowan College Lamplight Players, Pemberton, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
Upcoming Camden County Theater Productions
- Ritz Theatre Company, Haddon, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
Upcoming Cape May County Theater Productions
- Robert Shakleton Playhouse, Cape May, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
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- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
- Ocean City Music Pier, Ocean City Boardwalk
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
Upcoming Cumberland County Theater Productions
- Luciano Theatre at Cumberland College, Vineland, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
- Cumberland Players, Vineland, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
- Levoy Theater, Millville, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
Upcoming Essex County Theater Productions
- Papermill Playhouse, Millburn, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
- New Jersey Performing Arts center, Newark, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
- South Orange Performing Arts Center, South Orange, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
- Studio Playhouse, Upper Montclair, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
Upcoming Gloucester County Theater Productions
- Broadway Theater of Pitman, Pitman, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
Upcoming Hudson County Theater Productions (As of September 2016)
- West Hudson Arts & Theater Company – Kearny
- Coming soon
Upcoming Hunterdon County Theater Productions
- Showkids Invitational- Glen Gardener, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
Upcoming Mercer County Theater Productions
- McCarter Theater, Princeton, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
- Kelsey Theater @ Mercer County Community College, West Windsor, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
Upcoming Middlesex County Theater Productions
- Plays in the Park, Edison NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
- The State Theater, New Brunswick, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
Upcoming Monmouth County Theater Productions
- Brookdale Performing Arts Center, Lincroft, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
- Two River Theater, Red Bank, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
- Monmouth University Performing Arts Center, Long Branch, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
- Count Basie Theater, Red Bank, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
- Paper Moon Puppet Theater, Atlantic Highlands, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
- Axelrod Performing Arts Center, Deal, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
Upcoming Morris County Theater Productions
- MAYO Performing Arts Center, Morristown, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
- Bickford Theater, Morristown, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
- The Growing Stage Theater, Netcong, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
- Pax Amicus Theater, Budd Lake, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
- Brundage Park Playhouse, Randolph, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
Upcoming Ocean County Theater Productions
- Stafford Township Arts Center, Manahawkin, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
- Ocean County Community College, Jay and Linda Grunim Center for the Arts, Toms River, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
Upcoming Passaic County Theater Productions
- Rhino Theater, Pompton Lakes, NJ
- Coming soon
Upcoming Somerset County Theater Productions
- Villagers Theater, Somerset, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
- Raritan Valley Community College Theater, North Branch, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
Upcoming Sussex County Theater Productions
Upcoming Union County Theater Productions (as of September 2016)
- Union County Performing Arts Center, Rahway, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
- Cranford Dramatic Club
- Upcoming Performances
Upcoming Warren County Theater Productions
- Centenary Stage Company, Hackettstown, NJ
- Upcoming Performances
- Coming soon
- Upcoming Performances
For more information on children’s theater performances check out our Jersey Family Fun Calendar of Events.