Raven Snook

Raven is a writer, editor, performer and mom, who was born and bred in NYC, just like her husband, her mother and now, her daughter. In addition to Mommy Poppins, she has written about parenting and pop culture for New York Magazine, Time Out New York, The Village Voice, the New York Post, TV Guide and SheKnows. She's also the founder of Hot Mama Burlesque, the world's only all-moms burlesque show.

Latest posts by Raven Snook

Best Broadway Shows for Kids and Families in 2025

Submitted by Raven Snook on Fri, 08/08/2025 - 7:32am

Stranger Things: The First Shadow plays at the Marquis Theatre and gives the popular Neflix show a prequel. Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman

Whether you're visiting NYC or live here year-round, going to a Broadway show is a special family experience. Kids are sure to remember it vividly, and chances are parents won't soon forget the credit card bill. That's why it's important to pick a production wisely, especially when bringing young children to their first Broadway performance.

While Disney juggernauts The Lion King and Aladdin are popular options, there are other kid-friendly choices that aren't as obvious. We've rounded up our top Broadway shows for families and organized them by age appropriateness. Once you've picked a Broadway show, all that's left to do is book tickets. We've got you covered there, too, with our tips to save on Broadway tickets.

If you're looking for more options, browse our Family Activity Calendar for family shows beyond Broadway, and bookmark our Guide to Children's Theater for reviews and recommendations.

Best Holiday Shows in NYC for Kids

Submitted by Raven Snook on Fri, 11/22/2024 - 12:14pm

Annie takes over the stage at The Theater at Madison Square Garden this holiday season. Photo by Matthew Murphy

'Tis the season to get the gang all dressed up to see some holiday shows in NYC! While the city is lucky to have amazing Broadway shows for kids all year-round, during the holidays there are a range of joyous seasonal productions for families, from inexpensive, low-key offerings perfect for fidgety preschoolers, to over-the-top spectacles that are worth the investment.

From live stage adaptations of classics to amazing circus, dance, and impossible-to-describe performances, here are our top 14 holiday shows in NYC for families, and that's in addition to all those beautiful Nutcrackers. You can find additional show picks in our Guide to Children's Theater in NYC and more seasonal outings in our Holiday Fun Guide for NYC Kids.

The Best Family Shows of Off-Broadway's New Victory Theater 2024-25 Season

Submitted by Raven Snook on Thu, 09/26/2024 - 10:00am

The New Victory has been the go-to destination for enriching and affordable theater for families since 1995.

My daughter may be in college now, but we still catch as many shows as we can at the beloved New Victory Theater. That’s a testament to its reputation as New York’s premier performing arts destination for families, with programming that entertains and engages kids and adults alike–so you never outgrow its offerings. Sure, sometimes we bring a 6-year-old cousin along, but just as often we don’t!

Right on 42nd Street in Times Square, the off-Broadway theater has been the go-to destination for enjoyable, enriching, and affordable theater for young audiences and their grown-ups since 1995. With hands-on workshops, pre-show activities, post-show photo ops, and performances tailored to kids with autism and other sensory, social, and learning disabilities, the nonprofit has introduced multiple generations to the magic of the performing arts and raised the bar for what family theater can be.

As a theater enthusiast and longtime New Victory fan myself, I'm thrilled to share a preview of the venue’s 2024-25 season, including the best shows for different ages and tips on how to save money on tickets.

Get Your Tickets Now for The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze Hudson Valley

Submitted by Raven Snook on Tue, 08/13/2024 - 12:22pm

The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze returns to Van Cortlandt Manor for its 20th anniversary season.

The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze Hudson Valley is a must-do Halloween event in the tri-state area. Now in its 20th year, The Blaze Hudson Valley is a walk-through Halloween experience scheduled to run 61 nights between September and November 2024. Halloween season might seem far off, but the Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze is a perennial sell-out, and tickets just went on sale. Act fast to get yours or risk missing out.

For those traveling from NYC, the Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze is worth the splurge and is accessible via public transportation. The event even made our list of 100 things to do with kids in New York state before they grow up. Prefer to head east? Old Bethpage Village Restoration hosts the Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze Long Island.

Free Art and Theater Classes and Camps for NYC Teens

Submitted by Raven Snook on Mon, 08/14/2023 - 6:06pm

The 92NY's Program for Excellence in the Arts offers professional training to talented teens through its audition-based programs in performing and fine arts. Photo courtesy of 92NY

NYC's FREE art programs are one of the main reasons my family endures the challenges of raising kids in NYC. Whether your kids are into making theater, music, or fine art, there are myriad art programs in NYC that offer excellent training—and some are 100% FREE. Admittedly, these no-cost, audition-based performing and fine art programs are competitive, but they can be life-changing for talented, motivated kids and teens. Don't worry if your child doesn't get in the first time: Most of these organizations accept new participants annually, and sometimes it takes a few tries. As the mother of an art- and theater-loving daughter, I speak from experience!

Read on to find out how to apply to these FREE art programs in New York City. Deadlines for fall are coming up fast! You'll find more enriching programs for kids and teens, including our top picks for musical theater classes in NYC in our New York City Guide to Kids' Classes.

NYC's Shakespeare in the Park and More Classics: How to Get Tickets and Tips for Bringing Kids

Submitted by Raven Snook on Tue, 06/06/2023 - 9:59am

The Hudson River Classical Theater Company presents The Importance of Being Earnest in Riverside Park this summer. Photo by Daniel Cermak for the Hudson River Classical Theater Company

To see, or not to see Shakespeare in the Park with kids? That is the perpetual question when it comes to Shakespeare and other classics. While FREE outdoor mountings of the Bard's iconic plays abound in NYC every summer, some are more family-friendly than others. The Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park productions get all the press and feature big stars, but also involve hard-to-get tickets, long run times, and prickly patrons who may give you the stink eye if your child gets fidgety. Happily, lots of other local troupes put on quality, no-cost Shakespeare shows in various NYC parks. These revivals don't require tickets or reservations, are engaging and accessible, and often clock in at less than two hours, so your kids have a better chance of making it all the way through (and if they don't, just leave quickly and quietly—no money wasted!).

I started taking my daughter to outdoor Shakespeare when she was 7 and now, as a teen, she's totally hooked. Here are nine FREE classic shows to enjoy with your kids this summer, plus tips on how to make the most of the experience, and the lowdown on how to get tickets to Shakespeare in the Park if that's atop your list. Find all our picks for kid-friendly theater no matter the season in our Guide to Children's Theater in New York City.

NYC Puppet Shows, Workshops, and Festivals for Kids

Submitted by Raven Snook on Sun, 02/12/2023 - 1:09pm

The charming Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre presents reimagine classics with the old-school art of marionette puppet shows. Photo courtesy of the City Parks Foundation

These puppet shows in NYC are the perfect first-time theater experience. Even if your kids can't sit still for more than five minutes, chances are they'll make it through a puppet show. The colorful characters are captivating, the stories are often adaptations of familiar fairy tales, the tickets are FREE or cheap (and certainly a lot less than nabbing seats for our favorite Broadway shows). Puppet shows are also short, and if your kids make silly faces at the stage, the puppets won't get offended (and neither will the puppeteers—they get it).

While the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre in Central Park is the best-known destination for children's puppet shows in New York City, there are many other companies regularly mounting puppet shows for families, and a few offer birthday party packages.

A few other NYC theaters, notably the New Victory, also present puppet shows, like the upcoming Baobab and Wink. DR2 Theatre is also hosting a return engagement of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show. Be sure to check our Event Calendar for even more puppet fun, including a variety of interactive Puppetsburg puppet show productions.

Best Off-Broadway Shows for Kids: Affordable Children's Theater in NYC

Submitted by Raven Snook on Mon, 01/02/2023 - 10:28am

The off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors is perfectly set in a small theater, with big performances from its cast. Photo by Emilio Madrid-Kuser

Taking kids to a Broadway show is an exciting and memorable experience. It's also a pricey one. That's why it's worth looking beyond Broadway, where you'll find some long-running, kid-friendly shows that are less expensive, more offbeat, but just as special.

From a bubble-filled, surefire toddler hit to a hilarious slapstick comedy to those world-famous blue dudes, there are options for all ages and interests. We've even shared ways you can snag deeply discounted tickets. All of these Off-Broadway productions make great birthday party activities, too.

Latest posts by Raven Snook

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