Secret NYC Parenting Resource: Your Local College

School might be the last place you'd think of taking your kids for entertainment, but The City University of New York system features fantastic family fun on the syllabus all year ‘round. And the best part? You don’t even need to be an alumna to enjoy it. So whether your kid is into ballet, rock, reading, theater or the circus, your local CUNY college has got you covered—and usually at a much lower price than you’d pay for similar activities elsewhere.

Let us school you on your upcoming shows or check their sites for more upcoming performances:

Madeline and the Bad Hat
April 9, 2pm
$10
Kingsborough Community College
Performing Arts Center
2001 Oriental Boulevard
Brooklyn, NY 11235
718-368-5596

Ludwig Bemelmans’ Madeline has charmed countless girls for decades. Now, one of the books from that series, “Madeline and the Bad Hat,” is a musical. The “bad hat” in this case is not an item of clothing but the Spanish ambassador’s son, Pepito, a little boy with terrible manners. Will Madeline be able to save him when he gets into trouble? And will Pepito ever learn how to be a good friend? This production is appropriate for children ages 3-10.

Cirque Le Masque
April 19, 4pm
$35, $30, $25, $20, children under 12, $10
Lehman College Concert Hall
250 Bedford Park Boulevard West
Bronx, NY 10468
718-960-8833

Going to a circus in Manhattan can be more trouble than it’s worth: Huge crowds, huge ticket prices. Thankfully, Lehman offers a low-cost, low-stress alternative that’s close to home for Bronx mommies. Cirque Le Masque is an innovative circus troupe that utilizes special effects, acrobats, and gravity-defying gymnastics to create a unique experience.

Rainbow Fish
May 9, 1:30 pm
$25
Tribeca PAC @ Borough of Manhattan Community College
199 Chambers Street
Manhattan, NY 10007
212-220-1460

A national touring company has made a musical out of Rainbow Fish, the much-loved children’s book by Marcus Pfister. The plot is simple: The very attractive Rainbow Fish must learn to share her pretty scales with her friends. This is a fun way to teach your child how to be less selfish, and according to BMCC, it’s suitable for kids as young as 3.

You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown
May 13, 8pm
$10
Kingsborough Community College
MAC Playhouse
2001 Oriental Boulevard
Brooklyn, NY 11235
718-368-5528

The classic 60s Peanuts musical is revived for a new generation. Even if your child has never read the comic strips, he’ll feel for Charlie as he crushes on that Little Red-Haired Girl, and understand what Linus is going through as he struggles with his safety blanket issues. The only danger here is that your child might start nagging you for a dog like Snoopy.

Annie
May 17, 3pm
$40, $30
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts
Walt Whitman Theatre
2900 Campus Road
Brooklyn, NY 11210
718-951-4500

Here’s another musical based on a wildly popular comic strip. We doubt we have to explain the plot to you—especially if you grew up in the late 70s—but here’s a refresher anyway: A little girl with a whole lot of spunk is abandoned in a New Jersey orphanage where mean old Miss Hannigan is in charge. One day, Annie decides to try to find her parents. Her plan fails, but things look up when she suddenly finds herself chosen to stay with the very rich Daddy Warbucks. He wants to keep Annie permanently, but Annie is still holding out hope that her parents are alive. The beautiful score includes classics like “Tomorrow,” “We’d Like to Thank You, Herbert Hoover,” and “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile.”

Kingsborough College also has a free Sunday program of family friendly music and dance performances. These are kids programs, but many of them will be enjoyable for both you and your children, like the Japanese Drumming coming up on May 17th.