One of the most spectacular holiday displays in NYC, Shine Bright features over 2 million holiday lights illuminating the entire neighborhood. Photo courtesy of Hudson Yards
Christmas Vacation in NYC: 38 Staycation Ideas for Things To Do with Kids
Skate beneath the historic Brooklyn Bridge while taking in the iconic views of the Manhattan skyline at Roebling Rink. Photo courtesy of venue
Christmas Weekend 2024 in NYC Top Things To Do: Make Music NYC, BCM Birthday & Hanukkah
Until January 5, The Paley Museum has been transformed into a five-story winter wonderland.
Santa Photos, Classic Films, and More Holiday Magic at PaleyLand
GUIDE
Holidays in NYC: Ultimate Guide to Christmas, Hanukkah, & Seasonal Fun
Head to the Queens Botanical Garden to experience mysterious rainforests, underwater kingdoms, and ancient cultures as part of the Lektrik lantern festival. Photo courtesy of Fever
What's Open on Christmas Day in NYC: A List of Awesome Things To Do
The Dyker Heights Christmas lights attract throngs of visitors to the Brooklyn neighborhood each holiday season. Photo courtesy of Dyker Heights Lights
Christmas in New York: 49 Holiday Activities To Do in NYC Before Your Kids Grow Up
The Tianyu Lights Festival transforms the Citi Field parking lot into a magical holiday destination with larger-than-life lanterns and kid-friendly activities. Photo courtesy of the festival
Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities in New York City for Kids
Santa is a busy man, so reservations are required to visit Santland at Macy's Herald Square in New York City in 2024. Photo by Marisa Iallonardo
Macy's Santaland NYC: When and How to See Santa at Herald Square in 2024
Toys for Tots brings Christmas joy to children in need. Photo courtesy of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation
Toys for Tots 2024 Drop-Off Spots in NYC and More Places to Donate Toys
Bryant Park's Bumper Cars are a mainstay of late-winter fun in the park. Photo by Janet Bloom
Ultimate Winter Bucket List: 49 Best Things To Do with Kids in NYC
Enjoy the Coca-Cola Winter Wonderland experience at the Apollo for free. Photo courtesy of the Apollo
36 Free Holiday and Christmas Events in NYC for Kids
The stunning Peace, Love, and Lights drive-thru at Bethel Woods returns for another season of bringing visitors joy.
Best Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows near NYC
The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is an iconic NYC holiday destination. Photo courtesy of Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree 2024: A Local Parent's Inside Tips
Celebrate the start of the holiday season at Calypso, Carols, and Cocoa: The Dumbo Holiday Lighting. Photo by Hassan Mokaddam
Best Christmas Tree Lightings in NYC with Fun Activities for Kids, Plus Menorah Lightings, Too
Don't Let The Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical takes the stage at the Queens Theater. Photo by Jeremy Daniel/TheaterWorks USA
22 Best Things To Do in NYC December 2024 with Kids
Lightscape at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden has become an enchanting holiday tradition for many families. Photo courtesy of the garden
Holiday and Christmas Events in NYC to Book Now!
The 2024-2025 NYC public school calendar is out, and students return to school on Thursday, September 5.
Here's the NYC Public School Calendar for 2024-2025
Visit the 180 Pool at the Crystal Springs Resort. Photo courtesy of the resort
14 Family-Friendly Weekend Getaways near NYC
Climb on platforms dangling from ropes at Hester Street Playground. Photo by Jody Mercier
NYC's Best Playgrounds: 21 Parks Worthy of a Subway Schlep
Diving into the sprinkle pool at the Museum of Ice Cream is a great way to cure rainy day blues. Photo by Jody Mercier
47 Fun Indoor Activities in NYC for a Rainy Day
Kids' classes like art lessons can help your NYC child grow and develop
GUIDE
Guide to NYC Classes for Kids
Explore modern humanity through all-new world-wandering exhibitions at Mmuseumm.
Weird, Wacky, and Wonderful Under-the-Radar Museums in NYC that Kids Love
Hell's Kitchen is a cool coming-of-age piece loosely based on Alicia Keys' life story. Photo by Marc J. Franklin
Best New Broadway Shows This Season Plus Can't-Miss Classics for Families
The Peninsula New York rolls out the red carpet for kids—and their grown ups!
Family-Friendly Hotels in New York City with Perks for Kids
For an only-in-NYC experience, head to the Top of the Rock to enjoy the view. Photo by Jody Mercier
Best Attractions and Things To Do near NYC that are Kid-Friendly
Summer camps help kids develop social skills and have fun
GUIDE
NYC Summer Camp Guide
Tea Around Town combines a sumptuous meal with a unique view NYC landmarks! Photo by Jody Mercier
25 Best NYC Tours for Families: From Boat Rides to Free Walking Tours and More
Twinkle Playspace in Williamsburg offers action-packed fun for kids of all ages.
21 Top Indoor Play Spaces in New York City
The American Museum of Natural History's blue whale is an NYC icon, and the entire museum is one of the best children's museums in NYC. Photo by R. Mickens/courtesy of AMNH
Best Museums for Kids in NYC: Children's Museums and Family-Friendly Museums in NYC
Free activities for Kids in NYC include the Children's Museum of the Arts, which has pay-what-you-wish Thursdays from 4-6pm. Photo courtesy of the museum
GUIDE
Free Things To Do in NYC with Kids
GUIDE
Guide to Kids' Birthday Parties in NYC
Registration is now open for the reasonably priced summer camps at YMCA locations in NYC.
Free and Cheap Summer Camps in NYC for Kids
There's always a cool new piece of public art to see and interact with in NYC. Photo by Jody Mercier
101 Free Things To Do in NYC with Kids
The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk has 75 animal exhibits and is home to more than 7,000 animals. Photo courtesy of the aquarium
Best Aquariums to Visit from the NYC Metro Area with Kids
Get a Broadway-caliber serenade during a birthday dinner at Ellen's Stardust Diner.
Best Fun Restaurants for Kids' Birthdays in NYC
Photo courtesy of PLAY Greenpoint.
GUIDE
Indoor Playgrounds, Play Spaces, and Fun Zones in NYC
See the skyline from a whole new vantage point on the Roosevelt Island Tram. Photo courtesy of NYCGo
100 Things To Do in NYC With Kids Before They Grow Up
Get a birds eye view of the skyline from the Edge observation deck at Hudson Yards. Plan a visit near sundown to watch the city lights come to life. Photo by Jody Mercier
3 Days in NYC with Kids: Ultimate Itinerary by a Local Mom
Feed a crowd with extra large, classic, New York-style pizza slices without breaking the bank. Photo by Jody Mercier
NYC on a Budget: Cheap Things To Do and Money Saving Tips for Families
These boredom-busting activities turn a stuck-at-home day into a lasting memory.
75 Indoor Activities for Kids on a Rainy Day
The Met offers pay-what-you wish admission at all times to New Yorkers and kids always attend for free. Photo by Jody Mercier
Free Museums and Free Museum Days in NYC for Kids
No visit to NYC is complete without an up-close encounter with the Statue of Liberty. Photo by Jess Laird
40 Best NYC Attractions to Do with Kids Right Now
Teach 'em to tie during downtime.
65 Life Skills to Teach Kids at Every Age
Take a hike with your little one on a family day trip from NYC.
GUIDE
Family Day Trips and Weekend Getaways for NYC Kids
Creating a baking soda volcano is a classic science experiment for kids. Photo by Sara Marentette Nighswander
67 Easy Science Experiments for Kids To Do at Home
The Ausable Chasm has been described as the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks and it's one of our top 100 things to do in New York State with kids. Photo by Anna Fader
100 Things To Do in New York State with Kids Before They Grow Up
Hester Street Playground. Photo by Jody Mercier
GUIDE
Playgrounds & Parks NYC Guide
Kids can while away hours of a day with a set of watercolors and a stack of new paper for painting. Photo by Sara Marentette
Crafts for Kids: 100 Awesome Art Projects
Suncatcher_Liz Baill @creativishmom
GUIDE
Boredom Busters for Kids

Musical Theater Classes in NYC Where Kids Can Sing, Dance, and Act

Harlem School of the Arts has been providing musical theater classes and more arts education in the storied neighborhood since 1964. Photo courtesy of Harlem School of the Arts
Harlem School of the Arts has been providing musical theater classes and more arts education in the storied neighborhood since 1964. Photo courtesy of Harlem School of the Arts
10/10/22 - By Jacqueline Stansbury

Many of our New York City kids grow up on musical theater. It is, after all, right here in our backyard. Inevitably once they're introduced to the magic of seeing a Broadway show, some of them are going to want to move out of the audience and onto the stage, which is where these musical theater classes in NYC come in handy. Luckily, we live in a place where there are as many ways to be in a show as there are to see a show.

The camaraderie of a troupe of performers can equal the team experience of sports—and then, of course, there are those kids who were just born to be center stage. They gotta sing. They gotta dance. They gotta emote. Help them hone their craft with one of our favorite musical theater classes in NYC.

For more great classes for kids, including everything from dance classes in NYC to music classes for babies, check out our New York City Classes for Kids Guide and Classes Directory.

Subscribe to our newsletters to get stories like this delivered directly to your inbox.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

TADA! Youth Theater offers musical theater classes and camps, plus mounts its own Broadway-style productions with a troupe of talented kid actors. Photo courtesy of TADA! Youth Theater
TADA! Youth Theater offers musical theater classes and camps, plus mounts its own Broadway-style productions with a troupe of talented kid actors. Photo courtesy of TADA! Youth Theater

Musical Theater Classes in NYC for Kids

Harlem School of the Arts - Harlem Summer Arts Experience

Harlem
Founded in 1964 by internationally acclaimed African American soprano Dorothy Maynor, Harlem School of the Arts (HSA) offers instruction in music, dance, theater, musical theater, and media and design to children ages 2-18. The summer arts camp program is open to kids ages 5-12, giving kids the opportunity to sing, dance, act, and design, all while immersing themselves in the creative history of Harlem with guest artists, special trips, and opportunities to present their work each session. READ MORE

TADA! Youth Theater - Camps & Classes

Chelsea
TADA! is offering super fun, interactive online musical theater classes for ages 2-18, plus private lessons and programs for homeschooling pods. There's music and movement for toddlers, musical theater training for kids, extensive vocal and choreography training for teens, and more. READ MORE

A Class Act NY - Classes

Midtown West
Broadway professionals and on-camera actors teach all of A Class Act NY's weekly classes in musical theater, drama, on-camera, and voice-over acting. Advanced young actors and kids of all skill levels ages 5-18 can learn a lot in ongoing class sessions, all while creating new memories and friendships along the way. The studio's mission is to enrich children’s lives through the magic of performing arts in a fun, safe, and supportive environment. READ MORE

Play On! Studios

Upper West Side
At Play On! Studio's theater day camps and classes, young actors rehearse and perform in a full production, work with professional NYC actors/teaching artists, and build up their skills in a nurturing, non-competitive environment. Campers get to enjoy lots of drama games. The after-school musical theater program incorporates character building, vocal performance, and movement. READ MORE

Atlantic Acting School Classes for Kids & Teens

Chelsea
Atlantic Acting School has been training actors for more than 30 years. The programs for kids and teens, ages 4 to 18, focuses on storytelling, building characters, and producing shows. Budding artists can take classes in film, acting, musical theater, improv, sketch comedy, and more.  READ MORE

Brooklyn Arts Exchange

Park Slope, Brooklyn
Offering more affordable prices than many of its counterparts, this arts center provides tumbling, dance, and theater classes to kids ages 3 and up. Choose from modern dance, ballet, and hip-hop for tweens and great movement classes for the toddler set. More advanced dancers (ages 9-18) may be invited to participate in Dance Performance Workshops, in which they'll deepen their study of dance technique and work on original choreography. READ MORE

Bronx House

Morris Park, the Bronx
Bronx House is an active community center offering a broad scope of class and camp programs, including parent-child swimming lessons starting at 6 months, independent swimming lessons, music instruction on a variety of instruments, dance classes, and acting lessons. Parent-and-me classes cover everything from games and songs to art and music. Summer camp programs include STEM programs, nature programs, and more. READ MORE

Applause Performing Arts

Upper East Side
Applause offers a comprehensive performing arts program with group classes and private instruction in theater, dance, and even backstage skills for kids who are more interested in remaining behind the scenes. Film classes cover acting, TV, editing, and YouTube.  READ MORE

Staten Island Children's Theatre Association

Snug Harbor, Staten Island
Offering two musical productions annually, Staten Island Children's Theatre has a program for kids ages 5 to 8, and another for kids 9 to 18. Many of the teachers are alumni of the program. READ MORE

Garden Players

Forest Hills, Queens
Founded in 1916, Garden Players has been bringing musical theater education to Forest Hills for over 100 years. A new musical is developed annually. In addition to theater production, there are classes targeting improv and audtioning. Private instruction is available for musicians and actors ages 5-100. READ MORE

Chickenshed NYC Theatre Company

Midtown West
Chickenshed offers a "No Audition" program with a mission of inclusivity and a high teacher-to-student ratio. The youngest thespians perform for each other, then graduate to public productions. Older students are encouraged to mentor the young ones and get to perform onstage for a live audience. READ MORE

Places featured in this article: