Circus Abyssinia's brand-new spectacle Tulu leaves you wanting more—in the best possible way. The exhilarating Ethiopian troupe returns to the New Victory Theater with Tulu, a cavalcade of gravity-defying athletic acts in tribute to the legendary long-distance runner Derartu Tulu, the first African woman to win an Olympic gold medal. Featuring a cast of nine and running just an hour, Tulu is smaller and more intimate than Circus Abyssinia's last eye-popping extravaganza, Ethiopian Dreams, which played at the New Vic in 2018. But there are benefits to the scaled-down scope, especially for families. Because of the abbreviated running time, very young theatergoers likely won't get fidgety and audiences of all ages will be in awe of the performers' versatility!

Read on to find out about the fabulous feats you'll see and find all our top New Victory picks this season in our Guide to Children's Theater in NYC.

When NYC’s theaters reopened last fall, the first place my daughter asked to go was the New Victory Theater. Keep in mind, she's in high school! But her warm feelings for New York's award-winning, year-round family theater are a testament to the appeal and breadth of the New Victory's programming. Even though she's aged out of some of the shows, many offerings entertain audiences of all ages, including hard-to-please tweens.

Located in the heart of Times Square, the New Victory has been the go-to destination for entertaining, enriching, and affordable theater for young audiences since 1995. And with hands-on workshops, interactive pre- and post-show activities, and performances tailored to kids with autism or other sensory, social, or learning disabilities, the nonprofit organization raises the bar for what children's theater can be. As an enthusiastic and longtime New Victory fan, I'm thrilled to share a preview of the theater's 2022-2023 season, including the best shows for different ages and how to save money on tickets.

The New Victory's 2022-23 season features nine family-friendly shows from across the globe, representing a wide range of genres, including circus shows, puppetry performances, and musicals. Make a night (or a day) of it by catching a performance, attending a pre-show activity, grabbing a bite to eat, and even hitting a few offbeat attractions nearby. Tickets are just $20 to $69 and sell fast so purchase early for the best pricing and seating options. Note that theatergoers ages 2+ must be masked, while vaccination is recommended, but not required.

Pro Tip: If you book three or more shows, you automatically become a New Victory member, which means you save 40% on tickets and 25% on family workshops, plus enjoy unlimited, free date changes up to 48 hours before showtime.

Think the dog days of summer are a cultural wasteland? That's not the case when it comes to the theater for kids—New York City's family theater scene is hotter than an unshaded sandbox during the summer, and this year is no exception.

There are shows for kids of all ages, interests, and budgets throughout the summer season, including FREE theater for kids options such as outdoor Shakespeare, a bilingual take on The Wizard of Oz, and a puppet show touring to parks throughout the five boroughs. And the theater for kids shows that do cost money are typically less than $25 per person.