First NY trip & show for 11 year old

[Anonymous]

Hello DCUM!

My grandson's 11th birthday is fast approaching. Recently, i took him to see the live production of The Addams Family and he loved it! This got me to thinking about a trip to New York and a Broadway show. It would be his first. Do any of you have show recommendations?

Thanks in advance?

[Anonymous]

The Lion King or Aladdin or the Harry Potter play if he has already read all the books.

[Anonymous]

Depending on his interests:

Hadestown if he likes musicals and mythology
Harry Potter for obvious reasons
Six if he likes pop music and history (Tudor)
Operation Mincemeat if he likes comedy, British humor and WW2 history
Lion King for classic, big spectacle though he might think he's "too old" for it (he isn't)
Wicked if he loved the movie and wants to know what happens next

I have an almost 11yo son and we live in NYC. These have been his favorites recently.

[Anonymous]

Hamilton!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hamilton!

I actually left it out deliberately because the proshot is SO good and the recent casts I have seen on Broadway have been lackluster. It's a great show but I think you may do better catching it on tour if that's an option, or watching on DisneyPlus.

[Anonymous]

Both Six and Hamilton have adultery story lines, so decide if your kid is ready for that.

My 11 yo loved the Harry Potter play and all the magic.

[Anonymous]

Wicked rocks

[Anonymous]

I just took my 10-yr old to wicked for her first NYC trip. She LOVED it! Also, check out John’s pizzeria of times square for delicious pizza.

[Anonymous]

We just saw the new show Boop! and it was amazing!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depending on his interests:

Hadestown if he likes musicals and mythology
Harry Potter for obvious reasons
Six if he likes pop music and history (Tudor)
Operation Mincemeat if he likes comedy, British humor and WW2 history
Lion King for classic, big spectacle though he might think he's "too old" for it (he isn't)
Wicked if he loved the movie and wants to know what happens next

I have an almost 11yo son and we live in NYC. These have been his favorites recently.

I am Gen-X. I've seen a lot of theater. Lion King is just beautiful. I saw it on Broadway last year for the first time. Classic plot. Most I've ever spent on a ticket. It was worth it. I sat in D in the center. A little further back...F/G...might have been ideal. Some recommend sitting on the aisle because the life-size animal puppets do come down the aisle.

I would totally recommend Lion King over Six. Six looks fun but it's historically inaccurate.

[Anonymous]

Highly recommend the Lion King. I think Hadestown may be a bit too conceptual for an 11 year old (and it is a love story which your kid may or may not want). Six is also really fun but I think Lion King is better and has more of the broadway "wow" factor.

[Anonymous]

Back to the Future is a fun show.

[Anonymous]

Another HP vote. My 10 y/o daughter loved it! And I did too, and even my husband who has never read the books thought it was great. And it wasn't the most expensive of the plays we looked at.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just took my 10-yr old to wicked for her first NYC trip. She LOVED it! Also, check out John’s pizzeria of times square for delicious pizza.

I second John's Pizza times square - get pizza - get atmosphere. I recommend Lion King -- always a great show for all ages.

Other fun restaurants -- Ellen's Stardust -- the waiters sing and good breakfast food -- my kids always loved it.

Other idea -- my kids love the custom Levi's in Times Square -- we went in January 2025 and they had patches of NYC sewed into their jeans to remember the trip. Also, loved my gaming kid loved the Nintendo store -- right off Times Square and my soccer kid -- the Pele Soccer store now open in Times Square.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depending on his interests:

Hadestown if he likes musicals and mythology
Harry Potter for obvious reasons
Six if he likes pop music and history (Tudor)
Operation Mincemeat if he likes comedy, British humor and WW2 history
Lion King for classic, big spectacle though he might think he's "too old" for it (he isn't)
Wicked if he loved the movie and wants to know what happens next

I have an almost 11yo son and we live in NYC. These have been his favorites recently.

Loved all of these. But Hadestown is so dark.