Kids 18 and under go free: How to get the golden ticket to Broadway shows like 'Hamilton'
Some habits are best not acquired in childhood. Snacking. Procrastination. Too much TV.
But others are great to develop early. Theater, according to The Broadway League, is one of them. That's why, for 25 years, they've sponsored Kids' Night on Broadway, coming again Tuesday March 21.
What to expect
On that day, 20 shows will be free to kids 18 or under, provided they are accompanied by an adult paying full price. One show, "Six," because of its schedule, offer the same deal March 20.
That's 21 shows in all, including some of the most talked-about in New York: "Hamilton," "Hadestown," "Wicked," "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," "Leopoldstadt," "The Lion King," "MJ: The Musical" "Aladdin," "Some Like it Hot" and many others.
Many shows are offering talkbacks, activity books and "My First Broadway Show" stickers to post on Playbills. In addition, a number of local restaurants will be offering discounts.
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"If kids have never been, it's a great incentive for them to experience live theater," said Charlotte St. Martin, president of the Broadway League. "We believe it's important for kids to get introduced to Broadway. If they love it, it will be with them for the rest of their lives."
She knows — from experience. She herself caught the theater bug when she was a teen. A Broadway tour of "The King and I" came to Dallas.
"It changed my life," she said.
Taking it on the road
And of course, lots of Broadway shows do go on tour. Of the 30 million to 35 million people who see Broadway shows each year, 18 million see them on the road, St. Martin said. Which is why Kids' Night on Broadway is a national event. At least 20 cities will also have some version of the program this year.
"Our research shows that kids who went to the theater when they were young tend to go to theater all their lives," St. Martin said. "We know they are happier individuals. They go on to higher education. It's a win-win for everybody."
How to get tickets
If you want to give your child a taste of Broadway — what with the price of tickets these days ($132 per ticket is average) — this could be a painless way of finding out whether the stage is her cup of tea.
Tickets are on sale now, but they're liable to go quickly — given that the deal is for one performance only, and most Broadway theaters have seating of between 500 and 1,000.
"What's exciting is that they've awakened to something they've never done before," St. Martin said.
For more information, visit KidsNightonBroadway.com.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Kids' Night on Broadway: More than 20 shows offer free tickets
