My daughter may be in college now, but we still catch as many shows as we can at the beloved New Victory Theater. That’s a testament to its reputation as New York’s premier performing arts destination for families, with programming that entertains and engages kids and adults alike–so you never outgrow its offerings. Sure, sometimes we bring a 6-year-old cousin along, but just as often we don’t!
Right on 42nd Street in Times Square, the off-Broadway theater has been the go-to destination for enjoyable, enriching, and affordable theater for young audiences and their grown-ups since 1995. With hands-on workshops, pre-show activities, post-show photo ops, and performances tailored to kids with autism and other sensory, social, and learning disabilities, the nonprofit has introduced multiple generations to the magic of the performing arts and raised the bar for what family theater can be.
As a theater enthusiast and longtime New Victory fan myself, I'm thrilled to share a preview of the venue’s 2024-25 season, including the best shows for different ages and tips on how to save money on tickets.
Latest Videos
The New Victory's 2024-25 season features nine family-friendly shows from across the globe, representing a wide range of genres, including circus, dance, and puppetry. Tickets start at just $23 including fees (that’s less than an IMAX movie!) and top out at $69, so they sell quickly. Get in early for the best pricing and seating options.
Pro tip: If you book three or more shows, you automatically become a New Victory member, which means you save 30% on tickets and 25% on family workshops. You also enjoy unlimited, free date changes up to the day before your scheduled performance.
Best Shows for the Whole Family
Yuletide Factory
Saturday, November 23 – Sunday, December 29, 2024
Ages 5 and older
As always, the New Victory celebrates the holiday season with a circus spectacle–although Cirque Mechanics is no ordinary big top. This Las Vegas troupe puts on some of the most visually stunning and ingenious circus shows I’ve ever seen, a mix of evocative aesthetics and wonderful, wordless stories. For Cirque Mechanics’ sixth production at the New Victory, the talented acrobats, aerialists, and jugglers transform an oppressive workshop into a fun, feat-filled Christmas factory that would make elves envious.
For individuals on the autism spectrum, with sensory sensitivity, or anyone who may benefit from a relaxed theater experience, there will be a sensory-friendly performance on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at 5pm.
Get tickets to Yuletide Factory >
MOYA
Saturday, April 12 – Saturday, April 27, 2025
Ages 5 and older
Cape Town's Zip Zap Circus is behind this thrilling extravaganza that highlights traditional South African dance forms, such as gumboot and pantsula alongside juggling and acrobatics. Get a taste of the rich culture of the Rainbow Nation in this diverse and dazzling showcase.
For individuals on the autism spectrum, with sensory sensitivity, or anyone who may benefit from a relaxed theater experience, there will be a sensory-friendly performance on Sunday, April 27, 2024, at 4pm.
Best Show for Preschoolers
New Shoes
Performed at New 42 Studios
Friday, November 1 – Sunday, November 10, 2024
Ages 2 to 5
Puppeteer/performer Tian Gombau shares the joy of discovery in this 30-minute show created specifically for very young audiences. A little boy, represented by a box and a pair of shoes, explores the wonders of his hometown as he strolls through the streets looking for a sweet treat. Spanish folk songs underscore his journey. An excellent introduction to live theater with lots of seating options for fidgety tots, including floor cushions, low benches, and chairs.
Note: The show will be performed entirely in Spanish on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at 4 pm.
Best Shows for Kids
The Princess and the Pea
Saturday, October 19 – Sunday, October 27, 2024
Ages 4 to 7
A humorous, high-energy riff on Hans Christian Andersen's classic, this 50-minute romp from the UK is told entirely through clowning, slapstick, and acrobatics. Hardly a word is spoken in this story of a princess who, instead of pursuing a prince as in the original fairy tale, must prove her identity to her servants after a rainstorm ruins her royal appearance. Perfect for kids who aren’t old enough for Broadway’s Princess and the Pea musical Once Upon a Mattress. And wear your PJs–because every performance is one big pajama party!
For individuals on the autism spectrum, with sensory sensitivity, or anyone who may benefit from a relaxed theater experience, there will be a sensory-friendly performance on Sunday, October 27, 2024, at 3pm.
Get tickets to The Princess and the Pea >
Baba Yaga and the Firebird
Saturday, November 9 – Sunday, November 17, 2024
Ages 7 and older
Inspired by Slavic folklore and developed at New Victory LabWorks, this hour-long musical with puppets centers on a young princess and a peasant boy, both facing profound losses, who visit famed witch Baba Yaga for assistance. The two creators, Anton Dudley and Faye Chiao, do everything, including playing the music and all 15 characters!
Get tickets to Baba Yaga and the Firebird >
The Magic City
Saturday, March 29 – Sunday, April 6
Ages 6 and older
The endlessly inventive multimedia collective Manual Cinema is behind The Magic City, which is about 9-year-old Philomena, who is wary of her older sister’s upcoming wedding. So she builds an urban dreamscape from books, toys, and found objects to keep the real world at bay. Based on Edith Nesbit’s century-old children’s book, this fantastical story is told via puppets, live music, miniatures, and actors.
Get tickets to The Magic City >
Best Shows for Tweens
Little Murmur
Friday, January 10 – Sunday, January 19, 2025
Ages 8 and older
Choreographer Aakash Odedra created this intensely personal dance-theater piece inspired by his experiences with dyslexia. In this compelling solo work, a dancer interacts with eye-popping projections and a stimulating soundscape, sharing a sense of what it's like navigating life with a learning disability. Stick around after the show: Every performance is followed by a 15-minute talkback. Presented in partnership with Under the Radar.
Get tickets to Little Murmur >
Nuttin’ but a Word
Saturday, February 15 – Sunday, February 23, 2025
Ages 8 and older
This is Rennie Harris' seventh show at the New Victory—more than any other artist! A longtime champion of hip-hop street dance, the Philadelphia-based choreographer devises jaw-dropping moves for the members of his Puremovement American Street Dance Theater ensemble in this exhilarating and kinetic hour-long show.
Get tickets to Nuttin’ but a Word >
Song of the North
Saturday, March 15 – Sunday, March 23, 2025
Ages 8 and older
Inspired by the Shahnameh, an ancient, epic Iranian poem, this breathtaking shadow puppet show centers on a princess who must save her beloved from danger as two nations threaten to go to war. Iranian-born multi-disciplinary artist Hamid Rahmanian created, designed, and directed this saga featuring 483 handmade puppets performing against enchanting animated projections.
Get tickets to Song of the North >
Awesome Extras
In addition to productions, the New Victory offers pre-show activities that are FREE for ticket holders, and frequent post-show photo ops with the performers. You'll also find an on-site café where you can purchase snacks; free lockers; stroller parking; a Cozy Zone with comfy cushions, books; and a screen with a live feed of the performance if you need to leave your seats for any reason. New this year: an Accessibility Table where you can grab fidget toys and earplugs, or borrow ear defenders, light sensitivity sunglasses, and wheelchairs.
Other New Victory extras of note:
- Family Workshops: The New Victory is hosting six hands-on workshops in tandem with its shows. Learn acrobatic basics or other circus skills. You can also try your hand at hip-hop dance, musical theater, shadow puppetry, and telling theatrical tales. Tickets must be purchased in advance and space is extremely limited. These sell out fast!
- Sensory-Friendly Performances: As part of the venue's commitment to welcoming all audiences, the New Victory presents sensory-friendly performances of select shows where theatergoers can be themselves without fear of judgment. Special features include modified lighting and sound, only partially dimmed house lights, specialists and support resources, along with the Cozy Zone and Accessibility Table. Check out this season's sensory-friendly lineup.
- Additional Accessibility Info: With its commitment to accessibility, the New Victory offers American Sign Language interpretation for individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing and audio description for those who are blind or have low vision at select performances. Wheelchair accessible seating is available at every performance, and trained service dogs are always welcome.
For additional details about the 2024-25 season, and to view showtimes and buy tickets, be sure to visit the New Victory Theater's website.
Photo by Greg Wong courtesy of the New Victory Theater