The best Broadway shows to see with your parents

These Broadway plays and musicals feature timeless stories, songs, and humor and are perfect options for adult families looking to have an entertaining time.

Do you need to plan a weekend in New York City for your parents, who think you are their personal tour guide? Are your in-laws, who you want to impress, finally coming for a visit? Maybe your mom, who works too much and you miss terribly, has a long layover from a work trip, and you have just enough time to dazzle her with your grown-up life in the Big Apple. The answer to all is Broadway.

Taking your family to a big, brassy musical or a thought-provoking drama on Broadway is the equivalent of holding a trump card. It says, “I live in New York, and my life is exciting.” The world-class sets, dazzling costumes, live orchestras, and top-tier talent will impress anyone — even your steely father-in-law.

Experiencing the magic of a Broadway show with your family — whether you hang out often otherwise or not — is unparalleled. A pre-show dinner and a post-show drink make for a perfect night out. Seeing theatre also offers an opportunity to sit quietly in the dark and avoid conversation, if that’s what you want.

Check out our guide to the best shows to see with your parents, whether they’re coming for a visit or you’re in charge of the family trip to New York.

Get tickets to a Broadway show on New York Theatre Guide.

Chicago

Chicago has razzle-dazzled audiences for decades for good reason. The iconic Bob Fosse choreography and catchy show tunes like “All That Jazz” have helped make this John Kander and Fred Ebb musical one of the longest-running shows on Broadway. There’s no question — your parents will love it.

The true crime story follows a cabaret singer and a housewife in Prohibition-era Chicago, both accused of killing their husbands. Paint the town at Chicago today.

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A Beautiful Noise

Parents love jukebox musicals, especially ones featuring their generation's beloved music. If your family road trips were set to tunes like “Sweet Caroline” and “Forever in Blue Jeans,” then A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical is your ticket.

The musical showcases the legend’s greatest hits and tells the story of his life and career, from his start in Brooklyn to the world’s biggest stages. Good times never seemed so good!

Get A Beautiful Noise tickets now.

Shucked

This musical has a lot of heartland heart, making it a perfect show for parents visiting from outside the city. Added bonus if your parents are sitcom fans, for Shucked has the feel of one, packing its runtime with nonstop one-liners and puns, many about corn.

Shucked is about a farmgirl who seeks outside help when her isolated rural town's corn crop starts to die. The 2023 Best Musical Tony nominee features countrified show tunes and celebrates family — the blood and found kinds.

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Back to the Future: The Musical

Whether the original movie came out when you were growing up or when your parents were, you can all agree that it brings back 1.21 gigawatts of nostalgia and fun. Plus, its time-bending story is really one about family: Teenager Marty McFly has to get his parents back together when he time-travels to 1955 and almost breaks them up while there.

He bonds with his parents more in the process and even changes all their futures for the better. You might bond with your parents at this show, too, while rocking out to "Johnny B. Goode" and "The Power of Love" together.

Get Back to the Future: The Musical tickets now.

For more information about family-oriented Broadway shows and NYC attractions and experiences, check out our guides to the best things to do in New York City and NYC trips with kids.