Performing Arts
NYC's amazing performing arts venues and companies have gone online to bring the healing power of music, theater and dance to our homes.
More culture from local faves on museum websites and online class.
Lincoln Center at Home
Watch #ConcertsForKids, short performances recorded by the world-class artists themselves as well as recorded previous performances of diverse music, dance and opera.
Weekdays at 2 pm join @LincolnCenterNYC on Facebook Live for creative learning activities led by some of world's best artists and educators. Learn puppetry, dance, songwriting and other art forms with simple materials found at home.
Carnegie Hall Musical Explorers
Learn about musical culture and tradition around the world with lessons plans, music and video featuring global artists.
CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY
Engage with the vast CMS archive of concerts and lectures including the Meet the Music family programs and Digging Downbeats with Wolfgang Amadeus Schmutzinberry. Weekly themed classical music playlists include fun assignments and activities.
LITTLE ORCHESTRA SOCIETY
Find interactive videos on writing melody, making pitched percussion and more musical topics plus short funny features with Professor Treblemaker, the star of one of our favorite kids concert music series.
TRUSTY SIDEKICK THEATER COMPANY
Watch archival videos of imaginative interactive family-friendly performances designed for as young as two-years-old. Also join the artists for on-demand peeks behind the scenes and creative mini-classes. New show posted each Monday.
EDUHAM AT HOME
Explore the world of the Broadway phenomenon Hamilton and America's founding era. Access free materials to create songs or scenes inspired by history. Follow in Lin-Manuel Miranda's footsteps, learning how he incorporated primary sources into the songs he wrote for the show. Includes video clips of the show; interviews with Miranda, Alexander Hamilton biographer Ron Chernow, and cast members; and primary source documents from the era, including love letters from Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Schuyler and essays from The Federalist.
Recommended for students in grades six-twelve but the videos are fun for all.
TREEHOUSE SHAKERS
This local family-friendly theater/dance company offers two of its shows online: Hatched (designed for babies through preschoolers) the story of a newborn chick who emerges from her shell to a strange, busy world told through movement, music, and puppets and Under the Tangle (ages 8+), the story of a young orphaned girl lost in a mysterious wooded labyrinth.
NEW VICTORY ARTS BREAK
New Victory Theatre, an amazing performing arts venue for families, shares opportunities for kids (and adults) to discover new skills inspired by their diverse shows.
Explore different forms of percussion, make puppets, get moving with choreographers plus watch excerpts from past and sadly cancelled productions.
STREAMING MUSIC/THEATER
- Broadway HD offers free 7-day trials of their their streaming live theater library. Family-friendly choices include Cats (live, not the creepy movie), Cathy Rigby's Peter Pan and Disney Broadway Hits at Royal Albert Hall.
- Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber releases one of his smash-hit musicals for free each Friday at 7 pm, available for 48 hours.
- London's National Theatre streams weekly shows from NT Live titles including Treasure Island.
Metropolitan Opera Streams
See free streams of one opera specially selected for young audience members, along with opportunities to learn more about the production and hear from some of the amazing artists who helped make it happen. Download illustrated synopsis, coloring pages, educator guides and more.
Daily Live in HD screenings of the Met's repertory are not necessarily kid-friendly (watch out for muder/rape/etc), but the music and visuals are always stunning.
BROADWAY PLAYHOUSE
Kaufman Music Center's social channels posts Online Encores of favorite moments from the current season's performances. See videos of Broadway Playhouse, one of our favorite kids' performance series, celebrating Broadway composers like Charles Strouse (Annie) and Steven Schwartz (Wicked) with entertaining tales, killer songs and fun mini-musicals.
AILEY ALL ACCESS
The acclaimed Alvin Ailey dance company shares full length videos of past performances. Also see videos of company members dancing the landmark Revelations and other pieces together from home, join free online dance classes and check out the great Resource Guide for Educators.
BASH THE TRASH KIDS CORNER
Find out how musical instruments work, learn how to build your own with upcycled material, play games and find recycling tips that can help create a better world with this NYC musical ensemble that makes music from trash.
We'll keep adding to this list and our other guides to at-home entertainment and enrichment, subscribe to our email list for updates.