"Frozen" Toddlers

From my past experience, I was excited to start exposing my niece and nephew to Broadway like my parents did when I was a kid. My first show on Broadway was the original 1972 Broadway production of PIPPIN. I became obsessed with not just Broadway but Bob Fosse as well. I was 7 years old.

I started taking my niece and nephew to see Broadway shows when they were 5 years old. Paying top dollar at that time (no children prices). I must have taken them to about 10-15 shows. Sadly, every p*uckin’ show they saw between age 5 to 9 is completely forgotten by them today. My nephew saw THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at age 6. He only remembers the rising chandelier during the Overture.

They are both now in their early 30s and have toddlers of their own but will wait till they are about 10 before exposing them to Broadway. They still can’t believe all the shows they saw that they don’t remember whatsoever.

Having just seen TBS with the charming and "UBER" talented Patty McCormack, (and, I would have killed to see that little Rhoda on Broadway!) ,

...and whether you're with toddlers or not...I'll wish anyone seeing "Frozen" a basket full of kisses and a basket full of hugs ! (You'll need it).

Let it GO, Rhoda! Let it GO!

BrodyFosse123 said: "From my past experience, I was excited to start exposing my niece and nephew to Broadway like my parents did when I was a kid. My first show on Broadway was the original 1972 Broadway production of PIPPIN. I became obsessed with not just Broadway but Bob Fosse as well. I was 7 years old.

I started taking my niece and nephew to see Broadway shows when they were 5 years old. Paying top dollar at that time (no children prices). I must have taken them to about 10-15 shows. Sadly, every p*uckin’show they saw between age 5 to 9 is completely forgotten by them today. My nephew saw THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at age 6. He only remembers the rising chandelier during the Overture.

They are both now in their early 30s and have toddlers of their own but will wait till they are about 10 before exposing them to Broadway. They still can’t believe all the shows they saw that they don’t remember whatsoever."


I had the same experience with my sons. From personal experience, I have concluded that regular theatergoers who can afford to bring children to the theatre at an early age, in hopes of developing early passions and memories, are fooling themselves, wasting money, and making the trip into the theatre more challenging. My sons, who are now 25 and 26, had seen 25 - 35 shows between the ages of 5 and 15; of those shows, the only ones they even remember to speak fondly of are The Producers (they were probably 8 and 9 and thrilled by all the bawdy humor), Boeing Boeing, The 39 Steps and, maybe Phantom. Didn't like Wicked, TKAI, Beauty and the Beast, Hairspray, Ragtime, Les Mis, etc. I actually believe that taking them when they were young actually backfired...neither has any interest in the theatre, even though they are both artistically inclined, one is a musician, the other an artist.

LizzieCurry said: "Did they enjoy it at the time, though? I hear the argument of "they won't remember it" as one for not bringing babies/little kids to museums or even on vacation with you, but if they're having fun at the time, who cares (as long as they're not disrupting others, which is probably the main issue here)? I'm sure a 3-year-old would be delighted during their experience Disneyland even if they don't remember the experience when they go back again at 7 or 17 or whatever."

They would have an equally fun time playing with an empty box in a dingy basement, so your point is irrelevant.

A big bag of potato chips would probably have kept those toddlers at Frozen quiet.

I was at Frozen, and the family in front of me were awful. The mother and Grandmother would get up every so often to change seats to appease the children. Then the little boy didn't want to sit in his seat, he wanted to sit on the stairs, so they took the booster seats and made a little couch for him on the stairs, all while the show is going on. Just distracting and irritating. He obviously could care less to be at the theater. And this is very mature production of Frozen there isn't a lot of glitz and glam to entertain the children.

"Cesare2 said: "A big bag of potato chips would probably have kept those toddlers at Frozen quiet."


Believe me at the beginning of Act II - there were plenty of chips, along with the crinkle of candy bags... "etc. etc. etc."

Updated On: 5/7/18 at 10:03 PM

I took my 4 year old nephew to Spongebob and he behaved very well. We were orchestra on the aisle. He's obsessed with the show, so we had a talk about theater ettiquette and he was good for the most part. He had to be reminded sometimes not to sing the songs out loud, only mouth the lyrics, and to keep his hand dancing below his head so as not to block people behind us. No snacks, no talking. He only had one little outburst act one when he answered one of the characters on stage, but I hope that it came off as more adorable than annoying to the people around us.

He was better behaved than many adults around us. It really does depend on the kid.

j.garcia said: "He was better behaved than many adults around us. It really does depend on the kid."

That's the truth. Age guidelines are great, but every parents really needs to know their own kid.

FWIW, the little kids around me at Frozen were significantly better behaved than the jackass high school/college students sitting behind me.

JudyDenmark said: "j.garcia said: "He was better behaved than many adults around us. It really does depend on the kid."

That's the truth. Age guidelines are great, but every parents really needs to know their own kid.

FWIW, the little kids around me at Frozen were significantly better behaved than the jackass high school/college students sitting behind me."


The idea of being rude and unruly is up to the adults period.. Certainly there is no reason to bring a baby or 2 year old child to any show period..and there were plenty at Frozen and are at Aladdin, Lion King, etc. That said I have seen 3-4 year-olds mesmerized by a show while older children/teens/adults are completely rude and inconsiderate. I saw Frozen with a 5 year old girl next to me who was there with her mother. She watched the entire two acts without making a peep - and wanted to know if she could come back again as she was so sad when it was over. It completely depends on the child.

it's the parents...I don't care whatever the age..if your child is making noise, crying, talking...leave. I remember going to restaurants when I was a kid. If I couldn't sit still, one of my parents took me for a walk around the block. If I couldn't stay quiet for a movie, we went to the lobby. It was unheard of for me to talk in a theater. If I wanted to keep seeing more shows, I behaved. If your child is being disruptive...just go. But the idea that paying for a ticket entitles you to being oblivious to the people around you has nothing to do with the age of the child. It's about adults in charge being rude and entitled.