When our family decided to see the Great Gatsby on Broadway none of us were really too sure what to expect of the production besides that it would involve the glitz and glamor of the famous story, but not sure just what the music and the shift in the story would be like. We’re always down for a new show though so we went into it with open minds and hope that it would be done in a way that some of the more adult themes would kind of sail over our kids’ heads. We weren’t disappointed on any front, but I think we also learned that our kids are more grown up than we realized. Lesson learned and we still enjoyed the show very much.
We’ve got the scoop and what we liked about seeing the Great Gatsby on Broadway and have some tips if you’re seeing it with kids. I think it’s going to become a classic show, and it definitely hits all the notes for a long run, but if you’re looking to see it right now, we’ll fill you in a bit. If you have any questions about seeing the Great Gatsby on Broadway or any other shows, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re happy to share more of our experience and help you plan a great trip to NYC.
Highlights of the Great Gatsby on Broadway
What really set the Great Gatsby on Broadway apart from other shows for me was that it’s still new and the music isn’t at all famous yet, but it was very catchy with big numbers that felt like a long established show. Does that make sense? If you’re seeing Chicago or Wicked on Broadway then you know what to expect from the production and music, but if it’s a new show that hasn’t had time to become a worldwide hit or be reproduced or tour, then you don’t know much about it and it might feel a bit off.
The Great Gatsby felt familiar, in the best way, and had the energy and kick of other shows our family has enjoyed multiple times through the years. We knew what to expect from the costumes and the story going into The Great Gatsby, but since we’re talking about live theatre, there can be lots of interpretations about how to do the sets. I have to say, this production team really married classic, practical stage craft techniques with technological advances to create some of the coolest scenes and transitions. The Great Gatsby really said “We’re making a new classic that’s going to WOW” and totally accomplished it.
Tickets for Great Gatsby on Broadway
Tips for Seeing the Great Gatsby with Kids
I really like the Broadway Theater and its layout. It’s a beautiful space with a bigger lobby than most theaters and a nice mezzanaine space to hang out before the show. Seeing the Great Gatsby on Broadway aligns with standard show timing, meaning that you have a little under 3 hours of performance time with an intermission just past the halfway mark. If you’re bringing kids, be sure everyone has used the restroom before the show starts and then limit the beverage intake during the first act. Besides making sure nobody needs to get up while the show is happening, this is a standard Broadway experience, so dress up, have fun and make an event of it!
And yes, like with most Broadway shows there are some cool photo ops, there is merchandise for the show, and there are signature cocktails and mocktails that are themed with the story. It’s a whole thing when you get there early and get to enjoy the full theater vibe.
BIG TIP: if you feel like you need to know the story first or just saw the show and want to see how other interpretations of the story flow, check out the Baz Lurhmann film or read the book.
2013 Film of the Great Gatsby — Hardback Great Gatsby — Paperback Great Gatsby
What Ages is The Great Gatsby Good For?
If you’re considering bringing young kids to The Great Gatsby on Broadway, I don’t consider this a good small-kid show. Yes, the music and dancing is fun, but the subject matter and portrayal of different adult elements is a lot. We brought our 10 and 13 year olds and they had enough understanding about adult relationships, enough inkling to tell when there was alcohol or sexual activity being alluded to, and they could easily see the morality issues within the show. This may breeze over some kids’ heads, but if you’re bringing children to the Great Gatsby on Broadway, you should know that the behaviors portrayed on the stage are likely going to bring up some questions and may make you uncomfortable as a parent if you didn’t consider the subject matter before bringing kids.
I will say, our teenager totally understood what was happening across the many scenes and besides needing a bit of historical context, fully picked up on the messed up storyline of the show. The Great Gatsby on Broadway is a fantastic production for teens and up, but like with any performance, you can make the call as to what’s appropriate for your kids.
Being Prepared for the Great Gatsby on Broadway
I’m sure that most kids even into high school age haven’t read The Great Gatsby and likely haven’t seen either of the movies, and probably a fair number of adults haven’t either. Before you sit down at the Broadway Theater in NYC, familiarize yourself a bit with either the actual story or F. Scott Fitzgerald; this will help put the setting and characters into context. For kids, it’s helpful to talk to them a bit about the 1920s, prohibition, and wealth disparity in America. Our kids didn’t know what bootlegging was and they hadn’t been exposed to stories that include shifty money schemes, so we had some intermission conversations to get them caught up before the second act started.
Like I mentioned, seeing the Great Gatsby on Broadway means that there are some morality issues on full blast on stage. A little pre-note to your kids about murder, adultery and the roaring 20s may be helpful for both getting them to understand the story and not ask questions during the actual show. No doubt there’ll be some questions afterwards, but giving a slice of understanding of some of the adult storylines may be a good idea.
Where is the Great Gatsby playing in NYC?
The Broadway Theater is located at the northern end of Times Square in the Theater District, just a few blocks off the main cluster of shows. The Great Gatsby does evening shows during the week and has evening and matinee performances on the weekends. If you time it just right, you can do a matinee and then head over to Ellen’s Stardust Diner right after for a fun, music themed afternoon in New York City.
Other iconic NYC spots that are near the Broadway Theater are Sardi’s Restaurant (from Muppets Take Manhattan), the Museum of Broadway, Times Square, Rockefeller Center and the Top of the Rock, MOMA (I love it!) and Central Park. You can plan all of these activities around seeing the Great Gatsby with fun stops before and after your showtime. Just don’t be late!
Performance Info for the Great Gatsby on Broadway
Just in case you need to contact the theater to get some more detailed information or you just want to browse a bit and see what you can glean from them before you plan your visit, here’s all the info you need to add this to your travel plans.
- Hours / Season of Operations:
- Website: Shubert Theaters
- Box office phone number: 212-239-6200
- Physical address: 1681 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
- Book your tickets here: Tickets for Great Gatsby on Broadway
More NYC Fun With Kids
I used to not like going to New York City at all… and then I started bringing my kids when I had to travel to NYC for work and I love it. There is no shame in having a stereotypical New York trip with kids, whether you’re seeing Wicked or Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway or you’re visiting Times Square at night to see the craziness, it’s all fun. Here are our top picks for activities with kids when you’re in NYC, and a few of them really add to the fun of having a family day in New York City.
- do the Empire State Building experience (it’s much more than just going up to the Observation Deck)
- visit the Harry Potter New York Store – it’s shopping, photo ops, Butterbeer and magical fun)
- have a meal at Ellen’s Stardust Diner – live singing all through the restaurant
- go out to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
- check out the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian in Lower Manhattan (I love this place)
- take the kids to the Nintendo and Lego stores
- do the Museum of Modern Art (better with kids than the Met)
- enjoy the Museum of Natural History and Central Park
If you do half of these activities paired with an awesome Broadway show like Harry Potter and the Cursed Child you’ll have a great trip to New York City with kids. For more ideas and suggestions for visiting NYC with older kids, check out our article about NYC with a Preteen. Lot’s of insights into what makes a trip with older kids fun.
Other Kid-friendly Broadway Shows to Consider
.Not all Broadway shows are as kid-friendly as the Lion King or Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, but there are some good ones… and we’ve seen them so we can share our opinions with you! Like with anything in life, you know your kids best and know what they’ll be into and down for. When it comes to choosing a Broadway show to see with kids, try to think about these three things:
- Appropriateness – every kid has a different level of maturity and every household has a different level of joking / age-appropriate comedy. Read up on a show to gauge the level of adult content before planning to take kids to it.
- Consider the timing of a show – afternoon shows are great with kids and you’ll often see more families at these shows. If you’re concerned about your kids talking in the theater and such, look for an afternoon show when other families may be in attendance too.
- Visual – kids love bright, fun shows with catchy songs and cool effects. Drab, moody shows aren’t great with kids (or me), but fun, upbeat, colorful shows are sure to keep kids’ attention.
If you’re concerned that there may be too much adult content in a Broadway show, because there often is, these shows are solid choices to see with kids and if they aren’t on Broadway in NYC at the moment, you may be able to see them as they tour. Touring productions are just as skillful, but may be slightly less grand than productions in residence due to the need to be flexible.
- any Disney Broadway show – Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Tarzan, Frozen, Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins
- Christmas productions – Elf, White Christmas, A Christmas Story
- Classic Shows – Cinderella, Oklahoma, Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Anything Goes, Music Man…
If you have any questions about seeing the Great Gatsby on Broadway, other shows or putting together your ideal NYC plan for your family, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and love to help other have amazing adventure
