Original Musicals
Original Musicals
High-quality original musicals
Performed by kids for family audiences
Low ticket prices
TADA! Youth Theater is NYC’s leading producer of high-quality original musicals written exclusively for young performers. We offer affordable ticket prices for family audiences – bring your entire crew for less than the cost of a ticket to a Broadway show!
Youth theater is defined as theater performed by youth and teens and TADA! is committed to creating musical productions at the highest level with large casts and professional production values.
TADA! has provided opportunities for thousands of NYC children, teens, and families to learn, be enthralled by, and be inspired through the magic of musical theater. Since its founding in 1984, more than 179,000 audience members have seen TADA!’s productions live and now even more can see past productions on TADA!’s YouTube Channel.
48 original musicals have been commissioned from award-winning professional creative teams or playwrights, composers and lyricists. There are constantly new audiences for TADA! as our young audiences and actors grow up, allowing TADA! to revive and reimagine its work. TADA! is also very proud that several TADA! Musicals have been performed at youth theater companies throughout the nation.
At TADA!, audiences see a reflection of NY’s diversity on the stage and in the audience. TADA! utilizes musical theater to entertain and speak honestly to children and teens about the issues affecting their lives. TADA!’s themes empower performers and audiences to realize that they are vital members of society who can make the world a better place.
TADA! has been committed to providing pathways for women and BIPOC. We are prioritizing working with these persons as well as RYET Alum in roles traditionally held by white men, including Directors, Technicians, Designers, Playwrights, Composers, and Lyricists. It continues to be our policy to pay people of all genders and races equal rates for the same work.
In Development
Currently, TADA! has 4 new musicals in different stages of development that began before COVID-19. Stay tuned for more details!
BORN TOO SHORT – Book and lyrics by Dan Elish based on his book of the same title and Composed by Matt Gregory. This new musical will reveal the insecurities and doubts that boys face growing up.
COMMON GROUND – Book and lyrics by Lisa Diana Shapiro, playwright and longtime volunteer at the International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) Refugee Youth Program with music by Julia Jordan Kamanda and Georgia Stitt. Common Ground will be a 90 minute musical, a first for a TADA! original-commissioned work.
BEFORE THE RAIN – Book by Janine Nina Trevens with Music and Lyrics by Dierdre Brodrick. Before the Rain is the prequel to Odd Day Rain (a TADA! original musical) and explores the origins of the event that caused children to grow up living totally inside with all communication happening through the computer.
BECAUSE WE’RE GIRLS – Book by Members of the Resident Youth Ensemble of TADA! Devising Panel: Molly Brown, Kayla Claudio, Leila Davis, Naomi De Leon, Savannah Delli Colli, Bailey Emhoff, Kiyo Garcia, Angela George, Kahlea Hsu, Subiya Mboya, Lauralie Mufute, Riya Nagpal, Navani Perez, Yealie Ulaba-Samura, Eushin Vitale
Music and Lyrics by: Miriam Daly
Original Concept by: Janine Nina Trevens and Erin Williams
This new musical will dive deep into the issues that girls face daily: street harassment, dating issues, body image, sex roles, and stereotypes. This musical was developed with female teen Ensemble Members, who submitted their own stories and narratives to be included. In listening to the wants and needs of our teen Ensemble Members, this piece is for a more mature audience than the typical TADA! musical due to the subject matter.
Are the instructors specialized in or working theater professionals or students?
All of our instructors are working theater professionals who have undergone a thorough vetting process including background checks.
Is theater good for a shy child? (One of the most common "benefit-driven" searches.)
Yes, theater is the perfect place for anyone to develop social skills, confidence, and find their voice. Many people find that stepping into a role enables them to express themselves and open up in ways that are difficult in everyday life.
How do I know if my child has a "theater bug" or just likes attention?
Why not both!? Either way, our classes and programs will give your child the opportunity to explore all aspects of musical theater performance: singing, acting, and dancing. All of our classes and performances are ensemble-based, which means they will always learn how to take the stage AND share the spotlight!
Is the focus on the process (learning skills) or the product (the final show)?
TADA!’s values include “a culture of growth” and “artistic excellence.” We intentionally create an environment that nurtures each young person to reach and exceed their goals in a pre-professional environment.
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TADA! YOUTH THEATER
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