Musicals for a 6-year-old girl
December 11, 2011 8:52 AM Subscribe
Musicals for a 6-year-old girl.
My nearly-6-year-old daughter can't get enough of listening to the soundtrack to the Broadway musical production of The Little Mermaid. I think she loves the over-the-top-dramatic quality of the vocals and music, plus, you know, princesses. My knowledge of musicals pretty much begins and ends with Les Miz, which seems overly complicated but you never know. What else might she like, that's available on CD or iTunes? Kid-friendly themes, please, but something the grown-ups can live with too.
My nearly-6-year-old daughter can't get enough of listening to the soundtrack to the Broadway musical production of The Little Mermaid. I think she loves the over-the-top-dramatic quality of the vocals and music, plus, you know, princesses. My knowledge of musicals pretty much begins and ends with Les Miz, which seems overly complicated but you never know. What else might she like, that's available on CD or iTunes? Kid-friendly themes, please, but something the grown-ups can live with too.
Wicked, Seussical, Beauty and the Beast, The Sound of Music, The King and I, Fiddler on the Roof, Lion King, The Fantasticks
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:02 AM on December 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:02 AM on December 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
When I was young, I loved Les Miz -- sure, it's complicated (I didn't know the word Calvary so I thought they were all going to Calgary, which was very confusing) but I loved it anyhow. I loved West Side Story, Hello Dolly, The Music Man, The King and I, Fiddler on the Roof, Into the Woods, Cats, all the older musicals . . . the thing is, all the inappropriate themes completely go over your head when you're that little. I still remember when I figured out some things from the shows.
posted by jeather at 9:08 AM on December 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by jeather at 9:08 AM on December 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
The Lion King musical is stunning and I loved it when I was a kid.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat has wonderful songs and is perhaps the definition of over the top.
Mamma Mia has the added bonus of being mostly real pop songs.
Hairspray might be a bit too adult with the 1960s Baltimore social commentary, but it has some great songs.
The Sound of Music has Nazis, but it is a great family story.
Others: Wicked (with Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel!!!), Beauty and the Beast, Singin' in the Rain, West Side Story, Grease, Oklahoma, My Fair Lady, The Music Man, Phantom of the Opera.
posted by mewohu at 9:08 AM on December 11, 2011
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat has wonderful songs and is perhaps the definition of over the top.
Mamma Mia has the added bonus of being mostly real pop songs.
Hairspray might be a bit too adult with the 1960s Baltimore social commentary, but it has some great songs.
The Sound of Music has Nazis, but it is a great family story.
Others: Wicked (with Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel!!!), Beauty and the Beast, Singin' in the Rain, West Side Story, Grease, Oklahoma, My Fair Lady, The Music Man, Phantom of the Opera.
posted by mewohu at 9:08 AM on December 11, 2011
We grew up listening to Rodgers and Hammerstein - in addition to the ones already mentioned there's Carousel, State Fair, and Oklahoma (also a few others but I can't vouch for them. My mom didn't let us watch South Pacific til we were a little older, but a lot of the songs are kid-friendly. Seconding pretty much everything else people have already posted!
posted by brilliantine at 9:11 AM on December 11, 2011
posted by brilliantine at 9:11 AM on December 11, 2011
She's prime age for Annie, if she hasn't seen that yet. Otherwise, I agree with pmb -- old is what you want. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Thoroughly Modern Millie, anything by Stanley Donen or with Gene Kelly in it.
If you're not planning to let her watch the musicals, you probably have more latitude on the kid-friendly quotient. Several of my favorite soundtracks are from musicals I wouldn't dream of letting a kid watch, but there's nothing offensive or disturbing in the music. For instance, The Boy From Oz is definitely adult-themed (Peter Allen meets and marries Liza Minnelli, cheats on her with men and women, gets AIDS, dies.) but the soundtrack is a roaring great time. Cats, which I saw when I was ten, was great as well -- dramatic music, strong emotions. What wasn't appropriate for me just went right over my head, but I loved singing "Memory".
posted by katemonster at 9:12 AM on December 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
If you're not planning to let her watch the musicals, you probably have more latitude on the kid-friendly quotient. Several of my favorite soundtracks are from musicals I wouldn't dream of letting a kid watch, but there's nothing offensive or disturbing in the music. For instance, The Boy From Oz is definitely adult-themed (Peter Allen meets and marries Liza Minnelli, cheats on her with men and women, gets AIDS, dies.) but the soundtrack is a roaring great time. Cats, which I saw when I was ten, was great as well -- dramatic music, strong emotions. What wasn't appropriate for me just went right over my head, but I loved singing "Memory".
posted by katemonster at 9:12 AM on December 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
The Music Man is the correct answer here. No princesses, but Marian is close enough.
posted by oinopaponton at 9:13 AM on December 11, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by oinopaponton at 9:13 AM on December 11, 2011 [4 favorites]
On failure to preview, I agree with everyone else as well. Though my god, Rodgers and Hammerstein could be dark (Poor Jud Fry is dead, poor Jud Fry.) Again, will probably either go over the head of or bore a 6 year old, allowing her to enjoy the music undisturbed.
posted by katemonster at 9:15 AM on December 11, 2011
posted by katemonster at 9:15 AM on December 11, 2011
There are Broadway musicals of a ton of Disney movies, so check out the cast recordings of Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Mary Poppins, and perhaps Tarzan?
She might also enjoy the OBCR for Shrek: the Musical, maybe also The Secret Garden (although she's maybe a little young to know the book).
Oh, and the obvious choice, of course - Annie.
There's also The Music Man, Into The Woods, Oklahoma!, Thoroughly Modern Millie, etc. Most of the old standards should be okay, and any inappropriate lyrics will probably go straight over her head.
posted by Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo at 9:18 AM on December 11, 2011
She might also enjoy the OBCR for Shrek: the Musical, maybe also The Secret Garden (although she's maybe a little young to know the book).
Oh, and the obvious choice, of course - Annie.
There's also The Music Man, Into The Woods, Oklahoma!, Thoroughly Modern Millie, etc. Most of the old standards should be okay, and any inappropriate lyrics will probably go straight over her head.
posted by Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo at 9:18 AM on December 11, 2011
There is a Rogers & Hammerstein version of Cinderella, which starred Julie Andrews. I'm not 100% sure how kid friendly it is as I'll be seeing it for the first time this Christmas, but it was a favorite of my sister-in-law from childhood.
Hello Dolly was a favorite of mine from about seven or eight on. As previously mentioned: Annie, The Music Man, My Fair Lady, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Oklahoma, Carousel, Mary Poppins, and any of the Disney cartoons. I was a little older when I got into Les Miz and Phantom. The beginning of any of the old musicals on video seems to have a medley of other musicals, 99% of which would be appropriate music wise.
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 9:33 AM on December 11, 2011
Hello Dolly was a favorite of mine from about seven or eight on. As previously mentioned: Annie, The Music Man, My Fair Lady, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Oklahoma, Carousel, Mary Poppins, and any of the Disney cartoons. I was a little older when I got into Les Miz and Phantom. The beginning of any of the old musicals on video seems to have a medley of other musicals, 99% of which would be appropriate music wise.
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 9:33 AM on December 11, 2011
We loved the Mary Martin recording of "Peter Pan", watched the video of it endlessly.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:34 AM on December 11, 2011
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:34 AM on December 11, 2011
At the age of 6, I suspect most PG content is just going to go over her head, so nearly any mainstream musical prior to about the mid-1960s is going to be sufficiently family friendly. For movies, the only things on this AFI list of greatest movie musical I would *not* recommend are Cabaret, Chicago, All That Jazz, and Moulin Rouge - all for reasons of mature content. And here's another list of kid-friendly musicals. And, of course, the modern Disney adaptations. "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" is a good musical I haven't seen listed here, yet; I recommend the 1999 revival, as it includes the song "My New Philosophy"[1], which was added for the revival.
Thinking about a couple of specific songs:
"Flower Drum Song" includes the song "I Enjoy Being a Girl" which might be a fun song for her.
I would be a bit wary of "The Fantastiks" just so your daughter doesn't go around singing "The Rape Song". And while "Hair" has a few well known family-friendly songs, many of them are decidedly not.
[1] trivia: immediately after this performance, Chenowith was awarded the Tony for her role in the show. I think they had a NASCAR team backstage to change her out of her Sally Brown outfit into a classy adult outfit in under 30 seconds. Longer excerpt from the awards show that includes the award here.
posted by rmd1023 at 9:37 AM on December 11, 2011
Thinking about a couple of specific songs:
"Flower Drum Song" includes the song "I Enjoy Being a Girl" which might be a fun song for her.
I would be a bit wary of "The Fantastiks" just so your daughter doesn't go around singing "The Rape Song". And while "Hair" has a few well known family-friendly songs, many of them are decidedly not.
[1] trivia: immediately after this performance, Chenowith was awarded the Tony for her role in the show. I think they had a NASCAR team backstage to change her out of her Sally Brown outfit into a classy adult outfit in under 30 seconds. Longer excerpt from the awards show that includes the award here.
posted by rmd1023 at 9:37 AM on December 11, 2011
I don't think anyone mentioned Mary Poppins yet. My brother and I used to fall asleep singing the songs from it when we were 5 and 7!
She is also at an age where she'd enjoy the old Shirley Temple movies. They always had a few song and dance numbers by Shirley.
posted by cat_link at 9:41 AM on December 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
She is also at an age where she'd enjoy the old Shirley Temple movies. They always had a few song and dance numbers by Shirley.
posted by cat_link at 9:41 AM on December 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Definitely Mary Poppins. Also Disney's The Aristocats (not a misspelling), and The Jungle Book is full of great music by Louis Prima and others.
posted by MexicanYenta at 9:56 AM on December 11, 2011
posted by MexicanYenta at 9:56 AM on December 11, 2011
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang might be fun for her...be prepared to have the song stuck in your head for days, though.
posted by pecanpies at 10:00 AM on December 11, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by pecanpies at 10:00 AM on December 11, 2011 [3 favorites]
Definitely Annie. I loved that as a kid. Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music are excellent suggestions too.
Also Grease, Phantom of the Opera, Babes in Arms, My Fair Lady, and Brigadoon.
And how has no one mentioned Wizard of Oz?
posted by SisterHavana at 10:03 AM on December 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Also Grease, Phantom of the Opera, Babes in Arms, My Fair Lady, and Brigadoon.
And how has no one mentioned Wizard of Oz?
posted by SisterHavana at 10:03 AM on December 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Once Apon a Mattress! It has an unconventional princess, it's funny, and the original starred Carol Burnett!
posted by imalaowai at 10:04 AM on December 11, 2011
posted by imalaowai at 10:04 AM on December 11, 2011
The movie has a couple of scary scenes, but the soundtrack for the newer version of Little Shop of Horrors is insanely catchy.
And when she is much, much, much older, there's Rocky Horror Picture Show and South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut. Both feature extremely catch songs.
posted by MexicanYenta at 10:18 AM on December 11, 2011
And when she is much, much, much older, there's Rocky Horror Picture Show and South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut. Both feature extremely catch songs.
posted by MexicanYenta at 10:18 AM on December 11, 2011
Beauty and the Beast
I'm gonna disagree on that one's suitability for little girls.
Mary Poppins is great. The modern My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (which is quite good, unlike its crappy antecedants) has some decent musical numbers: No Fear, Winter Wrap-Up, The Art of the Dress.
posted by rodgerd at 10:36 AM on December 11, 2011
I'm gonna disagree on that one's suitability for little girls.
Mary Poppins is great. The modern My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (which is quite good, unlike its crappy antecedants) has some decent musical numbers: No Fear, Winter Wrap-Up, The Art of the Dress.
posted by rodgerd at 10:36 AM on December 11, 2011
There's an adaptation of Road Dahl's Matilda currently playing in the West End that is absolutely fantastic. I don't think it's been filmed but if she knows the story the songs will make sense - the OCR is available here.
posted by goo at 10:47 AM on December 11, 2011
posted by goo at 10:47 AM on December 11, 2011
Wow. This MLP "At the Gala" number is quite Sondheim-esque.
posted by rmd1023 at 10:54 AM on December 11, 2011
posted by rmd1023 at 10:54 AM on December 11, 2011
The Fantasticks
Well, you might want to skip this song: It Depends on What You Pay.
But actually... I echo those who say that inappropriate themes will go over her head. Let her enjoy all of them. Oh! And check out Once On This Island, the entirety of which is on YouTube. It's a Caribbean-themed musical based on the original Little Mermaid story!
posted by Wordwoman at 11:03 AM on December 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Well, you might want to skip this song: It Depends on What You Pay.
But actually... I echo those who say that inappropriate themes will go over her head. Let her enjoy all of them. Oh! And check out Once On This Island, the entirety of which is on YouTube. It's a Caribbean-themed musical based on the original Little Mermaid story!
posted by Wordwoman at 11:03 AM on December 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Mary Poppins
Singin' in the Rain
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
My Fair Lady
Annie
Dr. Dolittle (the Rex Harrison version, not the Eddie Murphy one)
Willy wonka & the Chocolate Factory (the Gene Wilder one)
Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (there are a couple versions, including one with Brandy in the lead)
Pretty much everything with Shirley Temple in it
or even the Beatles' Yellow Submarine!
posted by easily confused at 11:29 AM on December 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Singin' in the Rain
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
My Fair Lady
Annie
Dr. Dolittle (the Rex Harrison version, not the Eddie Murphy one)
Willy wonka & the Chocolate Factory (the Gene Wilder one)
Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (there are a couple versions, including one with Brandy in the lead)
Pretty much everything with Shirley Temple in it
or even the Beatles' Yellow Submarine!
posted by easily confused at 11:29 AM on December 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
I was probably six or seven when I first saw Oliver! and while some of the mature themes went over my head, I adored the music and the movie. No princesses at all and obviously its got its dark parts so you'll need to gauge it yourself, but I loved it at her age.
posted by GilvearSt at 11:47 AM on December 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by GilvearSt at 11:47 AM on December 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
I can't believe it took this many comments before Oliver! was mentioned. Love that movie.
posted by bonobothegreat at 12:27 PM on December 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by bonobothegreat at 12:27 PM on December 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Just for listening, not so much for the watching, West Side Story. My eight year old has been obsessed with it for a year.
posted by looli at 1:08 PM on December 11, 2011
posted by looli at 1:08 PM on December 11, 2011
Disney's only pro-union musical movie, Newsies, which will be on Broadway next year!
posted by jaksemas at 1:58 PM on December 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by jaksemas at 1:58 PM on December 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
Yay, Oliver! I was waiting for the Oliver mention, too. I regularly break into the song "Food Glorious Food." My friend and I were in London and went to the see play, and as the orphans cavorted on the stage in the opening scene my friend turned to me and said "God, that's where you got that!"
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 2:09 PM on December 11, 2011
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 2:09 PM on December 11, 2011
I seem to remember seeing Mame at that age and loving it. I have no recollection of the actual story anymore, so I can't vouch for whether it was actually appropriate.
posted by dpx.mfx at 2:23 PM on December 11, 2011
posted by dpx.mfx at 2:23 PM on December 11, 2011
I grew up on Gilbert & Sullivan and I adore their stuff to this day.
posted by elizardbits at 2:46 PM on December 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by elizardbits at 2:46 PM on December 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
When I was 6 I was OBSESSED with Cats. I can't even convey to you how obsessed I was. Seeing it live was basically the most exciting night of my life up to that point.
posted by troublesome at 4:36 PM on December 11, 2011
posted by troublesome at 4:36 PM on December 11, 2011
My 8 year old daughter loves The King and I as well as Oklahoma. Loves. Loves. Loves.
Didn't care for Brigadoon (pity - one of my favorites), only slightly for The Music Man.
In terms of music alone, she likes Singing in the Rain as well as Sound of Music.
posted by plinth at 5:00 PM on December 11, 2011
Didn't care for Brigadoon (pity - one of my favorites), only slightly for The Music Man.
In terms of music alone, she likes Singing in the Rain as well as Sound of Music.
posted by plinth at 5:00 PM on December 11, 2011
HI I'M THE GILBERT & SULLIVAN GEEK WHO'S GOING TO SUGGEST GILBERT & SULLIVAN
Yes, it is extraordinarily Victorian British. Self-Parodically so, in fact. But it has great kid advantages.
1. The plots are simple. And silly. In Pirates of Penzance, for instance, the most complicated thing you might have to explain is that the romantic lead was born on Sadie Hawkins Day.
2. The music is greatly accomplished while still being earwormy. "He Is an Englishman" is a great example, but also consider the Madrigal from Ruddigore or the climax of "'Tis Twelve, I Think" from The Sorcerer.
3. It's very, very easy to sing along to most of it, which a 6-year-old should love. That which isn't easy to sing to is hilariously difficult to sing along to, in a way comical enough to delight her, as in "The Major General's Song," or "My Eyes Are Fully Open."
4. It's not all silliness. Sometimes, it soars.
5. It's very, very easy to find community theaters putting on productions just about anywhere you are.
6. You can give her (like my folks did last year) a best-of CD for christmas and have it perfectly fit the atmosphere while playing in the background.
posted by Navelgazer at 6:22 PM on December 11, 2011
Yes, it is extraordinarily Victorian British. Self-Parodically so, in fact. But it has great kid advantages.
1. The plots are simple. And silly. In Pirates of Penzance, for instance, the most complicated thing you might have to explain is that the romantic lead was born on Sadie Hawkins Day.
2. The music is greatly accomplished while still being earwormy. "He Is an Englishman" is a great example, but also consider the Madrigal from Ruddigore or the climax of "'Tis Twelve, I Think" from The Sorcerer.
3. It's very, very easy to sing along to most of it, which a 6-year-old should love. That which isn't easy to sing to is hilariously difficult to sing along to, in a way comical enough to delight her, as in "The Major General's Song," or "My Eyes Are Fully Open."
4. It's not all silliness. Sometimes, it soars.
5. It's very, very easy to find community theaters putting on productions just about anywhere you are.
6. You can give her (like my folks did last year) a best-of CD for christmas and have it perfectly fit the atmosphere while playing in the background.
posted by Navelgazer at 6:22 PM on December 11, 2011
Ah ha, thought of one not yet mentioned- Bye Bye Birdie!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:49 PM on December 11, 2011
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:49 PM on December 11, 2011
Response by poster: Great answers all! I think I'll load up her iPod and sneak it into her stocking Christmas morning.
posted by libraryhead at 7:12 AM on December 12, 2011
posted by libraryhead at 7:12 AM on December 12, 2011
Another musical I don't think anyone has mentioned yet but which is really lovely is Secret Garden. The whole musical is well worth listening to and all of the songs have been my favourite at one point or another, but some which may appeal may include:
Race You to the Top of the Morning
Girl in the Valley (although that does end a little abruptly); and
A Bit of Earth which segues into Lily's Eyes.
You may want to check that the story is okay for her (I'm not sure what six year olds read), as the main character, Mary Lennox, is an orphan and her uncle a widower, so life and death is an integral topic.
posted by apcmwh at 3:15 PM on December 12, 2011
Race You to the Top of the Morning
Girl in the Valley (although that does end a little abruptly); and
A Bit of Earth which segues into Lily's Eyes.
You may want to check that the story is okay for her (I'm not sure what six year olds read), as the main character, Mary Lennox, is an orphan and her uncle a widower, so life and death is an integral topic.
posted by apcmwh at 3:15 PM on December 12, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by pmb at 9:00 AM on December 11, 2011