Children under 4 years old are not permitted into the theater (for BCP’s mainstage shows) and this production is recommended for children 8 and up.

The show is 2.5 hours long, which can be a long time to pay attention or even stay awake. Here are a few good ways to know if your child is ready to see a live theater production:

• They have been to a movie theater and were able to sit through the whole movie.
• They have seen another live production such as a school play, ballet performance, or children’s show and were able to sit through the whole show.
• You have discussed seeing a musical and they expressed interest and excitement in seeing a live show

You know your child best and we want this to be an enjoyable experience for everyone, especially you! If you have already purchased tickets to the show but now feel they might not be ready for live theater, contact our Box Office for options.

Going to the theater for the first time can be a core memory for children! Be sure to discuss theater etiquette before you come to the show:

• Clap at the end of a song. It’s the way we show that we liked it!
• If something is funny, you can laugh! We can talk about what you thought was funny after the show.
• Keep your thoughts inside your head until it’s over. We have to stay quiet during the show so we don’t distract the actors from doing a good job!
• Get your wiggles out before the show! We will be sitting in our theater seats for a long time (but don’t worry, we will take a stretch break halfway through the show).
• Respect your neighbors. You might be sitting next to (or behind or in front of!) someone you don’t know- keep your hands and feet to yourself so everyone can enjoy the show.

Kids tend to be more engaged in a story if they are already familiar with it. Take time to watch the movie at home and discuss what you’re looking forward to seeing done on stage. After the performance you can discuss what was different and why they think it was done differently. We bet there will be some creative answers!

Just like the story, kids are more likely to pay attention if they recognize familiar songs. Stream the Elf Original Broadway Cast Recording in the weeks leading up to your performance. But remember, the show isn’t a sing-along, so you’ll have to save that for the car ride home!

See what actor is playing which role on our website. You can see their photos and read about shows they’ve done before. Remember that they’ll be wearing costumes and wigs on stage so see if you can figure out who is who at the show!

If the show or environment becomes too overwhelming for you or your kids, you are more than welcome to take a break in our lobby. When you arrive to the theater, note the location of the doors to the lobby so you can make a quick exit if needed. We have a screen that you can watch the live show on, and we’ll have crayons and holiday-themed coloring pages available for kids (and adults!). There is also a large accessible restroom in the lobby.

We ask however that if you leave to get the wiggles out or take a break, you do not re-enter the theatre until the ushers tell you it’s a good time. Exiting and re-entering multiple times can be distracting for performers and fellow audience members.