When It Comes To Family Musicals, Kids' Opinions Matter More Than Critics'
Normally, critical reviews can kill a Broadway show, but not so for kid-focused musicals. Anastasia and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory are currently on Broadway, vying for the kid seal of approval.
Creating a hit musical which appeals to family audiences is kind of Broadway's holy grail — think current long-running shows, like The Lion King and Wicked, which have run for decades, or earlier shows like Cats and Annie. Critics don't always give these shows good reviews, but that doesn't seem to matter much. Now, two new musicals are aiming to get the kid stamp of approval.
On a. Taylor Ponte, a tween from Manhattan, offered her thoughts: "I liked it a lot. And I liked the part where she blew up like a balloon. I liked all of it."
