KIDS' NIGHT ON BROADWAY Sets 2016 Return Date!

The 2016 KIDS' NIGHT ON BROADWAY National Ambassadors Kelli O'Hara and Marlee Matlin today announced that the 20th Kids' Night on Broadway will take place in New York City on Tuesday, February 9th, 2016, BroadwayWorld has confirmed. Tickets go on sale on Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at 10:30am.

Kids' Night on Broadway an annual event when kids 18 and under can see participating Broadway shows for free when accompanied by a full-paying adult. A Kids' Night on Broadway ticket includes pre-theatre activities, restaurant discounts, parking discounts, educational programs, and more.

On the day of KIDS' NIGHT OF BROADWAY (Tuesday, February 9th, 2016) select shows will offer in-theatre activities for kids including talkbacks, Kids' Night on Broadway activity books, and more events still to be announced!

"Celebrating the 20th Anniversary, we decided to return to the way Kids' Night on Broadway began, focusing on one amazing evening when crowds of kids take over Times Square! It's fun and gratifying to see the enthralled faces of young theatregoers sitting in our theatres, being transported while experiencing the magic on stage," said Charlotte St. Martin, President of the Broadway League. "On average, a million kids (18 or younger) see a Broadway show each season, and now many of them are theatergoing adults."

Participating* shows to date include:

Aladdin, Allegiance, An American in Paris, Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, Chicago the Musical, The Color Purple, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Dames at Sea, Fiddler on the Roof, Finding Neverland, Fun Home, Jersey Boys, The King and I, Kinky Boots, The Lion King, LES MISERABLES, Matilda The Musical, Noises Off, On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan, The Phantom of the Opera, School of Rock, Something Rotten!, and Wicked.

(*subject to change)

Kelli O'Hara is a six-time Tony-nominated actress and Tony Award- winner for her role as Anna in The King and I, currently playing on Broadway at Lincoln Center Theater's Vivian Beaumont Theater.

"As a mother of two in real life and a school teacher currently on the stage, I love to promote all arts but especially theatre to kids of all ages," said Kelli O'Hara. "I love to imagine where the experiences might take them for the evening or maybe even for a lifetime."

Marlee Matlin is an Academy and Golden Globe Award winning actress for Children of a Lesser God and is currently making her Broadway debut in Deaf West Theatre's Spring Awakening at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre.

"I've always believed in sharing theater experiences with kids, having started in theater when I was 7 years old, when no one thought a young deaf girl could be on a stage," said Marlee Matlin. "For me, it's important to bring all kids to experience theater, hearing, deaf and otherwise abled. Theater is where a child's imagination knows no barriers and their dreams can come true."

Many Times Square area eateries will offer specials for KIDS' NIGHT ON BROADWAY ticket-holders, including free entrees for kids. Check kidsnightonbroadway.com for participating restaurants.

KIDS' NIGHT ON BROADWAY will also take place in multiple cities around the country, with different shows and venues putting their own spin on the event, on numerous dates throughout the year. Check kidsnightonbroadway.com for specific dates and locations.

KIDS' NIGHT ON BROADWAY, a program of The Broadway League, is generously presented by The New York Times and is sponsored by WABC-TV and Southern Hospitality BBQ with additional support from and Z100, LITE FM, Clear Channel Spectacolor and Westchester Family.

Photo by Jeremy Daniel