Is Chicago on Broadway Appropriate for Kids?

Finally, after years of wanting to see Chicago on Broadway, I attended a show. I’m not sure what kept me from going to see the famous long-standing show. I see about 8 or 9 Broadway shows a year. Maybe it’s because it has been a Broadway staple for so long that I have taken it for granted, because other shows come and go and I want to see them before they leave. Anyway, I finally saw a performance and loved it.

Most theater goers are familiar with Chicago’s story. Roxie Hart, a married housewife, murders her lover and tries her best to lie her way out of a sentence. After being arrested, she meets Velma, a vaudeville performer who also happens to be in jail for murder. The two women both hire a fancy lawyer named Billy Flynn, who turns the trials into a star-making event. During the lead-up to the trials, Roxie and Velma become adversaries. A cast of other man-killing characters are also met along the way.

Chicago has become famous for the genius jazz score and vaudeville-type performances. Iconic numbers like “All That Jazz,” “Cell Block Tango,” and “Razzle Dazzle,” are memorable numbers that will stay with you.

To the question, “is Chicago appropriate for kids?” Well, that’s a tough one to answer. If you are a theater going family and familiar with the show, parents know best for what to show their own child. Here’s what to expect. Sex and being sexy is a big part of the show. The performers wear revealing outfits and dance seductively. Sex and trying to get away with murder play a predominant part in almost every scene. If you are thinking about taking a younger kid, show them the film Chicago first.

You probably came here wanting me to say if the show is right for your child, but I can’t do that. I wouldn’t take my 10-year-old to see the show, but I think teenagers are fine. There’s no nudity in the show and sex is talked about, but never depicted. There’s plenty of YouTube videos of Chicago that can give you an idea of what you’ll see on stage.