Parental Guidelines
The following guidelines will help you decide whether a musical is age-appropriate for your child or student.
Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story
Rating: PG
Buddy, which portrays the last three years of Buddy Holly’s life and presents some of the best rock ‘n’ roll songs ever written, is suitable for most audiences. It contains some adult language, including mild swearing and a few four-letter words. One of the characters is seen drinking and the others comment on his problems with alcohol abuse.
Camelot
Rating: PG
Camelot is a family show, containing no adult language, and is appropriate for all audiences. The only violent actions in the script take place offstage (a joust in which a knight is badly wounded and a battle in which a woman is rescued from being burned at the stake). One character is revealed to be Arthur's illegitimate son, conceived when the king was under a witch's spell. The story's conflict involves the growing attraction between the king's wife and his best friend, a relationship that is never consummated.
Edward Scissorhands
Rating: PG
This all-dance, all-music adaptation of Tim Burton's film originated in Great Britain where it was extolled as a fantastic family show. The story of Edward Scissorhands is told entirely through music, movement and stage magic; the result is an enchanting tale that has been rapturously received by audiences of all ages.
West Side Story
Rating: PG
West Side Story is appropriate for most audiences and contains no adult language or overt sexual references. Concerned theatergoers and parents should note that this Romeo-and-Juliet tale does contain some violence. Rival gangs are seen preparing for a rumble; in a fight with switchblade knives, two characters die on stage; a third later dies by gunfire.