Long Island Children’s Museum Theater is a professional theater at the heart of the museum. We offer a range of performance styles for families and schools including musicals, plays, puppetry, dance, and music. Our high-quality live performances celebrate audience interactivity, are often literature based, and always tell a great story.
2026 Summer Season
Why Live Theater?
Studies show exposure to the performing arts provides significant and lasting benefits for children, including:
- Fostering creativity
- Improving academic performance
- Promoting better social engagement and community involvement
- Increasing empathy
- The live performing arts are a shared experience, providing strong bonding moments and lifetime family memories
For specifics, here is some of the research on the benefits of attending live theater:
Science Direct and Education Next
Our History
The Long Island Children’s Museum Theater has brought professional theater to families and school groups since 2002. Our award winning(*) 140 seat theater has been a unique space on Long Island for families to be a part of the performing arts.
Dozens of beloved children’s characters have come to life in our long running musicals and plays through the years. Featuring professional actors onstage and musicians in our band, these productions are often a child’s first introduction to live theater. Along with licensed productions, our theater team has created original shows and our theater has hosted original works by local Long Island artists.
Our theater has presented performers and productions from around the world including Australia, Ireland, Canada, Mexico and Chile. Additionally, 18 Grammy winners and nominees have performed on our stage. Our stage has hosted many renowned performance groups including Jazz at Lincoln Center, Chinese Theatre Works,123 Andres, Eglevsky Ballet, The Blue Man Group, and Ringling Brothers Circus.
Here, audiences are treated to a dynamic schedule of concerts, dance, puppetry, and circus productions. Long Island Children’s Museum Theater provides children with an enlightening, emotional, and enjoyable educational experience.
*Herald Long Island Choice Awards, 2026
*Four Leaf Best of Long Island, 2025, Best Theater Arts Center
*Four Leaf Best of Long Island, 2024, Best Theater Arts Center
Audience interaction with performers promotes confidence in young theater goers.
GRAMMY winners, like The Okee Dokee Brothers, are regularly featured in the LICM Theater.
What To Expect
- Most performances run between 30 and 60 minutes. Check specific show for runtime.
- Doors open 10 minutes prior to performance.
- No food or drinks allowed inside the theater.
- No photography or recording at the performance.
- Selected performances conclude with Q&As.
Group discounts are available online for school groups or other groups by contacting our Reservations Manager at reservations@licm.org.
Wheelchair spaces and companion seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis through the LICM Box Office at (516) 224-5868.
Social Guide for Theater Performances featuring Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (PDF)
Have Questions?
See our Theater FAQ.
Support and Funding
Leave a lasting legacy! Learn how to name a theater seat.
The LICM Theater is supported by the generosity of these funders:
- Roni Kohen-Lemle and Robert S. Lemle
- Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation
- Theresa Alessandra Russo Foundation (Sensory Sensitive Performances Sponsors)
- Marilyn Lichtman Foundation
LICM Theater Underwriters (2025-26) :
- Adrienne Robb-Fund & Jay Fund
- American Panel Tec
- Barrister Land, LLC
- IGC
- Royal Green Appliance Companies
- Waiter Tyranski Family
The Institute of Museum and Library Services has been a supporter of critical theater initiatives at LICM
Your support through attendance, gifts, and word of mouth keep the LICM Theater growing. To support the LICM Theater, you can donate online or contact development@licm.org.