Before my daughter belted out her first show tune, nailed her first dance break, or performed in her first vocal competition, I had no idea what I was signing up for. In fact, I didn’t even see it coming.
It all started when she joined a group voice class at 7 years old. I thought it would be a fun extracurricular activity—something to build her confidence and help her enjoy music. I had no clue that it would lead her into the world of musical theater.
Fast forward to today she is 15, and I am now a full-fledged musical theater mom, navigating a world of rehearsals, performances, tech weeks, vocal competitions, and school drama shows.
If you're new to this journey, welcome to the wonderful (and sometimes hectic) world of theater parenting! Here are the things I wish I knew before my daughter started her musical theater journey.
1. Musical Theater Is More Than Just a Hobby—It’s a Lifestyle
When my daughter started that voice class, I thought it would be a fun once-a-week activity. I had no idea it would take over our lives!
Musical theater isn’t just an after-school club—it’s a commitment. Once she got her first taste of performing, she wanted more—more voice lessons, more dance classes, more stage time. Suddenly, our evenings were filled with rehearsals, our weekends with performances and vocal competitions, and our entire family knew a lot of Broadway musicals and show tunes.
💡 Theater Mom Tip: Get ready to plan your life around rehearsals and competition schedules. Rehearsals and tech week will consume everything—but trust me, the look on her face when she steps on stage makes it all worth it!
2. The Costs Are... A Lot More Than I Expected
I thought paying for a voice class would be the biggest expense. Oh, how wrong I was.
Between private vocal and dance lessons, costumes, theater tickets, vocal competition fees, and travel, the costs added up quickly. And don’t think they only do 1 or 2 shows a year. The most she did was 7 shows in the same school year!
And then there’s the Broadway addiction. Once your child falls in love with musical theater, they will want to see many Broadway shows. Before you know it, you’ll be budgeting for:
Broadway trips (yes, plural), Local and touring productions, Cast albums, playbills, and show merchandise
💡 Theater Mom Tip: Budget for:
- Voice, acting, and dance classes
- Show fees & T’s or sweatshirts (because you’ll want one for every show)
- Dance shoes (yes, even for musical theater)
- Stage makeup & costumes
- Tickets for family and friends (because trust me, one show is never enough)
- Vocal competition entry fees and travel expenses
-
Broadway and touring show tickets
3. Tech Week = No Sleep, No Sanity, and Lots of Healthy Snacks
If you’re new to theater, let me introduce you to tech week—the week where time no longer exists.
Tech week is the final week before opening night, when they put everything together—costumes, sets, sound, lights, and full run-throughs. Rehearsals run late into the night, schoolwork becomes an afterthought, and your child will be so tired when they come home.
💡 Theater Mom Tip: Pack snacks, water, and throat lozenges—and don’t plan anything else that week. You will be driving your child to and from the theater.
4. You Will Become a Personal Stylist, Makeup Artist, and Costume Manager
I never expected to own an entire collection of stage makeup and hairspray, but here we are.
Musical theater moms become masters of quick changes, last-minute sewing, and perfecting stage-worthy hairstyles. Between ballet buns, wig caps, and eyeliner thick enough to be seen from the back row, you’ll gain skills you never thought you needed.
💡 Theater Mom Tip
- Learn how to do long-lasting stage makeup (even for boys—stage lights wash out their faces).
- Invest in a garment bag with compartments for costumes, shoes, and accessories. Quick changes happen fast, and losing a costume piece backstage is a nightmare.
- Always bring extra bobby pins, hair ties, setting spray, and safety pins—you will need them.
5. Be Prepared to Hear Show Tunes 24/7
Once your daughter starts musical theater, your house will never be quiet again.
She will be singing constantly—in the car, at dinner, in the shower, and even in her sleep. And guess what? You’ll start singing along, too.
By the time opening night arrives, you will know every word to every song in the show (even the ensemble numbers). And when that show ends? A new one will take its place.
💡 Theater Mom Tip: Just accept it. Soon, you’ll be humming along to Wicked, Les Mis, and Hamilton like it’s second nature.
6. Not Every Role Is a Lead—And That’s Okay
One of the hardest lessons my daughter had to learn (and that I had to help her through) was not always being in the spotlight and she does not always get cast as the part she wanted.
Whether it was a supporting role, an ensemble part, or not placing at a vocal competition, it was tough to watch her work so hard and not always win. But over time, she learned that every performance is an opportunity to grow.
💡 Theater Mom Tip: Encourage your daughter to embrace every performance—whether she’s center stage, in the ensemble, or competing as a soloist. The experience is what matters most!
7. Opening Night Will Make You Cry (Every. Single. Time.)
Nothing prepares you for the moment the curtain rises on opening night.
Watching your daughter shine on stage, seeing all her hard work come together, and hearing the applause—it’s emotional. And once you feel that overwhelming pride and joy, you’ll cry at every single show from here on out.
💡 Theater Mom Tip: Bring tissues and extra phone storage. You’ll want to capture every song she sings, every bow, every dance break, and every standing ovation.
8. The Theater Family Is Like No Other
I never expected to gain a whole new family when my daughter started musical theater.
The bonds formed in the cast and crew are unlike anything else—they laugh together, cry together, and support each other no matter what. And as a theater mom? You’ll make lifelong friends, too.
💡 Theater Mom Tip: Get involved! Help with costumes, volunteer backstage, or join the theater parent group. The more you connect, the more fun the experience becomes.
Is It Worth It? 1000% Yes.
Being a musical theater mom is exhausting, expensive, and sometimes overwhelming—but it’s also one of the most rewarding journeys I’ve ever experienced.
Watching my daughter gain confidence, make lifelong friendships, and fall in love with performing makes every late night, every quick-change panic, and every Broadway ticket splurge completely worth it.
So to all the new theater moms out there—welcome to the world of standing ovations, and endless rehearsals. It’s a wild ride, but you’re going to love it. 🎭✨🎶