Cinderella Family Musical at Santa Monica Playhouse

If you are hunting for family events Los Angeles parents will not regret, the Santa Monica Playhouse has a three-week Cinderella run starting November 7, 2026. This is the Rudie-DeCarlo version, written for a mixed-age crowd and billed for "kids 2 to 102," so a toddler and a grandparent can sit in the same row and both get something out of it.

When: Nov 7 to Nov 22, 2026 (showtimes not yet published) Where: Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 4th St, Santa Monica Tickets: Through ShowClix, or the box office at (310) 394-9779

What to expect

The show is a musical comedy retelling of the classic story, and it leans into the funny parts. The production has been revised with new songs, multimedia elements, special effects, a silent-movie segment, magic tricks and new costumes. The photo above, with the stepsisters brandishing hand mirrors, gives you a sense of the tone: broad, bright and a little silly.

The cast of characters is familiar but with some twists. Cinderella is independent rather than waiting around. The prince wants to be loved for himself, the stepsisters learn that looks are not everything, and the stepmother means well. The message running underneath is about being true to yourself and loving who you are, which is a decent thing for a six-year-old to hear on a Saturday afternoon.

The running time is about 1 hour 25 minutes with one intermission. That is a manageable length for younger kids, with a built-in break for snacks or a bathroom trip.

Planning your visit

Showtimes and ticket prices were not listed on the page we checked, so confirm both with the box office or ShowClix before you go. An earlier Playhouse run of this same show was priced in the mid-teens per ticket, but that is not a guarantee for these dates.

The Playhouse also offers birthday and holiday parties with costumed characters alongside performances, which is worth asking about if you are looking for kids activities LA families can build a celebration around. Call the box office for party details.

The theatre sits on 4th Street in downtown Santa Monica, so plan for street or garage parking nearby and give yourself a few extra minutes on weekends. For more ideas close by, browse the Santa Monica neighborhood page or the full family events category.

A small, long-running neighborhood theatre is a good first live show for a young child. The house is intimate, the story is one they probably know, and the whole thing is over before bedtime gets complicated. For parents compiling things to do with kids LA has on the calendar this month, this one earns a spot.