Theater for Young Audiences’ trailblazing Megan Doyle

Megan Doyle is shaping the future of musical theater in New York — and the city is taking notice. City & State named the Executive Director, Musical Theater & Theater for Young Audiences at 92NY one of 2025’s Trailblazers in Arts & Culture, honoring leaders redefining creativity and inclusion in the arts – and featuring her alongside culture shapers from MoMa PS1, Jazz at Lincoln Center, BAM, and others.

Doyle has transformed the Theater for Young Audiences (TYA) program from the ground up since its launch in 2018, building a nationally recognized season that drew more than 13,000 attendees last year, earning spotlights in The New York Times, and establishing itself as the one of the country’s leading presenters for young theatergoers. TYA’s unique programming blends original productions created by Doyle and her team – more than a dozen to date – with licensed shows and adaptations, all designed especially for children. “Kids deserve the same level of artistry and thought put into musicals created just for them as is put into those created for adults,” she says. “TYA doesn’t present simplified versions of Broadway shows – we approach musical theater for kids as its own singular art form.”

Reflecting on why musical theater is important for children, Doyle says, “Musical theater is a way for a child to experience the world without actually have to live the experiences. Parents have said, ‘My kid saw themself onstage.’ And in witnessing a character’s journeys, a child develops empathy and learns lessons about how people treat each other.”

Later this month TYA presents Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Nov 28-Dec 20). Based on the beloved animated film and filled with the songs children – and their parents – know and love, the full-length production is the perfect kids and family show for the holidays. Spring brings productions for little ones through teens. “We’ve built such a dedicated audience that we’re now able to present shows for different age groups,” says Doyle. Returning by popular demand: Ice Queen (Mar 7-29) and Messy Millie (May 2 & 3) – two “theater for the very young” productions – each ideal as a child’s very first theatrical experience, and created especially for children from nursery school age and through third grade. And new to our stage in February: Little Women, The Broadway Musical (Feb 8-28), based on the Louisa May Alcott classic. “Families return to us time and again, so many kids have grown up with us and are ready for more mature work. This show is for kids ages 8 through high school. It’s created especially for pre-teens and teens and explores what it looks like to come into adulthood as this audience is maturing from children to young adults.”

“Musical theater opens up whole new worlds for children, and we’re reimagining how we light the spark for them.” says Doyle. “Kids are the most valuable audience we have. And this is some of the most important work we can do.”

Theater for Young Audiences is presented by The Diamond Family.

Learn more about 92NY’s Theater for Young Audiences and its upcoming shows.