6 Shows to See With Your Family (Instead of Talking to Them) This Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving is one of America's favorite holidays. Every November, families come together over dining room tables all across the nation to share a hearty meal, reminisce about days gone by, and argue about politics. But by Saturday morning the holiday's Norman Rockwell glow can start to fade. That's when it's time to head to the theater! After all, is there any better way to spend time with family without having to actually interact with them at all?
Here are six currently running shows that are sure to keep the whole clan entertained (and quiet):

1. Dames at Sea

Picking a show that pleases the tastes of everyone in the family can be tricky, but if there's one thing that everyone loves — from grandma to little Jimmy — it's tap-dancing. That's what makes Dames at Sea, a six-person parody of the 1930s Busby Berkeley-style movie musicals, perfect for postprandial holiday entertainment. Not only does the show make up with shear spunk what it lacks in cast size, but watching all that fancy footwork might just inspire the family to go out and burn a calorie or two themselves.

2. 39 Steps

To see an even smaller show that packs just as powerful a punch, take your family off-Broadway to 39 Steps. In this Broadway-to-off-Broadway transfer, four actors play more than 150 characters, so it's sure to keep every member of your tribe awake and on their toes. Plus, it's based on the classic 1935 Alfred Hitchcock film of the same name, so it'll be easy to convince your dad that seeing this show is basically the same thing as staying home and watching Turner Classic Movies.

3. An American in Paris

Many families take advantage of the Thanksgiving holiday by planning an international vacation. This year, if your family opted to stay put in the United States, that doesn't mean you can't still get in a little cross-oceanic travel…in your mind. Broadway's An American in Paris transports audiences to post-WWII France, where every interaction was set against a background of modern art, everyone was a prima ballerina, and the music of George and Ira Gershwin provides the soundtrack for every scene.

4. Once Upon a Mattress

What could be more family-friendly than a good old-fashioned fairy tale? Anyone who knows The Princess and the Pea will find a nice and familiar story to ease them out of their holiday festivities. Except this time, you get the added bonus of an unconventional ingenue in funny lady Jackie Hoffman and a villainous performance from popular New York drag artist Lypsinka, who gives mothers-in-law everywhere a run for their money.

5. The King and I

If your family is more the Rodgers and Hammerstein type, Broadway's current revival of The King and I is the show for you. With Broadway darling Kelli O'Hara as the eponymous "I," a role for which she won the 2015 Tony Award, this all-around Tony-winning production is sure to please musical theater aficionados and classic movie lovers alike. And, at a full three hours, the run time is sure to please your introverted siblings.

6. On Your Feet!

After a big Thanksgiving meal, the last thing you usually want to do is get on your feet…until now. If you go to the Marquis Theatre, the rhythm is gonna get you — and potentially trap you in a calorie-burning conga line.