Ratings and recommendations
We want you and your family to have the very best experience at the Black Hills Playhouse. We do recommend that children be of an age that they can sit quietly and be attentive at a performance (generally 4+). Ratings do not speak to what might be of interest to any particular age group.
Some things are subjective and what is appropriate for your family depends on your own personal values. For example, what one family might think of as "family-friendly" may not be for another family. We rate our productions to give people a sense of what to look out for when making decisions. Below are descriptions of what you might expect according to each rating. Don't hesitate to reach out if you have specific questions regarding any production and its rating.
G: General Audiences, All Ages Admitted. Contains nothing in theme, language, nudity, sex, violence or other matters that the in-view of the Rating Board would offend parents whose younger children view the production. It’s important to note that a “G” rating does not automatically make the production a children’s play or act as an approval of the production for children.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested, Some Material May Not Be Suitable for Children. The production should be investigated further by parents. There may be some content such as language, violence, or brief nudity, but they aren’t so intense that more than guidance is suggested. Remember, the content will vary with each production, so check the specific rating for the production you are researching.
PG-13: Parents Strongly Cautioned, Some Material May Be Inappropriate for Children Under 13. This rating is a stronger caution for parents that content included may not be appropriate for children under 13 (pre-teen ages). This may include strong language, extended violence or sexual situations, and drug use. Remember, the content will vary with each production, so check the specific rating for the production you are researching.
R: Restricted, Children Under 17 Require Accompanying Parent or Adult Guardian. This rating means theproduction contains adult material such as adult activity, harsh language, intense graphic violence, drug abuse, and nudity. Most theaters have their own policies regarding R rated productions and some include checking IDs of those who look under 17 purchasing tickets, allowing only parents to purchase tickets and accompany those under 17 into the production, or just stating it has to be an adult guardian (not necessarily a parent) and that guardian has to purchase the tickets and accompany under 17 ages the entire time.