Nick Jr. Live! Move to the Music Review

Do your kids love Nick Jr. shows like Paw Patrol, Shimmer & Shine, and Blue Clues? Then Nick Jr. Live is perfect for them! Recently my family spent the morning singing songs with "DJ Rubble", Dora the Explorer, and Molly and Gil from The Bubble Guppies. 

Nick Jr. Live! Show Review 

Nick Jr. Live! Move to the Music is jam packed with Nick Jr. favorites; Dora the Explorer works as the host for the day along with Rubble and Marshall from Paw Patrol. These three characters are seen often in between sets and help weave the "storyline" (more on that further down).

Characters featured in the show:
Molly, Gill, Denna and Nonny of Bubble Guppies
Butterbean (Butterbean's Cafe) makes a quick appearance during the Bubble Guppies' set
Swift, Rod, Penny & Brody from Top Wing
Blue of Blue's Clues with an on screen hello from Josh
Shimmer and Shine (Shimmer & Shine)
Blaze from Blaze and the Monster Machines 

Note: Marshall and Rubble are the only pups from Paw Patrol to make an appearance during this show. If you have a mega Paw Patrol fan, the pups do tour on their own so I suggest checking out their show!

Nick Jr. Live! The Storyline

Since this is a show geared towards toddlers it is understandable that a storyline would not be complex. However, the storyline for Nick Jr. Live! Move to the Music was weak, at best.

The show didn't have a storyline until intermission. We were all at a party with our favorite characters when suddenly, the power goes out (note: the lights do not actually change in the auditorium there is no black out) and Shimmer and Shine need to find a special jewel to bring back the light. Then the show goes to intermission.

It felt random, it felt clunky and it was pretty unnecessary. If they wanted to introduce a storyline it should have been in the beginning of the show. Previously, we took my daughter to see Disney Junior Live! and the storyline there was a mysterious person (Pete, of course) stole the show's disco ball. The stealing of the disco ball was introduced right from the start and we checked in regularly to see the progress Mickey and the Roadsters were making locating it.

The culmination of the missing jewel didn't last until the end of the show but was resolved right after intermission. After that, it was back to no storyline. I'm pretty sure my toddler didn't even pick up on the whole missing jewel thing, she was just there to dance! 

Nick Jr. Live! The Characters

The best costumed characters were Rubble and Marshall as they seemed to be the most advanced; their mouths moved and their eyes blinked. However, they are not humans in a costume that you might see walking around a theme park. They are humans who are working a mechanical costume, they are miked and can be seen.

Blue's costume is designed the same way however her's seems to lack the finesse of Marshall and Rubble. For instance, my toddler asked why "she" (the performer) was "riding" Blue but she did not ask that about Marshall or Rubble. 

The Bubble Guppies are puppets worked by performers who hold them in front of their faces but again, the performers are fully visible. The birds of Top Wing are puppets that are attached to the performers' feet. These were impressive and while we've never watched the show I did enjoy their small set. Shimmer, Shine and Dora are all costume-clad performers.

Nick Jr. Live! Let's Blaze?

The oddest part of the show for me came during the car, Blaze's set. I've never seen the show Blaze and the Monster Machines, but given that this car is called Blaze, it was very surreal to be at a kids show listening to a theme song of a kids show and having performers chant "Let's Blaze" and "Spark it up". Both my husband and I glanced at each other during this set because we couldn't help but think of an adult activity that may also call for those terms to be chanted. We felt like maybe the writers of this show were having a bit of fun with parents or they're totally dense (??). Aside from the wording, Blaze's portion of the show was high energy and had 4 performers acting as the tires of his car and created the visual of him jumping off ramps and over "fire". 

Nick Jr. Live! Overall Impression

Nick Jr. Live! Move to the Music is perfect for toddlers and any child who is familiar with Nick Jr. characters. The storyline is not complex (at all) and the show features all of the individual show theme songs as well as an original song that gets kids dancing in the aisle. 

The only downside I would say is our venue, required a ticket for 1 year olds and older. Did they check age at the door? No, but we bought four tickets and events like this get pricy pretty quickly. Most of the souvenirs for sale were not Nick Jr. Live! specific but rather focused on the individual TV shows. If you're looking for a themed, flat (non noise or light making souvenir) there is a great photo opp in the lobby that features Nick Jr. Live! on the backdrop that is taken by a professional camera and costs $20 for a print out.