September 2007
New Theater Offerings for Families and Kids
Fall is in the air. School is back in session, and the new theater season is about to begin. We in the greater Puget Sound region are lucky to have such a rich arts scene. New community theaters are being built every year, and many of them cater to children and families. Here is a sampling of what’s being offered for the 2007-2008 season.
Book-It Repertory Theatre, Seattle Center House, 305 Harrison St., Seattle. 206-216-0833. www.book-it.org.
Book-It Theatre brings literary classics to the stage to inspire audiences to read and challenge them to use their imaginations. Tickets are $18 to $32 adults, $22 seniors, $15 students. Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie (grades 3 and higher) Nov. 30 - Dec. 23.
Broadway Center for the Performing Arts, Pantages Theater, 901 Broadway, Tacoma. 253-591-5894 or 800-291-5894. www.broadwaycenter.org.
Broadway Center offers a full season of varied performances, including the following shows appropriate for ages 12 and younger. Ticket prices vary. Cirqueworks Birdhouse Factory Sept. 21 - 22; Peter Pan Jan. 16; Mad Science: Newton’s Revenge Feb. 15; The Velveteen Rabbit April 13; Theatre of Illusion April 20.
Heavier Than Air Family Theatre Company, Green River Community College, Performing Arts Bldg., 12401 S.E. 320th St., Auburn. 253-833-9111, ext. 2400; 206-464-6133, ext. 2400; or 253-924-0180, ext. 2400. www.heavierthanair.com.
This mix of professional and community actors has presented family theater for more than 25 years. Theater etiquette rules for children (and parents) are available online. Most shows are suitable for ages 6 and older. Individual tickets prices are $10, season tickets are $20. The season runs December through June, and productions this year include Seussical the Musical, The Wizard of Oz and Ann of Green Gables.
Kirkland Performance Center, 350 Kirkland Ave., Kirkland. 425-828-0422. www.kpcenter.org.
This venue hosts a wide variety of performances. Shows for kids include productions from StoryBook Theater (see the StoryBook entry below), plus the following shows. Tickets prices vary. The Nutcracker Dec. 7 - 9; Galumpha Dec. 16; Moscow Circus Feb. 11 - 13; Cashore Marionettes Feb. 16; Diane Ferlatte April 12; Old Yeller April 28.
Northwest Puppet Center, 9123 15th Ave. N.E., Seattle. 206-523-2579. www.nwpuppet.org.
Innovative puppet shows are produced by resident company Carter Family Marionettes, as well as guest puppeteers. The Center’s puppet museum, a fascinating collection of international artifacts, is open 30 minutes before or after each performance. Shows are recommended for ages 4 and older. Ticket prices are $10.50 adults, $9 seniors, $8.50 children (tickets for the marionette opera performance $28 adult, $25 seniors and children). Subscriptions are $38 to $51 adults, $30 to $39 children. Sigi the Antelope: Stories of West Africa Oct. 17 - 26; Coyote Sings Nov. 2 - 16; Madeline and the Gypsies Dec. 7 - 21; The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by A. Wolf Jan. 11 - 25; Tall Tales: Pecos Bill & Bigfoot Feb. 1 - 15; S.C.U.B.A.: Super Cool Underwater March 8 - 23; Don Giovanni (marionette opera performance for ages 10 and older) April 25 - May 4.
Pied Piper from Village Theatre, two venues
in downtown Everett. 206-257-8600.
www.villagetheatre.org.
Pied Piper hosts guest theater companies, puppeteers and entertainers. Ticket prices are $14 adults, $12 seniors and youth. Katie Couric’s The Brand New Kid Nov. 4; The Elves & the Shoemaker Dec. 9; Kevin Locke Trio: Spirit of Music and Dance Feb. 2; If You Give a Pig a Party April 13; Henry & Mudge May 18.
Seattle Children’s Theatre, 201 Thomas St., Seattle. 206-441-3322. www.sct.org.
Seattle’s premier children’s theater produces professional shows, including world premieres and exclusive engagements. Tickets are $24 to $33 adults, $17 to $26 ages 1 to 18 (High School Musical is $20 to $40). Various season ticket packages are available for $72 to $189. Disney’s High School Musical Sept. 14 - Nov. 24; The Big Friendly Giant Oct. 19 - Dec. 16; The Neverending Story Dec. 7 - Jan. 27; Hamlet Jan. 25 - Feb. 24; The Hundred Dresses Feb. 22 - April 12; According to Coyote March 14 - May 4; Busytown April 25 - June 15.
Seattle Theatre Group, The Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St., Seattle. 206-628-0888 or 206-292-ARTS (2787). www.theparamount.com.
Seattle Theatre Group is offering two family series this year. Series ticket packages range from $61 to $66. Fall/Winter Family Series: Justin Roberts and Not Ready for Naptime Players Oct. 27; Buck Howdy with BB Feb. 2; A Year with Frog and Toad March 14 - 16. Spring Family Series overlaps with the fall series: Buck Howdy with BB Feb. 2; A Year with Frog and Toad March 14 - 16; Dan Zanes and Friends April 26.
SPROUTS Children’s Theatre, 16587 N.E. 74th St., Redmond. 425-881-6777. www.secondstoryrep.org.
Hour-long productions feature adult, professional actors from the Mainstage Series at SecondStory Repertory. Audience interaction is encouraged at SPROUTS musicals, and kids get to sit on the stage. All tickets are $8.75; season subscriptions are $29. Hansel & Gretel Oct. 12 - 28; The Brave Little Tailor Jan. 18 - Feb. 3; Cinderella March 7 - 23; Aladdin & the Magic Lamp! May 2 - 18.
StoryBook Theater shows take place at PUD
Auditorium (Everett), Kirkland Performance Center (Kirkland), Museum of
History & Industry (Seattle), and Carco Theater (Renton). 425-827-3123
or 877-827-1100. www.studio-east.org.
Interactive musical comedies produced by Studio East are created for ages
3 through 9 and families. Single tickets are $6; season tickets are $21.
Chicken Little October through December; The Three Pigs
January through March; Cinderella April through May.
Studio East Mainstage, 402 Sixth St. S., Kirkland. 425-827-3123 or 877-827-1100. www.studio-east.org.
Studio East presents shows that “…can make a difference in the lives of our children.” Ticket prices are $10 to $15 (except ‘Twas the Night, $12). Cinderella Oct. 12 - 28; ‘Twas the Night… Nov. 24 - Dec. 16; I Never Saw Another Butterfly Jan. 25 - Feb. 10; Little Women March 14 - 30; The Wizard of Oz (all ages) May 30 - June 15.
Thistle Theatre shows take place at Sunset Hill Community Club (Seattle), Magnuson Park Theatre (Seattle) and Bellevue Youth Theater (Bellevue). 206-524-3388. www.thistletheatre.org.
The productions feature handcrafted puppets, original musical scores and Bunraku style puppetry, which has the puppeteers dressed in black to suggest invisibility. Appropriate for ages 3 to 93. $9, $7 children and seniors (season tickets are $32/$24). Jack & the Beanstalk October through November; Merry Chris Mouse December; Hanako and the Cherry Tree February through March; Three Billy Goats Gruff April through May.
Village Theatre Mainstage performances start in Issaquah (303 Front St. N., Issaquah. 425-392-2202 or 866-688-8849), then move to Everett (Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Ave., Everett. 425-257-8600 or 888-257-3722). www.villagetheatre.org.
The Village Theatre mounts a full season of musicals, both familiar and new. Single tickets prices vary; season tickets are $125 to $220. Million Dollar Quartet Sept. 19 - Oct. 28 (Issaquah), Nov. 2 - 18 (Everett); The King and I Nov. 14 - Jan. 6 (Issaquah), Jan. 11 - 27 (Everett); Little Women March 19 - April 27 (Issaquah), May 2 - 18 (Everett).
Youth Theatre Northwest, 8805 S.E. 40th St., Mercer Island, 206-232-4145, ext. 109. www.youththeatre.org.
Actors ages 8 to 18 produce ambitious, professional-quality, full-length productions. Ticket prices are $15 opening night, $13 all other performances. Subscriptions are $55 to $110. Mr. Popper’s Penguins Nov. 2 - 18; Pippin Jan. 25 - Feb. 10; A Little Princess March 7 - 23; The Monkey King April 25 - May 10; The Phantom Tollbooth May 30 - June 14.
Chris Stay is calendar editor for Seattle’s Child.
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