It's sad but true … summer vacation is over, and fall is well on its way. Brighten up the season of falling leaves (and falling rain!) by attending one of the hundreds of shows available to us here in the Puget Sound region. The following offerings are from some of our favorite venues that produce either shows specifically aimed at kids, or shows that the whole family can enjoy. See more shows online at www.seattleschild.com.
The 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle. www.5thavenue.org.
The 5th offers top-quality musical revivals, premieres of bound-for-Broadway shows and touring Broadway shows. The fall season includes: Saving Aimee (PG) Sept. 30 through Oct. 30, a musical by Kathie Lee Gifford, David Friedman and David Pomeranz that tells the real-life story of Aimee Semple McPherson – the charismatic leader of a theatrical super church in 1920s L.A. Cinderella (G) Nov. 25 through Dec. 31, Rogers and Hammerstein's take on the classic fairy tale, performed by all local talent.
Auburn Avenue Kids, Auburn. www.auburnwa.gov/community/arts_entertainment/ave_kids.asp.
Entertainment from local, regional and national acts as well as touring presentations are presented in the heart of Auburn, with an emphasis on kids 4 through 12 and their parents, families, or friends. Theater offerings this fall: The Ugliest Duckling Sept. 24; The Wizard of Oz Oct. 22, presented by the Auburn Community Players.
Bellevue Youth Theatre, Bellevue. www.bellevuewa.gov/bellevue_youth_theatre.htm.
Sponsored by the City of Bellevue and Bellevue Public Schools, Bellevue Youth Theatre is dedicated to offering all children and youth opportunities to be involved in the dramatic arts, regardless of age, ability or family income. The affordable productions ($10 to $12 a seat) are performed at BYT or Meydenbauer Theatre. This fall: Frankenstein (ages 8 and older) Oct. 28 through Nov. 6; The Frog Prince (all ages) Nov. 11-20.
Book-It Repertory Theatre, Seattle. www.book-it.org.
Book-It is where literature finds the stage. The Family Fun Series stages classics novels for children and families and offers performances of their touring shows at Center House Theatre at Seattle Center. Make sure to show up for the before-show crafts and activities: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (grades K through 8) Sept. 24.
Early Music Guild, Downstairs at Town Hall, Seattle. www.earlymusicguild.org.
The Early Music Discovery performances, about an hour in length, bring history to life. For the 2011-12 season, all concerts feature children performing alongside ensembles of local specialists in early music, dance and even martial arts. This fall: Boppin' with Bach: Exploring the Dance Origins of the Suzuki Repertoire Oct. 9.
Lakewood Playhouse, Lakewood. www.lakewoodplayhouse.org.
Lakewood Playhouse has a theater-in-the-round design, giving audience members a unique perspective of the action on the sets. The following shows will appeal to all ages. Oliver! Nov. 25 through Dec. 23.
Northwest Puppet Center, Seattle. www.nwpuppet.org.
This quaint converted church in Seattle's Maple Leaf neighborhood is home to performances by resident company Carter Family Marionettes as well as guest puppeteers. The fall season features: Qweti: Tales of the Makah Tribe Nov. 12-20 and Cenerentola: The Italian Cinderella Dec. 10-18.
Pacific Northwest Ballet, Seattle. www.pnb.org.
Seattle's resident ballet company is one of the largest in the country. Each season brings performances of both classic and cutting-edge dance. Coming this fall: All Wheeldon Sept. 23 through Oct. 1; Love Stories Nov. 4-13.
Village Theatre, Issaquah and Everett. http://villagetheatre.org.
The Pied Piper series, staged in Everett, features guest theater companies, puppeteers and entertainers. This fall: If You Give a Moose a Cookie Dec. 17. Mainstage productions appropriate for children and families include: Take Me America (ages 8 and older) Sept. 14 through Nov. 20; Annie Get Your Gun (ages 8 and older) Nov. 9 through Jan. 29.
Seattle Children's Theatre, Seattle. www.sct.org.
Seattle's premier children's theater presents new productions and revivals of old favorites. Coming this fall: Harold and the Purple Crayon (all ages) Sept. 22 through Oct. 30; Robin Hood (ages 8 and older) Oct. 20 through Nov. 27; A Year with Frog and Toad (all ages) Nov. 17 through Jan. 15.
Seattle Opera, Seattle. www.seattleopera.org.
Carmen (sung in French with English subtitles), playing Oct. 15-29, is generally appropriate for ages 10 and older and is, of course, one of the world's best-loved operas.
SecondStory Repertory Children's Theater, Redmond. www.secondstoryrep.org/childrenstheatre/season.html.
SecondStory's hour-long productions feature lots of audience interaction and imaginative scripts and songs. Shows are appropriate for grade school-age children; families with younger children are welcome to attend all-ages performances on Sundays. Coming this fall: Click, Clack, Moo – Cows That Type Sept. 9-25; The Princess & the Pea Nov. 11-27.
Stone Soup Theatre, Seattle. www.stonesouptheatre.org.
Stone Soup Theatre, in operation since 1996, specializes in productions of one-act plays. This show is especially recommended for families: The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (abridged) (ages 10 and older) Nov. 4-27, a "madcap, lightening-paced roller-coaster ride through Shakespeare's best."
StoryBook Theater, performances in Kirkland, Seattle, Everett, Renton. www.storybooktheater.org.
This theater produces original, interactive musical comedies especially for children ages 3 and older. The fall season features: The Boy Who Cried Wolf Oct. 29 through Dec. 4.
Studio East, Kirkland. http://studio-east.org.
Kids of all ages train at Studio East and perform in the ambitious shows. This fall: Oliver! (ages 8 and older) Oct. 14-30.
Tacoma Children's Musical Theater and Tacoma Musical Playhouse, Tacoma. http://tmp.org/childrenstheater.aspx.
The Children's Theater stages fully produced musicals featuring many of the mainstage actors. This fall brings: Pinkalicious (ages 3 and older) Oct. 29-30 and Nov. 5-6, a musical based on the best-selling storybook. Tacoma Musical Playhouse's season also includes several productions suitable for all ages, including: Little Women (ages 4 and older) Sept. 23 through Oct. 16 and Peter Pan, The Musical (ages 4 and older) Nov. 25 through Dec. 18.
Thistle Theatre, performances in Seattle and Bellevue. www.thistletheatre.org.
Thistle's 45-minute productions feature Bunraku style puppetry – full size puppets manipulated by puppeteers dressed in black. This fall's show: Jack and the Beanstalk in October.
Youth Theatre Northwest, Mercer Island. www.youththeatre.org.
Theater productions feature child actors in ambitious, professional-quality, full-length shows, including: Disney's Sleeping Beauty (ages 3 and older) Nov. 4-20; Free to Be You and Me (ages 3 and older) Dec. 2-18.
Chris Stay is the calendar editor for Seattle’s Child.
