Bottom line
It’s Jack’s birthday, and he wants to celebrate it with all the kids and adults in the house — and what a party it is. Under the Teatro ZinZanni spiegeltent, families will find a celebration of music, dance, juggling, gymnastics, circus arts, goof-ups and even robot dogs.
Highlights
Teatro ZinZanni’s Super Fun Party Time is the newest show in its Big Top Rock family performance series. It's an interactive show that's a hybrid of cirque and music and is set to live music by dynamic kindiependent band Recess Monkey.
The show is one hour long and best suited for kids 6 and younger. You have the choice of seating at a booth or on chairs near the stage (prices vary). Regardless of whether you have an official seat near the stage, kids can gather right in front of the stage and dance as well as interact with the cast and crew.
Super Fun Party Time opens with Jack (played by Recess Monkey's Jack Forman), who announces to everybody that it’s his birthday. He invites everyone in the audience to his party. All his friends turn up for the event except Peter, his best friend. Jack wonders where he is.
Peter's dilemma: He needs to buy Jack a birthday present, but has lost his money due to a hole in the pocket. The suspense builds as Peter tries to find the best gift for his friend, with each attempt leading to a humorous gaffe, amid helium balloons, handstands, cartwheels and robot dogs. Other performers add to the show's dynamism with acrobatics, juggling and magic. As the clock ticks, the concept of friendship is explored.
The cast includes Recess Monkey musicians Jack Forman, Drew Holloway and Korum Bischoff; Teatro ZinZanni veteran circus artists Peter Pitofsky and Joel Salom; as well as two youth performers, Julaine Hall and Saffi Watson.
The songs are kid-friendly and new Recess Monkey originals; active participation by kids is encouraged throughout the show. You can buy CDs before or after the show.
Parents should know
- As you'd expect, the content of the show is squeaky clean. There is one reference to "open bar," but that goes unnoticed from the kids.
- Like most Teatro ZinZanni shows, the ambience is on the darker side, something to note if kids are extremely scared of the dark.
If you go ...
Where: Teatro ZinZanni, 222 Mercer St., Seattle
Tickets: $20 for booth seating; $25 for chair seating; babes in arms free. Buy online. You can get ticket discounts for groups of 8 or more; call the box office at 206-802-0015 for details.
When: Select Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 17, at 11 a.m.
Tips:
- The show is best suited for kids 6 and under.
- Doors open at 10 a.m.; the show is at 11 a.m.
- There is theater parking behind the theater, and space is usually available. Depending on when you arrive, you may be able to snag street parking, too.
- Snacks and drinks can be purchased at the concession stand anytime.
- No photos or videos are allowed during the show, but you are welcome to click before or after the show.
