Welcome to our first-ever spring arts preview! After the holidays, the theater scene for families revs up again, with dozens of new shows opening all over the area through May. We’ve found something for everyone, from Beethoven to Broadway to Bunraku. Pick a few faves, get them on the calendar and enjoy the thriving world of children’s theater around the Puget Sound region. If we’ve missed anything, let us know at calendar@parentmap.com.
FEBRUARY
Feb. 5: “Musical Olympics for Tots.” An interactive classical music show — this one with an Olympics theme — for very little ones, led by the very popular Let Your Music Shine! with Lisa and Linda. Part of the Seattle Symphony’s ongoing Tiny Tots series. Buy single tickets at the door on the day of the concert (space available only) — check online for show times. Ages newborn–5. Feb. 5–6. $12. Benaroya Hall [DOWNTOWN SEATTLE]
Feb. 6: " The Emperor’s New Clothes." StoryBook Theater’s comic musical adaptation of the fairy tale about a vain king who is tricked into believing that he’s wearing a suit of beautiful new clothes instead of just his underwear. Will someone in the kingdom tell him the truth? Ages 3–9. Feb. 6–7. $9. Kirkland Performance Center [KIRKLAND]
Feb. 6: "Stellaluna." A tiny bat is adopted by a family of birds and never quite fits in in this adaptation of the sweet children’s book by Janell Cannon. Arrive an hour before show time for activities with Imagine Children’s Museum, and stay afterward for a short question-and-answer session about the performance. Grades K–5. $12–$14. Everett Civic Auditorium, villagetheatre.org [EVERETT]
Feb. 11: "In the Northern Lands: Nordic Myths." Traditional tales from Nordic countries that feature big themes of honor, fidelity, courage and justice, written by SCT Artistic Director Linda Hartzell and Torrie McDonald. Ages 8 and older (not recommended for younger kids because of darker themes and complex storytelling structure). Feb. 11–March 14. $15–$34. Seattle Children’s Theatre [SEATTLE CENTER]
Feb. 12: "Annie." The big Broadway musical about an orphan with a talent for making friends in high places. All ages. Feb. 12–14. $20–$75. The Paramount Theatre [DOWNTOWN SEATTLE]
Feb. 13: The Not-Its! The local five-piece band performs straight-ahead rock 'n' roll for little ones (but with lyrics that the kiddos can relate to). You’ll be dancing in your seats, I promise. The band plays two shows today as part of Town Hall Seattle’s Saturday Family Concert series. All ages. $5, ages 12 and younger free with paying adult (no adults without kids, no kids without adults). Town Hall Seattle [FIRST HILL]
Feb. 13: "Auntie Lena’s African Stories." Three African tales of friendship, performed by Bunraku puppet company Thistle Theatre. Ages 3–12. Feb. 13–14. $7–$9. Bellevue Youth Theatre, thistletheatre.org [BELLEVUE]
Feb. 20: "Catching the Moon." As part of its Family Fun Series, Book-It Repertory Theatre presents the inspiring story of Marcenia Lyle, the first woman to play for an all-male baseball team. Arrive early for crafts, workshops related to the show and a book fair. Best of all, tickets are free! Visit the theater’s Web site for details. Grades K–8. Book-It Repertory Theatre [SEATTLE CENTER]
Feb. 25: "James and the Giant Peach." Students from Youth Theatre Northwest perform an adaptation of the fantasy tale by Roald Dahl, in which a young boy’s discovery of — yes — a giant peach sets off a strange and adventuresome journey. Ages 6 and older. Feb. 25–March 7. $13–$17. Youth Theatre Northwest [MERCER ISLAND]
Feb. 27: Princess Katie and Racer Steve Live. A rockin’ princess and a guitar-playing racecar driver put on a high-energy show for the kiddos. $15. The Moore Theatre [DOWNTOWN SEATTLE]
Feb. 27: "The Emperor’s New Clothes." See Feb. 6 for description. Feb. 27–28 at Carco Theatre, storybooktheater.org [RENTON]
MARCH
March 5: "Bye Bye Birdie. Rock star Conrad Birdie has been drafted into the army, but isn’t about to leave without one last publicity stunt. It doesn’t quite go the way he had planned. Ages 6 and older. March 5–21. $13–$17. Youth Theatre Northwest [MERCER ISLAND]
March 6: "The Tiger and the Dried Persimmon." A young Korean tiger is very full of himself — that is, until he’s frightened by a piece of dried persimmon. Puppet company Thistle Theatre performs. Ages 3–12. March 6–7. $7–$9. Magnuson Park Theatre, thistletheatre.org [SAND POINT]
March 6: "The Secret Life of Bugs." Entomologist Erin Sullivan of Woodland Park Zoo teams up with the Spyglass Theatre to take an up-close look — using black-light puppetry — at the everyday lives of insects as they build webs, hunt and metamorphose. All ages. March 6–21. $8.50–$10.50. Northwest Puppet Center [NORTHGATE]
March 7: "The Emperor’s New Clothes." See Feb. 6 for description. Museum of History & Industry, storybooktheater.org [MONTLAKE]
March 11: "Getting Near to Baby." A pair of sisters are sent to live with family while their mother recovers from the loss of their baby sister, and — after a rough start — find friendship and understanding in this sensitive adaptation of the Newbery Honor book. Ages 8 and older. March 11–April 18. $15–$34. Seattle Children’s Theatre [SEATTLE CENTER]
March 12: "More Music @ the Moore." A must-see show performed by stellar local teen musicians under the guidance of professional artists and mentors. All ages. The Moore Theatre [DOWNTOWN SEATTLE]
March 12: "Fiddler on the Roof." A poor Russian villager tries to pass on the traditions of his tight-knit Jewish community to his five daughters — meanwhile, customs around them change and the anti-Semitism of Czarist Russia grows. Ages 8 and older. March 12–28. $11–$13. Studio East [KIRKLAND]
March 12: "Goldilocks & the Three Bears." SecondStory Repertory’s children’s series continues with a musical adaptation of the fairy tale about a little girl who makes herself a bit too much at home while a bear family is away. Ages 5 and older (all-ages performances on March 14 and 21, 1 p.m.). March 12–28. $9. SecondStory Repertory [REDMOND]
March 13: "The Tiger and the Dried Persimmon." See March 6 for description. March 13–14 at Bellevue Youth Theatre, thistletheatre.org [BELLEVUE]
March 19: "The Tiger and the Dried Persimmon." See March 6 for description. March 19–21 at Sunset Hill Community Club, thistletheatre.org [BALLARD]
March 19: "Madeline." Bellevue Youth Theatre performs the story of a charming, mischievous French girl and her adventures with her classmates. All ages. March 19–27. $10. Bellevue Youth Theatre [BELLEVUE]
APRIL
April 17: "Remarkable Farkle McBride." Everett Symphony Orchestra performs the humorous story by John Lithgow, in which a young boy tries to settle on the right instrument. Kids in the audience will learn about the instruments along the way. All ages. $15–$25. Bethany Center, everettsymphony.org [EVERETT]
April 17: "Gansango Music and Dance." Compelling West African music and dance — both traditional and contemporary — directed by Seattle choreographer Etienne Cakpo. The company performs two shows today as part of Town Hall Seattle’s Saturday Family Concert series. All ages. $5, ages 12 and younger free with paying adult (no adults without kids, no kids without adults). Town Hall Seattle [FIRST HILL]
April 23: "The Music Man." A large cast from Bellevue Youth Theatre performs the Broadway musical about trouble in River City. All ages. April 23–25. $12. Meydenbauer Theatre, bytf.org [BELLEVUE]
April 23: "Gallop and Go!" Lisa and Linda are back with another Tiny Tots show; kids can explore classical music with a “barnyard beat.” Buy single tickets at the door on the day of the concert (space available only) — check online for show times. Ages newborn–5. April 23–24. $12. Benaroya Hall [DOWNTOWN SEATTLE]
April 24: "High School Musical 2: On Stage!" School’s out, and the Wildcats sing and dance their way through a summer at Lava Springs Country Club in the Hi-Liners’ MainStage Spring Show — based on the frighteningly successful Disney Channel movie, of course. All ages. April 24–May 2. Carco Theater, hi-liners.org [RENTON]
April 24: "The Princess and the Pea." StoryBook Theater tackles the fairy tale about a very sensitive princess with its usual goofy good humor (and original music). Ages 3–9. April 24–25. $9. Carco Theatre, storybooktheater.org [RENTON]
April 25: "Mud Bay Jugglers." The jugglers’ choreographed performances blend precision juggling, dance, music and physical comedy. All ages. $10-$15. Kirkland Performance Center [KIRKLAND]
April 30: "The Little Mermaid." Ariel the mermaid wants to walk on land like a human girl, but the price she may have to pay to get her wish is rather steep. All ages. April 30–May 2. $10. Bellevue Youth Theatre [BELLEVUE]
MAY
May 1: "The Princess and the Pea." See April 24 for description. May 1–9 at Kirkland Performance Center [KIRKLAND]
May 7: "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day." Absolutely everything goes wrong for Alexander in this adaptation of Judith Viorst’s classic children’s book. Ages 5 and older (all-ages performances on May 9 and 16, 1 p.m.). May 7–23. $9. SecondStory Repertory [REDMOND]
May 14: "Tales of Peter Rabbit." Peter Rabbit (wearing his little blue jacket, of course) gets into a scrape in Mr. McGregor’s garden in this adaptation of two Beatrix Potter stories, “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” and “The Tale of Benjamin Bunny.” Thistle Theatre performs. Ages 3–12. May 14–15. $7–$9. Sunset Hill Community Club, thistletheatre.org [BALLARD]
May 15: "The Princess and the Pea." See April 24 for description. May 15–16 at Everett PUD Auditorium, storybooktheatre.org [EVERETT]
May 21: "Pinocchio." A wooden puppet longs to be a real boy, but he has to kick that bad habit of lying first. Ages 3 and older. May 21–June 6. $13–$17. Youth Theatre Northwest [MERCER ISLAND]
May 22: "Tales of Peter Rabbit." See May 14 for description. May 22–23 at Bellevue Youth Theatre, thistletheatre.org [BELLEVUE]
May 23: "The Princess and the Pea." See April 24 for description. Museum of History & Industry, storybooktheater.org [MONTLAKE]
May 23: "Max and Ruby." Village Theatre’s Pied Piper kids’ series closes the season with a musical based on the Nickelodeon television show about a pair of sometimes-contentious rabbit siblings. Grades pre-K through 2. $12–$14. Everett Civic Auditorium, villagetheatre.org [EVERETT]
May 25: "Fiddler on the Roof." See March 12 for description. All ages. May 25–30. $30.50–$73.50. The Paramount Theatre [DOWNTOWN SEATTLE]
May 29: "Tales of Peter Rabbit." See May 14 for description. May 29–30 at Magnuson Park Theatre, thistletheatre.org [SAND POINT]
May 29: "Gallop and Go!" See April 23 for description. Meydenbauer Center [BELLEVUE]
Kris Collingridge is ParentMap’s theater-loving Out & About editor.
