For most theater companies, the New Year represents the middle of the theatrical season. Many of the smaller, local companies will regularly offer shows specifically tailored for, and geared towards, young children. The productions available in your town may vary in scope from a classic like Beauty and The Beast or Peter Pan to a wildly original and new tale or a revived, slightly less well-known oldie like Frog and Toad. Ticket prices for these kid’s shows are often very affordable and the running times short enough for even those with tiny attention spans.
The experience of live theater is an amazing gift to give a young person. You will feel the grip of their little hands around your arm when the house lights go down and then witness their eyes light up when the theater returns to a full glow, illuminating a decorated stage filled with actors in costume.
The theater presents a radically different and more enchanting experience than does the television. The shows may be interactive or at the very least have moments where the actors may be talking directly to the audience or ask for some participation in clapping or shouting at a bad guy. The action is real, and is taking place right in front of your eyes. While still mostly a passive form of entertainment, live theater does expand the mind, relying heavily on the use of imagination (for that clearly is a person simply DRESSED as a lion).
We frequent The Arden Theater in Olde City, Philadelphia. They present 2-3 plays a year as their children’s series. This year is Roald Dahl’s The BFG, Ferdinand the Bull, and Looking Glass Alice. After each of their kids shows the actors take the stage together, still in costume and field questions from the young folks in the crowd. After ten minutes or so worth of inquires, the actors move out into the theater’s lobby for more one on one time with the kids. This allows children to shake hands and get their picture taken with real actors. They can also bend their ear about anything they would like: How did you get into acting, how do you change clothes so fast during the show? Most actors performing in a children’s production are going to be very pleasant and accommodating.
So look into your local churches, Universities, High schools and local, regional and national theater companies. See what they are offering for the toddler, kid and tween sets and take your kids to the theater!