11.05.2014

Theater for Kids

Initially, I was hesitant to take my toddler to a live performance, but after a couple of great shows to test the waters, we are kid-theater regulars now. Here's a glimpse at our experience as well as a list of upcoming shows this holiday/winter season.

I have lost count of how many tutus we have in Josie's costume box. Though now, with two preschool-age girls, I suppose you can never have too many, right? Last year, I bought tickets to see the Velveteen Rabbit ballet performance with Josie. Despite her clear obsession with ballet attire, I wasn't sure how a real ballet would go over... She was not quite 4 years old and had a limited attention span. Would she sit through the whole thing? Would she even understand it, considering we haven't even read the book? Would she ask me questions during the entire show, like "Mommy, what is a 'skin horse'?

We went the day after Thanksgiving at the Yerba Buena Center in SF. I'll proudly admit that I'm a sucker for a deal, and it was their $15 weekday matinee price. We took BART, met up with a friend for the show, and ate snack in the park after. During the show, she was fascinated by the dancers and the costumes and the set - and yes, she did have many questions, but thankfully she waited until intermission and after the show to ask most of them, and none involved the skin horse.
Dancing at the Yerba Buena Gardens after the show
Since that time, we've also gone to almost every Bay Area Children's Theater performance that comes to Berkeley (tip: you can save $ if you buy their "flex-pass" for multiple shows in a season and you get VIP front section seating). Their shows are based on children's books (which we try to borrow from the library in advance), acted by adults (not kids), almost always set to music, with clever sets and costumes. After the show, they pass out posters and cast members stay to meet and greet and sign posters. Some shows are great for 2 to 3 yr olds (45 min long, simple stories), while others are recommended for 4+ or 7+. Berkeley shows are typically at Freight & Salvage (super kid-friendly with a cafe inside the theater and tables mixed in with the seating) or the Osher Center, both in downtown Berkeley and very close to BART.

By nature, I think kid-musicals can be hit-or-miss... I'm sure just the thought of adults pretending to be children, singing songs and dancing on a tiny stage probably makes you cringe, but I have found most BACT performances to be entertaining even for adults, with only rare cringe-inducing moments.
Josie points to the newest BACT show poster we put on her wall.
Whatever the performance, I always try to book seats on the aisle, just in case we need to make a quick exit, for either an unexpected visit to the potty or total melt-down situation... Thankfully, these types of kid shows are packed with other parents worried about the same things (did I pack snack? should we try to go potty again?) and who will surely give you an empathetic look if you're the one having to drag your screaming child from the theater (though I have yet to see that happen!).

Now that Josie's almost 5 yrs old, this holiday season we might try a kid-friendly version of The Nutcracker. Here's a sampling of holiday season performances around the Bay:

The Velveteen Rabbit, ODC
Tickets: $15-75 - Look for the $15 weekday matinees!
Dates: 11/28-12/14
Venue: Yerba Buena Center
Details: Mix of kid and adult performers

Tickets: $20-40
Dates:12/20 and 12/21
Venue: Kofman Theater, Alameda
Details: Mix of kids and adult performers. Recommended for ages 4+

Tickets: $24-30
Dates: 12/12-14 & 12/19-21
Venue: Julia Morgan Theater, Berkeley
Details: All youth dancers (cool!). 1 hr 50 min show (including 20 min intermission)

Tickets: $25-78
Dates: 12/20-21
Venue: Paramount Theater. 2 hr show, so probably for the 5+ crowd.

Tickets: $20
Dates: 12/12-14
Venue: Orinda Library Theater

Tickets: $23-33
Dates: 11/28-30
Venue: Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek
Details: 1 hr show. Short and sweet- sounds perfect for little ones with shorter attention spans!
Tickets: $65-360 The priciest, and probably best if you have an older child who will appreciate this extra special experience!
Dates: 12/12-12/29
Venue: War Memorial Opera House
Details: Recommended for ages 5+ 

Tickets: $24-26
Dates: 12/13-14
Venue: Mercy High School, SF
Details: 2 hour show, so probably another one for the 5+ crowd.


UPCOMING NON-HOLIDAY SHOWS:

Tickets: $13-22 - FYI, flex-passes are sold out for the 2014-2015 season... :(
Details: Recommended for 4+ (1 hr 30 min performance)

Tickets: $23-38
Dates: 10/30-12/7
Venue: Julia Morgan Theater, Berkeley
Details: 2 hr 35 min. Recommended for 5+

Have you seen a great kid-friendly holiday show? Add a comment below.
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