Perfect for ages 3 to 12, the Children's Theatres series hosts charming, delightful, and educational performances filled with audience participation and adventure. All shows take place on select Saturdays and Sundays in the fall and spring and begin at 10 am.

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Tickets: Orchestra and Box $15 / Mezzanine $12
Ticket Prices Subject to $1.50 Facility Preservation Fee

Children’s Theatre 2008-2009:   Fall Weekends & Family Special Events

MADELINE & THE BAD HAT
Saturday, November 15, 2008 at 10:00 am
Sunday, November 16, 2008 at 10:00 am
ArtsPower National Touring Theatre
Ages 5 to 7 (grades K to 2)

This original musical based upon the much-loved book captures the blithe yet touching spirit of Ludwig Bemelmans’s MADELINE series. It traces the adventures of a young Parisian girl who – despite starting off on the wrong foot with a mischievous new neighbor – eventually learns that first impressions aren’t everything.  When one fine day the Spanish Ambassador moves into the house next door, Madeline and Miss Clavel and the other girls quickly discover that his son Pepito is a true horror! Rude and conceited, Pepito seems at first to be nothing but trouble.  But when he unexpectedly finds himself in real danger, it’s up to the resourceful Madeline to get him out of it. Can she teach Pepito a lesson into the bargain, and does he have a hidden good side after all? This gently amusing tale of enemies-become-friends will charm and entertain children and parents alike.

SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK, LIVE!
Saturday, November 22, 2008 at 10:00 am
Sunday, November 23, 2008 at 10:00 am
Young Audiences of NJ presents The Surflight Theatre
Ages 5 to 10 (grades K to 5)

A pop culture phenomenon comes to the musical stage!  The Emmy Award winning 1970s Saturday morning cartoon series that taught history, grammar, math, science and politics through clever tuneful songs is available for performances in your school.  Schoolhouse Rock Live! is simply good, clean and educational fun!  Songs include:  “A Noun is a Person, Place or Thing”, “Three is a Magic Number”, “Unpack your Adjectives”, “Just a Bill”, “The Preamble”, “Conjunction Junction”, “Great American Melting Pot”, “Interplanet Janet”, “Interjections” and many more!  Memorable songs combined with comical live action guarantee a fun learning experience for your students and nobody does it better than Schoolhouse Rock!

THE LION, THE WITCH & THE WARBROBE
Friday, November 28, 2008 at 10:00 am
Saturday, November 29, 2008 at 10:00 am
Sunday, November 30, 2008 at 10:00 am
Theatreworks USA
Ages 6 to 13 (grades 1 to 7)

This enchanting musical is based on C.S. Lewis' adventure story about four children of war-torn England, who accidentally enter the land of Narnia by climbing through a magic wardrobe. This strange and wondrous place is ruled by the cold-hearted White Witch, who makes the winter last year round. Although they seem unlikely saviors, the children fulfill an ancient prophecy by defeating the witch, thus restoring sunshine and peace to the spell-bound Narnia and returning the great Lion King Aslan to his throne.

THE MUSICAL ADVENTURES OF FLAT STANLEY
Saturday, December 6, 2008 at 10:00 am
Sunday, December 7, 2008 at 10:00 am
IntraMusic Theatricals
Ages 4 to 10 (grades pre-K to 5)

In a whirlwind musical travelogue, Stanley Lambchop – the ultimate exchange student – becomes flattened by accident and puts himself in a big envelope to travel the world as a human letter.  He scours the globe for a solution to his unusual problem. He’s stamped, posted and cancelled from Washington D.C. to France to Honolulu and beyond. And whether he's rapping with the Declaration of Independence, thwarting a robbery at the Louvre Museum in Paris, or ‘hanging ten’ off the coast of Hawaii, Stanley is closing in on his goal of being a three-dimensional boy once more.
Curriculum Content Standards:  1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 3.4, 3.5, 5.5, 6.1, 6.2, 6.6, 7.2 and 9.2

THE AMERICAN BOYCHOIR     Family Special Event!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Paper Mill Playhouse and Young Audiences of NJ presents
All ages

The world-renowned American Boychoir comes home to New Jersey! Hear middle school age boys perform a special program of holiday music!  One of the nation’s most frequently performing professional choral ensembles, and praised by world-class conductors including Zubin Mehta, Seiji Ozawa, and John Williams, these extraordinarily talented and exquisitely trained young singers will delight you. With members ranging in age from 10 to 13, the American Boy Choir has performed at the Academy Awards, in television commercials, and in well known concert venues like Carnegie Hall!

A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Saturday, December 13, 2008 at 10:00 am
Sunday, December 14, 2008 at 10:00 am
Theatreworks USA
Ages 6 to 12 (grades 1 to 8)

'Tis the season for merriment and fun! Catch the holiday spirit with Scrooge, Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchit and all the rest in Theatreworks' heartwarming musical based on the Dickens classic. A Christmas Carol captures both the humorous and touching moments of the classic story with witty dialogue and fresh new songs, conveying Dickens' original message that the holiday season should be a "kind, forgiving, charitable time," a sentiment which still rings true today.

Children’s Theatre 2008-2009:   Spring Weekends

BALL IN THE HOUSE
Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 10:00 am
Paper Mill Playhouse and Young Audiences of NJ presents
Ages 5 to 14 (grades K to 8)

The “wow” factor is on full display with this exceptional quintet of singers. Also known as “The Cool Whip Guys,” (since they do the Cool Whip© commercials!) Ball in the House is one of the most popular a cappella groups ever! The sounds these guys make (using just their voices!) are so rich and layered, audience members wonder where the instruments are hidden! A cappella has never sounded better, nor been so educational.

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD & OTHER STORIES
Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 10:00 am
Sunday, April 26, 2009 at 10:00am
Pushcart Players
Ages 5 to 10 (grades K to 5)

Here is an enchanting collection of classic tales - Little Red Riding Hood, The Emperor's New Clothes, The Princess and the Pea and Hans Christian Anderson's All's  Well That Ends Well.  Innovative settings and Sing Along songs provide the perfect opportunity for involvement and participation in this first theatre-going experience. Each story is precious with just the right blend of faraway fantasy and contemporary reality.  Watch the wonder and magic of live theatre cast its spell on very young viewers as they journey into the imaginary world of Little Red Riding Hood and other Once Upon A Time favorites!

IF YOU GIVE A PIG A PANCAKE & OTHER STORY BOOKS
Saturday, May 2, 2009 at 10:00 am
Sunday, May 3, 2009 at 10:00am
Theatreworks USA
Ages 5 to 9 (grades K to 4)

If you liked Theatreworks USA's If You give a Mouse a Cookie & Other Story Books, you'll love our latest production of mini-musicals based on your students' favorite books including DIARY OF A WORM, FLUFFY THE CLASSROOM GUINEA PIG, HORACE & MORRIS BUT MOSTLY DOLORES, HOW I BECAME A PIRATE, IF YOU GIVE A PIG A PANCAKE, LILLY'S BIG DAY, AND THE PAPER BAG PRINCESs. ! In IF YOU GIVE A PIG A PANCAKE, a bossy pig's demands frazzle a little girl in this hilarious lesson about cause-and-effect.

JUNIE B. JONES
Saturday, May 9, 2009 at 10:00 am
Sunday, May 10, 2009 at 10:00am
Theatreworks USA
Ages 5 to 10 (grades K to 5)

Hurray, Hurray! Junie B. Jones is finally graduating from kindergarten and is ready for first grade, at last! But getting used to the whole new group of friends, a new teacher, and new glasses is challenging, even for irrepressible Junie B. Follow her adventures as she writes everything down in her "top-secret personal beeswax" journal. A new musical based on the books by Barbara Park.

HAPPILY EVER AFTER: A CINDERELLA TALE
Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 10:00 am
Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 10:00am
Pushcart Players
Ages 5 to 12 (grades K to 6)

A musical adaptation of the classic tale that takes us on a magical journey, fueled by inner beauty, courage and kindness as it triumphs over greed, arrogance and bully behavior. Filled with many learning opportunities this enduring story and beautiful musical is the essence of arts in education.  (Please note this production is not based on Disney’s Cinderella)

SEUSSICAL
Saturday, May 30, 2009 at 1:00 pm  and 4:00 pm
Sunday, May 31, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Theatreworks USA
Ages 4 to 9 (grades pre-K to 4)

"Oh, the thinks you can think" when Dr. Seuss' best-loved characters and stories hit the stage in this unforgettable musical adventure by Broadway veterans Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens. The noble Horton the Elephant, the one-feathered bird Gertrude McFuzz and the antics of the Cat in the Hat steal the spotlight!