Family Fun Directory: Things To Do with Kids

Review by Gianna Kordatzky

The Wiz is a '70's interpretation of the classic The Wizard of Oz.  And it is playing right now at Children's Theatre Company in collaboration with Penumbra Theatre. You can definitely feel a "Brand New Day" after watching this colorfully vibrant extravaganza!

image courtesy Dan Norman

The Wiz

Dorothy was peacefully growing up in Nicodemus, Kansas when suddenly a twister picked her up and landed her in the middle of the Land of Oz. When she came to, she found herself in a brightly colored world unlike her home in every way. 

Suddenly, Dorothy found herself meeting the Munchkins, learning she accidentally killed the Wicked Witch of the East, and realizing that no matter how wonderful this world is she wants to go home in Nicodemus Kansas.

Along the way, Dorothy meets the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion.  The Wiz still lives in Emerald City, Dorothy still battles the Wicked Witch of the West. But the songs and the dancing and the fashions are Disco. There is no singing about somewhere over the rainbow.

It's the same story that we know and love, just a jazzed up version.   (Thanks, Michael Jackson)

About The Wiz

Ease on down the road with Dorothy and her friends with a dazzling mixture of rock, gospel and soul music. Embark on this Oz-some adventure through a magic land where you will meet funky monkeys, winkies, Addaperle and Evillene. You don’t need a wizard—just believe in yourself to find home and feel that brand-new day.

Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) in partnership with Penumbra Theatre will present The Wiz, adapted from L. Frank Baum’s classic story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz; directed by Lou Bellamy, Founder and Artistic Director Emeritus of Penumbra Theatre Company.

“It is a great thrill and honor to partner with Penumbra Theatre,” stated CTC Artistic Director Peter C. Brosius. “They are a major force in the national theatre world as well as a local treasure. The insights and experience they bring to this partnership have been extraordinary and we look forward to continuing to find ways to work together.”

“This relationship isn’t transactional,” stated Penumbra Theatre Artistic Director Sarah Bellamy.  “We are getting to a space of depth and real honesty with each other in terms of our conversations about equity, what our aesthetics are, how we can create a proactive, equitable, shared learning environment and that feels very unique.”

The Wiz runs from January 23-March 18, 2018.

Parental Guidance for The Wiz

Age Recommendation
I would suggest for ages 10+, but I sat with a bunch of first graders who got into it.  I was jumpier than they were.

Final Thoughts on The Wiz 

The Wiz is an entertaining show.  It's playing until March 18.  I loved it, and the 13 year old boy in sitting in front of me, turned around and exclaimed, "That was awesome!"

• Review from Simplicity in the Suburbs  Click here
• Review from Twin Cities Pioneer Press  Click Here
• Review from  Talkin' Broadway Click Here

Review by Joy Peters

So, the Abominables is a Hockey Musical? Hmmm. That should be interesting. Sometimes it is obvious that I'm a transplant to Minnesota:

• I don't make hot-dishes; I make casseroles.
• I didn't teach my children Duck, Duck, Grey Duck; I taught  them Duck, Duck, Goose.
• I drink from a Bubbler.
• And don't get me started on spices and cheese.

I've found that these differences are forgivable; but I also suffer from a couple Minnesota mortal sins: (1) I can take or leave the State Fair - Whatever.  (2) Hockey - No Thank You!

So, Abominables is a Hockey Musical. And WOW does it ever work. The music and choreography are amazing. The story is engaging. And the characters are relatable. It pokes gentle fun at Minnesota (which I did not find funny at all) and at Canada (which made me laugh out loud).

The Abominables Music and Choreography

There are two types of musicals. The ones where you think, "Ugh, here comes another song," and the ones where you think, "Oh Yay! Another Song!" The Abominables is the latter. Sadly, Michael Friedman, the composer, died just days before the opening. This run is dedicated to him. I hope someone makes a soundtrack of this musical, because I was wishing I could play it the next day. I would be in line to buy the CD.

A good portion of the show is done on skates with songs and choreography that weaved together beautifully. I was afraid someone would roll right off stage, but no one did.

An Engaging Story And Relatable Characters

I would be tempted to say that this story is more relevant to adults then kids, except this is the first ever play that I have taken my 7-year-old to that he didn't start asking when it was going to be over. He asked if he could play hockey at the intermission. The story centers around our generations obsession with children's sports, the line between support and pushiness, and the lessons that come from not always being a winner. This could come off as preachy, except that you really begin to identify with the characters. I saw a little bit of myself in each of them - good and bad. 

Age Recommendations, Content Advisories and Notes.

This musical is aimed at the older kids. Children's Theatre Company recommends Ages 8+, but my 7-year-old enjoyed it. Some things to bear in mind when deciding if this show is right for your kids:

• The run time is 2 hours, with a short 15-minute intermission. We had time to get in line for drinks and gulp them down before heading back in.
• The 7 pm shows are going to end after 9 pm. We went on a school night. It was a late night for us, but it was also a little  less crowded.
• There is mildly derogative language used by the kids to each other, both in a friendly way, and in a not-so-friendly way.
• Some parts could maybe be scary, but  these moments pass quickly.
• Some kids may find the Yeti scary even after you find out he's not at all aggressive. 
• There are a few grown-up jokes about drinking. I'm pretty sure they went over my kid's head.
• There is a sensory-friendly performance on the last weekend. I'm not sure if it would detract from the story.
• There is also an ASL/AD performance in October.

When heading out for your visit, you may want to double check construction. It was kind of a mess for us.

We purchased our own tickets for this musical through CTC's wonderful ACT Pass Scholarship Program.

The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss is now a musical at Children's Theatre Company. It was a bit more mature than I was expecting. Based on the "All Ages" recommendation and the target age of the book, I took my five-year-old son.

Before going, we read the book together several times and looked through the study materials from CTC. That helped a lot. However, the first half bored him and, even knowing the story, he had a hard time following it on stage. He kept saying, "What part is this?" Despite his inability to stay focused during the show, afterwards, he had nothing but good things to say about the experience and I think this will be a special book for him in the future.

The Sneetches Musical follows a pretty standard formula for turning kids books into Broadway Musicals. Even the music was standard Broadway music. In fact, I would expect to see this show on Broadway in the next couple years.

The book is aimed at 5 to 8 year old kids. Its story will make you think of schoolyard bullying and childhood exclusion. Children's Theatre took this concept a few steps further into adulthood. What happens when a whole segment of the population is excluded and demeaned? As an adult, you'll see connections to current events that will go right over your kids' heads. Usually when Children's Theatre tackles mature subjects in an all-ages production, they add a lot of physical humor and silly antics to balance the seriousness. That's noticeably missing in this production. However, the fact that it is a children's story makes it a good show for families who like musicals. The parents will get the most out of it, but it is always appropriate for even the youngest kids.

Preparing for The Sneetches Musical

Until CTC announced this season's line up, I hadn't even heard of The Sneetches, so we started preparing for our visit to the theatre by getting a copy of the book and the cartoon video from the library.

The story of The Sneetches, written in 1953, is a Seuss classic. With his trademark ability to take a complicated subject and turn it into a simple rhyming story, Seuss tackles exclusion, bullying, self-esteem and the advertising industry. With older kids, this would be a great time to talk about marketing tactics. It shows how marketers can exacerbate a person's feelings of inadequacy and then offer them the product to fix that fault. For younger kids this story is a good opportunity to talk about inclusion and celebrating diversity.

The video was made in 1973. You don't need to get if from the library; it's available through YouTube. I don't think the cartoon adds anything to the experience of the book. However, as an adult who grew up in the 70s and 80s, the video felt like visiting old friends. The voice actors are all familiar from childhood cartoons.

Family Fun and Discussion After Watching The Sneetches Musical

CTC offered some useful tools on their Guidance page that can be modified to family fun or discussion. This page is aimed more toward a classroom, but the activities can be adapted for a family. For instance, On the last two printed pages of the Guidance section, there are lists of questions. They are a little stiff for a family chat, but were nice to read over beforehand so I could work these concepts into our discussion on the ride home.

Besides discussion questions, CTC lists additional reading suggestions, games, and lists of vocabulary words. Some of the words were ideal for expanding grade school vocabulary.

• Identity • Discrimination • Difference • Assimilation • Segregation • Separation • Solidarity • Community • Belonging • Friendship

I liked this list that came from the Sculpture Garden game for preschool vocabulary words.

• Sneaky • Greedy • Friendship • Beach • Change • Superior • Machine • Money • Broke • Rules • Separation

Both sets would be fun words to use for a quick game of charades or Pictionary.

The Tossing and Translating Lines game can also be modified into a family parlor game. Just let the kids take turns acting out each line as you read them.

My middle grader and I attended opening night of Pinocchio on Friday.

This play was developed here at Children's Theatre in 2013, has traveled around a bit and now come home to CTC. This was my first time seeing this version of Pinocchio.

Would I recommend this play. Well, yeah, I always recommend CTC shows, but as always, it depends on your child.

Image by Dan Norman - courtesy Children's Theatre Company

This Post is brought to you by Bookology Magazine's Summer Reading Road Trip. Click on the image to join the fun.

While I enjoy full-scale productions, I love shows that rely heavily on the actors and use very little in the way of special effects. If you feel the same way, this show won't disappoint you. The actors are all CTC favorites. While the play starts out as a story being told by a group of painters, you soon forget the set and are drawn fully into the tale.

Age Recommendations for Pinocchio

Pinocchio is recommended for Kindergarten and up. This is due mainly to the fact that it is 1 hour and 45 minutes, including a 15 minute intermission. That's a pretty long time to sit still - even for adults. The story itself, however, has enough physical humor and silly gags to entertain younger children. I would not hesitate to recommend bringing a younger child as long as you don't mind the possibility of watching a portion on the lobby monitors.

Pinocchio Activities

If you want to come with smaller children, you will find no end to Pinocchio themed coloring pages and activities online. You could even print them out to do in the lobby if they need a break from sitting still.

For grade school children though, Pinocchio could lead to or be the culmination of a really fun self study. For one, this version, while truer to the original than the Disney version, is not faithful to it, and it does borrow a little from Disney as well. It would be fun to compare all three versions. What's the same? What's different? Which is your favorite?

I was pleasantly surprised when I reviewed the original Pinocchio that it is very amusing and feels like it was written for stage.

Slideshare.Net also has Ideas to Work With the Story of Pinocchio. These ideas are aimed at students in middle school, but the bullet point ideas are easy to read over and can give any parent ideas for conversation starters as you read together.

Family Fun Twin Cities received two tickets to opening night of Pinocchio to facilitate this review.

It is a special day when Joy and I end up at the same place for the same event without planning it.  The Frog Bride at Children's Theatre was one such case. 

With our different personalities, both Joy and I loved this show.  Let us tell you about it so you can determine if it's a good fit for your family.

At supper, I told my first grader, Dash, that we were doing something special together that evening.  In his mind, he was convinced we were going to a movie.  As we were loading into the car, I said, "Buddy, we are not going to a movie."

That's when the pout began. "That means we are going to a play." (I admit that we go to the theatre a lot. I take my kids to see plays whenever the calendar allows. But the dude does not understand how fortunate he is. This is something to be thankful for. But he wasn't.)

He rode to the theater in a huff. Then, he was upset because he had to walk to the door in the cold. This evening was not beginning well.

We waited for our tickets and were promised that even though he wanted to see a movie, he would love the show because there was a video screen with projections, music and live acting.  Dash perked up and was eager for it to begin.

With two live musicians, a pianist and a violinist and himself, David Gonzalez weaves a tale that is compelling and exciting. With voices (my favorite was the frog's) and mimes, energy and mystery, David weaves you into this unique Russian fairytale. Including musical works from Russian composers and visual art from Russian artists, David immerses us in Russian culture. Dash was so involved in the story that he wasn't ready for the hour-long production to be done.

I was completely taken in as well. So much so that by the end of the tale, I could taste the chocolate cake. I can taste it now, as a matter of fact.

Joy's Take on The Frog Bride

I think Gianna covered everything I was going to say about The Frog Bride. I brought my 10-year-old daughter. She is a seasoned theater-goer now. We both enjoyed the performance; although, I question whether some jokes went over her head. That is good. I see that as a mark of a really good family story when it can be enjoyed on different levels. If an adult friend asked me, I wouldn't hesitate to suggest they go with or without kids. In fact the couple in front of me was there sans children.

It was fun to watch Gonzalez interact with the screen and to talk about how it was done afterwards. We talked about trying something similar at home - either with a real shadow curtain or a projector. We also enjoyed the incorporation of the musicians into the show.

The story left me with some talking points for later conversation.  For instance,

1. "Why did the king insist on rigid adherence to The Book except when it didn't suit him?"
2. "Did you empathize with Ivan, or did you think he was a complete jerk?"
3. "The other wives were kind of mean girls, weren't they?"

Age Recommendations for The Frog Bride:

It's recommended for ages 9 and older. I brought my 7 year old and many other younger kids attended who did great. It's playing on the Cargill Stage so there is not a quiet room for the littlest ones. A mom in front of me had to leave her seat to care for her unhappy baby. (Don't get me wrong. I was not upset, but I'm just telling you)  

Joy Again: That unhappy baby actually spent the second half of the show behind the bleachers of the Cargill Stage. I only know this because he got away from his mom once, and I saw her grab him before he got back up front. He was otherwise not disruptive. If you do take a smaller child, you may want to employ this tactic if they get restless. Behind the seats, the child can move a little more (as long as they are quiet) and the parents can still watch the show.

CTC does not offer lap passes for this show.

Family Fun Twin Cities was given two tickets to be able to review this show. Joy used the ActPass Program to purchase tickets. All opinions are our own.

courtesy of Dan Norman

"She's just trying to get the ruby slippers.  They are all she has left of her sister. Her sister was killed!"

-Mary Fox stated of the heart of her character The Wicked Witch of the West.

courtesy of Dan Norman

My daughter and I had the opportunity to see the Wizard of Oz on opening night at the Children's Theatre. I'd recommend this musical for kids who like and can sit through the movie or have experience with sitting still for longer periods.

Children's Theatre did not stray too far from the Judy Garland version with this production. It was fun to see how a relatively small theatre could pull off the tornado and the black-and-white-to-color moment. I think they did beautifully.

I tried unsuccessfully to keep my daughter from singing along. I think maybe its just too much to ask people not to sing 'Ding Dong the Witch is Dead'. A lot of adults were singing it as they walked out of the theater. That is one of the plus sides of Children's Theatre. There is no expectation of perfect quiet from the audience.

courtesy Dan Norman

This musical is a full two-hours including a 15 minute intermission after the first hour. I may have been able to keep the 5-year-old engaged, but definitely not the 3-year-old or baby. However, I learned this weekend that CTC has a "quiet" room which is actually a nice description for "there is no way this kid is going to stay quiet, but I still want to see the show" room. In the past, if we were unsure if all four kids would make it, we've bought tickets for times the MIA was open. This is a nice option, too, but it requires one parent to miss out on the show to sit in a room full of blocks and books. With the option of the quiet room, I would unhesitatingly bring the whole family and see what happens.

"Kids pick up on the details and the nuances. They are experiencing true feelings, not just the nostalgia like the adults. They are so captivated into the performance.  They can tell when the character is in your heart."

-Mary Fox

There are several ways a family could prep ahead for this show. The first, of course, would be watching the movie version or listening to the soundtrack to learn all the songs. Maybe you could even do a double feature with Oz The Great and Powerful.

For a child who would like to go deeper into the Oz story, the books are all available through the Gutenberg Project. Now could be a good time to encourage some classic reading. CTC offers some suggestions of their own for preparing in their Audience Guide, including discussion ideas for before and after the play.

After the play, my daughter was excited to try to make a crystal ball out of an old fish bowl and I thought the Wizard of Oz houses they made at the Home Depot last year could be made into a short tornado sequence in their puppet theater.  I've set the houses next to the theater, but so far they haven't taken the bait.

"How could a good little girl like you destroy my beautiful wickedness."

-Wicked Witch of the West

Children's Theatre Company provided us with two tickets to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

Children's Theatre Company recommends The Jungle Book for kindergarten and up. I took my kindergartner as my date, based on this recommendation even knowing it had an hour and 45 minute run time. He has a spotty record for making it through anything over 45 minutes, but we made it through and he loved it.

He really, really wanted to be able to play on the set and was disappointed when he found out that wasn't going to be allowed. The set resembles a really awesome natural playground with climbing rocks, tunnels, vines, ladders and swinging ropes. He was not alone in his wish to play on the set, several kids tried to make a dash for it. This would be a good play to follow up with a visit to Wargo Nature Center's Maple Hollow Nature Play Area (they have the swinging ropes) or one of the other natural playgrounds.

The swinging rope on the set of The Jungle Book

Had the play been less exciting, I think he could have spent both 45 minute sessions imagining what he would do on that set. Of course it was exciting. There were five actors playing all the various jungle animals. Most character changes were done on set.

H. Adam Harris, who played Baloo the Bear and a series of other animal, was my son's favorite. He kept the performance light even during potentially scary parts. His physical comedy had the kids laughing out loud.

Mowgli was played by Eric Sharp - the only actor to stay in one character throughout the entire show. He convincingly went from toddler to teenager through the story line. My son did need a bit of explanation when there were big jumps in age.

If you are used to Autumn Ness as the sweet narrator of Biggest Little House in the Forest, you're in for a surprise with her portrayal the hard-nosed Bagheera the Panther. I almost didn't recognize her.

Somehow Casey Hoekstra is able to create a balance with Shere Khan the Tiger. The audience knows he is dangerous, but he's never too scary. We loved newcomer, Nastacia Nicole's portrayal of Kaa the snake. She was beautiful and charming and scary all at once.

My favorite performer was onstage musician who was able to create a jungle atmosphere and keep the young audience connected to the mood of each scene through various instruments.

Although I usually circumvent the gift shop when I take my kids on outings, I made an exception for The Jungle Book and bought an abridged version of the Jungle Book to read at home ($4.00). I'm always looking for new ways to make reading exciting for him. After we finish the book, we may check out the Disney version to compare the different styles. Where Disney is heavy on music, the Children's Theatre version is not a musical and is very text oriented. It will be fun to see which version my kids like best.

If, when you think of Children's Theatre Company, you think of sitting still for 45 minutes while you watch actors on stage, you will have a completely wrong idea for 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. This interactive play brings the audience into a the action. I sold it to my 10-year-old as, "It's like Spy Kids, but you are in it." And that was pretty accurate.  We ran, we ducked, we used our mental telepathy to save the world and then we had everything we thought we knew pulled out from under us and this was all packed into 45 minutes of action.

I know my children love CTC, because they fight to be my date on these reviews, but usually when I ask how they liked the show, I get a non-committal, "Good," and if I want more, I have to pry it out of them. That was not the case with 20,000 Leagues. The 45 minute bus ride home was a non-stop, non breathing rush of words -- plots, schemes and plans for the next day's mission. We saved our special ORKA stickers to make badges, and the next day started with a black turtle neck and black jeans (despite my repeated pleas to dress in something heatwave appropriate) and a sack full of spy equipment. I love anything that encourages that much imagination and free play.

This could make a really fun Birthday party or scout troup activity.

Really the question is not "Who would enjoy 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea?" The question is really whether it is appropriate for your child. It is not appropriate for children under 5 - they aren't even invited. This action adventure is for middle graders (Grades 3-8) who are not restricted in their movements. There is a LOT of movement.

I would not take a child who is highly claustrophobic. There are several instances where the whole group crowds into a small room or elevator. It may not be the best activity for children who are sensory sensitive. There are loud noises, flashing lights, temperature changes and incidental touching.

I think my 5-year-old boy would have liked it, but he is on the edge.  Some parts were scary. Some parts were intense. There is a part where the audience is asked to weigh in morally and ethically. The subject matter may have been beyond his understanding.

I am really out of shape and my knees are still a little messed up from my last pregnancy; I could feel it by the end of the performance, but it was not difficult and I was not out of breath.  Most healthy grade school kids and adults will have no difficulties. They give everyone a password to get out if it becomes too intense -- no one in our group used it. I would not hesitate to try if you are on the fence.

*Tuesday evening performances will be performed at a slower pace to accommodate patrons who might need extra time to make it through the experience and will last approximately 55 minutes.

When you meet Peter Pan in Children's Theatre Company's Peter Pan the Musical, it's after all have gone to bed and Nana is chained up. Peter's charm captures Wendy's heart immediately as does it yours.

As a special Mommy/Son date, my 6 year old, Dash, and I filed into our seats at Children's Theatre Company ready to watch a good show.

I didn't expect to be transplanted into another world.

I have come to expect nothing but awesomeness from Children's Theatre Company, and I knew that their telling of the traditional story of Peter Pan would be incredible.

I wasn't disappointed.

In the Clouds, on the way to Never Never Land

Classic Story

As per the classic story, the Darling parents go out for the evening, leaving Nana--their Nursery Nanny Dog--tied up and Wendy, John and Michael by themselves in their room.  While Mother and Father are away, a  strange boy flies into the nursery searching for his shadow, can't find it and starts crying awakening Wendy.

Wendy gets caught up in his magic and carries John and Michael along with her.  Before they know it, they find themselves flying through the clouds with Peter Pan and Tinker Bell into Never Never Land.

There they meet the Lost Boys, Tiger Lily and her tribe of girls called Pounce (the only deviation from the orginal story), and Captain Hook and his pirates.

The adventures begin.  They have a marvelous time playing make believe and hiding from pirates.  However, it doesn't take that long and the Darling children realize they want to be with their real mother.  The Lost Boys decide they want a real mother, too.  They are about to leave when Captain Hook's pirates capture them.

Will they make it home?

Children's Theatre Company's Magical Peter Pan

I find it so incredible what CTC can do to take us to another world.  The fairy dust itself was breathtaking, but so were all the effects.  To make the children and Peter fly, Children's Theatre Company used ZFX, Inc. and their flying techniques. I was expecting everyone to be swinging out of control in the air, but other than one instance when Michael and Wendy kept missing each other's hands, everyone was completely under control.

I was impressed.

What I loved

1. The set--The nursery was beautiful.  I loved that you could tell it was upstairs because Mr. and Mrs. Darling exited into the orchestra pit to suggest different levels.
2. The characters--Especially Smee.  The Darlings are a very convincing family.  Peter Pan was incredible.  Tiger Lily was a tough cookie and the Pounce were fun to watch battle.  The Lost Boys were enduring.  The pirates were entertaining. Captain Hook was delightful.  But Smee?  Smee was hysterical.  He had me rolling in my seat, tickled pink.
3. The music--I loved that it was a live pit orchestra.  It always makes me happy to know the music is not canned.  My favorite song was "I Won't Grow Up."  Dash's favorite song was the hand-clapping, crowing competition between the Pounce and the Lost Boys.

What I didn't understand

1. (spoiler alert) Why did Captain Hook surrender himself to the Crocodile?  He was so scared of him and then he just gave up and jumped into the sea?  This part of the play was not written well.  Captain Hook, played by Reed Sigmund, was extremely convincing, and he played up the character perfectly.  I just didn't get the the part of the suicidal Captain Hook.  And I'm sure that was just me and I missed a pinnacle point in the dialogue.
2. Why wasn't Smee in more of the play?  He seriously was my favorite character.  Smee was played by CTC acting company member, Dean Holt who also has played the Cat in the Hat and the mouse in the When You Give a Mouse a Cookie. His physical comedy is hilarious even in Smee who doesn't seem to be a physically funny character.
   

   ---

Peter Pan the Musical is  2 hours which can get kind of long.  Before I went, Joy mentioned to me that she had purchased tickets for her whole family but to let her know if I thought it was too long.

It's not.

The action keeps your attention for the entire two hours--at least once you get out of the Darlings' nursery.  The moment Peter, Wendy, John and Michael start to fly around stage, they've got you--hook, line and sinker.

Peter Pan the Musical is a magical journey on which you will want to take your entire family.

*Photos by Dan Norman

Review by Joy Peters

My family has been looking forward to Snowflake since CTC announced this season's line up. We love shows like Mr. Bean and Charlie Chaplin. This seemed like the perfect play to attend as a family. Unfortunately, watching Charlie Chaplin curled up together in the family room is a little different than a quiet theatre. At times it was hard for them to sit through and they couldn't just get up and starting playing with a car like they would at home.

This is not a feather. from Children's Theatre Company on Vimeo.

This is the first time that I felt CTC got their age recommendations wrong.  This show's target audience was kindergarten through fourth grade.  My fourth grader was at the top of that age range and missed so much of the subtleties of the performance. That isn't to say she didn't enjoy it or get something out of it. She understood that he was homeless and was making use of things others carelessly threw away.  She just didn't get it all.  I would not be afraid to recommend this performance for the K-4 set, but I believe the true audience is preteen to adult.

Our five-year-old enjoyed the silly slapstick portions.  Unfortunately, there were long stretches of beautiful story that was just too mature for him. At about the half-hour mark, he climbed over his sister, brother and dad to come ask me if it was almost over.  But he did sit back down and quietly watch the rest.  I plan to add the Vimeo previews to our Wii Playlist, so he will remember how much he enjoyed his favorite parts.

Our three-year-old enjoyed the parts where we clapped.  Otherwise he mainly wanted to kick the guy in front of us in the head.  (If you happen to be the guy who sat in front of us, I am truly sorry that he was being a jerk). If you have a preschool aged child, I'd highly recommend a one-on-one date and getting a front row balcony seat for a not-too-busy performance.  You can read about why I prefer the balcony with my squirmy boys HERE.

The baby slept through the entire performance and that was our best case scenario.  I really didn't want to end up watching from the lobby.  The wonderful thing about Children's Theatre is that I have the option of taking children of any age to any performance.

I am so glad I got to see this play.  It was beautiful and it was funny. While the kids laughed at the slapstick or recognized Snowflake's resourcefulness, my husband and I were moved by his ability to overcome deep sadness and loneliness.  Despite the age differences, it made a good family outing.

We are able to attend Children's Theatre performances as a family of six because of the generosity of the ACT Pass Program.  We also receive discounts on classes and workshops through this program.  Read more about how to apply for financial based scholarships HERE.

Shrek began as a picture book creation of William Steig, who originally wrote and illustrated the book. A decade later Dreamworks created the hit movie and it then moved on to Broadway. When Children's Theatre Company produced their own version in 2014, we took a walk through all its versions.

SHREK! THE BOOK

In 1990, the Shrek phenomenon began with the publication of the book by William Steig. It was written for 4 to 8 year olds and was only 32 pages. To say the movie was based on it is kind of an exaggeration. There is an Ogre named Shrek who is much nastier than the movie version. There is a talking donkey who the Ogre abuses; he is not a main character. And Shrek falls in love with another ogre at the end, however, she was never a princess. The ogres of the book are nasty to the end. I guess the moral is that there is someone for everyone. As far as kids books go, I wasn't particularly impressed. I wouldn't want to own it, but it is kind of a fun conversation starter about how different it is from the movie. I would recommend getting this through the library, but if you want to own it, it is available online and at local bookstores.

SHREK THE MOVIE

I feel that Shrek, the Movie revitalized family film when it was released in 2001. I didn't have children at the time and, as a rule, I only went to the movies for films that had space ships in them. However, I made a point to get to Shrek and loved it. Suddenly the family film bar was raised back up to expect a product that would appeal to both parents and children. It was only later -- with the sequels -- that it really became more about selling toys and creating a "brand". It was the movie that added the elements of all our favorite fairy tales (a little funnier) and the transformation of Fiona. The producers developed the plot into something that could stretch into a movie and softened Shrek into a likeable character. If you haven't seen it (and some people haven't), I recommend it. It's funny and irreverent in ways that adults will appreciate, but it is still a children's movie at heart. The video is available through the library (although children's DVDs from the library are a gamble) and anywhere videos are sold.

SHREK ON BROADWAY

The best part of Shrek the Broadway Musical was the soundtrack. Otherwise it was not my favorite musical. I kept comparing it to Into the Woods - my favorite twisted fairy-tale musical. Broadway's version was aimed at adults. I found it a little too mature in parts. Although I didn't see any reason to turn it off, I didn't feel it was completely child-friendly. My (then) eight-year-old disagreed. She loved it and re-watched it several times on her own. Also, although the musical talent was amazing (the soundtrack is part of my regular Spotify lists), I felt the characters were under-developed. There were just places where we got bored. We watched it on Netflix. Maybe it would have been different live. The soundtrack is worth owning (or adding to your Spotify lists), but you wouldn't miss much if you skip the video. I would definitely go see local, live productions.

SHREK, LIVE & LOCAL

We went to see the Children's Theatre Company production in 2014. What a difference live, local and kid-friendly made to this musical! The rest of this article is my original review of the CTC play. Hopefully, they'll revive it again some year. In the meantime, Shrek is now a favorite musical of local theatres. See our performing arts calendar for upcoming shows.

The CTC Cast of Shrek the Musical

Even though it was the same musical and essentially the same script as the Broadway version, CTC managed to make it a better show. To begin with, they really concentrated on the budding relationship with Fiona -- when at the end she has to choose between Shrek and Lord Farquaad, it's not about good versus evil, it's about compatibility. This is a good thing, because the Lord Farquaad in the CTC version of this musical is so funny you can't hate him. CTC did a remarkable job of character development. What they lacked in a broadway-sized budget, they made up for in acting. Despite the fact that the characters were reading essentially the same lines, directer Peter Rothstein and the actors did an amazing job of bringing out the personalities of the characters. Shrek is the loveable curmudgeon, Fiona is amusingly bipolar, and Dragon is amazing. CTC was able to soften many of the "mature" lines in the play so that they did not come off as mature. The theme of the CTC version is about acceptance of everyone and love of yourself -- that's there in the Broadway version, but blown to extremes. I would say if you liked the Broadway version, you will love the CTC version. If, like me, you didn't care as much for the Broadway version, I still believe you'll love the CTC version.

Here's a little taste

• Family Fun Twin Cities originally received two tickets to review the Children's Theatre Production of Shrek. Opinions are our own.

If You Give A Mouse A Cookie - June 2013

Review by Gianna Kordatzky

"My mother always said, 'Don't be a bother when you can be a help.'"  And that's how Mouse lived his life. 

He delivered his mantra with a bang!

As Twin Cities event bloggers, we were invited to experience If You Give A Mouse A Cookie  based on the book by Laura Numeroff.   Anne and I were able to make it work with our schedules.  Anne will let you know all about everything we learned about Children's Theatre Company and the facts behind the show.  I just wanted to let you know that I am in love with CTC.

Anne here. Many thanks go out to Gianna for including me in the blogger’s event. It was such a treat to be able to sit down with director Peter Brosius and hear a behind-the-scenes account of how CTC develops their plays. I also learned quite a few facts about the Company itself – that it’s the leading theater in North America for young people, for instance, and that it’s one of only a few youth companies in the U.S. to employ their own staff of actors. The 2015-16 season will ring in 50 years of bringing both classic stories and original works to life.

But back to the creative process. This part of the talk was probably even interesting to some of the older children present. Mr. Brosius took us through the production timeline, starting with storyboards, moving on to playing around with the actors, and finishing with the addition of lighting, sound and costumes.

A question was fielded from an intrigued blogger: How much freedom do the actors have to improvise during scenes?

This was a particularly good question to ask after a couple goofy run-throughs of scenes from If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. The answer is, quite a lot of freedom! Some of the funny stunts and antics of the characters can’t be completely controlled. The director stressed that “making a scene” is really a collaboration of imaginations. “Everyone in the room has a voice,” he explained. “You never know who might come up with a great idea.”

(Gianna again) Now moving onto the play itself. Mouse is played by Dean Holt and Boy is played by Reed Sigmund.  These men happen to be dads who are best friends. So they trust each other explicitly and know how to play to an audience full of kids!  Basically, they are big kids themselves.

This show is great for preschool children and up!

Jack, who is three, was very afraid of the pictures of Mouse.  I think he was convinced it was a monster.  On the day we met the actors and director, he and I drove to the theatre together, and I had Mr. Cling with me for the morning.  But by the time he had seen Mouse be all cute, adorable, and naughty (much like himself), he wanted to sit only on Mouse's lap.

The next day, I took my girls, Tori and Kyla, to see the show.  Being 8 and 6, they were not concerned at all about the mouse being scary.  They just wanted the show to start.

And me?  I honestly was not super excited about this show.  Physical comedy doesn't usually make me laugh.  Usually I cringe and get all anxious because I can't handle the mess.  (do you remember Steve Urkel on Family Matters.  I didn't think he was funny. All I could think of when he created disasters was where do you start trying to clean that up? Even just telling you about it now is putting knots in my stomach)  I thought this would pretty much the same.

However, Mouse is so cute, and Boy is so like I was that I couldn't help but be drawn into the story.  I caught myself laughing hysterically more than once.

Here's the gist of the story.  Mouse is hungry.  He wants a cookie.  Boy doesn't want to give him the cookie, but finally he does because he feels so bad for him.  There was no way for him to anticipate what was going to happen.  Mouse was just trying to be a help.

With a stunt refrigerator, creepy dust bunnies, skate mops, goofy mirror, tape mishaps, silly marshmallows, our favorite part of the show was Mouse's mixed up words.  For the rest of the day, we giggled whenever we used Mousewords.  It was  special connecting with my daughters like that.

When you go to the show, watch for Reed's favorite scene--the dust bunnies--and Dean's favorite scenes--the Cottonball scene and the tape scene.

You don't want to miss it!

I had the privilege of being invited to the Children's Theatre Company to enjoy Balloonacy with my preschool boys.  I knew I would like it.  However, since not a single word was spoken,  I was convinced that it would be slightly boring.

I don't know why I'm so skeptical.  I really should know better,  but once again, I was completely taken aback at how much I loved it.

For some developmentally appropriate activities to add to your fun day out, check out these Balloonacy Preschool Activities courtesy of Children's Theatre's Off Book Blog.

The Children's Theatre Company knows that theatre is important at any age, so it has created an Early Childhood Theatre Initiative.  Each season they have at least one production that is designed for audience and child interaction that incorporates all the senses.  They may actually feel the play like in Balloonacy when the actor uses mists of water during his performance spraying them out into the audience.  Children are encouraged to vocalize during the performance.

The theatre experience starts as soon as you enter into the lobby. We were welcomed and shown to the puppet socks to put on and begin to play with.  There were signs all over the lobby with games suggestions and books to read.  We even played Simon Says with our puppets.  

And then the show started, right there in the lobby, as we were welcomed by the Stage Manager and met the Old Man as he walked through the crowd.  Then, we all followed him into his home.  

The fun had just begun!

Since the Old Man doesn't speak throughout the entire show, I was given the chance to ask him some questions and get to know him a little bit.  Or at least Robert Dorfman who plays the Old Man (he, by no means, is the old man!)

Without further adieu, let me introduce you to  Robert Dorfman.

We are excited to learn that you are debuting Balloonacy to the world and at our very own Children's Theatre Company.  My family and the readers of Family Fun Twin Cities are excited to learn about another show aimed at the preschool age.  Tell us what encouraged you to be in this show for preschoolers and what excites you. 

Like so many, I am a huge fan of The Children’s Theater and the extraordinary quality and variety of art that they produce. And I am a huge fan of artistic director Peter Brosius.   When I moved to Minneapolis a year ago, I got in touch with Peter.  He asked me to come in and audition for Balloonacy, hired me and the rest is “blessed history”.  And I am excited about performing for the youngest in our audience.  The pre-schoolers bring such a pure and spontaneous imagination to the theater.  They keep an actor honest and in the moment.

You have an extensive theatrical background, and we are thrilled to have you here.  How has your background in "Grown-up" theatre and in the circus benefited you for this role? 

All audiences, young and old, like to see their lives reflected in the theater. They like to watch recognizable as well as fantastical characters who reflect on or struggle with familiar or foreign situations.  Children, of course, bring a naivete that is unlike most adult viewers.  Young people are willing and able to engage in a play with an unedited, un-self-conscious and spontaneous abandon that we older folk could learn from.  I started in the circus and have performed in plays specifically targeting young crowds such as the Broadway production of The Lion King.  But nothing is like playing to these pre-schoolers.  It’s pure joy!

What drew you to the Twin Cities to relocate here?  How long have you lived here?  What do you think?  What do you enjoy most so far?

I’d worked here many seasons over the years, both at the Guthrie Theater and on tour and now at the Children’s Theater.  It’s always a good time here in the Twin Cities.  And a very pretty and manageable city.  Friendly folks.  Lots of fun.  Lots of Art and Theater.   I relocated here about a year ago after living primarily in New York and California.  And then I fell in love and I always follow my heart.

What's it like to work with Peter Brosius?  

Peter is a great director and administrator.  He has endless patience and boundless respect for his audience, his actors and everyone he works with. He is also the smartest man in the room.  And if his personal energy could be connected to the grid it would warm us all winter and cool us well into the summer.

Let's talk about Balloonacy.  The kids are going to wanna know how old The Old Man is.  How old is The Old Man?

The Old Man is as old as the hills.  As old as dirt.  The Old Man is “Grandpa” old.

Do you have a favorite part of the show you could share with us? 

One of my favorite moments in the play is when my new balloon friend has a birthday party for me and we dance.

 What's it like to do an entire play all by yourself without speaking a single word?

I’ve done a bunch of clown, mime, puppet work in my day.  So the idea of doing a silent piece wasn’t completely intimidating. But it was intimidating enough.  Working to express myself clearly and freely with only a physical vocabulary is both challenging and very enlightening.  And in the end it so freeing and enriching to connect with these young minds.  The young ones teach me things about the play and about myself every performance. 

How is a preschool audience different from an adult audience?

Both adults and children enjoy a truthful story told in a clear and creative way.  They also both respond to humor and magic and beauty.  Children, especially our target audience of pre-schoolers, however, do bring an abashed joy with them and it colors the way they listen and react. They are unguarded in their responses and will, often and vociferously, shout out whatever they have on their minds at any moment during the play. (like a certain little boy--who shall remain nameless and who may or may not be related to me--yelled at the top of his lungs, "You have green stuff on you BUTT!")  Adults tend to hold their comments until after the play is ended.

What do you want the young audience to experience during the play? What about the older audience?

“Seeing live theatre together introduces your child to emotions, conflict resolution, problem-solving skills and promotes the sharing of thoughts and ideas!“ I lifted that line from the Children’s Theater web page.  But it says it so succinctly.  Children are our greatest natural resource.  It is of utmost importance that children, including the very youngest, are exposed to art in a communal setting.  Children are not only our future audiences but they are our future period.  Educating the youngest among us in an entertaining and public arena helps to prepare them for the world at large.  The fact that performing for them enriches my soul is a very wondrous side effect. And I believe any adult would not only be amused by Balloonacy but would be transported watching the children giving themselves over to it.