Erin Leigh Peck - Page 2

Clearly, Once is a perfect show for a family with teenage children. It doesn't pander in any way, yet it's message is so pure and beautiful, it becomes holistically wholesome by the end of the show. It's a love story. There is no violence. Women are not exploited. Children are not harmed. But there is pain and heartbreak and loss and when those things are filtered through the minds and mouths of working class Irish folk, the F word shows up. A lot.

THE GREATEST PIRATE STORY NEVER TOLD! is a madcap, musical adventure that revolves around Captain Henry Martin and his stalwart crew, who have been flung in to the future by a befuddled sea witch to perform the greatest pirate epic ever seen on stage. But with their script torn asunder, these pirates-turned-players are forced to improvise their show as it unfolds, based upon the audience's suggestions.'

Based on the 2003 Tim Burton Film, the show deals with a man's journey to sort out the truth from the fiction of his dying father's life. The stories, told through musical numbers, are larger than life and there is enough color and character to entrance any kid. The subject matter however, is a bit more sensitive a topic. Death is dealt with in a very emotional way, and just as no adult in the audience escaped without a tear, kids will also find the show as sad as it is often uplifting. A mature eight year old will be able to handle the themes, although my sensitive ten year old held my hand tight during the sad parts.

Four original productions have been announced for the 2014 New York Children's Theater Festival. Now in it's third year, the festival 'serves family audiences by supporting upcoming artists and industry professionals who are passionate about creating theatrical experiences and productions for children'. The following productions will be showcased in April of 2014:

If I didn't know that Pippin was written by two men in the 1970's, I might think it was a message from a 2013 mother to her child about finding happiness. I personally missed the original Broadway production which closed when I was four years old (stop doing math!), but enough high school productions (featuring a different version of the book) made me miss what makes this show so universally appealing and meaningful: What began as an allegory of a young man in search of himself presents, for people my age, as a reflection of our sacrifices and triumphs as parents who may have given up loftier dreams for the deeper sense of satisfaction that comes from raising children. Meanwhile, for kids, the show may be about the constant hunger young people feel when they are chasing ambitions and deciding who they will be. Stephen Schwartz and Roger O. Hirson were writing about a young man aspiring to find his purpose, while I felt the show was a perfect documentation of my current midlife crisis. Universally appealing.

Between this year's early Jewish holidays and that darned phase-in at my son's pre-K (didn't he just go to camp ALL DAY LONG this summer?), it took until this week for my house to actually be empty between the hours of nine and three. It's finally time to start picking some shows for my kids and here's what I'm interested in for the fall:

ATLANTIC FOR KIDS announces the World Premiere of Molly Shannon's Tilly the Trickster, based on the book Tilly the Trickster by Molly Shannon. An exuberant and riotous musical adaptation of Molly Shannon's children's book, Tilly theTrickster encourages audiences to embrace the silliness and fun of life! This high spirited tale follows a feisty, mischievous youngster named Tilly, who loves nothing more than playing pranks and causing a little trouble. From leaking cups to toothpaste-flavored cookies, this saucy heroine has more than one inventive and relentless trick up her sleeve.

BALLERINA SWAN, a 50-minute family show blending dance, theater and puppetry, tells the story of Sophie, a Central Park swan with dreams of becoming a ballerina and dancing in Swan Lake. Based on the critically-acclaimed by The New York Times children's book BALLERINA SWAN by former NYC Ballet prima ballerina Allegra Kent, the show features three dancers and a dancer/puppeteer who operates a five-foot dancing swan puppet!

Westchester Broadway is a dinner theatre. It's a strange feeling to be eating a dinner roll while watching the Von Trapp family sing, but it's also a cool and unique way to see a show and worth trying with your child. Plus, if you're a Soap Dish buff, you can say things like, "Five minutes, Mr. Loman!" and have it really resonate.

Based on the award-winning children's book by Eileen Spinelli, featuring music and lyrics by singer, songwriter and superstar children's recording artist Laurie Berkner, WANDA'S MONSTER runs July 13th through September 8th at the Vineyard Theatre. The 50-minute production is best for families with kids ages 2-10.

As Cinderella is forced to endure the bullying ways of her step-sisters, she waits to be saved by her zany fairy godmother who is nowhere in sight. Unfortunately, her wand has run low on power and she can't seem to find her charger anywhere. With just enough power left to call her best bird friend Perez (inspired by Perez Hilton), the Fairy Godmother persuades Perez to take Cinderella under his wing and get her ready for the ball. Perez knows that if he makes this CinderCharming match, he'll be the hot tweet on the street and be 'in' with the prestigious royal family. ??Will Cinderella make it to the ball? Will Prince Charming live up to his name? The truth is surprising and the match is enlightening.

This month, New York celebrates musical theatre as the New York Musical Theatre Festival debuts thirty new productions. Three of the shows are perfect for family audiences. This is a great (and rare) opportunity for you to introduce your child to a brand new show in development. Today's festival presentations could be tomorrow's Off-Broadway hits.

I remember doing this show in middle school. Really Rosie, based on series of books by famed children's author Maurice Sendak and with music by the legendary Carole King, has always been a perfect choice for school plays. Now Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, Pennsylvania has brought in Broadway director and a cast of talented local kids to take Really Rosie out of the classroom. Tony Award- nominee Marcia Milgrom Dodge (Ragtime, High Society) is directing a cast made up entirely of Pennsylvania and New Jersey kids, most of whom come with impressive Broadway and Regional credits, as part of the 2013 Playhouse Productions Summer Season. Performances begin July 5th and run through July 21st at the Bucks County Playhouse

If your child is a fan of Potter, run don't walk to the Little Shubert to catch Potted Potter before the end of this summers NYC run on September 1st. And don't worry about being bored. This show does what I always hope children's theatre will do: It makes for great kid's theatre without boring the parents. Not even a little bit. If your child hasn't read J.K. Rowling's fantastical trilogy about a boy who discovers he is a wizard, this might be the inspiration he or she needs to pick up what I am told is an addictive piece of literature.

Kef theatrical productions has announced the upcoming event KEF KIDS CABARET, an evening of songs featuring some of Broadway, TV and Film's biggest little stars, performing numbers of their own choice. The evening of music will be presented on Monday, July 1st at The Cutting Room (44 East 32nd St. btw 5th and Madison) at 7:00 PM. Tickets for the one-night-only event are $20 in advance or $25 at the door (food/beverage minimum not included) and are available at www.thecuttingroomnyc.com or by calling 212.691.1900.

Watching the Tony awards every year has become a tradition for my daughter and I. She enjoys watching performances from all the shows, even those she is too young to see in theatres. What's really special this year is that every single Best Musical nominee is appropriate for kids, keeping in mind that some might be better for older kids. Here's a run down of the family-friendly nominees for this 2013 Tony Awards:

This imaginative and beautiful world is seen through the eyes of a young girl and her beloved bear as she experiences the magical moments of what we all experience in our minds and our hearts when we sleep. My daughters were front and center, and completely mesmerized through this moving entire non-verbal show.

When Milo finds out that his favorite city park is going to be torn down and replaced with a shopping mall, he seeks out the help of his two best friends, Odessa the Owl and Bucky the Squirrel. This 45-minute educational performance features puppetry, original songs, and audience participation.

This summer, the perfect show for Harry Potter fans returns: Potted Potter, starting previews May 30th at the Little Shubert Theatre, takes on the challenge of condensing, or 'potting' all seven Harry Potter books into 70 minutes, aided only by multiple costume changes, songs, ridiculous props and a generous helping of Hogwarts magic. The show also invites audiences to engage with a real life game of Quidditch, featuring a unique set of rules.

This Monday, the Computer School brings Broadway to the Upper West Side! The school's annual Night of Stars concert raises money for the Computer School After School Music Program, helping to provide scholarships, keep fees low, and purchase new instruments.