Pint-size productions geared to children

Looking for ways to keep the kids entertained as the weather gets cooler? Skip the movies and catch some live theater at one of these local productions.

“If You Give a Cat a Cupcake,” Emerald City Theatre

Where: The Apollo Theater, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, (773) 935-6100; emeraldcitytheatre.com

Show times: Saturdays and Sundays Sept. 17 through Jan. 7. Check website for times.

Tickets: $10-$27

Emerald City Theatre's adaptation of the best-selling children's book from the author of “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” follows a cat and a girl as they spend the day touring Chicago, visiting the beach, Lincoln Park and a science museum.

“In our particular adaptation, it also is a celebration of the girl and cat as friends and them on an adventure on a Saturday afternoon in the city,” said Ernie Nolan, producing artistic director.

The show features just three performers, with one playing Cat, another playing Girl and one actor playing all the other roles including a hermit crab, a martial arts instructor and a neighborhood dog. Kids in the audience also have a role to play. They can arrive early for a preshow activity and make dinosaur masks to wear. Then when the characters visit the museum a paleontologist discusses three of the “dinosaurs” in the audience. Kids also share a warm-up for a gym class along with Cat and Girl and learn a dance at the end of the show.

Yo Gabba Gabba Live! It's Time to Dance!

Where: Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont, (847) 671-5100; rosemonttheatre.com

Show times: 2 and 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept 24; 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25

Tickets: $35-$75

Touring across the country, the live production of the “Nick, Jr.” television show gets kids moving along with DJ Lance Rock and the cartoonlike costumed characters. The production also features performances from hip hop artist Biz Markie.

“The Tale of Snow White”

Where: Steel Beam Theatre, 111 W. Main St., St. Charles, (630) 587-8521; steelbeamtheatre.com

Show times: 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturdays and 1 p.m. Sundays through Sunday, Oct. 2

Tickets: $14; $10 for kids under age 17

The production of the classic story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves starts with two sisters playing with dolls and fighting over whether the fairy tale is about romance or action. They participate in the narrative throughout the play. Like their dolls, the entire set and all the props are made of paper, designed by the cast of 9- to 15-year-old girls. Rather than having big sets, a sense of place is conveyed by performers positioned around the stage holding up drawings of items like a caldron, spell books and potions.

“We ask the audience to fill in the rest with their own imagination,” said director Sean Kelly. “I think that imagination is the most important skill that you can train a child in.”

“Princess and the Pea,” Chicago Kids Company

Where: Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St., Chicago, (773) 205-9600; chicagokidscompany.com

Show times: Oct. 17 through Nov. 23. Check website for times.

Tickets: $10

Chicago Kids Company created this one-hour musical adaptation of the fairy tale and brings it back this year because of how well it was received.

“It's a really fun, funny show,” said executive director Paige Coffman. “We go into the audience and bring little kids up. They're all too short or not old enough. Then the real princess comes in.”

Geared toward children 2 to 12, the production adds modern references to the story and is packed with audience interaction. The queen teaches the prince how to get ready in the morning, also teaching the audience a song so they can sing along about brushing their teeth, combing their hair and washing their face. But the real star of the show may be the 12-foot tall bed, which is wheeled onto the stage. “The kids ooh and ahh,” Coffman said. “When the bed comes out, it's just a big deal there.”