Pint-size productions: Local theater shows appeal to younger audiences
Looking for a way to introduce the kids to a little culture?
An assortment of local theater productions geared to children will be taking center stage this fall.
"The Adventures of Pinocchio"
Steel Beam Theatre, 111 W. Main St., St. Charles, (630) 587-8521, steelbeamtheatre.com
Times: 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturdays, Sept. 12 through Oct. 17
Tickets: $12; $10 for kids younger than 16
A cast of 22 kids ages 10 to 16 perform "The Adventures of Pinocchio," some playing the roles of puppets by moving like marionettes. The production strives for an 1800s style with classical music and dance moves, while blending modern humor so that adults can have fun along with the kids.
"The script is not the Disney version," director Erik Wagner said. "The original story was much darker and this version, while not as dark as the original book, is trending in that vein."
"Children of Eden"
Elgin Community College Blizzard Theatre, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin, (847) 622-0300, cteelgin.com
Times: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays Sept. 11-20
Tickets: $10; $8 for students and seniors
A musical by Steven Schwartz, who also wrote "Wicked," "Children of Eden" features catchy tunes and deals with family issues still relevant today. The first act follows Adam, Eve, Cain and Abel, while in the second act the audience learns that the decision the first family made has affected Noah and his family a thousand years later.
"It's very loosely based on the first nine chapters of Genesis," producer Steve Olson said. "Its focus is on the family and the dealings of parents with their children."
"Fractured Fairytales"
Noble Fool Theatricals at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles, (630) 584-6342, noblefool.org
Times: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 19
Tickets: $15
Noble Fool has been performing "Fractured Fairytales" the last five years, but more than two-thirds of the production is different this year to keep it fresh for return viewers. The play takes a smart-aleck approach to telling seven folk tales, including well-known and more obscure stories from Aesop's Fables and the Brothers Grimm. Adults will also find a little humor just for them. There's no music, but lots of sound effects and some audience participation.
"If you've got little kids, they're going to be more interested in the storytelling," said producing director Matt O'Brien. "When you have older kids getting some of the cultural references, it starts working on two levels."
"Alice in Wonderland"
Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights, (847) 577-2121, metropolisarts.com
Times: 9:45 and 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13-21
Tickets: $12; $9.50 for kids younger than 13
The Metropolis production of "Alice in Wonderland" keeps many of the most popular characters like the Cheshire cat and Queen of Hearts without being too much like the Disney version of the story. The show is designed for kids ages 2 to 13 and features lots of bright-colored costumes and energetic singalong songs, along with a few references that adults are more likely to appreciate. The audience becomes Alice's sidekick as she constantly talks to them about what's going on and asks for advice.
"The kids feel like they're part of the trip that Alice is taking" director Jesus Perez said.
"Spooky Tales"
New World Repertory Theatre, 923 Curtiss St., Downers Grove, (630) 663-1489, newworldrep.org
Times: 10 a.m., noon, 2 and 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24
Tickets: $5
True to its name, "Spooky Tales" is a collection of stories and poems, some more spooky than others. Kids from New World Repertory's Youth Ensemble hone their storytelling skills using puppetry, black lights and by playing several different characters throughout the show. One of the major skits is the humorous story of a corpse that's upset that no one is paying any attention to it, while the other is an original take on the tale of Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater that older kids, teens and adults are more likely to enjoy.
There's also plenty of audience participation. "They (the actors) talk to the audience," co-artistic director Alison Henderson said. "They're asking them to stand up and wiggle and shake."