Best Upcoming Children's Shows In Seattle

Sure, you can take your kids to the movies and plop them down in front of your TV to watch a DVD and they will be entertained. However, have you ever considered taking your children to a live performance? The experience is completely different and will offer a chance to make lots of great memories! Here are five upcoming performances in the greater Seattle area that offer a great ways to introduce your children to the fine arts, are performed in short-attention-span production and are even set at a price you can afford. Some are even free.

The Seattle Outdoor Theater Festival brings people and eight different theatre companies together for 14 great performances. Most shows are family-friendly, but little ones will really get a kick out of "Teatro Minestrone's Around the World in 8 Stories" by the 14/48 Projects and Theater Schmeater's "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?" Other companies include GreenStage, Wooden O, Last Leaf Productions, Jet City Improv, Shakespeare NW and Young Shakespeare Workshop. What might even be better is that all performances are free. The 14th annual festival will be held at Volunteer Park on July 12-13, 2014. 

"The Sound of Music"
Leavenworth Summer Theater
Ski Hill Amphitheater
10698 Ski Hill Drive
Leavenworth, WA 98826
(509) 548-2000
www.leavenworthsummertheater.org

The Leavenworth Summer Theater celebrates 20 years with its popular production of "The Sound of Music," which is a family favorite. Everyone knows the story about the von Trapp family, but to see it up in the mountains and under the stars is truly unique. Performances are currently running and conclude on August 31 (see website for full schedule). If this musical isn't your thing, the theater is also presenting "Fiddler on the Roof" and "The Drowsy Chaperone" in different locations and times, but all are located in Leavenworth. Please note that infants and children under five are not admitted to LST shows.

Mill Creek Children's Concert/Performance Series
Library Park
15429 Bothell-Everett Highway
Mill Creek, WA 98012
(425) 745-1891
www.snohomish.org/events

The Mill Creek Children's Concert/Performance Series runs for four consecutive Wednesday afternoons from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. at Library Park. Parents are encouraged to pack a picnic and a blanket. Performances include Eric Herman and Puppy Dog (July 23), Nancy Stewart (July 30), Buck & Elizabeth (August 6) and Jim Valley (August 13). Each show is the right size for little ones with fun music and laughter. Performances are free, but non-perishable food donations will be greatly accepted to help support the Mill Creek Food Bank. 

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"The Garden of Rikki Tikki Tavi"
Seattle Children's Theatre
201 Thomas St.
Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 441-3322
www.sct.org

Date: Sept. 25 – Nov. 9, 2014

The award-winning Seattle Children's Theatre will begin its 2014-2015 season with "The Garden of Rikki Tikki Tavi" from September 25 until November 9, 2014. Adapted from the story by Rudyard Kipling, this story is about the unusual friendship between a mongoose, a bird and a muskrat and how they survive against an attack by Nag the cobra. They learn how they are stronger together than when they operate apart from each other.

"Hansel and Gretel"
Storybook Theater
Various Locations
(425) 820-1800
www.storybooktheater.org

Date: Oct. 25 – Nov. 16, 2014

Since 1998, Storybook Theater has specialized in children's theater with original material written for those between the ages of three and 10. Performances last about 55 minutes, just right for squirmy little ones, and are often filled with music, comedy and some great costumes as well. This fall, the theater will be on the road presenting its version of "Hansel and Gretel" with performances from October 25 to November 16, 2014. Please visit the Storybook website for the next performance date and location.

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