Erin Leigh Peck - Page 6

In this hour-long show, young Samuel is challenged by aspects of childhood (including what feels like a plethora of rules). This leads to a role-reversal with the over-extended Tooth Fairy when she appears one evening to collect his lost tooth. The switch-a-roo does not go as smoothly as predicted, sparking adventures and mishaps throughout New York City.

Three original productions will be showcased at the The New York Children's Theater Festival running Friday April 19 through Sunday May 5 at The Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater (10 West 64th Street at Central Park West). Tickets are $18 ($15 YMCA members) are available at Ovationtix (866-811-4111) and www.newyorkchildrenstheaterfestival.org.

Nineteen-year-old Henry Hodges has spent the last fifteen years either on stage or in front of a camera. From playing Chip in 'Beauty and the Beast' to Jeremy Potts in 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' and Michael Banks in 'Mary Poppins,' Henry has practically lived on Broadway for most of his young life.

Anyone who's been reading my column knows that my daughter HATES princesses. I don't blame her. The Disney merchandising machine has taken over most kids' lives to the point where it's often impossible to procure a toddler spoon or potty seat that doesn't have an Arielle or Sleeping Beauty theme. Either that or Dora. And I don't want to see either one of those chicks on my kid's potty seat. No offense.

Have you ever wondered what happens to your shadow while you sleep? Well, it turns out that some shadows are more mischievous than others. And soon after moving to his new home, Flash discovers that his shadow has moving plans of his own! In the middle of the night, Flash's shadow packs up a few belongings and goes in search of a new home on the moon. Will they ever reunite? Follow the playful adventures of Flash and his exciting quest to reunite with his shadow in this multimedia performance for the youngest of audiences (ages 2-5) and the young at heart.

Nate Foster has big dreams. His whole life, he's wanted to star in a Broadway show. (Heck, he'd settle for seeing a Broadway show.) But how is Nate supposed to make his dreams come true when he's stuck in Jankburg, Pennsylvania, where no one (except his best pal Libby) appreciates a good show tune? With Libby's help, Nate plans a daring overnight escape to New York. There's an open casting call for E.T.: The Musical, and Nate knows this could be the difference between small-town blues and big-time stardom.

During the weeks before Martin Luther King Day, my childrens' schools always bring attention to the life of Dr. King and the civil rights struggles that have existed and still exist around the world. I'm always appreciative of the effort, but every year I find myself wondering how much of the lessons hold any real meaning. As an adult living in New York in 2013, I find it difficult to truly appreciate Dr. King's teachings. What do I know about being denied my civil rights? I get outraged when the MTA raises the cost of a subway ride or when my child is locked out of a popular after school activity. How much understanding could my nine year old possibly have of the complex phsycological and sociological history of the African American experience?

It's been a while since I made a last-minute decision to see a Broadway show. Not only does having kids make most of your life a scheduled occurance, but the nature of my job here at BroadwayWorld involves contacting theatre marketing folks to let them know you're interested in covering something or responding to an invite before setting foot inside a theatre. In fact, I believe the last time I just checked out what was at TKTS was my senior year at NYU. I won't tell you what year it was but here's a hint: I saw Blood Brothers. Yup, been a while.

This was one tough weekend for parents across the nation. With lumps in our throats, we shut off the news and swallowed our feelings, putting on a happy face for our kids and trying our best to make them feel safe while the events in Newtown, Ct. had destabilized our whole sense of how the world is supposed to work. Being from the area, I never realized just how important a role my secure enclave of a hometown played in my overall sense of well-being. Now that such horrific danger has touched a place I once believed to be sheltered and impregnable, just minutes from my hometown, I, like many parents, have been left to wonder if I will ever be able to protect my children.

Feel your school is deserving of a little (or a lot) more attention? We do too! How about a 'BWW School in the Spotlight' promoting your program and productions? To be considered, all you need to do is upload photos, videos, cast lists or other content to your show listings. Each Friday, BroadwayWorld handpicks a school to showcase and runs a story on our main Broadway page and on the respective regional page. Submit your content now - Friday's only a few days away and we may just pick your school! For questions/concerns/suggestions, reach out to us at studentcenter@broadwayworld.com

Using some simple props, three versatile actors recreate the classic story of the Velveteen Rabbit. In the style of Peter and the Starcatcher, a few somewhat neutral objects are very believably turned into functional costume pieces and help tell the story in a way that is imaginative and delightful. The show was funny without being over the top and adapted slightly for modern audiences (the wind-up toys boast double-A batteries) without losing the flavor of the well-known book by Margery Williams.

Last year's holiday favorite ANGELINA BALLERINA™ THE VERY MERRY HOLIDAY MUSICAL returns to Vital Stage for another holiday season! Based on the characters created by Katharine Holabird and illustrated by Helen Craig, the Angelina Ballerina™ The Musical creative team returns with book and lyrics by Susan DiLallo, music by Ben Morss, and direction and choreography by Sam Viverito. Performances run on Saturdays and Sundays from November 17-January 13 at 11 am and 1 pm, with special holiday performances on November 23, December 5, December 24-27, December 31, and January 1 at 11 am and 1 pm. Tickets begin at $29.50. Premium seats are available for $49.50.

So with a happily thrown-in towel, I arranged for a few family visits to the most exciting holiday-themed shows in town. First on our list was ELF, the return of a seasonal Broadway musical based on one of my favorite films. This one is best for kids over five so I left my little guy to ponder religion at home while my nine-year-old and I headed down to the Al Hirschfeld Theatre with an open mind.

When I was a little girl (and not the kind Miss Hannigan sings about), I spent my afternoons dancing around the living room to my mother's tape (as in…tape) of "Hard Knock Life" while developing the poor singing habits that plagued a generation of belters raised on a particularly resonant recording of "Maybe". This was a very different time. Far away from the hard knocks of the 1930's and much sunnier than the recession of tomorrow, girls of my generation (Oh my God did I just say "girls of my generation"?) were touched by the pluck and spunk offered up by an orphan named Annie, an era of Broadway thereby considered itself officially influenced.

The Amazing Max selects all of his assistants at random from the audience, and each adds a unique element to the show. "Every assistant on stage is a potential loose cannon making every show very different, very dangerous and very, very interesting", said Max Darwin.

The producers of Broadway's ONCE are seeking one five to seven year old girl to play IVANKA, the sweet natured daughter of GIRL. Actresses should be comfortable on stage and have the ability to sing. Producers stress that girls must be between 39 and 46 inches tall. Please submit a photo and resume to OncetheMusical@Gmail.com.

With all the Broadway shows my daughter (who's eight) and I have been privilaged to see lately, I was begining to think that theatre for older kids was all top-tier ticket prices and my little guy (who's four)would be my sole date for anything staged just for kids. We've enjoyed ANNIE, BRING IT ON, NEWSIES and several other Broadway offerings that appeal to kids, but the other great shows in town for kids seemed too babyish for my almost nine-year-old. Then last week, my daughter asked me if there were any plays without songs in them. I was determined to find a play for her to enjoy!

When I heard that the New Victory Theatre, one of the best family theatres in New York (and probably the world) was presenting a show from Circo Para Todos , a professional circus school for disadvantaged and displaced kids in Cali, Colombia, I knew I had to be there to see the show. Not only am I a huge fan of circus and acrobatics (did you see what a sucker I was for Bring it On?), Colombian kids have a special place in my heart because a few years ago, my husband and I adopted one of them.

I knew it was bound too happen sooner or later. My almost nine-year-old is getting too old for "kids" shows and my four year old boy is too boy for "girl" shows. So when the Vital Theatre Company, one of my favorite family theatre venues in town, invited me to the Pink Carpet Opening of FANCY NANCY THE MUSICAL, I did the only thing an editor of a family theatre column could do. I forced my son to join me.

MATILDA THE MUSICAL will be holding an open call for the role of Matilda in New York City on Sunday, September 30th at Pearl Studios (519 Eighth Avenue, 12th Floor, between 35th and 36th streets). Check-in begins at 10:00 AM in Studio C on a first come / first serve basis. Auditions will begin at 11:00 AM.