Erin Leigh Peck - Page 8

Maplewood, NJ is a Rockwell-esque little nook where theatre people with families hideaway beneath the oak trees. Three years ago, when baby #2 made his appearance, my husband and I took a deep breath and plunged our lives, head first, into this quaint suburban haven. (Full disclosure, I cried in my cross-over vehicle as we waved goodbye to a decade of memories in our Upper West Side apartment).

Submissions for The New York Children's Theater Festival will be accepted October 1 through November 12, 2012, it was announced today by Festival co-founders Michael Shawn Lewis, Chelsey Shannon and Renee Barnett. In its second year, The New York Children's Theater Festival provides a birthplace in New York City for new live children's entertainment from around the globe, and serves as a platform for writers and producers who are passionate about developing innovative theatrical experiences for children.

Can someone tell me when cheerleading became so cool? When I was in high school in the (ahem) 80's, we used to make fun of the cheerleaders. We called them "rah-rahs" and made fun of them when they wore their uniforms to school.

Manhattan Movement & Arts Center announces auditions for Manhattan Youth Ballet's Fall Program at the Manhattan Movement & Arts Center. Auditions will take place on Wednesday, September 5, 2012. Appointments must be made by phone at 212-787-1178.

Limbo is coming. That long, seemingly endless expanse of time between the end of camp and the start of school. Some of us are lucky enough to be vacationing, but some of us are trapped. In the heat. Listening to that ongoing, juvenile chant: "I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored." In some cultures children say "What do I do NOW?" but it's all the same meaning: For the last two weeks of August through Labor Day, families need activities. Preferably ones that involve air conditioning. In the often fruitless search for movies you can actually enjoy with your kids, it's always nice to hit the jackpot, and tomorrow movie-goers across the country just may: The Odd Life of Timothy Green is a movie you can actually enjoy with your kids. And it will take up whole hour and 45 minutes. Plus previews.

A little over a year ago, I took my daughter to see her first Broadway show. It was Sister Act, and even though the on-stage gun was scary for about a minute, she loved the show more than anything she'd seen in her seven years. Since then, my budding Broadway fan has been to a bunch more Broadway, and now at eight she's come to an important conclusion: She wants to be a director when she grows up.

For those living under a rock or if you happen to have missed my story last fall on Annie casting, the little orphan with big dreams and red hair is coming back to Broadway this fall. Annie begins previews October 3rd at the Palace Theatre and tickets are now on sale.

On June 23rd at 1:00 PM, the Amazing Max (Magician Max Darwin) will be presenting a special performance of The Amazing Max and the Box of Interesting Things for children with special needs. This sensory-friendly presentation of the hit Off-Broadway show will be adjusted to the sensitivities of children with autism and other special needs. Handicap accessible seating will be available, as well as a quiet area reserved for any children who may feel overwhelmed during the performance.

This is the first year that I'll be watching the Tonys with my child. After a terrific Broadway season packed with family-friendly offerings, my eight year old and I are ready to enjoy the season's biggest award night together. Of course she hasn't seen all of the nominated shows, just the ones that appeal to kids. So the evening will be both a celebration of shows we've enjoyed and a PG-rated glimpse into those she's too young to see. You still have the week to take in one of these nominated shows, or watch the Tonys for a preview before you buy!

Over at MamaDrama, we've had the honor of working with PLAYTIME, the first-ever childcare service for theatre-going parents. We've been wowed time and again by the incredible new work going on at Playwrights Horizons, Signature Theatre and the Westside Theatre while our kids enjoyed an afternoon or evening of the arts with the incredible "Artisitters" from Sitters Studio…the babysitting service that sends professional artists, actors, musicians, dancers and the like to your home to care for and inspire your child. So when I heard that Sitters Studio founder Kristina Wilson was producing a play for kids, my little guy and I couldn't wait to check it out.

Just like there are all kinds of adult theatre-goers, there are varying tastes among kids. Some are just working on sitting still for ninety minutes or more, while others are more seasoned audience members craving a bit more depth. This is where Peter and the Starcatcher fits in. It's perfect for kids because the story is about children and is presented with childlike fascination and a creative innocence that would appeal to both children and adults. But this show is sophisticated in its youthful tone…an exuberant, story-theatre approach mixed with cutting wit and clever conceits that will give you something to think about while dazzling you with color and adventure.

Tune in to NBC's "Today" show on Friday, April 27 at 9:30 AM (ET) to find out who will be playing the title role in the eagerly anticipated new production of the Tony Award-winning classic musical, opening in Fall, 2012 on Broadway at a Nederlander theatre to be announced.

Yesterday, BroadwayWorld reported that The Off Broadway Alliance, the organization of Off Broadway producers, theaters, general managers, press agents and marketing firms, has announced the nominees for the 2nd Annual Off Broadway Alliance Awards, honoring commercial and not-for-profit productions that opened Off Broadway during the 2011-2012 season.

Last October I took my daughter to see NEWSIES at Papermill Playhouse and was thrilled to find another rare gem for my small collection of shows that parents can genuinely enjoy with their children. I'm relieved to say that the production's move to Broadway hasn't changed the its status on my short list. In fact, I think it's gotten better. It's been two days since we saw the show and I still can't get 'And the World Will Know' or 'Carrying the Banner' out of my head and my daughter remains a sworn fan for life.

It's been the better part of a year since the live tour of the Disney Channel's animated gem, the critically acclaimed 'Phineas and Ferb,' TV's #1 animated series among Tweens 9-14 for three years running, started it's over 80-city tour. And now, just in time for school break, they've hit the New York area. By the time this posts you'll probably be too late to catch the show at Madison Square Garden, but never fear. Phinas, Ferb, Agent P, Candace and the evil Dr. Doofenshmertz will be taking it tri-state, hitting Westchester, Staten Island, Long Island and New Jersey this month.

One of the most common questions I get from readers is 'can you recommend an acting class for my child?' I never have an answer, because as readers of this column know, my Young Lady is happiest backstage (or behind the camera) and my Little Guy is too little to take acting class. But now I can finally say we've experienced something that I can recommend. Last winter, as a Hanukah gift to my daughter, my husband and I purchased a 3-class Film production workshop at Take Two Film Academy, and now my daughter wants to go back!

There are a few reasons a Broadway lover might be interested in Mirror Mirror, a family-friendly comedy that is more Brothers Grimm than it is Disney. First, Nathan Lane steals the show on more than one occasion, which is no small feat next to Julia Roberts shining as the overly-confident, Evil Queen in one of the best casting decisions of the year (so far). There's an original score by Alan Menkin which manages to support the film beautifully without sucking us back to Disneyland and then there's the whole issue of that OTHER Snow White movie set to be released this year. Remember the year of WILD PARTY?

This season, between GODSPELL and JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, I've learned more about the last week of Jesus' life than I ever knew before. The season started for me at Circle in the Square when I took my eight year old to see GODSPELL. (You can read about that visit HERE). I must admit, although I enjoyed the show and was happy to find something on Broadway that I could enjoy along with my daughter, I was a bit confused about the actual story. Like most Broadway folk, I've known the score the GODSPELL backwards and forwards since probably the summer before fifth grade when I was introduced to all things theatre at summer camp. But knowing the lyrics did nothing to help me understand the well-known plot points unfolding before me. As a Jewish woman I never sat down and read the story of Christ's life, so this year Broadway taught it to me.

This past weekend my Little Guy and I were among the lucky few to get tickets to see the Beatles of kids' concerts, THE FRESH BEATS. Nickelodeon's popular preschool music group and stars of the hit TV series by the same name hit the road last month after selling out in almost every city they were scheduled to perform in...usually the first day the tickets were on sale!

Usually when I take my kids to see a show for BroadwayWorld Jr., I go in with the expectation that I might be slightly amused, slightly bored, and hopefully thankful that my kids had a good time. It's always a welcome surprise when the show ends up being endearing, funny and entertaining to both the kids and the parents in the audience. Not only did the adorable Stinky Kids not stink at all, they managed to make my whole family laugh.