Symphony Space Features Story Pirates, Rick Riordan and More!

Families slogging through New York City's vast array of entertainment options will find the ultimate guide to fun this fall from a venerable Upper West Side institution. Offering weekly sketch comedy, puppetry, and high-energy music and dance performances, plus interactive events with top children's authors, Symphony Space presents a high-value, high-energy collection of performing arts and literary options for NYC families with two series: Just Kidding and the Thalia Kids' Book Club. Symphony Space is located at 2537 Broadway (at 96th St.) in New York.

The Story Pirates, renowned for creating hilarious sketch comedy inspired by children's narratives, launch the Just Kidding family performing arts season on Saturday, October 3rd, with two matinee shows (plus a show for grown-ups that evening). Latin Grammy winners Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band celebrate Hispanic Heritage month and their new album "Adelante" with a rousing performance on Saturday, October 10th. Other musical highlights include Jazzy Ash's Halloween inspired songs with a New Orleans twist on October 31st, and Justin Roberts delivers a rare acoustic concert onSaturday, November 14th. The high-energy, kid-powered dance talents of National Dance Institute (NDI) Celebration Team will perform to bluegrass, folk, blues, spirituals, and other music that defines our nation and its people, on October 24th. A seafaring adventure story with puppets called "The Great Red Ball Rescue" is slated for November 7th. More puppetry fun arrives in time for the holidays with "Lollipops for Breakfast" on December 19th, as well as awe-inspiring street dance fromRennie Harris RHAW on December 12th. More performances are scheduled from January through March 2016. Just Kidding audience members will enjoy lower ticket prices this season, ranging from $13 to $18.

Symphony Space, known for Selected Shorts and other acclaimed literary programs, also announces the 2015-16 season of the Thalia Kids' Book Club, co-presented by Bank Street Bookstore. This highly interactive series for children and tweens was launched 10 years ago and connects well-known children's authors with their fans. It is a one-of-a-kind series in New York, uniting avid readers with the authors and books that inspire their imaginations.

Fall highlights include New York Times bestselling authors Rick Riordan (Oct 6) and Brian Selznick (Nov 22); Guys Read Terrifying Tales with Jon Scieszka, Michael Buckley, Rita Williams Garcia, Dav Pilkey and more (Oct 25); A Celebration of Dr. Seuss, benefiting Team First Book-NYC (Dec 13). In the new year, R.J. Palacio and Rebecca Stead join forces onJan 24 to discuss their latest work and authors will pay tribute to Beverly Cleary (April 3).

Details about the fall Thalia Kids' Book Club events are below. More details about the . Tickets are $15 each ($12 for Symphony Space members). More info available at: http://www.symphonyspace.org/events/series/96/thalia-kids-book-club.