One of the great things about living in the East Valley is the wealth of kid-friendly theater options at our fingertips.
Home to the East Valley Children’s Theatre Company and Childsplay — not to mention the options at Hale Centre Theatre, Higley Center for the Performing Arts, Chandler Center for the Arts and Queen Creek Performing Arts Center — the East Valley is a great place to introduce kids to the joy of live theater. This season, we’re marking these shows on our calendar:
Charlotte’s Web
E.B. White’s timeless story of friendship is the inspiration for this East Valley Children’s Theatre production. DETAILS >> Sept. 27-Oct. 7. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. $15 for adults and $11 for children 17 and younger. (480) 644-6500 or mesaartscenter.com.
Annie
Set in depression-era New York City, this Tony Award-winning musical tells how a spunky red-headed orphan finds her forever family. DETAILS >> Oct. 12-Nov. 24. Hale Centre Theatre, 50 W. Page Ave., Gilbert. $24 for adults, $10 for youth (6-18). (480) 497-1181 or haletheatrearizona.com.
The Giver
Lois Lowry’s Newberry Award-winning children’s novel about Jonas — a young man living in a world free from fear or pain who learns the truth from The Giver on his path to adulthood — takes the stage in this Childsplay production. DETAILS >> Oct. 21-Nov. 11. Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway. $12-$25. (480) 350-2822 or childsplayaz.org.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
The tale of one small church’s attempt at a Christmas play and the horrendous Herdman’s, who nearly hijack it, is side-splitting funny and reminds us of the real meaning of Christmas. DETAILS >> Nov. 29-Dec. 9. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. $15 for adults, $11 for children 17 and younger. (480) 644-6500 or mesaartscenter.com.
Click Clack Moo: Cows that Type
This stage adaptation of Doreen Cronin’s picture book recounts a humorous barnyard protest against the working conditions at Farmer Brown’s. DETAILS >> Jan. 20-March 3, 2013. Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway. $12-$25. (480) 350-2822 or childsplayaz.org.
The Velveteen Rabbit
The Enchantment Theatre Company uses life-sized puppets to tell the story of a bunny who comes to life and the little boy who loves him dearly. DETAILS >> Feb. 10, 2013. Higley Center for the Performing Arts, 4132 E. Pecos Road, Gilbert. $12-$20. (480) 279-7194 or higleyarts.org.
Beauty and the Beast
The beloved fairytale of a peasant girl who learns to love a beast is larger than life in this musical rendition of the Disney’s film. DETAILS >> April 9-14. ASU Gammage, 1200 South Forest Ave., Tempe, $28.10-$143.55. (480) 965-3434 or asugammage.com.
