Long Island summer theater guide for kids
The Wiggles! Live in Concert takes place at 1 and 4 p.m. Aug. 19, 2012, at NYCB Theatre at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury. The Wiggles summer tour reunites Anthony, Jeff and Murray with Yellow Wiggle Greg Page, as they perform together for the first time in five years. Credit: Handout
Summer lures children outdoors to play, and rightly so. But there's no reason why the kids can't slip in a little indoor culture as well. Rapunzel, The Cat in the Hat, Peter Pan and dozens of other beloved characters will sing, dance and act their way through onstage performances at theaters across the Island during July and August.
Here are some upcoming standouts:
WHAT Children's Musical Theatre Series
WHEN| WHERE 11 a.m. Tuesdays, beginning Tuesday through Aug. 21, at the NYCB Theatre at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury
INFO $15.50 per show; $14 per show for four-show package; $11.25 per show for seven-show package; 800-745-3000, livenation.com
This summer's schedule: "The Wizard of Oz," July 10; "Beauty and the Beast," July 17; "Snow White," July 24, "Jack and the Beanstalk," July 31; "Cinderella," Aug. 7; "Alice in Wonderland," Aug. 14 and "Peter Pan," Aug. 21.
WHAT Gateway Children's Theatre Series
WHEN | WHERE 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Fridays beginning Friday and continuing on July 13 and Aug. 17 and 24 at Gateway Playhouse, 215 South Country Rd., Bellport
INFO $12; 631-286-1133; gatewayplayhouse.org
Three princesses try to escape the spell of a wizard during "The Princess Show" on Friday; "Pinocchio" tells the classic tale of the wooden puppet who longs to be a real boy on July 13; "Aesop's Fables" looks at the tortoise and the hare on Aug. 17; and Alice visits Wonderland on Aug. 24.
WHAT Kidfest!
WHEN | WHERE 5 p.m. Wednesdays beginning July 11, through Aug. 29, at the John Drew Theater, Guild Hall, 158 Main St., East Hampton
INFO $13 per child; $16 per adult (arts and crafts workshops from 3:30 to 4:30 each Wednesday before shows are an additional $10 per child); for entire performance series, $90 per child, $120 per adult; 631-324-4050, guildhall.org
The series kicks off July 11 with the Gizmo Guys Comedy Jugglers. It continues with The Mr. Molecule Science Show on July 18 (additional matinee at 1:30 p.m.); "The Taming of the Shrew" on July 25; "Aesop Bops!" on Aug. 1; Cirquetacular! on Aug. 8 (additional matinee at 1:30 p.m.); Laughing Pizza band on Aug. 15; The National Marionette Theatre production of "Sleeping Beauty" at Aug. 22 and Captain Courage and the Maritime Pirates Stage Show on Aug. 29.
WHAT "Pinkalicious" and "Robin Hood"
WHEN | WHERE "Pinkalicious" (12:45 p.m. July 9, 10:30 a.m. July 12, Aug. 7; 10 a.m. Aug. 1; 11 a.m. Aug. 9 and 1 p.m. Aug. 14) and "Robin Hood" (12:45 p.m. Aug. 12; 10:30 a.m. Aug. 13 and 14, 10 a.m. Aug. 16) at the BroadHollow Theatre Company, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont
INFO $10; 516-775-4420, broadhollow.org
Pinkalicious loves pink, and wants everything in her life to be pink. Robin Hood's gang of merry men rescues Maid Marian from the evil Sheriff of Nottingham.
WHAT "Rapunzel"
WHEN | WHERE 11 a.m. Saturdays and 10:30 a.m. Sundays, from July 14 to Aug. 19, and 10:30 a.m. July 25 at the John W. Engeman Theater at Northport, 250 Main St., Northport
INFO $15; 631-261-2900, engemantheater.com
Four actors play 12 roles in this musical adaptation of the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale, which incorporates contemporary touches.
WHAT "Freckleface The Musical"
WHEN | WHERE 2 p.m. Saturdays July 14 through Sept. 8 (no show Aug. 11) at Studio Theatre, 141 S. Wellwood Ave., Lindenhurst
INFO $10; 631-226-8400, studiotheatreli.com
The musical, based on the children's book "Freckleface Strawberry" by actress Julianne Moore, is about a little girl with bright red hair and freckles who learns to embrace her look.
WHAT "Willy Wonka Jr." and "Seussical Jr."
WHEN | WHERE "Wonka" (2 p.m. Saturday and July 14 and 21, 10 a.m. July 10, 11, 13 and 20) and "Seussical" (2 p.m. Aug. 11, 18, 25; 10 a.m. Aug. 16 and 17) at CM Performing Arts Center, 931 Montauk Hwy., Oakdale
INFO $9; 631-218-2810, cmpac.com
"Willy Wonka Jr." tells the tale of the world-famous candy man's quest to find an heir. "Seussical Jr." journeys through the world of Dr. Seuss with The Cat in the Hat as the guide.
WHAT "The Wizard of Oz," Disney's "The Little Mermaid," Disney's "101 Dalmations"
WHEN | WHERE 10:30 July 21 "Wizard of Oz"; 10:30 a.m. July 27, 28 and Aug. 3, 4, 10 and 11 "Little Mermaid"; 11 a.m. Aug. 17 and 19 "Dalmatians", at the Patchogue Theatre, 71 E. Main St., Patchogue
INFO $12 for "Wizard" and "Mermaid," 631-286-1133, gatewayplayhouse.org; $12 to $20 for "Dalmatians", 1-877-772-5425, patchoguetheater.com
"The Wizard of Oz" tells Dorothy's classic story; "The Little Mermaid" follows Ariel and her ocean pals. These two shows are put on by Gateway Playhouse. "101 Dalmatians" follows Pongo and Perdita as they race through the streets of London to save their puppies from Cruella de Vil; it's presented by Ovations Dance.
WHAT The Laurie Berkner Band Animal Party Concert!
WHEN | WHERE 1 p.m. July 22 at Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, 720 Northern Blvd., Greenvale
INFO $27, $37, $100; 516-299-3100, tillescenter.org
Kids should bring a favorite stuffed animal and wear animal-themed clothes for this show, which will last about 75 minutes.
WHAT "The Princess and the Pea" and "Alice's Most Decidedly Unusual Adventures in Wonderland"
WHEN | WHERE "Princess" (11 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays beginning Friday through Aug. 4) and "Alice" (11 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Saturdays Aug. 10 through 18) at Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson
INFO $10; 631-928-9100, theatrethree.com
Both of these original musicals are based on the classic tales.
WHAT The Wiggles! Live in Concert
WHEN | WHERE 1 and 4 p.m. Aug. 19 at the NYCB Theatre at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury
INFO $20 to $75.50; 800-745-3000, livenation.com
The Wiggles summer tour reunites Anthony, Jeff and Murray with Yellow Wiggle Greg Page as they perform together for the first time in five years.
WHAT "Tales of Neverland: The Adventures of Peter and Wendy"
WHEN | WHERE 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays beginning Saturday, through Aug. 26, at the Arena Players Repertory Theatre Company at the Vanderbilt Carriage House Theater, 180 Little Neck Rd., Centerport
INFO $10 adults; $8 children; children younger than 3 are free; 516-293-0674, arenaplayers.org
Enter the world of Neverland with Peter Pan, Wendy and John in this audience participation play.
WHAT "Doodlebops and Caillou"
WHEN | WHERE 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. Aug. 5 at NYCB Theatre at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury
INFO $19.50, $29.50 and $49.50; 1-800-745-3000, livenation.com
Preschoolers will see their favorite characters from the two TV shows.
