Holiday theater goodness!

For the last few years, my mother-in-law has been purchasing mixed season tickets for the Children’s Theatre Company. Between the five grandkids, she will pick through the annual offerings and take the kids to plays they will like (in one season, the five grandkids will most likely not see all the same plays). Sometimes she will get extra tickets and the kids can bring friends.

For the last few years, my mother-in-law has started getting tickets for all of us to the theater’s Christmas show. We’ve seen “Aladdin, Jr.,” “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” and “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” Today was our annual trek to the Children’s Theatre where all 11 of us saw the holiday performance of “Cinderella.” I have a three-word review: Best. Show. EVER. My 13-year-old son was complaining all weekend about seeing a “girl play” and I think he laughed the hardest of all of us. Two-thumbs up from everyone in the group. (This is a performance that requires audience participation which is a lot of fun!)

If you haven’t had a chance to see a play at the Children’s Theatre Company, this production would be a perfect introduction. This particular show is rated for “all ages” so you don’t necessarily need children to attend (though there are plenty of them there!). If you would feel better with kids, though, find someone on campus and borrow their children (my kids all want to see it again!). The wicked stepmother and step-sisters steal the show. They talk to the audience and the orchestra. It was laugh-out-loud goodness.

Make sure to check out some of the other shows this season, as well. They have shows aimed at all ages and each show will tell you the recommended age (My husband and I will be going to see “Mr. McGee and the Biting Flea” with the four youngest grandkids). I could go on and on about the amazing productions from the Children’s Theatre, but instead I suggest you visit yourself. While this is theater aimed at children, it is by no means a childish production. It is top-notch in both the quality of the production and the quality of actors.

Learn more about the theater at www.childrenstheatre.org