Kids' Shows are Semi-Aquatic This Coming May

This May, children’s theatre comes over all semi-aquatic in theme. (Sort of.) Okay, it’s a bit of a reach, but there ARE a couple of interesting children’s shows coming to a couple of local stages to round out the local theatre season.

May 8, First Stage opens a New Theatre for Young Audiences adaptation of John August’s Big Fish. There are quite a lot of big fish out there in literature. This is the one that was originally published as a novel in 1998 and then turned into a Tim Burton movie starring Ewan McGregor in 2003. That Big Fish. The story of a man trying to get the truth out of his father’s fanciful tales on his deathbed comes to life in a musical theatre adaptation for the kids courtesy of First Stage through May 31. For tickets and more information, visit First Stage online.

Then on May 13, The Sunset Playhouse in Elm Grove opens its one-weekend Bug in a rug Children’s Theatre show The Frog Pal. The Sunset’s twist on the classic Frog Prince story is presented for even the smallest audience members. Bug in a rug Children’s Theatre shows are staged in a studio theatre space. The chairs are moved back and everyone sits on the carpet. Parents and kids bring blankets and hang out, do crafts and watch an interactive show featuring some really fun talent. Pajamas are optional. The Frog Pal runs May 13-16 at the Sunset Playhouse in Elm Grove. For more information, visit sunsetplayhouse.com.