Editor’s Note: Scroll down to learn how to receive a special discount to upcoming “Just Kidding” shows at Symphony Space.
My family and I received an invite last month to Symphony Space’s presentation of The Ugly Duckling by Lightwire Theater, part of its rotating “Just Kidding” series of family-friendly music, theater and dance shows playing Saturdays through March 2017. What we saw absolutely amazed us. The show told the familiar fairy tale in a fresh and compelling way, interweaving elements of dance, puppetry, and most importantly, light, to capture the attention of the entire audience.
As any parent of a toddler will tell you, taking children to a live show can be a risky proposition. Attention spans are short and fleeting, distractions will abound, and audience decorum will be completely non-existent.
For a show to win over a plethora of little people so completely, it needs to be top notch. That’s just what Lightwire Theater provided, along with some thrills for moms and dads as well. The performers’ innovative use of, yes, light wires outlining the constructions of their props, sets, characters and costumes, brought plenty of “oohs” and “aaahs” from everyone in attendance.
And this was just one production from one weekend. Symphony Space’s Just Kidding Series runs through the winter, providing you and your children a destination when inclement weather demands that you stay indoors.
“There are shows EVERY weekend from October through the end of March, and each one is of the highest possible quality — something I know you and your families expect,” Darren Critz, director of performing arts programs at Symphony Space, recently wrote in his blog.
He’s not joking. Big name children’s entertainers like Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players will appear, and Latin Grammy Winner 123 Andres as well. This along with other shows featuring the arts of dance, puppetry, and/or song.
Symphony Space is an easy commute for tri-state area families. Located on 95th and Broadway, it’s a block south of the 96th Street stop on the Red Lines. If you’ve never been, it’s a beautiful and spacious theater, fully equipped with all the amenities. This is no black box studio show, but a genuine theater-going experience. In short, the theater lives up to its name, it is a space worthy of a symphony. It has a long and storied history, and is well-known for it’s top flight productions.
So it’s very awesome that such a venue would host shows geared for children. As a parent, it’s a big relief to know that whatever show we’re going to see there, whether planned or at the last minute, is going to be of high quality and capable of producing long lasting happy memories.
Be sure to “like” and follow Symphony Space’s Just Kidding Facebook Fanpage to be kept in the loop for their upcoming gigs, and we’ll see you at the show!
‘JUST KIDDING’ SERIES DISCOUNT OFFER
You can receive a $5 discount on each ticket you purchase to any “Just Kidding” series December and January event if you buy your tickets online and use the promo code CITYDADS. This includes Saturday, Dec. 10, show with Grammy-nominated children’s rock musician Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players, shown in the video below.
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