THEATER'S CIRCLE OF LIFE HOW TO KNOW WHEN YOUR CHILD IS READY FOR THE CURTAIN TO RISE.Byline: Evan Henerson Staff Writer `The Lion King'' is back in town. Your 7-year-old knows the DVD DVD: see digital versatile disc. DVD in full digital video disc or digital versatile disc Type of optical disc. The DVD represents the second generation of compact-disc (CD) technology. of the animated movie front to back, and now she's pestering you to take her to the live version. But is she ready for a 2 1/2-hour performance? And at a cost of $80 per ticket, are you, as a parent, ready to brave the experiment? And to potentially swallow the cost of the ticket and your own enjoyment if she gets scared or squirmy? As any producer of theater for young audiences will tell you, there are no sure-fire formulas to determine how old a child must be in order to get maximum enjoyment out of a live experience. There are factors to consider, certainly. Girls may be theater-ready earlier than boys, and school-age children accustomed to the structure of a daily, nap-free routine may be more inclined to sit still for a story that lasts longer than an hour. Particularly one with music, dance and technical wonderment. Still, every child is different. And even the most mature attention span can quickly be tossed into the nearest trash receptacle if a young viewer isn't enjoying the product. Engaging a child's imagination ``I liken lik·en tr.v. lik·ened, lik·en·ing, lik·ens To see, mention, or show as similar; compare. [Middle English liknen, from like, similar; see like2 the process of watching a kid watch a theatrical performance to watching a kid read,'' says Diane Namm, whose hourlong play ``Red Chief!'' is playing at Santa Monica's Promenade Playhouse. ``The child has to be engaged and will use his imagination. They bring their imagination, and they respond to characters in a way that's very similar to reading.'' Angelenos enjoy a myriad of live entertainment options for children of all ages -- from regular children's theater programming at the Falcon Theatre and Theatre West's Storybook sto·ry·book n. A book containing a collection of stories, usually for children. adj. Occurring in or resembling the style or content of a storybook: storybook characters; a storybook romance. Theatre, all the way up to Center Theatre Group's Performance for Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Youth (P.L.A.Y.), which produces plays appropriate for elementary-school audiences and teens alike. Companies like the Actors' Gang, the Geffen Playhouse The Geffen Playhouse (or the Geffen) is a not for profit performing arts theater in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Originally named the Westwood Playhouse, UCLA purchased the property in 1993. UCLA's then chancellor, Charles E. , Open at the Top and the Santa Monica Santa Monica (săn`tə mŏn`ĭkə), city (1990 pop. 86,905), Los Angeles co., S Calif., on Santa Monica Bay; inc. 1886. Tourism and retailing are important, and the city has motion-picture, biotechnology, and software industries. Playhouse routinely produce children's theater, many times on the same set as their mainstage offering, and venues like the Kodak Theatre The Kodak Theatre is a live theatre in the Hollywood and Highland retail, dining, and entertainment complex on Hollywood Boulevard and North Highland Avenue in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles. and Staples Center This article has multiple issues: * Its neutrality is disputed. * It may contain original research or unverifiable claims. * It does not cite any references or sources. bring in kid-friendly touring shows, often with ``... Live! or ``... On Ice!'' at the end of the title and based on a popular TV show or animated film. At many of these offerings, children squealing squeal v. squealed, squeal·ing, squeals v.intr. 1. To give forth a loud shrill cry or sound. 2. Slang To turn informer; betray an accomplice or secret. v.tr. , talking back, even occasionally roaming around the audience is expected and won't be disruptive to the actors on stage or to fellow audience members. After all, their kids are probably doing the same thing. By the time a child reaches the age of 7 or 8, however, parents who are theatergoers are often ready to start experimenting with more-sophisticated fare. With longer shows, audience expectations change, and ticket prices tend to climb. The pickings are especially plentiful this time of year. In addition to ``The Lion King,'' which arrives this weekend at the Pantages Theatre There are multiple venues named the Pantages Theatre: Canada
 This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling.You can assist by [ editing it] now. and a new dance piece from director/choreographer Debbie Allen. And of course, with the chillier weather comes a ``Christmas Carol'' or a ``Nutcracker'' on every corner. Which is most fitting? How much of it can your child -- or, for that matter, your pocketbook -- reasonably handle? ``There are some parents who will take their kids to almost anything at almost any age because they feel their children will absorb what is there for them to absorb and ignore what isn't,'' says Corey Madden, producing director for CTG's P.L.A.Y. program. ``I have a friend who takes her daughter just to the first act,'' she adds. ``Even my children, who are 10 and 15, sometimes just make it through the first act of plays. ... The best thing for parents to do is to try to see what their attention span is like.'' Open at the Top Productions at the NoHo Arts Center, is currently producing a two-hour, family-friendly version of Gilbert and Sullivan's ``The Pirates of Penzance'' set on Coney Island Coney Island (kō`nē), beach resort, amusement center, and neighborhood of S Brooklyn borough of New York City, SE N.Y., on the Atlantic Ocean. . Younger audiences have taken to it, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. artistic director James Mellon. And the upcoming children's show ``Yo Ho Ho, a Pirates Christmas'' -- performed on the same set -- will skew (1) The misalignment of a document or punch card in the feed tray or hopper that prohibits it from being scanned or read properly. (2) In facsimile, the difference in rectangularity between the received and transmitted page. younger. ``Children will tell you what scares them if you listen,'' says Mellon. Know the scare quotient early ``As a parent, you don't want to be sitting in the middle of something, and all of a sudden realize something is inappropriate. Then it's too late,'' says Mellon, who with partner Kevin Bailey Kevin Bailey may refer to:
tr.v. ter·ri·fied, ter·ri·fy·ing, ter·ri·fies 1. To fill with terror; make deeply afraid. See Synonyms at frighten. 2. To menace or threaten; intimidate. them in the animated movie weren't as frightening on stage. ``Nora was able to talk to me, to tell me they weren't scary in person, that you can tell they were actors,'' says Mellon. ``They loved `The Lion King,' so we took them to see `Tarzan,' and again they were not scared. I always try to see something first to decide if something is going to have too much excitement or too much stimuli.'' That progression -- from ``Beauty'' to ``Lion King'' and, if they're engaged, on to ``Tarzan'' and ``Mary Poppins'' -- is precisely the sequence through which Disney's theatrical branch hopes to break in new generations of theatergoers. Actually, the initiation can start even earlier for preschoolers who attend the touring ``Disney Live'' shows or via one of the 20- to 30-minute productions at one of the theme parks. For a ``transition'' experience like ``Beauty'' or ``Lion King,'' parents are urged to use the ``6 and over'' warning as a guideline, gauge their own child's patience and fright capacity, and act accordingly. ``The length of one of our Broadway shows is 2 1/2 hours to 2 hours and 45 minutes,'' says David Schrader David Schrader can refer to a number of people:
``There's no rating system for live theater,'' Schrader adds, ``but any of our shows would be what people would expect to come from the Walt Disney Noun 1. Walt Disney - United States film maker who pioneered animated cartoons and created such characters as Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck; founded Disneyland (1901-1966) Disney, Walter Elias Disney Co. It's more about being focused and being kind to yourself and to the people around you.'' In addition to season-long children's programing, the Falcon Theatre typically offers one or two full-length productions per season that kids and adults might both enjoy. As the theater's administrator of children's theater development, Joseph Leo Leo, in astronomy Leo [Lat.,=the lion], northern constellation lying S of Ursa Major and on the ecliptic (apparent path of the sun through the heavens) between Cancer and Virgo; it is one of the constellations of the zodiac. Bwarie writes or directs many of the fairy tales This is a list of fairy tales, the dates of their earliest known printed version, the author and, if known, the collection of tales in which it was published. It should be noted, however, that not all stories listed below would be categorized as fairy tales by a strict definition . As an actor and member of the Troubadour troubadour One of a class of lyric poets and poet-musicians, often of knightly rank, that flourished from the 11th through the 13th century, chiefly in Provence and other regions of southern France, northern Spain, and northern Italy. Theatre Company -- the clowning troupe in residence at the Falcon -- Bwarie participates in potential ``transition'' shows as well. ``It seems like once they get a couple of one-hour, no-intermission kids' shows under their belts, kids are hip to what they're going to,'' Bwarie says. ``They understand that they can participate and at the same time be witnesses to what's happening. ``Then at 8, 9, 10 at the latest, they're completely ready to sit there quietly, have the intermission and then come back. I see it all the time with the Troubadour shows.'' ``What you want to try to do is empower that part of young people to feel they are legitimately a partner in the live performing experience,'' adds Madden. ``They get really hooked in when they feel like they're part of it.'' Evan Henerson, (818) 713-3651 evan.henerson@dailynews.com Family-friendly fare A selection of upcoming theater and dance productions, family suitable, but not for all ages: Play: ``The Lion King'' Best for ages: 6 and older Where: Pantages Theatre Dates: Nov. 18-Jan. 7 Tickets: $15 to $87; (213) 365-3500, www.ticketmaster.com What it's about: Julie Taymor directs the live adaptation of the 1994 musical about Simba, Scar, Nala and Mufasa and the battle for the pridelands. Play: ``Edward Scissorhands'' Best for ages: 6 and older Where: Ahmanson Theatre Dates: Dec. 12-31 Tickets: $30 to $90; (213) 628-2772, www.taperahmanson.com What it's about: Director/choreographer Matthew Bourne (``Swan Lake,'' ``The Play Without Words'') adapts the Tim Burton film about a boy, stuck in suburbia. with shears where his digits should be. Play: ``Slava's Snowshoe'' Best for ages: 8 and up Where: Royce Hall, UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX campus Dates: Dec. 12-Jan. 7 Tickets: $42 to $68; (213) 365-3500, www.ticketmaster.com, www.uclalive.org What it's about: Music, clowning and plenty of the white fluffy stuff, starring Slava Polunin, who toured with Cirque du Soleil's ``Alegria.'' Play: ``The Bayou Legend'' Best for ages: 10 and older Where: UCLA's Kaufman Hall Dates: Dec. 13-21 Tickets: $15 to $38.50; (310) 825-2101, www.debbieallendance academy.com What it's about: Debbie Allen choreographs and directs this adaptation of Ibsen's ``Peer Gynt,'' set in a magical world of trolls, alligators and creatures of the bayou. Play: ``JACKson Frost: A Holiday Fable With Music by Jacksons A-Z'' Best for ages: 8 and older Where: Troubadour Theatre Comapany, Falcon Theatre Dates: Dec. 8-30 Tickets: $25 to $37.50; (818) 955-8101, www.falcontheatre.com What it's about: The story of Jack Frost told with music from every conceivable Jackson (Michael and brothers, Jackson Browne, you name it). Play: ``The Pirates of Penzance'' Best for ages: 8 and older Where: Open at the Top Productions, NoHo Arts Center Dates: Now through Dec. 10. Tickets: $15 to $35; (818) 508-7101, www.thenohoartscenter.com What it's about: Gilbert and Sullivan 1. William Schwenk Gilbert erson> and Sir Arthur Sullivan erson>, who collaborated on a number of light operas. See Gilbert. Noun 1. Gilbert and Sullivan - the music of Gilbert and Sullivan; "he could sing all of Gilbert and Sullivan" operetta operetta (ŏpərĕt`ə), type of light opera with a frivolous, sentimental story, often employing parody and satire and containing both spoken dialogue and much light, pleasant music. about a Pirate King, a ward and a Modern Major General is set on Coney Island in the 1930s. CAPTION(S): 5 photos, box Photo: (1 -- cover -- color) Kids' theater soars Choosing age-appropriate shows for the younger set (2 -- 4 -- color) Children look at a ``Peter and the Wolf'' poster before a performance at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank. The familiar story has been translated into a stage production. Disney's ``The Lion King,'' left, returns to the Pantages, and ``Edward Scissorhands,'' below left, comes to the Ahmanson's stage as a ballet choreographed by Matthew Bourne. Matthew Simmons/Special to the Daily News (5 -- color) Debbie Allen's ``The Bayou Legend,'' set in a magical world of trolls, alligators and creatures of the bayou, is recommended for ages 10 and up. Box: Family-friendly fare (see text) |
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