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Mary Chris
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| Posted: April 16 2007 at 6:19pm | IP Logged
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We have been to two plays this year and they were both a big disappointment. One of them was even at the Kennedy Center!
Why is it that plays geared for kids are full of potty humor? My kids were actually bored at the play we went to today, Alexander and the Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, and it is a favorite story around here.
Should we try family theatre instead of plays for school field trips?
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Blessings, Mary Chris Beardsley
mom to MacKenzie3/95, Carter 12/97 Ronan 3/00 and wife to Jim since 1/92
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cathhomeschool
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| Posted: April 16 2007 at 6:49pm | IP Logged
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We enjoy going to plays, but then the plays we choose to attend are based on great literature and picture books. In the last year we've seen Strega Nona (children's opera), The Hobbit, Peter Pan, The King and I, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. This week we will see a dramatic storyteller's performance of Beatrix Potter and next week we will see the play Alice in Wonderland. I would definitely say that these are all "family films." Mary Chris, I'm not sure what you mean by "family theatre." Do you mean productions that are family friendly, or are certain productions billed as "family theatre?" Sorry for my ignorance! 
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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Mary Chris
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Janette,
It is my ignorance! I think I meant community theatre, a production that has adults and children involved There is a local group doing the Miracle Worker this weekend maybe we will try that. I was just so disappointed in the two plays we have gone to see that are geared for field trips. I think I am just disgusted that companies are playing the potty humor up to children. I don't have to pay money or leave the house to expose my kiddos to potty humor.   And believe me we have plenty of drama around here. 
My children are invlolved with our support group drama club. They really enjoy learning their lines and performing. I was hoping to take them to a good performance to inspire them a bit. My dd9 said tonight at dinner he would like to see professional child actors perform the plays they have done.
It sounds like the performances you have been to have been great. Do you go during the school day or weekends?
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Blessings, Mary Chris Beardsley
mom to MacKenzie3/95, Carter 12/97 Ronan 3/00 and wife to Jim since 1/92
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cathhomeschool
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| Posted: April 16 2007 at 7:11pm | IP Logged
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marychris wrote:
| And believe me we have plenty of drama around here. |
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I literally laughed out loud at this. We have *plenty* of drama around here too, but none of us are involved in clubs or plays!
With the exception of the Strega Nona opera, all of the productions we've been to have had children in them. Some have been performed by only children/teens.
Midsummer Night's Dream and the Beatrix Potter storyteller are daytime things. The first was a homeschoolers performance. The second is meant for field trip groups. The opera was also for daytime field trips. The others have all been by local theatre companies on weekends or evenings. We are definitely picky about what we go see. I hope that you can find something suitable that you can all enjoy!
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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Mary Chris
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| Posted: April 16 2007 at 7:27pm | IP Logged
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I guess I need to do more research. Both times have been spur of the moment someone had extra tickets so we grabbed them type outings. I didn't think you could ruin Alexander and the ............
I will check out more of the community groups in our area. I was so disappointed after our trip to the Kennedy Center, it's the Kennedy Center for goodness sakes! I thought the caliber would be higher! But it was whiny puppets and actors.
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Blessings, Mary Chris Beardsley
mom to MacKenzie3/95, Carter 12/97 Ronan 3/00 and wife to Jim since 1/92
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Maryan
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| Posted: April 17 2007 at 7:34am | IP Logged
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Mary Chris,
I love a good play or musical!! But it's been hard going because the price of tickets, so I like to hit high school productions. I'm familiar with musicals, so I usually know which one will have the "potty humor" and avoid those. Also I've learned which high schools have good drama clubs and are worth going to see, etc.
Seton is involved with "Cappies" -- which is a high school musical/drama kind of organization. There is a "Capital Area" group. I think you can kind of tell the caliber of the play/musical based on the awards?? Of course, there are just musicals that are not worth seeing as well!!
Cappies has a link to the plays this season on their web page:
Capital Area Cappies
For anyone else, I believe "Cappies" are all over the country.
Just an idea.
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Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
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JennGM
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Mary Chris,
Unless you're familiar with the play itself, it might help to check out the play from the library and preview before you go.
Some local Catholic high schools have put on some good musicals and plays. We've been picky in the past and have had good luck in seeing plays, like "Charlie's Aunt" from Catholic U. But that was a long time ago.
There are local productions, like Manassas has some plays/musicals (I forget their name), I've been to something in Reston. Finding them isn't the problem, it's screening them for appropriateness.
You're not the only one who has been disappointed at times!
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Maryan
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For names to Jenn's references:
I think it's "Reston players" maybe? And Vpstart Crow productions use the Cramer Center in Manassas.
ETA: I think they have links too, but I'm running out right now. I'll try and find them later if someone else doesn't for you!
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Maryan
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donnalynn
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Marybeth
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We attend several times a year performances at our local community college. They are all geared for children. I have been very impressed the past two years. Our homeschooling group goes together,and we chose and pay for our performances over the summer.
Do you have a community college near you that offers anything like this? We have seen acrobats,magicians,plays,musical performances,etc.
Try to google the Children's Theatre of Nova Scotia. I don't know their exact email address...sorry. They travel Canada and the US for their performances. I have never been disappointed by their productions. This year they did a puppet show based on the Leo Lionni's books...it was outstanding!
Off to make dinner for "my boys"...t-ball season has begun.
Hope you find something more suitable in the future to see...plays are such a great way to learn and enjoy.
Mb
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CKwasniewski
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Sorry to hear you have had bad luck.
I took my kids to 2 Shakespeare (outside) productions last summer. They were enthralled!! -- and this is ages 7 and 4. Taming of the Shrew was cleaned up and shortened to an hour (NJ Shakespeare festival) and the WY Shakespeare festival put on a shortened version of Alls Well that ends well. My son has asked several times since then "when will we see another Shakespeare play?" He wanted to go again when we were back in NJ at Christmas.
There must be a VA area Shakespeare group.
Start with the best! Don't be afraid of The Bard even for littles, esp if you can find an outside performance.
hth
CK
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Meredith
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Yes, Frog and Toad is this weekend in our area, it's supposed to be great!! The dc love to see live productions!
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Meredith
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donnalynn
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CKwasniewski
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Donnalynn,
Yes! I remember that... at first I could not figure out what it was all about. What a clever way to solve the problem!
The other thing I liked, for my kids sake, was that the actors went through the audience several times, and even sat down in the audience once or twice--once, next to my boy!  That was a highlight! They really made it family friendly.
Shakespeare can really be made accessible without dumbing it down and the best companies know how to do that.
We are looking forward to another play this summer in WY.
CK
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Maryan
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Carter Baron in DC usually has a free Shakespeare show every summer?? Something is tricky about the tickets (I went when I was single!)
We're going to see Cinderella by R&H! As far as musicals go, it's no award winner -- but this will be the first musical for our 5 and 3 yo -- so it will be exciting just for that!
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Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
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Chari
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In Alexandria, there are many places for performing arts.
Check it out, Mary Chris! And this is only ONE town in your area!
I have more to write on this topic.....but no time........if worse comes to worse, I will talk to you about it in PERSON
Blessings....now, back to trip planning!
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Chari...Take Up & Read
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4Real Forums : The Arts in the Everyday
Topic: Do you go to plays?
