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See Free Children's Shows Throughout October at Urban Stages
While the summer months are full of free outdoor shows, once fall arrives theater moves inside and ticket prices go from zero to unaffordable. That's why we were so excited to find out about Urban Stages' Outreach Octoberfest, a festival of FREE family performances that takes place throughout the month.
Urban Stages has a 20-year history of touring productions to local schools and libraries, and you can catch a bunch of those offerings over the next few weeks, including Blown Away by Poetry, which my daughter and I saw earlier this year at the New York International Fringe Festival and just loved. The lineup is quite diverse. In fact the only thing these shows seem to have in common is that they're all kid-friendly and educational. If that makes you roll your eyes, don't worry: From what I've seen, Urban Stages' shows are quite engaging and are as entertaining as they are enriching. Plus during this fest, you'll find interactive offerings for younger kids on the weekends, and more mature history-based productions for middle-schoolers on weeknights.
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Shows for Children Ages 4 to 10
Blown Away by Poetry
Sunday, October 14 at 1:30pm
My daughter and I saw this charming puppet musical a few months back about a poet who forgets how to pen verses. The show teaches kids about rhyming, alliteration and writing descriptively, and they even get to try out their new skills on stage. To this day my daughter loves to come up with alliterative sentences!
Harvest Moon
Sunday, October 14 at 3:30pm
Sisters Hortencia and Elvira Colorado share traditional Native American folktales.
Rhythm and Sound
Sunday, October 21 at 1:30pm
Drummer Rex Benincasa introduces kids to percussive instruments from all over the world, and then invites them on stage to try them out.
The Last Pinetree on Eagle Mountain
Sunday, October 21 at 3:30pm
In this eco-musical, an eagle and a pine tree become friends to save their environment.
Jessie and the Case of the Missing Candy
Sunday, October 28 at 1:30pm
A young sleuth solves a creepy case in this Halloween-themed musical. Afterward, kids are invited to stay for the theater's Halloween party featuring interactive activities and lots of treats.
Shows for Children Ages 9 and Up
All of these plays are about influential women of the past and present.
Sacagawea: Bird Women
Monday, October 22, Thursday, October 25 and Sunday, November 4 at 7:30pm
Williams S. Yellow Robe Jr., a member of the Assiniboine tribe, penned this play about the famous Native American woman who helped guide explorers Lewis and Clark on their famous transcontinental expedition.
Up and Up: The Dr. Mae Jemison Story
Tuesday, October 23 and Saturday, November 3 at 7:30pm
Learn about the title physician and NASA astronaut, who became the first African-American women to travel into outer space on the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992.
Warriors Don't Cry
Wednesday, October 24, Saturday, October 27 and Thursday, November 1 at 7:30pm
Today Melba Pattillo Beals is a journalist but back in 1957 she was one of Little Rock Nine, a group of African-American students who were the first to integrate Little Rock, Arkansas' Central High School. This play is based on her memoir of the same name.
Frida Liberada
Friday, October 26 and Monday, October 29 at 7:30pm
Just in time for the Day of the Dead, famous Mexican painter Frida Kahlo makes an appearance to talk about her life and cultural traditions.
All performances take place at the Urban Stages Theater, 259 West 30th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues. Tickets are FREE but donations are encouraged. Call 212-421-1380 for reservations.
Places featured in this article:
Urban Stages
