Bring on Some Theater

Okay, I am unbelievably bummed because Hairspray is at The Palace Theatre for one night only on January 27th at 7:30 pm.  My whole family loves the Hairspray movie (the more recent, remake one).  We’ve got the soundtrack memorized.  Yes, it’s not entirely appropriate for my kids–like when we all sing with Tracy, “won’t go all the way, but I’ll go pretty fa-har!”  Or when J started talking about “Negro Day”.  But when I saw that it was here live, I thought, we must go.  And then I realized that it’s at 7:30 on a school night the day after we return from our long weekend ski trip.  It’s simply not meant to be for us, much to my sorrow.

Wait a minute, you don’t go to the theater? Oh, come on, you have to go!  No, really, kids love it!  So what’s holding you back?

—My kids are too rowdy to sit still.  Umm, yeah, like the other kids watching Elmo are acting like sweet tranquilized angels.  Unless your kids keep standing up on their seats or won’t stop using their outside voices (or keep trying to torpedo a magic show), you’re golden!  If you’re really worried, choose something for the very youngest or a “school days” production:  these are packed with hyped-up kids on field trips.  I promise yours won’t be the worst one there.

—My child can’t miss the nap. A couple of these shows have a variety of start times from late morning to late afternoons.  Surely you can fit one in, and if you have a baby who’s on the two-nap schedule, pop the little dumpling in a sling or (if you prefer) nurse that child into placid acquiescence while it’s dark.

—It’s too expensive. Umm, do you go to the movies?  Well, do you? Many of these theaters have special deals if you purchase bundles of tickets or gather up a group to go with you.  And if you don’t even go to the movies. . . well, I’m sorry: that sucks.  I will tell you what’s free whenever I can.

So, here’s what’s showing in the next few weeks around here:

Steamer 10 Theater’s showing Charlotte’s Web from January 16th to the 31st.  There are shows at 10 am, 11 am, 1 pm, & 3 pm.

There’s a schooltime performance of Strega Nona at The Egg on Thursday, January 21, at 10:15 am.  It talks about arranging for school groups, but I just called the Egg Box Office and asked if it had to be a school group, or if it could be any group.  Any group, she says, but it’s geared toward children.  Well, duh.  It’s Strega Nona! Is there a minimum group number?  No, she says.  Woo, hoo!

Dan Zanes & Friends will be performing at The Egg on Saturday, January 23rd at 3 pm.

Not to be outdone by Hairspray in the category of spunky musical high school kids, Proctor’s Theatre will be showing Grease from January 26-31.

When Elmo Grows Up will be playing at The Glens Falls Civic Center on the 26th & 27th, and at The Palace Theatre from 1/29-1/31.  As if to accommodate every possible nap permutation, there are shows at 10:30 am, 1 pm, 4:30 pm, 5:30 pm, and 7 pm.  If you’re willing to go to “the late show” on opening night, there are cheaper tickets.

On Friday, February 5th at 10:30 am, a schooltime performance of The STEP Show will be playing at The Palace Theatre.  Groups of 10 or more can purchase tickets for only $8 each.

So, go see something fun!  And then let us know how it was.