Did you experience one of the exciting sold-out shows of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in concert with the world renowned St. Louis Symphony last year? Don’t miss their performances of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban at Powell Hall this coming season. Audience members of all ages (that includes many date night concert goers!) view the complete films in high definition on a giant screen while the exquisite St. Louis Symphony performs the score live. See and hear how the music becomes a key character in these brilliant and memorable films.
Full bar, light snacks, desserts, and Butter Beer drink special are available at the performance and can be brought into the concert hall. Costumes are welcomed.
Be sure to get your tickets early. These performances will sell out! Questions? Call the box office, 314.534.1700.
Approximate run time is 3 hours and 8 minutes, including an intermission.
Justin Freer, Conductor
St. Louis Symphony Chorus
Amy Kaiser, Director
In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets™, cars fly, trees fight back and a mysterious house-elf comes to warn Harry Potter at the start of the second year of his amazing journey into the world of wizardry. Relive the magic of the film in high-definition on a giant screen as the St. Louis Symphony performs John Williams’s unforgettable score.
Approximate run time is 2 hours and 56 minutes, including an intermission.
Justin Freer, Conductor
St. Louis Symphony Chorus
Amy Kaiser, Director
In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban™, Harry, Ron and Hermione, now teenagers, return for their third year at Hogwarts, where they are forced to face escaped prisoner, Sirius Black, who seems to pose a great threat to Harry. Don’t miss the adventure and suspense on the big screen while the St. Louis Symphony performs John Williams’s magical score.
Here are some wonderful live performances to see with your family this winter in St. Louis. Charlotte’s Web, MOMIX, Seussical, the St. Louis Symphony, and Peter Rabbit Tales are sure to entertain!
January 15-17, 2016
Florissant Civic Center presents Charlotte’s Web A Theatreworks USA production
James J. Eagan Center
1 James J Eagan Drive, Florissant
Tickets $7
Call 314.921.5678.
Run time: Approximately one hour.
Theatreworks’ production of Charlotte’s Web is based on E.B. White’s loving story of the friendship between a pig named Wilbur and a little gray spider named Charlotte. Wilbur has a problem: how to avoid winding up as pork chops! Charlotte, a fine writer and true friend, hits on a plan to fool Farmer Zuckerman–she will create a “miracle.” Spinning the words “Some Pig” in her web, Charlotte weaves a solution which not only makes Wilbur a prize pig, but ensures his place on the farm forever. This treasured tale, featuring mad-cap and endearing farm animals, explores bravery, selfless love, and the true meaning of friendship. Read more about the production on Theatreworks USA’s site.
The irrepressible Moses Pendleton presents Alchemia, his new work for the dazzling dancer-illusionists of MOMIX. Just as he led audiences on a surreal journey through the four seasons in Botanica, Pendleton manipulates the four classic elements–earth, air, fire, and water–in Alchemia to produce a show about the art of alchemy, and the alchemy of art. A multimedia spectacle, Alchemia bursts with beauty, daredevil thrills and playful humor. It’s MOMIX at its most magical.
February 12-14, 2016
Florissant Civic Center presents Seussical the Musical A Theatreworks USA production
James J. Eagan Center
1 James J Eagan Drive, Florissant
Tickets $7
Call 314.921.5678.
Run time: Approximately one hour.
“Oh, the thinks you can think” when Dr. Seuss’s best-loved stories collide and cavort in an unforgettable musical caper! Adapted from the Broadway version, this adaptation especially for young audiences features thirteen actors and enhanced production values. Seussical is TheatreworksUSA’s biggest show ever.
The Cat in the Hat is the host and emcee (and all-around mischief-maker) in this romp through the Seuss classics. When the sweet, good-natured elephant Horton hears a small cry for help coming from a small speck of dust, he promises to rescue and guard it because “a person’s a person, no matter how small.”
On that small speck of dust lives JoJo, an imaginative young Who. JoJo has astounding “thinks,” in which anything’s possible, but his parents believe this creativity is inappropriate for the son of the Mayor of Who-Ville.
Meanwhile, the one-feathered bird, Miss Gertrude McFuzz, desperately wants Horton to notice her. Maybe, she thinks, she just needs a more impressive tail. At the same time, the amazingly lazy Maysie La Bird connives, cajoles and convinces Horton to sit on her egg while she goes off on a spree.
Will the planet of Who survive? Will Horton pay attention to Gertrude? Will Maysie ever return for her egg? Dr. Seuss’s beloved classic characters find themselves intertwined in an incredible crazy-quilt adventure, in which the power of imagination and the most miraculous “think” ever save the day! Read more about Seussical the Musical.
Take a journey through the eyes of a few of Shakespeare’s most adventurous characters. Magic and mischief will follow you as his exciting stories unfold before your eyes and ears. Through music and the ancient art of storytelling, children and families will connect with the language and themes of some of Shakespeare’s most popular plays in an immersive, theatrical celebration. Featuring Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and more.
“Once upon a time there were four little Rabbits, and their names were – Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail and Peter….” These famous opening lines of “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” have enchanted young audiences for over one hundred years with the exploits of a charming hero, who, going against his mother’s wishes, has adventures (and misadventures) in Mr. McGregor’s garden. Beatrix Potter created an instant classic with the little blue-coated rabbit who we recognize as both boy and rabbit, wild and civilized, and who has become an icon of childhood since he first hopped out of the pages of a story book and into children’s hearts. Enchantment Theatre Company is delighted to collaborate with Frederick Warne & Co. and Penguin Books UK to present the authorized theatrical version of Peter Rabbit™ Tales.
Meet Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny, Beatrix Potter’s beloved characters, as they escape from Mr. McGregor, outfox Mr. Tod and rescue the Flopsy Bunnies from the disagreeable badger, Tommy Brock. When Benjamin’s children disappear, he goes to his cousin, Peter Rabbit, to help him find the bunnies. But Peter thinks he’s had quite enough of adventure, remembering his youthful escapades in Mr. McGregor’s garden. As the cousins reminisce about their past adventures, their friends – Squirrel Nutkin, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, Jemima Puddle-duck and Mrs. Tittlemouse – gather to encourage Peter on this one last quest.
In celebration of Beatrix Potter’s 150th birthday anniversary, Enchantment Theatre brings her captivating stories to life. Using fantastic masks, whimsical puppets, gorgeous scenery and original music, the magical, marvelous World of Beatrix Potter™ comes alive on stage.
Top Photo: Mark Garvin, Enchantment Theatre Company
There are so many exciting live performances geared towards kids this Fall and Winter in St. Louis. Here are a few shows not to miss!
Note: Performances at the Florissant Civic Center are nationally touring productions, feature excellent artists, and are top rate experiences! Don’t be misled by the inexpensive ticket prices.
October 2-11, 2015 (Limited ticket availability) COCA presents wUNDERland Founders’ Theatre at COCA
524 Trinity Avenue, St. Louis
Tickets $16 to $20
Call 314.725.6555 or purchase online.
Run time: Approximately one hour.
Fall down the rabbit hole with this original dance production, created and choreographed by Anthony “Redd” Williams, that puts a hip-hop spin on Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland.” Experience the classic upside-down fantasy world through a whole new lens with dazzling costumes and cutting-edge choreography, led by the larger-than-life Mad Hatter and many more lovable, whimsical characters.
October 9-11, 2015
Florissant Civic Center presents Caps for Sale, the musical An Adventure Theatre MTC production James J. Eagan Center
1 James J Eagan Drive, Florissant
Tickets $7
Call 314.921.5678 or purchase online.
Run time: Approximately one hour.
“Caps! Caps for sale! Fifty cents a cap!” The cap peddler wears a huge stack of caps, balanced carefully on top of his head. Brown caps, blue caps, gray caps, and red caps. When no one buys a cap, he takes a nap under a shady tree. But, when he wakes up, the caps are gone! Was it bears, pirates, one thousand thieves, or a band of merry mischievous monkeys? Read more about the production.
October 21-November 1, 2015 The Fabulous Fox presents
Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical
The Fox Theatre
527 North Grand Boulevard, St. Louis
Tickets $25 to $88
Call 314.534.1111 or purchase online.
Run time: Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.
“Welcome to the deliriously amusing, heartwarming, head-spinning world of MATILDA THE MUSICAL. You won’t want to leave” says Bloomberg News. It’s Time Magazine’s #1 show of the year! Winner of 50 international awards, including four Tony Awards®, MATILDA THE MUSICAL is the story of an extraordinary girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny. Based on the beloved novel by Roald Dahl, MATILDA continues to thrill sold-out audiences of all ages on Broadway and in London’s West End. The Wall Street Journal says, “The makers of MATILDA have done the impossible – triumphantly! It is smart, sweet, zany, and stupendous fun.”
Celebrate Halloween with a spooktacular concert along with help from special guest, Luna the Bat. Luna will take you on a musical tour of all the wickedly wonderful animals that relish the night. Featuring Night on Bald Mountain from Fantasia and John Williams’ Hedwig’s Theme from the popular Harry Potter films. Presented in partnership with the Saint Louis Zoo.
10:00 to 10:30 am
Kota project (Pulitzer Arts Foundation)
At the Pulitzer, discover the hidden histories of Kota reliquary guardian figures, produced in Central Africa between the 17th and 20th centuries, and play an interactive digital game in the Pulitzer’s exhibition Kota: Digital Excavations in African Art.
10:45 to 11:15 am STL Improv Anywhere performance (CAM)
At CAM, enjoy face painting and help create a “Haunted Garden” mural made out of cardboard with artist Daniel Raedeke. STL Improv Anywhere will lead a performance, and the New Art in the Neighborhood high school art students will guide special art activities.
11:30 am to noon Uncle Albert performance (Sheldon Art Galleries)
At the Sheldon Art Galleries, enjoy crafts from 10:00 am to noon and a performance by acoustic group Uncle Albert at 11:30 am.
Epic story, pocket-sized proportions—seven actors share one tiny platform (just 3-by-7 feet of space!) and upon it an original Superman tale unfolds. Set in a fictional 2050 Metropolis with a remarkable resemblance to Chicago, this Theater Unspeakable production highlights imaginative, resourceful cast members who use only their bodies and voices to create every prop, scene, sound effect, and character in a battle between Superman and Lex Luthor.
November 22, 27, and 28, 2015
Florissant Civic Center presents Fly Guy and Other Stories A Theatreworks USA production
James J. Eagan Center
1 James J Eagan Drive, Florissant
Tickets $5.25
Call 314.921.5678.
Run time: Approximately one hour.
A new musical revue based on favorite children’s books. Book titles subject to change: Fly Guy Meets Fly Girl by Tedd Arnold, Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin, Fluffy the Classroom Guinea Pig by Kate McMullan, Horace & Morris But Mostly Dolores by James Howe, Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes, Lilly’s Big Day by Kevin Henkes and Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch. Read more about the production on Theatreworks USA’s site.
Photo by Rachel Brandt
December 19-23, 2015
Imaginary Theatre Company presents The Elves and the Shoemaker Heagney Theatre at Nerinx Hall High School 530 East Lockwood Avenue, Webster Groves
Tickets $7
Call 314.968.4925.
Run time: Approximately 50 minutes.
When a kindly shoemaker gives his only remaining pair of shoes to a cold and hungry beggar woman, he finds his good deed rewarded in unexpected ways. The shoemaker is shocked by the appearance of magic elves who turn his simple shoe shop into a great success, thrilling customers with their special creations. Based on the tale by the Brothers Grimm, this beloved, warm-hearted story is perfect for the holiday season, reminding us that where we find kindness, generosity and hope, anything is possible.
January 2-3, 2016
St. Louis Symphony presents Ratatouille in Concert
Powell Hall
718 North Grand Boulevard
Tickets $35 to $65
Call 314.534.1700 or purchase online.
Savor the tale of a determined young rat with a cultivated palate who gets an unlikely chance to do what he dreams of most—cook in a French restaurant in Paris. In a hilarious chain of events that turns the City of Lights upside down, he achieves his dream with his good pal Linguini. Bring the whole family to experience the Academy Award-winning film Ratatouille on the big screen while the beloved score by composer Michael Giacchino is performed live by the St. Louis Symphony. Learn more about the production.
January 15-17, 2016
Florissant Civic Center presents Charlotte’s Web A Theatreworks USA production
James J. Eagan Center
1 James J Eagan Drive, Florissant
Tickets $7
Call 314.921.5678.
Run time: Approximately one hour.
Theatreworks’ production of Charlotte’s Web is based on E.B. White’s loving story of the friendship between a pig named Wilbur and a little gray spider named Charlotte. Wilbur has a problem: how to avoid winding up as pork chops! Charlotte, a fine writer and true friend, hits on a plan to fool Farmer Zuckerman–she will create a “miracle.” Spinning the words “Some Pig” in her web, Charlotte weaves a solution which not only makes Wilbur a prize pig, but ensures his place on the farm forever. This treasured tale, featuring mad-cap and endearing farm animals, explores bravery, selfless love, and the true meaning of friendship. Read more about the production on Theatreworks USA’s site.
The irrepressible Moses Pendleton presents Alchemia, his new work for the dazzling dancer-illusionists of MOMIX. Just as he led audiences on a surreal journey through the four seasons in Botanica, Pendleton manipulates the four classic elements–earth, air, fire, and water–in Alchemia to produce a show about the art of alchemy, and the alchemy of art. A multimedia spectacle, Alchemia bursts with beauty, daredevil thrills and playful humor. It’s MOMIX at its most magical.
February 12-14, 2016
Florissant Civic Center presents Seussical the Musical A Theatreworks USA production
James J. Eagan Center
1 James J Eagan Drive, Florissant
Tickets $7
Call 314.921.5678.
Run time: Approximately one hour.
“Oh, the thinks you can think” when Dr. Seuss’s best-loved stories collide and cavort in an unforgettable musical caper! Adapted from the Broadway version, this adaptation especially for young audiences features thirteen actors and enhanced production values. Seussical is TheatreworksUSA’s biggest show ever.
The Cat in the Hat is the host and emcee (and all-around mischief-maker) in this romp through the Seuss classics. When the sweet, good-natured elephant Horton hears a small cry for help coming from a small speck of dust, he promises to rescue and guard it because “a person’s a person, no matter how small.”
On that small speck of dust lives JoJo, an imaginative young Who. JoJo has astounding “thinks,” in which anything’s possible, but his parents believe this creativity is inappropriate for the son of the Mayor of Who-Ville.
Meanwhile, the one-feathered bird, Miss Gertrude McFuzz, desperately wants Horton to notice her. Maybe, she thinks, she just needs a more impressive tail. At the same time, the amazingly lazy Maysie La Bird connives, cajoles and convinces Horton to sit on her egg while she goes off on a spree.
Will the planet of Who survive? Will Horton pay attention to Gertrude? Will Maysie ever return for her egg? Dr. Seuss’s beloved classic characters find themselves intertwined in an incredible crazy-quilt adventure, in which the power of imagination and the most miraculous “think” ever save the day! Read more about Seussical the Musical.
Photo at top: Joan Marcus for Theatreworks USA, Seussical
Photo above: Scrap Arts Music, by Anneke Janissen.
Experience the magic of live theater with your family this Fall and Winter! Musicals, favorite books brought to the stage, acrobats, circus performers, a world famous symphony, truly unique percussionists, and more are ready to inspire and entertain you. Also be on the lookout for a vivid demonstration of what a whole lot of practice, perseverance, and passion can create.
Stanley Lambchop is your ordinary, everyday, run-of-the-mill ten-year-old: normal Mom and Dad, normal little brother, normal life. That’s just the problem… for Stanley, life is too normal. He wants to travel the world, do something amazing, something no one’s ever seen before. Careful what you wish for, Stanley! One night, the bulletin board on the wall above Stanley’s bed comes loose and falls right on top of Stanley. The next morning, Stanley Lambchop wakes up flat. Not just a little flat… really, REALLY flat! In a whirlwind musical travelogue, Stanley, the ultimate exchange student, scours the globe for a solution to his unusual problem. He’s stamped, posted, and canceled from Hollywood to France to Honolulu and beyond. And whether he’s thwarting a robbery at the Louvre Museum in Paris, or “hanging ten” off the coast of Hawaii, Stanley is closing in on his goal of being a three-dimensional boy once more. Approximate run time is one hour.
NOVEMBER 2014
Stella, Queen of the Snow
A Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia Production November 22-23, 2014 COCA, 524 Trinity Avenue, St. Louis Tickets $14 to $18
Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia, creator of Guess How Much I Love You… (COCA, 2013) and Treasured Stories by Eric Carle (COCA, 2012), has joined forces with popular Stella and Sam author Marie-Louise Gay in a new stage adaption of the beloved storybook, designed especially for young children integrating imaginative puppetry and striking scenic effects. Stella, Queen of the Snow is a delightful romp in the snow with Stella and Sam as they discover the world of winter together. Approximate run time is one hour.
“Cows that type? Hens on strike! Whoever heard of such a thing!” Farmer Brown cries. When his granddaughter Jenny comes for a visit, Farmer Brown declared the farm a “tech-free zone.” He confiscates her laptop in the cold barn along with the shivering cows who use her computer to type messages requesting blankets. “No way,” replies Farmer Brown. “No blankets!” So the cows go on strike and the chickens join them in solidarity. No blankets: no milk, no eggs! Will Farmer Brown give in to the animals’ demands? Will Jenny get her computer back? Find out in a hilariously “mooooo-ving” new musical about negotiation and compromise. Based on the Caldecott Honor book by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin. Approximate run time is one hour.
DECEMBER 2014
Annie National Touring Production
December 2-7, 2014
The Fabulous Fox Theatre
527 North Grand Boulevard, St. Louis
Tickets $25 to $75
Leapin’ Lizards! The world’s best-loved musical returns in time-honored form. Directed by original lyricist and director Martin Charnin and choreographed by Liza Gennaro, this production of Annie will be a brand new incarnation of the iconic original. Featuring book and score by Tony Award®-winners Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse, and Martin Charnin, Annie includes such unforgettable songs as “It’s the Hard Knock Life,” “Easy Street,” “I Don’t Need Anything But You,” plus the eternal anthem of optimism, “Tomorrow.” Approximate run time is 2 hours and 30 minutes.
The entire family is sure to enjoy this colorful and acrobatic adventure. Direct from Beijing, The National Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China was founded in 1951 and has been one of the most acclaimed acrobatic troupes in China. Over several generations, the company has developed many unique acrobatic acts like “Global Motorcycling,” “Kicking Bowls to Heads on High Unicycles,” “Russian Bars in Chinese Traditional Style,” “Chinese Poles in Shaolin Style,” “Diving through Moving Hoops,” “Aerial Bungee Tumblings,” and “Aerial Tissue Flowers.” These acts have been praised by Chinese and foreign audiences for decades. Approximate run time is two hours.
Mr. Scrooge throws his TV remote at ghosts while Bob Cratchit works inside the ATM in this hilarious modern update of a beloved holiday classic. Travel with the three spirits on a journey through past, present, and future as old Ebenezer learns the joys of kindness and giving. Can Christmas be saved for the Cratchits? You’ll find out in this musical romp that is sure to put a smile on the “Scroogiest” of faces. Adapted from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Approximate run time is 45 minutes.
Circus Flora: A Winter Fable St. Louis Symphony
December 13-14, 2014
Powell Hall, 718 North Grand Boulevard
Tickets $25 to $65
Circus Flora joins the St. Louis Symphony in high-wire holiday fun for the family. A Winter Fable is a classic fairy tale with an edge of romance and deceit. Circus Flora imagines a strange and wonderful world, in which the pairing of symphony and the circus arts is only the beginning of the magic you will experience. See your favorites including the gravity-defying Flying Wallendas and much, much, more. It’s Christmas, with a circus twist! Approximate run time is one hour and 50 minutes.
Pixar in Concert
St. Louis Symphony
December 27-28, 2014
Powell Hall, 718 North Grand Boulevard
Tickets $30 to $65
Watch as all your favorite characters come to life on the big screen as the St. Louis Symphony performs music from 14 Pixar films including Toy Story, Brave, Cars, Monsters, Inc., and more. Fun for both the young, and the young at heart! Steven Jarvi, conductor. Approximate run time is two hours.
JANUARY 2015 Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse
An Omaha Theatre Company Production
January 16-18, 2015
Florissant Civic Center Theatre, 1 James J. Eagan Drive, Florissant
Tickets $7
Lilly loves everything about school, especially her cool teacher, Mr. Slinger. When he confiscates her prized possession, a purple plastic purse that plays music, joy turns to misery. Lilly, who is used to being the brightest and loudest mouse around, will also have to get used to sharing the spotlight with her new baby brother in this charming adaptation of Kevin Henkes’s award-winning children’s book. Gripped with anger after losing her purse, Lilly draws a mean portrait of Mr. Slinger and hides it in his book bag. When she gets her purse back and opens it outside of school, she finds a surprising note: “Today was a difficult day. Tomorrow will be better.” Suddenly wracked with guilt, Lilly sets out to make up with her teacher, but villainous bicycle-riding bullies, a spotlight-stealing baby brother, and the dreaded “uncooperative chair” will test our heroine’s resolve. Approximate run time is one hour.
Maestro Steven Jarvi and a special guest will lead demonstrations of sound waves and sound creation in the various instruments of the orchestra. Featured works include Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man, Beethoven’s The Creatures of Prometheus Overture, selections from Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and more! Approximate run time is 45 minutes.
BARTÓK, Romanian Folk Dances
BEETHOVEN, The Creatures of Prometheus Overture
COPLAND, Fanfare for the Common Man
MENDELSSOHN, Scherzo from A Midsummer Night’s Dream
BRITTEN, Playful Pizzicato from Simple Symphony
BEETHOVEN, Fourth Movement from Symphony No. 7 in A major
Photo: Conductor Steven Jarvi, by David Bickley.
The Muny Kids: Broadway Here I Come Saturday, January 31, 2015 at 11 am
Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Boulevard, St. Louis
Tickets $5 to $12
The talented Muny kids and teens take you on a musical journey to the “Great White Way” with favorite Broadway songs, old and new. The Muny is a St. Louis institution, bringing musical theater to life every summer for over 90 years. Approximate run time is one hour.
Take some old bike parts, shiny construction salvage, PVC pipes, and other recycled odds and ends. Add five hyperactive hipsters and a dozen drumsticks, and the result is a dizzying barrage of beats. Vancouver-based ensemble Scrap Arts Music bounces around on stage with a combination of gymnastic agility and percussive drive. They alternate between hitting, moving, and bowing their instruments. The choreography is intricate and eye-catching! Approximate run time is one hour.
Actor Michael Boudewyns will perform in The Life and Times of Beethoven concert on September 29 at 3 pm.
Looking for fun and child friendly live classical music performances, a world famous orchestra, and a child’s ticket price that starts at $8? Are you a newbie to classical music and want to explore the genre in a more relaxed setting?
Here’s the perfect opportunity!
The St. Louis Symphony kicks off its 2013-2014 Family Concert Series on Sunday, September 29, 2013 at 3 pm with The Life and Times of Beethoven–a creative look at the composer’s life, his powerful music, and his iconic Fifth Symphony. The 45 minute concert, geared for 5 to 10 year old children and their families, features the St. Louis Symphony’s new Resident Conductor Steven Jarvi and actor Michael Boudewyns (co-founder of the storytelling group, Really Inventive Stuff). In addition to marveling in Beethoven’s music, audience members can learn how the composer channeled his life’s hardships into musical works of genius.
Be sure to arrive a little early before the performance to enjoy the Instrument Playground. Staffed by friendly Symphony volunteers, the Instrument Playground offers kids a chance to try out different instruments from each of the music families.
Choose Your Symphonic Adventure: Sunday, March 9, 2014 at 3 pm This interactive journey through the history of classical music will let the audience pick the program! The concert will feature iconic works from Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, and many more.
Ticket Information
Tickets to the Family Concerts are $8 to $11 for children and $12 to $19 for adults. Call 314.534.1700, purchase tickets online, or visit the box office at 718 North Grand Boulevard. Discounted season subscriptions to all four concerts in the Family Concerts Series are still available by calling 314.534.1700.
The concerts are based on Dylan Thomas‘s poem, “A Child’s Christmas in Wales.” Alastair Willis conducts this entertaining concert with a circus twist. The performance is approximately two hours long with one intermission.
Friday, December 14, 2012 at 7 pm
Saturday, December 15, 2012 at 7 pm
Sunday, December 16, 2012 at 2 pm
Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis Tickets $35 to $80
For more information or to purchase tickets by phone, call 314.534.1700.
Have you and your child experienced Baby Got Bach yet? This entertaining and high quality production returns to St. Louis on Saturday, November 24, 2012 at 10:30 am, Centene Plaza, 7700 Forsyth Road. Baby Got Bach is a classical music interactive event for 3 to 6 year olds founded by internationally known pianist Orli Shaham.
The first 30 minutes of Baby Got Bach features Backstage Up Front in the lobby area, where children can explore real instruments, learn about sound, and meet musicians from the St. Louis Symphony. Immediately following in the performance hall, audience members sing familiar songs, play rhythm sticks and small percussion instruments (this is a bit of the “get out the wiggles” portion of Baby Got Bach), and hear a chamber music concert. The concert portion features pianist Orli Shaham, St. Louis Symphony percussionist Thomas Stubbs, and other St. Louis Symphony musicians.
The Baby Got Bach performance is FREE, but advance reservations are strongly recommended. Online reservations can be made starting on Monday, November 12, 2012 at noon. All the spots for previous St. Louis performances were filled within one or two days, so be sure to plan ahead! Seating is limited. Walk-ins without reservations may be admitted, space permitting.
Tips
* Paid parking is available at the Centene Plaza garage. Street parking is free and fairly ample on Saturdays.
* The program runs from 10:30 am to about 12:10 pm, so it is prime snack or lunch time for many young children. The format is casual, so feel free to take your child out to the lobby for a break or snack if she/he needs it.
* The concert will include music by living composers. This is a great opportunity to point out how all the music we hear everywhere in movies, television, commercials, games, etc… is written by someone and how kids can learn how to compose music too.
About Orli Shaham, Artistic Director, Host, and Pianist
Orli Shaham got an early start in her music career. She began playing piano at age four, and got her first music scholarship when she was five. Just a couple years later, she began her studies at The Juilliard School with Herbert Stessin. That was the beginning of a flood of prestigious performances and awards, launching her international career. Ms. Shaham has performed with many of the world’s great orchestras and has been lauded for her recitals at Carnegie Hall, the 92nd Street Y, and Lincoln Center, as well as many other renowned concert halls around the globe. Ms. Shaham has 5 year old twins Nathan and Alex and college-age stepsons Peter and Jonathan. She lives in St. Louis and New York with her husband, St. Louis Symphony music director David Robertson.
Photo by Jennifer Lin.Backstage Up Front at Baby Got Bach, with St. Louis Symphony cellist Bjorn Ranheim, February 2012.
Do you want to introduce your child, friend, or relative to the world of classical music and the sounds of an orchestra? Are you just interested in learning about classical music from a world class symphony in an informal setting without a big ticket price? The St. Louis Symphony’s Family Concerts Series is for you.
The series kicked off in October with an entertaining performance of Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham, brought to life by the Really Inventive Stuff theater group. Be sure to experience the remaining Family Concert Series performances with your family (recommended age for children is 5 to 12, but mature preschoolers may be fine) or on your own. Performances are approximately 45 minutes to one hour long.
Have fun at the “Instrument Petting Zoo” in the Wightman Grand Foyer one hour prior to the concerts. Children can try out instruments from each of the music families. Symphony volunteers will be on hand to help in this very up close and personal musical experience. Kid friendly refreshments and drinks are also available at concessions.
FAMILY CONCERTS
Hip Hop Symphony Presented in partnership withCOCA(Center of Creative Arts) Sunday, November 4, 2012 at 3 pm
Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63103
Tickets $12 to $17
Learn about music form (e.g. canon, fugue, theme and variations) in this innovative program pairing hip hop choreography by COCA’s Redd Williams with classical favorites performed by the St. Louis Symphony. When the dancers take the stage, you’ll see the visual and physical representation of what you’re hearing.
Benjamin Britten’s classic The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra gets a new spin with the addition of dancers fromDanceWorks Chicago. Watch as the orchestra comes together section by section before your eyes. This dynamic partnership makes for a magical experience where the whole is much larger than the sum of its parts. If you’re a fan of dance this is a great performance to see!
Poor Farkle McBride tries every instrument, but not one of them is quite right. Brian Owens narrates the popular children’s book by John Lithgow and illustrations from the book are projected on a screen behind the orchestra. Join Farkle McBride on a journey to find his place in the orchestra and learn about the different instrument families along the way. The first half of this concert features interactive performances by the St. Louis Symphony in which kids can clap and sing along!
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban™
October 25, 2015 at 3 pm
October 31, 2015, 10 am to noon
