SoCal kids & families, May 30-June 6: ‘The Little Mermaid,’ ‘The Muppet Movie,’ free concerts and more
SoCal kids & families, May 30-June 6: ‘The Little Mermaid,’ ‘The Muppet Movie,’ free concerts and more
Encourage your children to learn and grow with our curated list of fun, artsy and engaging events and activities in LA and OC this coming weekend and beyond
Welcome to a new edition of TV or Not TV’s curated guide to artsy, kid-centric and family-friendly events, activities and happenings all around LA and OC this weekend and beyond. I’m Matt Cooper, former listings coordinator for the Los Angeles Times’ Calendar.
Let’s have some fun!
Circus Vargas’ ‘Jubilé’ Acrobats tumble, aerialists soar and clowns caper and cavort under the big top as the veteran troupe swings back through SoCal in this all-new show. Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura. 7 p.m. Thursdays; 7:30 p.m. Friday; 1, 4 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 12:30, 3:30 and 7 p.m. Sunday; 6:30 p.m. Monday; thru June 3. $25-$80. (877) 468-3861. circusvargas.com
‘Music Under the Stars: Best of Broadway!’ The Pasadena Symphony and conductor Larry Blank are joined by the Donald Brinegar Singers, the JPL Chorus and guest vocalists for a night of classic show tunes in this free and family friendly outdoor concert that also features food trucks, activities for the kids and a pre-show performance by Bob Baker Marionette Theater. Pasadena City Hall, 100 Garfield Ave., Pasadena. Gates, 6 p.m. Saturday, June 1; puppet show, 7 p.m.; concert, 8 p.m. Free. RSVP at pasadenasymphony-pops.org
Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ Princess Ariel ditches the ocean for love in this stage adaptation of the 1989 animated musical based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale. La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada. Opening night, 8 p.m. Saturday, June 1; 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays, thru June 29; no 6:30 p.m. show June 2. $22-$129; discounts available; children under 3 not admitted. (562) 944-9801, (714) 994-6310. lamiradatheatre.com
‘Much Ado About Nothing’ Echo Theater Company’s Theater Truck rolls in with a free and family friendly 40-minute version of Shakespeare’s classic comedy. Ladera Park Amphitheatre, 4777 W. 62nd St., Windsor Hills. 5 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays, June 1 thru 9. Free. echotheatercompany.com
‘RuMBA Foundation Family Concert: Carnival of the Animals’ Long Beach Symphony and local guest artists put a contemporary, multicultural spin on the Saint-Saëns favorite in this offering that also includes kid-friendly pre- and post-concert activities out on the plaza. Long Beach Terrace Theater, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach. Concert, 3 p.m. Sunday, June 2; children, free; ages 18 and up, $20. Outdoor activities, 1 and 4 p.m., free for all. (562) 436-3203. longbeachsymphony.org
Free Community Block Party The Debbie Allen Dance Academy hosts this Juneteenth-inspired shindig featuring dance lessons, carnival rides, games, food trucks and more. Debbie Allen Dance Academy, 1850 S. Manhattan Pl., L.A. Noon to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 2. Free. debbieallendanceacademy.com
‘Dino Quest’ RAWR! The dinosaurs are back in an updated version of this exhibit featuring hands-on activities including a fossil excavation site. Discovery Cube Orange County, 2500 N. Main St., Santa Ana. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Included with museum admission ($17-$22). discoverycube.org
‘Fancy Nancy, The Musical’ The little girl with the very big personality is back in the return of this tune-filled tale based on the children’s books; for ages 4 and up; younger than 4 not permitted, except for relaxed performances. Chance Theater’s Cripe Stage, 5522 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim. 11 a.m., 1, 4 and 6 p.m. Saturdays; 1, 4 and 6 p.m. Saturdays; thru June 9; relaxed performances, 11 a.m. Saturday, June 1, and 1 p.m. Saturday, June 8. $31-$35. chancetheater.com
Butterfly Pavilion This exhibit featuring hundreds of butterflies flitting about in an outdoor netted enclosure returns for another season. Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd., Exposition Park, L.A. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily thru Aug. 25 (museum closed the first Tuesday of each month). $8 plus with museum admission ($8-$17; ages 2 and younger, free). nhm.org
‘Cinderella’ Someday her prince will come — and that day is today! — in Storybook Theatre’s family-friendly musical based on the classic fairytale. Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd. West, L.A. 1 p.m. Saturday, June 1. $15. (323) 851-4839. theatrewest.org
‘Dining with the Sultan at Charles White Elementary School’ LACMA serves up a kid-sized companion to the exhibit “Dining with the Sultan: The Fine Art of Feasting.” Also included: monthly hands-on arts & crafts workshops (RSVP required). Charles White Elementary School, 2401 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays, thru Aug. 10. Free. lacma.org
‘Wheels on the Bus’ Cart the wee ones on in for this interactive musical for toddlers, preschoolers and the grownups what brung them. Porticos Art Space, 2033 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena. 9 and 11 a.m. Saturdays-Sundays thru June 9, with two open-caption performances on June 9. $20; all attendees over the age of one must have tickets; floor seating on mats, limited bench seating available. (626) 356-7529. pasadenaplayhouse.org
‘Wild Things Are Happening: The Art of Maurice Sendak’ The beloved illustrator of such classic children’s books as “Where the Wild Things Are” is celebrated in this super-sized survey of paintings, drawings, toys and more; thru Sept. 1. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., L.A. Closed Monday. $8-$13; 2 and under, free; free on Thursdays. (310) 440-4500. skirball.org
‘Beauty and the Beast’ She’s swell, and he’s not so bad once you get to know him, in this kid-friendly stage show based on the classic fairy tale. Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 4th St., Santa Monica. 2 p.m. Saturdays, 12:30 p.m. Sundays thru July 28. $12.50, $15. (310) 394-9779. santamonicaplayhouse.com