Dinosaurs, animals and Peanuts gang provide entertainment for whole family
What gets kids’ imaginations fired up? Dinosaurs, of course, which is one reason the upcoming Vancouver debut of National Geographic Live is exciting. Wild animals, Charlie Brown and friends, and Al Simmons are also surefire crowdpleasers among the younger set. (And don’t forget, Science World’s The Science Behind Pixar continues until Jan. 6, 2019.) The next few months offer plenty of entertainment options for families. Here are a few.
ALL MY FRIENDS ARE ANIMALS
When: Sept. 18-23
Where: Russian Hall (600 Campbell Ave.)
Tickets and info: $10, eventbrite.ca
Local companies Babelle Theatre (This, Here) and Axis Theatre (Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch) team up for this new work that features contemporary puppetry and masks. In All My Friends Are Animals, a teen named Jo tries to find her way back home after an encounter with a bear transports her into an alternate reality where all the humans are animals. “The written and the visual are both integral and equal components of the storytelling,” writes director Marie Farsi. “The performers seamlessly move from narrating and playing anthropomorphized animals, to building the dreamlike world with everyday objects from the set and manipulating shadow puppets.” With Babelle and Axis behind it, All My Friends Are Animals promises to be adventurous and entertaining. Ages 10+.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LIVE: SPINOSAURUS LOST GIANT OF THE CRETACEOUS
When: Oct. 10, 1 p.m. student matinee; 7 p.m.
Where: Orpheum Theatre
Tickets and info: from $14, at ticketmaster.ca
National Geographic Live comes to Vancouver for the first time with a presentation from emerging explorer Nizar Ibrahim. Ibrahim will talk about Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, the first semi-aquatic dinosaur and also the largest known predatory dinosaur. With behind-thescenes stories, images and footage, including video that recreates the lost world of the Cretaceous Era Sahara, the paleontologist narrates the story of the discovery, loss (following the Allied bombing of Germany during the Second World War), and eventual rediscovery of the Spinosaurus. Kids love dinosaurs, and the true-life adventures of Ibrahim should prove enthralling. The matinee is geared toward elementary school classes.
VSO KIDS’ KONCERTS: AL SIMMONS
When: Oct 14, 2 p.m.
Where: Orpheum Theatre
Tickets and info: $15.50-$30, boxoffice.vancouversymphony.ca
Al Simmons is celebrating 50 years of entertaining the kiddies with his musical hijinks. A one-man variety show, the Juno Award-winning Manitoba-based entertainer combines comedy with song, dance, magic, sight gags and, in this performance, a full orchestra. With half a century of performing behind him, Simmons knows how to hold short attention spans. The concert is part of the VSO’s Kids’ Koncerts series for children aged four to 11 and their families. An instrument fair in the lobby one hour before the concert lets children touch and play real orchestral instruments.
A CHARLIE BROWN HOLIDAY DOUBLE BILL
When: Nov. 24-Dec. 30
Where: Waterfront Theatre, 1412 Cartwright St.
Tickets and info: $12.50 to $25, tickets.carouseltheatre.ca
All ages will get a kick out of this Carousel Theatre for Young People double bill featuring two short plays based on the characters created by cartoonist Charles Schulz.
In You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, the Peanuts gang ponder Beethoven’s birthday, peanut butter sandwiches, and a school assignment.
And, in the perennial holiday sellout A Charlie Brown Christmas, Charlie tries to direct his friends in the school Christmas pageant.
These musical adaptations feature a live jazz trio and CTYP performers Andrew Cownden, Rebecca Talbot, Emilie Leclerc and Amanda Testini.