Bravo! If you love live theater, or have fond memories of watching the curtain rise as a child, you'll definitely want to pass on that wonder and appreciation to your own children. The hustle and bustle to get to your seat, the hush as the show begins and the delight of the curtain call are all time-honored traditions enjoyed by children and adults alike. St. Louis has plenty to offer families looking to experience the magic of live theater together. 

Imaginary Theatre Company
The Imaginary Theatre Company is the resident touring ensemble of The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. It provides theater performances geared toward young children staged both at the Lorretto-Hilton Center (The Rep's home base) and on tour through schools and community centers. Performances are short (under an hour) and tickets are inexpensive—just $6 plus a small ticketing fee—cheaper than a movie and a whole lot more fun! Their website provides practical information, such as recommended ages, show length and a link to buying tickets. Upcoming performances include "Chanticleer!" and "The Trail of Tears" (pictured at right).

Imaginary Theatre Company is located at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, 130 Edgar Road, Webster Groves, 314-968-7344.

COCA
COCA (Center of Creative Arts) has families in mind when it plans its fun annual Family Theatre Series. Started in 1990, the objective was to bring sophisticated, professional and thought-provoking performances from around the world to St. Louis families. Their high standards have resulted in season after season of one-of-a-kind live theater opportunities for every interest. Tickets, which range in price, can be bought as a series or individually. Multiple stagings during a show's run—sometimes two a day— make it easier to plan around naps and other obligations. All theatre-goers—even the smallest ones—require a ticket to COCA performances. Remaining productions for the season include "Holy Cow!" and Dan Zanes and Friends (pictured at right).

COCA is located at 524 Trinity Ave., University City, 314-726-6555.

Piwacket Theatre for Children
Piwacket Theatre captivates families with adapted fairy tales filled with music and dance. The company has used theater to highlight character education, delivering messages of respect, cooperation, kindness and tolerance to hundreds of thousands of children and their families. Remaining 2011 performances include "The Three Little Bears," "Goldilocks & The Three Bears," and the "Piwacket Puppet Jamboree." Individual tickets are $12 and children under 2 are free.

Piwacket Theatre is located at 2810 Sutton Blvd., Maplewood, 314-781-8300.

Stages St. Louis
In 2011, Stages will celebrate its 25th year of producing quality theatre. Known for its top talent (auditions are held in St. Louis and New York), Stages has been able to secure a reputation as one of the foremost not-for-profit theatre companies in the country. Single tickets go on sale April 4, 2011 and begin at $15. Family-friendly productions in this year's season include "101 Dalmatians" (pictured at right) and "The Secret Garden."

Stages St. Louis is located at 111 S. Geyer Road, Kirkwood, 314-821-2407.

The Muny is located in Forest Park at 1 Theatre Drive, St. Louis, 314-361-1900.

St. Louis Family Theatre Series
Held at the Florissant Civic Center, the St. Louis Family Theatre Series is perfect for families with young children. The performances last about 50 minutes, and include time for children to meet the performers after the show. Admission is just $7 per person, and productions include adaptations of beloved storybooks, including "Fancy Nancy," which will take the stage in March. Other shows this year have included "Peter Pan" (pictured at right).

St. Louis Family Theatre Series is located at the Florissant Civic Center, 1 James J Eagan Drive, Florissant, 314-921-5678.

Ovations for Young People, Washington University
Ovations for young people presents affordably priced—and family friendly—matinee shows by nationally and internationally recognized performing artists. The 2011 season, which will begin in the fall, has yet to be announced.

Ovations for Young People is located at Edison Theatre, 6445 Forsyth Blvd., St Louis, 314-935-6543.

Related Article: See Are Your Kids Ready for Live Theater?

After living and writing in St. Louis for almost 15 years, Meredith Boggess has plenty of good things to share about her adopted hometown. She and her husband recently welcomed their first daughter into their home on The Hill , and, despite the sleepless nights, they are still awash in that new parent glow. Contact Meredith at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Best Bets articles represent the views and the research completed by St. Louis Sprout & About journalists and are not driven by advertising or requests by vendors or venues. Best Bets do not imply an endorsement of a business or activity.

Add Comment