The Happy Elf is playing at First Stage Children's Theater, on Saturday afternoon I attended the show with my husband and daughter. WE LOVED IT! The music and lyrics are by Harry Connick Jr., bringing a jazzy and bluesy feel to the show. We fell in love with Eubie and all of the elves. The show is playing through December 18th, and First Stage's website provided the following synopsis:

There's no such thing as an unhappy elf, so when Eubie finds himself in Bluesville, his elf-ness is put to the test as he is determined to make the naughty town smile in time for Christmas. Eubie's enthusiasm will not be denied as he embarks on his quest to raise a Christmas Tree in the Town Square. This heart-warming holiday musical from Harry Connick, Jr. warmly captures the joy of the season.

The Happy Elf (a holiday special in cartoon) will also be playing on NBC on December 2nd, according to www.thehappyelf.com. Of course, I still recommend seeing the theater performance, of all the First Stage shows I've seen, this was by far the best show.

Saturday afternoon my family and I attended the matinee performance of Charlotte's Web at First Stage Children's Theater. The cast that performed was The Radiant cast, and they were amazing! I particularly liked the lamb, and Templeton the rat, oh and the goose too! I would highly recommend this play, which runs through November 16th. There were plenty of open seats, both on the main floor and in the balcony -- I'm sure that you could walk up and purchase last minute tickets if you wished.

As a subscriber to First Stage Children's Theater, I've received three complimentary tickets to You Bug Me! for Saturday, October 25th at 7 p.m. I'm unable to use these tickets, therefore I'm offering them to the first person who'd like them. (My email address is in the sidebar.)

This is a New Play Workshop, and I've included information from the First Stage website to explain what that means, as well as what You Bug Me! is about.

The New Play Workshop features readings by our talented Theater Academy students. Following each performance, there will be an extended talk-back where we welcome and value your input. Your opinions are crucial and we would love to hear what you think about plays being considered for our main stage.

All performances are in the Youth Arts Hall at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center – 325 W. Walnut St.
Tickets may be purchased at the door for $5. Subscribers have received their complimentary tickets to the New Play Workshops in their season ticket materials. Seating is general admission and limited, so please plan on arriving early.

YOU BUG ME!
Saturday, October 25, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Recommended Ages 6+

Pico the fly and Estavan the Earwig are best friends, but their desire to win the Super Soil contest threatens to tear them apart. Laughs abound in this lively new musical set amongst a world of insects.

This year we have season tickets to First Stage Children's Theater. We attended our first performance yesterday afternoon, Giggle, Giggle Quack. In a word, it was fantastic! If you are a fan of the Duck and Farmer Brown series by Doreen Cronin, you'll surely enjoy it as well. If you haven't read any of Cronin's Duck books (Duck for President and Click, Clack, Moo, Cows That Type to name a couple), you are missing out on the mischievous barn animals and their note writing abilities. The play was adapted by James E. Grote, with music and lyrics by George Howe.

Imagine back to when you were a kid, left in the care of a babysitter, and all the wild things you'd convince your sitter that it was okay to do. Ice cream and popcorn before bed? YES! Staying up late to watch television? Of course! My parents always let me! 

Farmer Brown goes on vacation and leaves Duck, Hen, Pig, and Cow with his brother Bob. Bob, who is from the city, is extremely guillable and not only does he order pizza for the animals, he also hands out electric blankets to them. One morning Duck forgot to change the note that Farmer Brown left and the animals race across the barn yard in slow motion while the theme to Chariots of Fire plays. Will they get to the note in time? You'll have to see for yourself, the play runs through October 19th and my family highly recommends it.