When in San Francisco, theater should definitely be at the top of your family’s to-do list. There are so many theater options for families, even those with young children. There’s really nothing like seeing a live performance, so it’s definitely something you’ll want your kids to experience from a young age. Plus, putting together a night of dinner and a family play or musical will leave your children with some truly unique childhood memories. Here are just a couple of places to find family theater in San Francisco:
San Francisco Children’s Theater Association
The San Francisco Children’s Theater Association presents performances at the Frances Gould Theater at the Legion of Honor Museum. It pays to be a museum member here as you can get a discount on your theater tickets! CTASF plays and musicals are probably one of the best ways to introduce little ones to theater. That’s because tickets are pretty affordable: just $12 each for Saturday performances, and free for kids who can sit on your lap for the duration of the show. Plus, the shows are only an hour long, which means even preschoolers can enjoy them without getting too worked up.
Many of the performances organized by this association are of fairy tales and classic fables. Recent past performances include Beauty and the Beast, Jack and the Beanstalk, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Rumplestiltskin. Other performances are based on more recent works, such as Stuart Little, Alice in Wonderland, and The Wizard of Oz.
This theater is also home to the Songbirds, a choir of women who sing classic and fun songs from the past in many performances. The Songbirds put on some performances that are family-friendly, though they aren’t aimed just at kids like the Children’s Theater Association shows are. Offering some of the best children’s theater in the Bay Area, this association is definitely worth a visit!
San Francisco Children’s Musical Theater
This is another San Francisco theater that is designed solely for children and families, making it a great place to be. The theater is first and foremost a way of educating children in the performing arts, and has many programs for children of all ages. The theater accepts children from all over the Bay for its auditions, and most of the children participate in its plays and musicals, which turn out to be excellent performances.
In order for your children to participate in a performance, you must commit to Saturday rehearsals and must also pay any necessary fees. There are fees that defray the cost of production, and each family is also responsible for paying for their own costumes. In addition, each family is responsible for selling twenty-five tickets for the show, which is usually not a problem.
The San Francisco Children’s Musical Theater is also a fun outing for kids who don’t necessarily want to be on the real stage. Just going to a musical that is for kids and made by kids can be a lot of fun for the whole family. This theater offers many different shows in a season, so your family is sure to find one that everyone will love.