In its 2016-2017 season, Boston Children’s Theater presented several productions for children under seven: Curious George and the Giant Meatball and The Velveteen Rabbit. Parents of young kids have come to rely on Boston Children’s Theater to introduce their children to theater, quite affordably.
The Velveteen Rabbit puppet by Marjorie Tudor of the Tasha Tudor family at the Boston Children’s theater
Unfortunately, the theater found itself embroiled in controversy this past spring with a questionable artistic decision to include full frontal nudity in a young adult production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. This sadly put a cloud over the theater and caused confusion among parents, who questioned whether the productions could be suitable for their kids. Add to this that Boston Children’s Theater has struggled to find a permanent home, and it’s safe to say that 2017 has been a rocky one for the theater.
Nevertheless, Boston Children’s Theater remains an important resource and training program for young thespians. While not the only game in town, it’s one of the most important. Its participants are fiercely loyal, and it’s thanks to them that it looks like Boston Children’s Theater has re-emerged and is back in form for the 2017-18 season.
Last season’s Curious George and the Giant Meatball was adorable and fun, with surprisingly good vocal talent. It was a light-hearted musical with one of my daughter’s classmates as George. We also thoroughly enjoyed The Velveteen Rabbit, which is back this year for its annual holiday production (review here).
Boston Children’s Theater: Curious George and the Giant Meatball from the 2016-2017 season. Photo courtesy BCT.
Take your kids this holiday season and enjoy live theater, especially if it’s for the first time. The productions are G-rated and appropriate for preschoolers. Boston Children’s Theater really is at its best when catering to its namesake audience.
Now playing for the holiday season (best for children 8 and under):
The Velveteen Rabbit (until December 17)
A Charlie Brown Christmas (until December 23)
For 2018:
Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat (February 10-25)
