Football games and pumpkin patches aren’t the only fun that fall brings! This time of year, theaters across Wisconsin are raising the curtain on dazzling new seasons.
From classical musicals to shows that bring favorite book, movie and television characters to life on stage, from major touring Broadway productions to community theater gems, we’ve picked a few shows sure to delight young theater-goers and their families.
Ever since Julie Andrews starred in the 1964 film, audiences have been delighted by the British nanny. The Broadway musical take on the movie translates the magic to the stage, which the Sun Prairie Civic Theatre brings to the Sun Prairie Performing Arts Center. October 4-13
He lives in a pineapple under the sea, but SpongeBob SquarePants heads to Overture Center in Madison, where he and his pals share the zany fun of life in Bikini Bottom. October 8-13
La Crosse Community Theatre takes the classic story of Annie, the plucky orphan in 1930s New York City, and presents it in a shorter production with young actors and audiences in mind at the Weber Center for the Performing Arts. October 11-13
This Tony Award-winning musical is based on Roald Dahl’s beloved 1988 novel about a five-year-old girl with the gift of telekinesis. Children’s Theater of Madison presents the show at Overture Center for the Arts. October 11-27
Join Peppa, George and their friends as they embark on a camping trip. Singing, dancing and life-size puppets and costumed characters take the charm of the animated show to the Riverside Theater in Milwaukee. October 19
The song our kids can’t stop singing is now a stage show, with Baby Shark and his friends going on adventures and singing their favorite tunes along the way at Milwaukee’s Riverside Theater. November 1
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
If you loved Roald Dahl’s famed 1964 book about a boy’s fantastical journey through Willa Wonka’s candy factory — or the 1971 and 2005 films it inspired — you’ll find the musical version a treat. The Papermaker Players Family Theatre presents the show in Kimberly in the Fox Cities. November 7-9
Milwaukee’s Skylight Music Theatre stages this hit Broadway musical about the newsboys who went on strike to protest unfair conditions in 1899 in New York City. November 15-December 22
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s thrilling musical has been enhanced with new special effects, lighting designs, staging and choreography, bringing extra drama to the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. December 4-15
The Monroe Theatre Guild presents this tale as old as time — about a young woman, a beastly prince and an enchanted castle — in southern Wisconsin. December 6-15
Buddy the Elf’s quest to find his father became a holiday classic when the movie was released in 2003. The La Crosse Community Theatre presents the delightful stage rendition at the Weber Center for the Performing Arts. December 6-22
Poppy, Branch and friends take to the Overture Center stage in Madison for a show packed with fun, songs, adventure and troll-tastic happiness. January 14-15
Audiences fell in love with lion cub Simba in the film version of the Lion King story, but the musical brings the characters and songs to life in vibrant new ways. Don’t miss the Broadway production’s tour as it comes to the Marcus Center in Milwaukee. February 5-March 1
What’s better than movie Frozen? Only a live stage version complete with all the beloved songs and five new ones! Eau Claire Children’s Theatre presents the show at the Pablo Center. February 14-16
Older kids will love this blockbuster Broadway musical, which tells the story of the girls who become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good in the Wizard of Oz. Catch it at Madison’s Overture Center. March 11-29
Children’s Theater of Madison presents the story of the famed boy who never wants to grow up and his Neverland adventures. March 14-21
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live
You’ll feel right at home with Daniel Tiger, Miss Elaina, Katterina Kittycat, Prince Wednesday and O the Owl as they celebrate Neighbor Day. The touring musical version of the PBS Kids show comes to Milwaukee’s Riverside Theater. March 29
Photo courtesy of Broadway Across America.