Two productions to entertain your whole family

The House Theatre is currently performing a wonderful play called Rose and the Rime, a modern myth for the middle west. Set in the town of Radio Falls, Rose leads a charmed childhood in a town cursed by eternal winter. As Rose grows up, she wants to learn more about her parents and why it is always winter in Radio Falls. When her uncle tells the story, Rose decides to set off on a journey that leads her to a truth she might not want to find.

This is a beautifully acted and produced play. Designed for children 6 and older, it’s also a great play for the whole family to see together. It’s not a children’s story, but it’s a story children will understand. If you want to learn more before deciding to take your children, there’s a well-written Parent’s Guide which includes information about the show, scary parts and things children might question.

Rose and the Rime runs 85 minutes with no intermission, Thursday through Sunday, through March 23.  You can find more information about ticket availability at the box office.

The poster for Schoolhouse Rock Live! says, “the beloved cartoon live on the musical stage.” It’s an apt description for a  musical that’s part entertainment and part education. For parents, Schoolhouse Rock Live! is a trip down memory lane when Saturday mornings meant watching cartoons in pajamas with Schoolhouse Rock airing between shows. For kids, it was a fun way to learn multiplication tables and the U.S. Constitution preamble. (And, really, when someone mentions the preamble, we all sing it in our heads just like we learned in on Schoolhouse Rock.)

This one-hour show is great for families with children of all ages. By the end of the production, the parents will re-live part of their childhood while making fun memories with their own children. The Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre does a great job with its Theater for Young Audiences. The productions use the theater-in-the-round type space masterfully, with the aisles acting as side stages when needed.

Schoolhouse Rock Live! runs 60 minutes with no intermission through May 4. You can find more information about show times and tickets at the Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre website.

Disclosure:  I did receive media passes to review Rose and The Rime. My words and opinions are my own.