Upcoming family-friendly performances at major Valley arts venues

By
RAK Staff
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Oct. 6-8: Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live at the Mesa Arts Center. Photo courtesy of Erth Dinosaur Zoo Live.
Oct. 6-8: Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live at the Mesa Arts Center. Photo courtesy of Erth Dinosaur Zoo Live.

It’s theater season! Valley arts venues recently released their upcoming schedules for 2016-17. Here are some of the family-friendly performances on our radar through the end of the year and early 2017. It’s a great time to get out the family calendar and make some notes!

ASU Gammage

1200 S. Forest Ave., Tempe • 480-965-3434 • asugammage.com

  • “Sound of Music,” Oct. 18-24
  • Mannheim Steamroller Christmas, Dec. 27
  • The Illusionists — Live From Broadway, Jan. 17-22
  • “Matilda the Musical,” Feb. 7-12
  • “Finding Neverland,” March 14-19
Oct. 2: “Octonauts Live” at Comerica Theatre. Photo courtesy of Vampire Squid Productions Ltd.
Oct. 2: “Octonauts Live” at Comerica Theatre. Photo courtesy of Vampire Squid Productions Ltd.

Chandler Center for the Arts

250 N. Arizona Ave. • 480-782-2680 • chandlercenter.org

  • “Julie Madly Deeply,” Oct. 28
  • “Nutcracker,” presented by Ballet Etudes, Nov. 25
  • “The SnowCat,” Dec. 10
  • ZoppĂ© — An Italian Family Circus, Dec. 27
  • “Drumline Live,” Jan. 28
  • “Beauty and the Beast,” presented by Ballet Etudes, April 29

Comerica Theatre

400 W. Washington St., Phoenix • 602-379-2800 • comericatheatre.com

  • “Octonauts Live!” Oct. 2
  • “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” Oct. 22

Herberger Theater Center

222 E. Monroe St., Phoenix • 602-254-7399 • herbergertheater.org

  • Festival of the Arts, Nov. 5
  • “Snow Queen,” produced by Center Dance Ensemble, Dec. 3-18
  • “A Christmas Carol,” presented by Arizona Broadway Theatre, Dec. 10-24
  • “Fiddler on the Roof,” presented by Arizona Theatre Company, Jan. 6-9

Higley Center for the Performing Arts

4132 E. Pecos Road, Gilbert • 480-279-7194 • higleyarts.org

  • “Bob and Bing’s Road to Victory,” Nov. 11
  • Bee Gees Gold — Bee Gees Tribute, Nov. 13
  • Tim and Myles, Nov. 20
  • A Christmas Together, Dec. 10
  • “The Nutcracker,” presented by Southwest Youth Ballet, Dec. 16-18

Mesa Arts Center

1 E. Main St. • 480-644-6500 • mesaartscenter.com

  • “Footloose,” presented by Mesa Encore Theatre, Sept. 9-25
  • The Monkees, Sept. 15
  • Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live, Oct. 6-8
  • National Geographic Live! Oct. 19-March 29
  • “The Music Man,” presented by Mesa Encore Theatre, Nov. 4-20
  • “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” presented by East Valley Children’s Theatre, Dec. 1-11
  • Christmas With the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, Dec. 4
  • “The Nutcracker,” presented by Ballet Etudes, Dec. 9-11
  • Disney’s “The Lion King Jr.,” presented by Christian Youth Theater, Jan. 6-15
  • “Annie,” Jan. 13-14
  • “Billy Elliott the Musical,” presented by Mesa Encore Theatre, March 10-19
  • Disney’s “Mary Poppins,” presented by Christian Youth Theater, May 5-14

Orpheum Theatre

203 W. Adams St., Phoenix • 602-262-6225 • phoenixconventioncenter.com/orpheum-theatre

  • Broadway Christmas Wonderland, Nov. 25-27
  • Cirque de la Symphonie’s Holiday Spectacular With Phoenix Symphony, Dec. 16-18
  • Music of John Williams, Phoenix Symphony, May 12-14

Queen Creek Performing Arts Center

22149 E. Ocotillo Road • 480-987-7469 • qcpac.com

  • Disney’s “My Son Pinocchio Jr.,” Nov. 4-7
  • “Hairspray,” Nov. 18-21
  • Disney’s “The Jungle Book Kids,” April 7-10
  • “Shrek the Musical,” June 23-26
Feb. 7-12: “Matilda the Musical” at ASU Gammage. Photo by Joan Marcus.
Feb. 7-12: “Matilda the Musical” at ASU Gammage. Photo by Joan Marcus.

Scottsdale Center
for the Performing Arts

7380 E. Second St. • 480-499-8587
scottsdaleperformingarts.org

  • Journey to Broadway, Oct. 29
  • A Merry-Achi Christmas, Dec. 17
  • Christmas Tribute to Charlie Brown, Dec. 18

Symphony Hall

75 N. Second St., Phoenix
602-262-6225 phoenixsymphony.org

  • “Bravo Broadway: Music of the Night”, Sept. 30-Oct.1
  • “Halloween at Hogwarts,” Oct. 7-9
  • “La Bayadère” presented by Ballet Arizona, Oct. 27-30
  • “The Animal Kingdom,” Nov. 6
  • Holiday Pops, Dec. 2-4
  • “The Nutcracker,” presented by Ballet Arizona, Dec. 9-29
  • “Star Wars: The Music,” Jan. 13
  • Enchantment Theatre Company, Jan. 15
  • “Romeo and Juliet,” presented by Ballet Arizona, Feb. 9-12
  • “Disney in Concert,” Feb. 24-26
  • “Space Spectacular,” March 19

Talking Stick Resort Arena

201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix • 602-379-2000 • talkingstickresortarena.com

  • Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas, Sept. 16
  • Toruk the First Flight, Nov. 16-20
  • Disney on Ice “Worlds of Enchantment,” Jan. 19-22
  • Disney on Ice “Dream Big,” April 12-16

Tempe Center for the Arts

700 W. Rio Salado Parkway • 480-350-2822 • tempe.gov • childsplayaz.org

  • “Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook,” presented by Childsplay, Sept. 11-Oct. 16
  • “Rock the Presidents,” presented by Childsplay, Oct. 22-Nov. 13
  • “A Very Hairy Javelina Holiday,” presented by Childsplay, Nov. 19-Dec. 24
  • “Guys & Dolls,” presented by Scottsdale Musical Theater Company, Jan. 5-8
  • “Cat in the Hat,” presented by Childsplay, Jan. 14-Feb. 19

Related: September onstage — family performances worth noting this month

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