I feel like I’m sitting at Harkin’s watching my very own preview of coming attractions. and much like I often feel at the theatre, the previews are too detailed, too graphic, and they ruin the movie by telling you exactly what’s “coming soon.”

True, Free Arts of Arizona has partnered with Dance Theater West for a free weekend performance based on "Don Quixote." But did you know there are several other no-cost or low-cost arts events taking place this weekend and during the week ahead? Stage Mom Lynn Trimble hits the highlights -- including art, music, dance and poetry from a diverse array of cultures.

Think taking your preschooler to the grocery store is a challenge? Try touring the country in a Broadway musical with your 3-year-old son. Read what Cory English has to say about life on the road with his family, the musical based on Mel Brooks' "Young Frankenstein" and the craft of acting.

Today marks the start of National Hispanic Heritage Month. Learn about Arizona organizations promoting Hispanic arts and culture, Valley celebrations with a kid-friendly feel and national resources to help children, parents and educators learn more.

Who knew "A Year With Frog and Toad" could be so much fun? Sleds, kites, cookies and more. Learn about Childsplay's latest production -- and why it makes Lynn's "top three" list.

Lynn Trimble shares memories of taking her three children to hear the Phoenix Symphony perform, and highlights upcoming concerts in this season's Target Family Series -- which features everything from aliens to acrobats.

Exploring one's ancestry is a popular modern-day pastime, but some of the most fascinating family trees are found in the program for "Blood Royal" -- an original adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry VI trilogy by Michael Flachmann, being performed by the Southwest Shakespeare Company at the Mesa Arts Center through Sept. 25th.

There's a lot competing for our time and attention today. Lynn Trimble opted for a simple, serene way to spend the day--while remembering and reflecting on the events of 9/11 and their impact on the children and families of New York.

Finally he was acting like a normal kid which gave me the opportunity to act like a normal parent. Maybe for once I could get him some stuff that would make him happy, even if it was only a fleeting happiness.

Stage Mom Lynn Trimble has a full plate this weekend -- but she's been invited to try a Bollywood dance class with Kriti Dance at Dance Connection 2 in Chandler. Will this be the weekend she crosses Bollywood off her "bucket list?" Find out -- and learn more about weekend options from opera at the movie theater to a play about workers' rights advocate Cesar Chavez.

If your child loves animals, you'll enjoy learning about the many places you can see animals in visual and performance art. Think puppet theaters, animal habitats, movie theaters, museums, art galleries and more -- all featured in today's post on art and animals.

There's no International Electronic Gizmo Day. No International Fatty Foods Day. No International Remote Control Day. But International Literacy Day is upon us -- and writer/reader Lynn Trimble has thoughts to share on why we need books, and why they need us.

Remember the good old days? Musical theater con men like Harold Hill peddled trombones instead of tea bags. Young men cheated at the pool hall rather than baseball. Librarians were afraid of real mice, not the hand-held electonic device. Enjoy a trip down memory lane this weekend as the Phoenix Symphony and Phoenix Theatre present "The Music Man."

A boy's search for meaning. Ethnic identity. Prenatal testing. Crime and punishment. Mother/daughter baggage. Arranged marriages. Career versus family. I found it all in Sunday's edition of "The New York Times" -- thanks to a lovely insert from the ASU Herberger Institute's School of Theatre and Film.

Roland Sarlot is a self-taught magician who "loved magic as a kid" and learned his craft via "the road of hard knocks." He performs an intimate magic show titled "Carnival of Illusion" with partner Susan Eyed. Learn more about his inspirations and where you can enjoy the duo's family-friendly fare.

Travel the world with friends and family without ever leaving Arizona -- thanks to festivals, museums and performing arts venues that offer the art, music and dance of diverse peoples and places, including India, China, Italy, Australia, Mexico, Ireland and more. And learn how you can enjoy a free "tour" of Japan today in Mesa!