Friday, June 20, 2008

Los Angeles - Great Family Theater at The Geffen Playhouse

Shipwrecked: An Entertainment. The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont, As Told By Himself

Our families loved Shipwrecked! An Entertainment, and we know that yours will, too. Written by Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies, the play features three extraordinary actors (Melody Butiu, Michael Daniel Cassady and Gregory Itzin) in a ninety minute show about a man who is lost at sea, marooned on a desert island and lives through one incredible adventure after another. The talented cast morphs into a variety of amazing characters -- from a giant octopus, to a truly inspired performance of a dog -- all while performing their own sound effects on stage. As we left the theatre, our kids debated whether the man invented his life story. Turns out, everyone loves a tall tale.

Shipwrecked! An Entertainment appeals to adventure lovers of all ages. Don't miss this opportunity for your family to experience storytelling at its best! This charming new play runs exclusively at the Geffen Playhouse through July 27. Special kids prices available for children from ages 8 - 16. Orchestra seats available for $25, and mezzanine seats for $15. Call the Geffen Playhouse box office at (310) 208-5454 or click here for more details.

If you only see one play this summer, chart a course to this one!

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Get Caught Reading This Summer; The Spiderwick Chronicles PLUS Our Great Summer Kid Lit Picks!

This year's news focus on greening the planet got us thinking about how to get kids involved with the environment this summer. Our Kids Off The Couch guru of kid-lit, Lucy Rafael, had a great suggestion: visit your local library! With shelves stocked full children's selections, it's easy to save trees by checking out books that are shared among many readers. Back by popular demand, this edition also features Lucy's List of Great Summer Reads (scroll down a little bit on the page) including selections from painterly picture books to middle school page turners. Want more? Scroll down to Lucy's tips, honed from years of experience as both a librarian and mother, on how to encourage even the most reluctant of kids to read. To give our kids a bit of literary inspiration, we screened The Spiderwick Chronicles, a story about a boy who discovers a dusty old book filled with secrets that unlock a fantastical world of fairies and ogres. Although this movie is not for the very young, Lucy's list boasts books for everyone in the family!

Visit the official Kids Off The Couch Website for more information and some super valuable tips; Why It's Worth It, Red Flags, Further Viewing, Conversation Starters, What Worked, Before You Go and more!!!