Looking for something to do with your kids? Why not introduce them to the magic of live theatre at Ocean State Theatre in Warwick? Ocean State Theatre Company’s Family Fun Fest features a variety of performances being held on select Saturday mornings, which this year has been expanded and will be offered from September through June.

“We are so excited to be expanding our Family Fun Fest for the 2016-17 Season,” said producing artistic director Amiee Turner. “Not only have we expanded the program to nine different offerings for the coming season, but we will also be self-producing four of the shows – two of which will be available for educators to bring to their schools and the other two, which will be performed by our teen company, OSTeenCo. Our educational outreach has been growing by leaps and bounds and we couldn’t be more thrilled.”

The Family Fun Fest Schedule features the following performances:

 October 8, 2016 - OSTC4Kids presents Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical.Based on the historical events of the Little Rock Nine, this new musical is a colorful history lesson for children, which reminds them that our differences make us awesome, not outcasts. (Available for in-school performances.)

 November 12, 2016 - Airborne JugglersAmazing juggling is synchronized with lively music, laughter fills the air and you never know what will happen next! Volunteers find themselves in the middle of the action. Contagious and unforgettable fun. 

December 10, 2016 - OSTC4Kids presents A Charlie Brown ChristmasThe classic animated television special, “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” comes to life in this faithful stage adaptation where Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the other Peanuts grapple with the real meaning of Christmas. Performed by OSTeenCo.

January 14, 2017 - OSTC4Kids presents Me, Myself and ThreeThis interactive performance, which incorporates nursery rhymes, children’s literature and poetry, explores the magical phenomenon of how things occur in threes. Close your eyes, make a wish, count to three... (Available for in-school performances.)

 February 4, 2017 - Sing Away HungerAward-winning musicians Bill Harley and Keith Munslow host their 11th concert to end hunger. The fun-filled family-friendly show, engages and delights children of all ages! Sing Away Hunger will be presented for two shows: 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

March 11, 2017 - Pirate SchoolSlapstick antics, adept magic, cartoon-like sound effects, eye-popping puppetry, eccentric props and active, full-audience participation, are all used to teach kids how to become "good pirates."

 April 8, 2017 - OSTC4Kids presents Thunder and PotatoesDrawing inspiration and wisdom from everyday life, Thunder and Potatoes is ?tall tales, legends, jokes ??and songs? mixed with proverbs, riddles, ?rhymes and ??games. Performed by OSTeenCo.

May 6, 2017 - BubbleologyBack by popular demand, as seen on The Discovery Channel. You’ve never seen bubbles like this before. The science of bubbles unfolds like magic…you can learn a lot from a bubble. 

June 3, 2017 - Bruce Kalver’s Magical MomentsCharming the crowd with comedy, colorful magic tricks and lots of audience participation, “amazing,” “unbelievable” and impossible,” describe this act to a tee.

Before and after performances, families can enjoy drinks and snacks, which will be available for purchase at the theatre’s lobby concession stand.

Family Fun Fest performances will be held at 11 a.m. (with an additional 2 p.m. show on Feb. 4) at Ocean State Theatre located at 1245 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick. Single tickets are $10 each with packages of three shows or more for $8 per ticket. Discount rates are also available for groups of 20 or more by calling 921-1777 x112. Tickets are on sale at the box office Monday through Friday from 12 noon-6 p.m., Saturdays from 12 noon-4 p.m. and from 12 noon until curtain time on performance days. Tickets are also available online 24 hours a day at www.OceanStateTheatre.org and via telephone during normal box office hours by calling 921-6800.

Ocean State Theatre Company (OSTC) is a professional not-for-profit regional theatre whose mission is to preserve and pass on the tradition of live, professional theatre – including the American musical – and to pursue avenues of enrichment and education for the benefit of the state of Rhode Island and the surrounding region through the theatre arts. OSTC, which re-opened and ran the historic Theatre By The Sea in Matunuck from 2007-2012 and began producing shows in Warwick in 2012, is an IRS designated not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation.