Childrens Theatre
Fairylands main stage offers a variety of stories brought to life through performances by young actors. Explore current shows today.
About Fairlylands Theatre
With a rich theatre history dating back to 1957, Fairyland has always encouraged children to explore their creativity.
Theatre Auditions
Fairyland is looking for 30 enthusiastic children to join its year-round Children’s Theatre program.
Coming Soon to Aesop’s Playhouse
The most colorful place in the East Bay to enjoy children’s community theater is at Aesop’s Playhouse, Fairyland’s main stage. From July through October, our talented casts of young performers bring stories from around the world to life.
Ozma of Oz
Join Dorothy as she returns to Oz for an adventure with a new set of friends (and a few familiar ones). How can Dorothy and Princess Ozma save the people of Oz from the wicked Nome King? How can a chicken and a mechanical man help? Adapted from one of Frank Baum’s famous books, this sequel to Wizard of Oz is full of wonder and brings his classic Americanf airy-tale to Fairyland’s stage.
El Principe Oso (The Bear Prince)
In this Spanish folk tale, a woodcutter’s daughter finds herself wrapped up in a wonderful adventure with a magical bear, who is not exactly what he seems. When he is spirited away to a castle beyond the sun and moon, she comes to rescue him, but will they have enough magic tricks and transformations to escape?
Looking-glass
Follow Alice to Looking-glass Land to meet Humpty Dumpty, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, and a host of other characters in our new adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s delightful book. Join Alice and her friends as they go from one adventure to the next as she travels through the upside-down and backwards world behind the mirror.
Fairylands Theatre
History of Children's Theatre
Since 1957, Fairyland has been encouraging children to create their own live theater in the park. Starting with teenage Storybook Hosts in ’57, and becoming the Fairyland Personalities in 1960, the program evolved into The Children’s Theater program and has been led by Dr. Doyle Ott since 2008. In the theater program, children ages 8 to 11 portray characters from world folklore and children’s literature in stage productions. They also make outside appearances representing the park at community events and parades. Auditions for the Children’s Theater Program are held once a year in January/February. Find out about the audition process.
More about Aesop's Playhouse
Aesop’s Playhouse accommodates over 200 people in festival seating and was funded entirely by Oakland’s Measure DD, a $198.25 million bond measure passed by voters in 2002. Oakland-based Ace Architects designed the structure; Scientific Art Studio of Richmond created the fanciful sculptures of Aesop and his characters.
In addition to our own children’s theater and summer circuses, our playhouse has hosted Circus Center, Bay Area Children’s Theatre, Oakland School for the Arts, the Pacific Boychoir, the Oakland Ballet Company, popular characters from KQED, and a host of young performers from local schools and community arts groups.
Do you have a child, aged 8 to 11, who loves to sing, act, and dance?
Fantastic! Fairyland is looking for 30 enthusiastic children to join its year-round Children’s Theatre program.
Fairyland Personalities receive over 50 hours of performing arts training with professional artists and educators, and will portray characters from folklore and children’s literature in stage productions at the park, at community events, parades, and during visits to senior centers and schools.
Cost are kept low and scholarships are available. Auditions for 2022 will be held in january.
Audition Process
We normally hold in-person audition interviews each winter. We ask performers to prepare a 2-3 minute audition including:
1. An introduction. Start with “Hi, my name is _________” and have your child tell us a little about themselves;
2. Something spoken, preferably memorized. Speeches, stories and poems are great, as are traditional monologues;
3. A bit of singing (“Happy Birthday” or a few lines of a favorite song is fine if they don’t usually sing for other people);
4. Dance moves or other skills they’d like us to consider for the audition.
Selections and casting decisions will be made by our artistic director and our staff, based on enthusiasm, stage presence, vocal quality, ability to focus, and desire to commit to the program, among other attributes.
You can register your child for an audition online. Please apply by January 20 2022 for the 2022 season.
Time Commitment
Parents are also part of the Children’s Theatre Program. As the parent of a Fairyland Personality, you are responsible for:
• Paying a production fee to cover costs, and scholarships are available
• Bringing your child to all rehearsals, performances, and events;
• Acting as a chaperone at parades or other official events;
• Attending regular Children’s Theatre meetings
The Magic Key
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