The Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, is one of the preeminent regional theaters in the United States. A recipient of the Regional Theatre Tony Award®, it has premiered many Tony Award-winning productions, including The Color Purple, The Last Night of Ballyhoo, and Aida. The Alliance also supports Atlanta artists and emerging writers from all over the country through the Alliance/Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition.
Family programming is a key component of the Alliance’s work in the Atlanta community. In hopes of inspiring a love of theater among young people, the Alliance hosts kid-friendly plays and musicals through its Kathy & Ken Bernhardt Theatre for the Very Young and offers free weekly sensory story time sessions for toddlers. In 2022-23, the Alliance produced the world-premiere musical The Incredible Book Eating Boy and co-produced The Boy Who Kissed the Sky.
The following is a look at the Alliance’s six scheduled shows for families and young children in the 2023-24 season.
Into the Burrow: A Peter Rabbit™ Tale
Written by Mark Valdez and inspired by Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit™ series, Into the Burrow is a musical adventure for audiences of all ages. The story takes place in the rabbit’s den below Mr. McGregor’s garden, where all of Peter’s friends have convened to throw him a surprise party. However, they soon discover that Mr. McGregor has plans to develop the land around Peter’s burrow. Peter and his friends have to work together to help save his home.
Into the Burrow, scheduled to be shown from October 14 to December 23, 2023, on the Alliance’s Hertz Stage, is presented in conjunction with the Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature exhibition, shown at the High Museum of Art from October 13, 2023, to January 7, 2024.
A Christmas Carol
A holiday favorite at the Alliance Theatre, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol will return to the Coca-Cola Stage from November 11 to December 24, 2023. Called “a nostalgic feast for the eyes” by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the classic story of Ebenezer Scrooge and his hatred of Christmas was also part of the Alliance’s 2022-23 season. This year’s version features an all-star cast and subtle changes, including striking new costumes and a reimagined set design.
Located in the Woodruff Arts Center, the Coca-Cola Stage is the Alliance’s main performance space. The beautifully-designed theater recently underwent a $32 million renovation, which included moving the audience closer to the stage and adding a pair of sensory-friendly spaces. The venue received the Distinguished AIA Interior Architecture Award in 2021.
The Curious Cardinal
One of three shows in the Kathy & Ken Bernhardt Theatre for the Very Young Series in 2023-24, The Curious Cardinal will be shown from March 8 to April 28, 2024, at the Selig Family Black Box Theatre in the Woodruff Arts Center. Inspired by a book and animated short of the same name by Mark Valdez with illustrations by Nicole Kang Ahn, the play is suitable for children from newborn to 5 years old. As suggested by the title, the play follows a curious cardinal who navigates his surroundings and makes friends with other animals in the Georgia forest.
Oodles of Doodles
Part of the Kathy & Ken Bernhardt Theatre for the Very Young Series, Oodles of Doodles premieres on October 4, 2023, at the Selig Family Black Box Theatre and runs until October 29. Created by Ricardo Aponte, the engaging story follows Doodle, who, as you can guess, loves to draw. The show features imaginative drawings and live music while teaching young learners how to express themselves.
Knock, Knock
An interactive experience for young audiences, Knock, Knock, also part of the Kathy & Ken Bernhardt Theatre for the Very Young Series, debuted at the Alliance in 2021. Unfortunately, due to pandemic-related restrictions, the show was limited to guests between the ages of 2 and 5 and children had to wear masks. Children from newborn to 5 years old are able to enjoy and participate in this year’s show, which takes place at the Selig Family Black Box Theatre from November 10 to December 23, 2023.
“What makes it so special is that we really want unfettered participation from the audience,” said Alliance Director of Education Chris Moses in 2021. “We want to allow them to meet this work on their own terms, to roam around the stage freely, and fully interact with the experience.”
Knock, Knock prompts viewers to escape the cold of winter and experience the warmth of family and community. At the start of the show, the kids check into a small leasing office and then explore the three floors of The Apartment Building, where they can expect “moments of joy and a little bit of chaos,” according to co-creator Samantha Provenzano.
Roob and Noob
Designed for audiences from 4 to 8 years old, Roob and Noob is another interactive theater experience in which attendees help a pair of overly curious scientists create machines from various objects while exploring the four seasons. Andy Gaukel created the family play with inspiration from Rube Goldberg’s magical machines. It will run at the Rich Theatre in the Woodruff Arts Center from February 8 to 18, 2024.