Rachel Roland is a mom on a mission - exploring the Valley with her two little companions in search of the best restaurants, attractions, and products for you and your children. See what she has in store for your family today!
(Photo credit: Heather Hill)
This weekend, my family and I were able to attend Childsplay Theater’s Lyle the Crocodile at the Tempe Center for the Arts.
The Center is really beautiful, and the kids had a fun time running around pre-show. This was our first theater experience with the children, so we wanted to make sure they got some energy out before going into the play.
Lyle the Crocodile is based on two popular children’s books by Bernard Waber: “Lyle, Lyle Crocodile” and “The House on East 88th Street.” After looking at the book “Lyle, Lyle Crocodile,” I actually remember having it when I was a child, so it was exciting to see a play based on a book I grew up reading with my children!
Our children have been to movies before, so I prepped them by telling them the lights would go down, and there would be music like a movie theater. (There are also some special effects during the show – fog, snow, some loud thunder-like noises.) Lyle the Crocodile is a musical, so I explained there would be a lot of dancing and singing – something I hoped would keep my daughter interested.
(photo credit: Heather Hill)
The play is fun for both adults and children. There’s quite a bit of humor and the narrator, Hector P. Valenti, is a great character throughout the show. My children were so fascinated by the set changes, as well – when the first backdrop was raised to reveal the family’s apartment; I thought Jeremiah’s eyes might pop out of his head!
The show runs about an hour and a half, with a short intermission (maybe 15 minutes) in between. There are refreshments and souvenirs to purchase – all items bought during the play go to support Childsplay. Childsplay, who is celebrating their 35th year this year, not only puts on fun plays for children in theaters, but also travels to schools to stage shows. They also have great resources for parents and teachers to discuss the play both before and after with their 360° Theatre Resource Center.
When the play ended, not only did the actors take their bows and introduce the themselves and the the staff who run the show, they also asked the audience questions related to the play. It was so fun to see so many children in the audience raise their hands to answer questions. After the actors asked questions, the audience was given a chance to ask questions – and someone asked the same question my son had been asking me: “Why doesn’t Lyle talk?” (If you want to know the answer, you’ll have to go see the play!) In additon, they also send you home with a sheet of questions to talk about on the ride home - it was so fun to have some starting points to discuss the play with Jeremiah.
Lyle the Crocodile runs through December 24th. The performances left are: Saturdays at 1pm and 4pm, Sundays at 1pm, and weekday matinees starting Tuesday, December 20th-December 24th at 1pm and 4pm. This is a great activity to break up those long Winter Breaks from school!
Tickets range from $15-$25, depending on age and seating. You can visit the TCA website for ticket availability and purchasing information.
I'm Rachel - a mom, wife, and 'green' blogger at Small Steps On Our Journey. If you have any suggestions for future articles or any questions on this one, please contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or tweet me @rachelroland!
