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Any poetry that includes the lines “In the kitchen, peeling spuds,/Cinderella heard the thuds/Of bouncing heads upon the floor” might justifiably be called revolting. But severed heads aside, this and other children’s verses by Roald Dahl are revolting in another way. They strike a rebellious blow against the prettified world of simpering princesses, predictable princes and monsters that somehow turn out to be cuddly. Dahl’s Little Red Riding Hood packs a pistol; his Goldilocks belongs in juvenile court (how many nice little girls do you know who break into houses?); and his Crocky-Wock the Crocodile, cute name notwithstanding, “likes to crunch/six juicy children for his lunch.”
So don’t take timid preschoolers to “Revolting Rhymes,” the new Dahl adaptation from Atlantic for Kids and Tisch Drama Stage Works. But get everyone else in the family to go. Using poems from three Dahl books — “Revolting Rhymes,” “Dirty Beasts” and “Rhyme Stew” — the ever-ingenious Elizabeth Swados has created a delightfully irreverent show that may make your children want to incinerate their Disney DVDs. (Goldilocks, notorious property destroyer, certainly would.)
Ms. Swados, who also directs the young cast, has set Dahl’s subversive story-poems to a percussive score that includes jazz and hip-hop. Beat boxing seems to be the right accompaniment for this Little Red (Stephanie Hsu), a girl from the ’hood. She blows away the Wolf (with a spray can rather than the gun in the poem, in an apparent concession to contemporary sensibilities), then turns him into a fur coat. She also appears in “The Three Little Pigs,” called on for her expertise with wolves.
Although “Revolting Rhymes” uses a borrowed set (Eugene Lee’s design for the MCC show “The Other Place”), it has so much of its own visual artistry that it hardly matters. Molly Deale created the costumes and props, and she and Federico Restrepo conceived the puppets, which are to ordinary designs what Dahl’s poems are to conventional fairy tales. They include a gargantuan wolf of odds and ends and a ravenous Crocky-Wock, above, whose body consists of plastic soda bottles. Ms. Deale and Mr. Restrepo have aptly applied the Dahl philosophy: No matter how old and familiar the elements, they can always be reconstituted as something brilliantly new.
(Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 a.m., through April 30, at the Lucille Lortel Theater, 121 Christopher Street, West Village, 212-279-4200, atlantictheater.org; $20; $10 for 12 and under.) LAUREL GRAEBER
For Children
‘Archaeology Zone: Discovering Treasures From Playgrounds to Palaces’ (Friday, Sunday through Tuesday, and Thursday) Children will step into the shoes of an explorer like Indiana Jones in this permanent exhibition at the Jewish Museum, but the adventures will be purely scholarly. Still, there is plenty of excitement in analyzing artifacts like a jar handle, a clay jug and a bangle and figuring out the purpose behind ancient pieces like a Greek helmet and a bull-shaped vessel. This interactive show also includes a recreated room from the Ottoman period (about 1900), where young archaeologists can dress in costume. Hours: 11 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., except for Thursdays, open until 8 p.m.; 1109 Fifth Avenue, at 92nd Street , (212) 423-3200, thejewishmuseum.org; free with admission: $12; $10 for 65+; $7.50 for students; free for under 12 and members. 20110407
Archikids Family Program (Saturday) Aspiring architects ages 9 to 13 can practice making their own marks on the city skyline in this workshop, sponsored by the Skyscraper Museum and the educational organization Archikids. Working with the architect Yves Roger, each participant will experiment with different materials to create a skyscraper design, using vintage film and the museum’s images and models as inspiration. From 10:15 a.m. to noon, Skyscraper Museum gallery, 39 Battery Place, Lower Manhattan , (212) 945-6324, skyscraper.org; $5; free for members. Registration required via phone or e-mail to education@skyscraper.org by Friday at 5 p.m.20110407
‘Artists’ Eyes: Children’s Art From Studio in a School’ (Friday, and Monday through Thursday) For more than 30 years Studio in a School, an educational organization, has been bringing professional artists into New York schools and community centers to work with children. And once a year it also brings the art resulting from that collaboration to the public. This exhibition comprises more than 200 works by students from preschool through high school, depicting both their everyday universes and the wilder worlds of their imaginations. (Through May 13.) From 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., 1285 Avenue of the Americas Art Gallery, between 51st and 52nd Streets , (212) 765-5900, studioinaschool.org; free.20110407
‘Awesome Allie, First Kid Astronaut’ (Saturday and Sunday) Following in the footsteps of Sally Ride — but with much smaller feet — young Allie becomes a child astronaut in this new musical from Vital Theater Company. But she’s not so unusual when you compare her with her companions: a talking dog and a dancing Martian robot, which are ready to help her save Earth. (Through April 26.) At 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., McGinn/Cazale Theater, 2162 Broadway, at 76th Street (above the Promenade Theater), fourth floor , (212) 579-0528, vitaltheatre.org; $25.20110407
‘Best of NYICFF’ (Saturday and Sunday) If you missed this year’s competition in the New York International Children’s Film Festival, the producers are giving you another chance. Every weekend this month they will show a 70-minute program of highlights and audience favorites from the festival, including its Grand Prize winner, “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On”; “The Lost Thing,” which just won the Oscar for best animated short; and “The Little Boy and the Beast,” winner of the Jury Award. At 11 a.m., IFC Center, 323 Avenue of the Americas, at Third Street, Greenwich Village , (212) 349-0330, gkids.com; $13; $9 for children and 65+; $8 for members.20110407
‘Bird Brain’ (Saturday and Sunday) The woodsman in Vern Theissen’s play, for ages 4 through 9, really knows how to keep something under his hat: in this case, a cluster of baby birds. But his desire to protect the fledglings he’s rescued conflicts with the stern laws of Hat Street, which require all citizens to remove any head covering when greeting others, particularly the queen. The Drilling Company explores his problem in this production, playing an open-ended run. Saturdays at 2 p.m. and Sundays at noon, 236 West 78th Street, Manhattan , (212) 868-4444, smarttix.com; $15; $12 for children.20110407
‘Boom Town’ (Friday and Saturday) The Wild West comes to Times Square in this new production from the innovative circus troupe Cirque Mechanics. Drawing inspiration from films like “Gold Rush” and “Paint Your Wagon,” the ensemble will gather saloon owners, prospectors and cowboys in the New Victory Theater for feats like swinging on a suspended wagon wheel and balancing on a tower of whiskey jugs. (Through April 24.) Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m.; New Victory Theater, 209 West 42nd Street, Manhattan , (646) 223-3010, newvictory.org; $14 to $38; $9 to $25 for members.20110407
‘Bye Bye Birdie’ (Sunday and Tuesday) Who better to perform a show about youthful enthusiasm than enthusiastic youth? The JCC Teen Theater is presenting this revival of the 1960 musical about Conrad Birdie, a hip-swiveling rock ’n’ roll star who changes lives in a small Ohio town on the eve of his induction into the Army. (Through April 17.) Sunday at noon and 3 p.m. and Tuesday at 5 p.m.; JCC in Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Avenue, at 76th Street , (646) 505-5708, jccmanhattan.org/arts-culture?page=programs; $12; $9 for students; $10 and $8 for members.20110407
‘Exquisite Little Ballets’ (Saturday and Sunday) These little ballets are for the littlest dancegoers. Presented by New York Theater Ballet, they’re intended to introduce children as young as 2 to the art form. In addition to watching three brief dances — Antony Tudor’s “Little Improvisations,” Agnes de Mille’s “Debut at the Opera” and Lotte Goslar’s “Bounces” — children will learn some simple steps and behind-the-scenes facts. At 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., with an additional show on Sunday at 3:30 p.m., Gould Hall, 55 East 59th Street, Manhattan , (212) 355-6160, nytb.org; $40; $35 for 12 and under.20110407
Family Affair: Artist’s Studio (Saturday) The Bronx Museum of the Arts, which is featuring the exhibition “Stargazers: Elizabeth Catlett in Conversation With 21 Contemporary Artists,” is now inviting children to join the conversation too. The show explores the pioneering role of Ms. Catlett, who is almost 96, as a black female artist in the American art world and her influences on later generations. Young visitors will investigate the many styles of work represented and create their own in various mediums. From 1 to 4 p.m., 1040 Grand Concourse, at 165th Street, Morrisania, (718) 681-6000, bronxmuseum.org; free.20110407
‘Gazillion Bubble Show: The Next Generation’ (Friday through Sunday, and Wednesday) Children love bubbles, and this interactive show promises not just a gazillion but also some of the largest ever blown, along with light effects and lasers. The stars are the members of the Yang family: Fan and Ana Yang and their sons Deni and Jano, who rotate as M.C.’s for the production. Audience members may even find themselves in bubbles of their own. Friday at 7 p.m.; Saturday at 11 a.m. and 2 and 4:30 p.m.; Sunday at noon and 3 p.m.; and Wednesday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.; New World Stages, 340 West 50th Street, Clinton , (212) 239-6200, gazillionbubbleshow.com; $44.50 to $89.50; lap seats for ages 2 and under are $20.20110407
‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ (Saturday and Sunday) The story may feature three bears and one blonde, but this new production from Manhattan Children’s Theater stars only two actors. They play all the parts and provide their own musical accompaniment in this adaptation, which isn’t your usual walk in the woods. (Through April 17.) At noon and 2 p.m., 52 White Street, near Church Street, TriBeCa , (212) 352-3101, mctny.org; $20; $50 for priority tickets, which include front-row seats and a meeting with the cast.20110407
‘Jazz for Kids’ (Sunday) Every Sunday through May 15 the Jazz Standard presents not just jazz for kids, but also jazz by kids: the featured players at its Sunday brunches are the members of the Jazz Standard Youth Orchestra, a group of talented children. They play new arrangements of big-band classics while listeners enjoy barbecue offerings that include a children’s menu. Doors open at 1 p.m., with shows from 2 to 3 p.m.; 116 East 27th Street, Manhattan , (212) 576-2232, jazzstandard.com; $5 donation, which benefits the Jazz Standard Discovery Program, an initiative that brings musical performances to city schools.20110407
‘Kids ’n Comedy’ (Sunday) The class clown gets applause, not detention, at this series, in which comics 12 to 20 perform stand-up. It’s recommended for children 9 and older, but there’s no need to worry about appropriateness (profanity is banned) or knock-knock jokes (these dudes are sophisticated). As with all these shows, some audience members will have a chance to tell a joke too. Reservations are required. At 1 p.m., Gotham Comedy Club, 208 West 23rd Street, Chelsea , (212) 877-6115, kidsncomedy.com; $15, with a one-item (soda or food) minimum.20110407
‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ (Sunday) Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts invites children on an hourlong visit to the magical kingdom of Narnia and the adventures of a lion king who has nothing to do with Disney. Recommended for ages 6 and older, this musical adaptation of C. S. Lewis’s novel from Theatreworks USA follows the book’s four English children as they seek to overcome the evil White Witch and restore the lion, Aslan, to his throne. At 2 p.m., Brooklyn College, Flatbush and Nostrand Avenues, Flatbush , (718) 951-4500, brooklyncenteronline.org; $6 in advance; $7 at the door.20110407
‘The Little Mermaid’ (Saturday and Sunday) This musical adaptation, from Literally Alive Children’s Theater, draws on Hans Christian Andersen’s distinctly bittersweet tale. But it’s not exactly “The Little Mermaid” the theater company has presented in the past: Brenda Bell has rewritten the book and lyrics, and Michael Sgouros has composed a new score. Like all the troupe’s productions, this one features a preshow crafts workshop. (Through May 22.) Workshop at 10 a.m., with show at 11; Players Theater, 115 Macdougal Street, near Bleecker Street, Greenwich Village , (212) 352-3101, mermaidsinthevillage.com; $25 to $40 (including workshop).20110407
Material Lab at the Museum of Modern Art (Saturday through Monday, and Wednesday through Friday) No matter how much talent artists have, they need the right materials to create their work. This new interactive space at MoMA invites families to explore a wide range of mediums that are reflected in the museum’s collection. The stations in the Material Lab include a drawing table; a collage table; Discovery Boxes, with surprise materials within; Cornell Boxes, filled with found objects, in the spirit of the work of Joseph Cornell; and a digital painting experience using new technology from Microsoft. Material Lab is open from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., or until 6:30 p.m. on Friday (through Aug. 29); Lewis B. and Dorothy Cullman Education and Research Building, 4 West 54th Street, Manhattan , (212) 708-9400, moma.org; free with museum admission: $20; $16 for 65+; $12 for students; free for ages 16 and under; free on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m.20110407
‘Point of View’ (Friday, and Monday through Thursday) See the world of New York through a young artist’s lens. This exhibition features more than 30 photographs, as well as documentary videos and animations, by students from elementary through high school. Working with the nonprofit Magic Box Productions, which brings arts programs to schools, the young creators have dealt with both portraiture and the urban landscape. (Through June.) From 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; group tours available; the Gallery at 180 Maiden Lane, between Front and South Streets, Lower Manhattan , (914) 630-0256, magicboxproductions.org; free.20110407
‘Potato Needs a Bath’ (Friday through Sunday) Shona Reppe and Andy Manley, Scottish artists who specialize in theater for the young, have created this 30-minute show for ages 2 to 5, presented under the auspices of the New Victory Theater. In Ms. Reppe’s careful hands, the stars include Eggplant; the flirtatious Pears; Plum, who needs a potty break; and Potato, who could use that bath. (Through April 24.) At 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., with an additional show on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. (some performances are sold out); New 42nd Street Studios, 229 West 42nd Street, Manhattan , (646) 223-3010, newvictory.org; $20; $14 for members.20110407
Rubin Museum of Art (Saturday) This museum is devoted to the art of the Himalayas, and its family workshop this month focuses on a Himalayan art anyone can easily pursue: felting. This Saturday, in a series called Felting Fun!, children will make magnets and collaborative quilts, drawing inspiration from the show “Grain of Emptiness,” which closes on Monday. From 2 to 3 p.m., 150 West 17th Street, Chelsea , (212) 620-5000, Ext. 344, rmanyc.org/family; $10 for each child and accompanying adult pair ($5 for each additional child); $5 for each child of members; free for adult members, children 12 months and under and Cool Culture members. Prices include museum admission; reservations are advised.20110407
‘The Secret History of the Swedish Cottage’ (Friday through Thursday) Gnomes, sea creatures and various magical beings help to tell this tale, but the history it explores is real: how the Swedish Cottage was built in Sweden and came to be transported to its current location — Central Park — in 1877. Created and directed by the puppeteers Tom Lee and Matthew Acheson, this commissioned new piece unfolds, of course, at the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater, the heart of the site it celebrates. (Through June 30.) Monday through Friday at 10:30 a.m. and noon, with an additional performance on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m.; 79th Street and the West Drive, Central Park , (212) 988-9093, cityparksfoundation.org/swedish_cottage.html; $8; $5 for under 12. Reservations required.20110407
‘Shlemiel Crooks’ (Sunday) This new Passover musical might have what you’d consider an unreliable narrator — it’s Jerry, the family dog — but it promises plenty of holiday cheer as it combines elements of Jewish history with a contemporary setting. In the plot within the plot, the ghost of the ancient Egyptian pharaoh schemes to sabotage Passover by engineering the theft of all the wine from Reb Elias’s kosher wine store. Receiving its premiere from the Poppy Seed Players at the Kaufman Center, the show, for ages 4 to 11, was inspired by two picture books by Anna Olswanger, who will take part in a book signing after the performance. At 11 a.m., Merkin Concert Hall, 129 West 67th Street, Manhattan , (212) 501-3330, kaufman-center.org; $20.20110407
Thalia Kids’ Book Club: Lincoln Peirce’s Big Nate Series (Sunday) Big Nate isn’t that large physically — he’s only in the sixth grade — but he’s certainly made it big in popularity. Nate’s adventures, immortalized in the words and images of Lincoln Peirce, are published as a comic strip in more than 250 newspapers, as well as in a book series that reads like a diary. In this program for ages 8 to 12 at Symphony Space, Mr. Peirce will discuss his hero and his inspirations. At 1 p.m. Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theater, Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, at 95th Street , (212) 864-5400, symphonyspace.org; $15; $12 for members.20110407
‘Three by the Sea’ (Saturday and Sunday) Closing on Sunday, this triple bill of short plays by Donna Latham, presented by the Looking Glass Theater, concerns life in and around the water. “Paddy and the Mermaid,” inspired by an Irish folk tale, focuses on an unusual marriage; “Coyote’s Moon” adapts American Indian mythology; and “Foghorn Franny” celebrates a woman with a very big voice. Saturday at noon and 2 p.m. and Sunday at 2 and 4 p.m.; Looking Glass Theater, 422 West 57th Street, Clinton , (212) 352-3101, lookingglasstheatrenyc.com; $15; $12 for ages 12 and under.20110407
Touch-a-Truck Brooklyn (Saturday) Adults usually like their contact with police cars, ambulances and fire engines to be as limited as possible, but children — particularly those under 10 — tend to feel just the opposite. This event, which will raise money for P.S. 295: the Studio School for Arts and Culture, offers close encounters with all manner of emergency vehicles, as well as unusual exhibits like a vintage ice cream truck and the Truck Farm, which is a garden on wheels. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.., rain or shine, 18th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, Park Slope , ps295.org/touch-a-truck; $5; free for under 2.20110407
‘Where the Wild Things Are’ (Saturday) This time they’re going to be at the David H. Koch Theater, where New York City Opera will present a concert production of this work, based on Maurice Sendak’s classic picture book of the same title. Composed by Oliver Knussen, with a libretto by Mr. Sendak himself, the opera will unfold against a backdrop of art created by children in City Opera’s Opera Is Elementary program, and by Rush Kids/Teens, young people who are participating in the programs of the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation. At 1:30 p.m., Lincoln Center , (212) 721-6500, nycopera.com; $5 to $50.20110407
‘The Wizard of Oz’ (Friday through Sunday, and Tuesday through Thursday) The latest tornado to hit New York poses no danger, as the Children’s Museum of Manhattan celebrates “The Wizard of Oz” with this interactive exhibition. In addition to recreating scenes from the 1939 movie, the show teaches about science (including how a tornado forms and experiments with light) and offers challenges like capturing the witch’s broom from the winged monkeys. (Through May 8.) From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; open until 7 p.m. on Saturday; Tisch Building, 212 West 83rd Street, Manhattan , (212) 721-1223, cmom.org; free with museum admission: $10; $7 for 65+; free for under 1 and members.20110407
LAUREL GRAEBER
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