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Philadelphia International Children's Festival
A May theatrical extravaganza for children in University City
Date:
5/7/2008
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5/9/2008
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Philadelphia International Children’s Festival
Photo by R. Kennedy for GPTMC
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Insider Tip
Leave time for the numerous activities on the streets and in the courtyards surrounding the Annenberg Center — music, crafts, face-painting, puppets and lots of fun.
Kids' Shows
The festival’s shows are often suitable for a specific age range (e.g., 3-8 yrs or 9-14 yrs), and this information is clearly indicated in the festival brochure.
The Experience
Celebrating its 24rd year in 2008, the widely acclaimed Philadelphia International Children’s Festival brings professional theater created specifically for children to a variety of performance venues in and around the Annenberg Center at the University of Pennsylvania. Performers and companies from across the globe converge in University City to share theater that goes beyond simplistic themes and cartoon-like characters.
Past years have seen productions from Canada, Britain, Japan, Belgium, China, Uganda and Italy — just to name a few — exploring issues as diverse as the Holocaust, family, love and gender equality. Children and adults alike have been amazed at the acrobatic feats of Cirque Eloize, mesmerized by the rhythms of blues guitarist and storyteller Guy Davis and astonished by the worlds created by German puppeteer Bernd Ogrodnik.
Philadelphia’s beautiful spring weather is a perfect backdrop to the festival — hugely popular outdoor events include hands-on craft activities, live music and street performers. Penn's beautiful campus comes alive, extending the festival experience beyond the walls of the theaters.
History
The Philadelphia International Children's Festival was created in 1985 with the mission to expose the Philadelphia community to the finest in national and international theater for young people and to offer a forum for the exploration of children’s issues within a theatrical context.
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