The Alki Community Center offers a wide variety of programs and classes for all ages, including adults. Toddlers and preschoolers can attend arts classes and playclub (school year and summer). Kids can learn cartooning or pottery, take sports and music classes, or attend arts workshops. Teens have a full schedule that includes sports classes, arts, dance, performing arts, movie nights, and a chance to sit on the Teen Advisory Council.

Drop-in activities include ping-pong and pool all day, as well as a drop-in playtime for tots and their parents during the fall and winter. The Community Center also hosts periodic community events like picnics or sports days for youth. A children's playground and playfield are located adjacent to the center.

The center offers before- and after school care, summer camps, and school break camps. Parents' nights out are offered once a month.

The Community Center's art classes are held at the Bathhouse Art Studio, a beautiful venue located on Alki Beach.

Bainbridge Performing Arts lists a wide variety of productions - including dance, comedy, adult contemporary plays, theatre school productions, and a yearly children's festival in February - on its schedule.

BPA's theatre school offers kids in grades one-12 a variety of interesting, challenging classes, including animation workshops, improv and stagecraft, and workshops that lead to a play production at the end. See the website for a current class schedule. To register for classes, call the number listed above or download a mail-in form from the website.

Bellevue Youth Theatre (formerly Ivanhoe or Crossroads Youth Theatre) is a joint project between the City of Bellevue and Bellevue Public Schools, offering theatre classes and camps for young people ages five to 19 and encouraging persons with disabilities, families, and senior citizens to participate. BYT presents 10-11 productions each year.

Bitter Lake offers before- and afterschool care; pre-school, grade school, and teen programs; youth sports (basketball, football, nerf soccer, girls' volleyball, roller skating, and tennis lessons); day camps (general and sports), and family programs and events.

Pre-schoolers: The community center offers preschool, sports, movement, ballet and science workshops, tumbling, and music classes. The preschool program is offered for children ages two to five.

School-aged kids can take piano lessons, ballet, drama, tap, karate-butokukan, gymnastics, science, and cooking classes.

Teens can get homework help. Friday and Saturday night activities at the Annex, step classes, teen talk, design, cooking classes, volunteer opportunities, and special events (dances, basketball, snowboarding) are also offered. Teens can attend campouts and programs during the summer, as well.

At Broadway Bound, kids get a chance to participate in a professionally-produced show and perform in front of a live, paying audience. The theatre offers three full-length productions per year.

Summer camps let kids study dinner theatre (with a show and dinner for family/friends at the end), improv, and a wide variety of other theatre topics.

Centre at Norpoint features a climbing wall, classes in a variety of arts and sports, a gymnasium, and a state-of-the-art fitness center.

The water temperature at Centre at Norpoint Pool is maintained at 85 degrees and the pool features a beach walk-in, a mushroom waterfall, two hot spas, and a dry sauna. Swimming lessons and swim party packages are available.

Crescendo Artistic Environment School is a non-profit organization that offers a preschool program and before and after school care. The program is influenced by Reggio Emilia, Perkins School of the Arts and Montessori School - USA, but places a stronger emphasis on music, dancing, drumming, and cultural diversity. Dance offerings include West African, Flamenco-Gypsy, American and Russian Ballet, and free movement. Vocal and instrumental music are available, along with music theory and musicology. Classes also include Atelier, Yoga and Qi, and Cultures and Languages.

Green Lake Community Center offers a variety of programs for all ages, including a play center for toddlers, pottery classes, sports (tennis, martial arts, volleyball, flag football, soccer, basketball), excellent drama classes held in conjunction with the Seattle Public Theatre, early childhood music classes, a teen program (including Friday Teen Night), and a changing array of classes.

Preschool classes are available for children ages three to five.

The center is attached to Evans Pool, which offers a variety of instructional, recreational, and exercise swim programs.

Jet City offers comedy performances suitable for families. The scenes, games, and music are all based on suggestions from the audience. Jet City also offers improv classes for all ages and levels. See the website for class details.

Federal Way's 234-seat performing arts center offers family-friendly theatrical productions throughout the year. The theatre also offers seasonal drama and musical theatre courses for children and a summer youth musical theater program.

Housed in what was formerly the Jewish Synagogue of Chevra Bikur Cholim, the building is listed in the National Registry as a historical landmark. Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center is a Seattle Parks and Recreation Facility.

In addition to performances, LHPAC offers classes in acting, art, dance, music, and writing for children, teens, and adults.

Moonpaper Tent offers classes, camps, and workshops for children in visual and performing arts. Classes include a parent/child art and dress up classes, storytelling, ballet, fairy forest, secret tree house, and other topics with lots of kid appeal.

Moonpaper Tent is also home to Moonpaper Theatre, which stages several productions for children each year in its 50-seat theatre.

Party packages are available with a wide variety of themes including fairies, dragons, magical forest, rock stars and divas, birds, tea parties, theater and talent shows, animals, superheroes, wizards, cats/kittens, outer space, pirates, mermaids, and more. Parties can include a drama workshop, dress up, face painting, crafts, a treasure hunt, and other activities. Prices range from $225-$500 for up to ten children. Families can also rent a dress up trunk for $100, with free delivery in Seattle.

Moonpaper Tent's Fairy Store sells handmade and vintage party supplies, dress up items, gifts, and custom made party favors.

North Kirkland Community Center offers year-round parent/child, preschool, youth, and teen recreation programs, as well as classes in music, art, dance, drama, cooking, science, languages, yoga, aerobics, and more. A current class schedule is online or available at the center. Registration is available online as well.

The center also has a drop-in indoor playground for children ages one to five, open from mid-September through early June. Call for days and times.

Summer Junior Day Camps are available for kids ages six to eight. Peter Kirk Camps are offered in the summer for kids ages six to twelve.

Indoor Playground Birthday Party packages are available for children ages one to five.

The newest (opened 2006) community center features a gym; art, dance, and theatre classes; cooking classes; teen programs; and drop-in sports and sports programs, including volleyball, basketball, badminton, croquet, horseshoes, and bocce ball. The community center is adjacent to Northgate Park and Northgate Library.

Pontiac Bay Symphony Orchestra is a non-profit mentoring program in which youth ages 12 through 18 and college students rehearse and perform in an
orchestra alongside experienced adult musicians. The adults act as
mentors and include professional musicians, music teachers, and
members of other orchestras. The orchestra performs music from film, television, and theater and presents three concerts a year during the school year.

Pontiac Bay also offers an annual summer camp program where youth ages 12 to 18 have an opportunity to read and perform music from
film, television, and theater, and work with a professional
conductor. The camp focuses on technique, sight-reading, and
performance skills and concludes with a recital. Camp takes place in
July from 9am to 12n on Saturday mornings.

Rainier Valley Youth Theatre offers arts and theatre training for children at all levels of experience, led by professional artist educators and featuring a unique multi-cultural approach.

The SummerARTS program features camps for elementary and middle school students and an acclaimed SummerSTAGE production for students age 14 to 21, all held at the historic Rainier Valley Cultural Center in Seattle's Columbia City neighborhood. SummerARTS 2007 camps include Shakespeare and Mask-Making, Hip Hop and Urban Graphics, African American Music and Painting, and a brand new Middle School Drama Camp. SummerSTAGE features an original, world-premiere adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream, co-produced with BROWNBOX Theatre and set in today's Rainier Valley.

School year programs include Young Playwrights residencies and after-school drama classes.

Less Info  |  See on Map

Rainier Valley Youth Theatre offers arts and theatre training for children at all levels of experience, led by professional artist educators and featuring a unique multi-cultural approach.

The SummerARTS program features camps for elementary and middle school students and an acclaimed SummerSTAGE production for students age 14 to 21, all held at the historic Rainier Valley Cultural Center in Seattle's Columbia City neighborhood. SummerARTS 2007 camps include Shakespeare and Mask-Making, Hip Hop and Urban Graphics, African American Music and Painting, and a brand new Middle School Drama Camp. SummerSTAGE features an original, world-premiere adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream, co-produced with BROWNBOX Theatre and set in today's Rainier Valley.

School year programs include Young Playwrights residencies and after-school drama classes.

Less Info  |  See on Map

SeaTac Community Center offers classes and activities for all ages, including tot-lot indoor play, youth dance, piano lessons, karate, fencing, and teen activities. They also offer room rentals and picnic shelter rentals.

Productions at the Seattle Children's Theatre, which celebrated its 30th season in 2004-2005, strike that magical balance in which childlike sensibilities are respected, and adult sensibilities aren't insulted. Artistic direction is sophisticated and imaginative, and the sets and costumes often evoke an ooh from kids (and adults) in the audience. Every play ends with a cast discussion period, in which the audience can ask questions of cast members. This is simply a top-notch theater company, for all ages.

Before or after the show, families can visit an in-theatre gift shop, which sells toys and books related to that season's plays. Snacks (cookies, candy, coffee, juices) are also available for sale at nominal prices during intermission. Each of the two auditoriums features a cry room at the back, for restless babies and toddlers and their parents.

The Seattle Children's Theatre Drama School offers drama classes year round, and day camps during the summer and on school breaks. [206.443.0807]

Does your little one have a flair for drama? There's something at the Seattle Children's Theatre Drama School for every age - from preschool to high school - and for absolutely every level of skill, interest, and commitment.

All classes are led by theater professionals and teaching artists. Most are held at the Seattle Center location, although the school also offers classes at satellite locations in the University District, north of Seattle, and the Eastside. SCT drama school also produces seven student productions with casts from grades four and up.

During the summer, the school partners with the Pacific Science Center, Woodland Park Zoo, and Experience Music Project to offer Discovery Day Camps on-site. School break camps are also offered (winter, mid-winter break). Register for all classes by contacting the Drama School.

The Seattle Public Theater, based at Green Lake's historic Bathhouse Theatre, offers a variety of drama programs for youth as well as performances throughout the year. Most classes are held at the Bathhouse, but some are located at the Green Lake Community Center or Greenlake VFW Hall (7220 Woodlawn Avenue NE).

Look for acting classes for kids in grades K-12: Shakespeare-themed classes for all ages as well as other smart offerings and summer and school break classes for youth. Full and partial scholarships are available for kids who qualify.

The Eastside's first full-time professional ensemble offers year-round stage entertainment on its intimate Art Deco stage. Families will probably be most interested in the SPROUTS Children's Theatre, which produces original musicals for kids four and up, who get to sit close to the stage so they can see. Kids under three are admitted only at Small Sibling performances. Buy tickets by calling the theatre, visiting the Box Office, or reserving online.

The company also offers performing arts education for children ages four-18, including school break programs and summer classes. Class options include singing, dancing, acting, or just creating characters for both experienced and inexperienced actors. Most classes include a performance of some kind on the final day. A current class schedule is posted online.

Show Biz Kids is an ongoing kids' performing company where children learn skills in singing, dancing, and acting in preparation for shows that are staged throughout the greater Seattle area several times per year.

No auditions are necessary. Rehearsals are held at Ninth Avenue School of Dance in Federal Way every Saturday.

Si View offers a park with a spectacular view of Mount Si, a community center, a pool, fields, and tennis courts. The community center offers classes and camps for kids.

Shoreline's Spartan Recreation Center serves as host to a variety of city recreation and cultural programs. The center features a competition-size gym, a gymnastics/fitness room, an aerobics/dance room, and two multi-purpose rooms. An indoor pool is located within walking distance.

Drop-in use of Weight/Fitness Room is available during regular hours of operation. Drop-in use of the Gymnasium is available during any unscheduled time during operational hours. Kids must be 16 years or older to use the weight room. Youth under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Stone Soup's experienced teachers offer quarterly kids' acting classes for children at all levels of experience in the theatre's small black-painted space east of Fremont, as well as school break programs. Classes range in size from about eight-15.

School-year workshop titles include Creative Dramatics (ages six-10), Rehearsal and Performance Workshop (ages six-10 and eight-12), and Musical Theatre (ages 14-18). Register by phone or online.

Summer programs are offered at Wallingford's Good Shepherd Center at 4649 Sunnyside Avenue N, South Seattle's Seward Park, and Lynnwood's Heritage Park at 19921 Poplar Way, for kids ages five-20. Camps are outdoors and each week youth perform popular children?s literature.

Stone Soup also presents several family-friendly productions a year.

At Studio East kids have the opportunity to discover and explore the performing arts. Children ages four to 19 can take a wide range of after-school and evening classes and workshops. The studio also offers weekday drama performance classes for homeschool students in grades one through 12.

Summer programs include the two-week musical theatre camp called Summer Stages for grades three to six, and two-week Teen Theatre Camps for grades seven to 10. Students in grades seven to 12 can participate in the Summer Teen Musical, and students ages 13-19 may audition for the six-week Young Actors Professional Intensive. Kids ages four to six attend one-week theatre or performance camps.

School break camps are also offered.

The Studio is also the home of StoryBook Theatre, an adult professional theatre company that presents three original musicals every year for very young audiences in the greater Seattle area and Eastside.

Tacoma Little Theatre is a volunteer community theatre that produces five plays each year and offers educational programs for children and adults. Check the website for current class offerings.

TMP has been staging musicals since 1994 and offers several camps and classes for children.

Taproot, located in Greenwood's business district in a restored Depression-era movie house, features a 226-seat theater and productions that "explore the beauty and questions of life while providing hope to our search for meaning." (Quote from its website.)

TCC's Acting Studio offers acting classes and camps for kids ages four to 18 throughout the year. Classes run about six weeks and include themes such as Creative Dramatics and Youth Actors Workout.

Acting Studio Summer Day Camps sessions are one- to two weeks and range from Creative Dramatics and Musical Theatre to Shakespeare. Camps are held at Taproot Theatre, 204 N 85th Street; Grace Fellowship Church, 410 NW 62nd Street; and Greenlake Presbyterian Church, 6318 Linden Ave N.

Buy tickets for performances at the Box Office (206.781.9707), open Tue-Sat 12n-5pm, or through Ticketmaster. [206.292.ARTS]

The Magnolia Theater School of Drama produces dramas and musicals and holds workshops in music, drama for performers ages five and up.

Tim Noah and Cyndi Soup offer interactive puppet shows and musical performances geared towards preschoolers and early elementary students at Tim Noah Thumbnail Theater.

The theater also offers Musikgarten and acting and musical theater classes. Tuition for most classes is $125/10-week session.

University Heights Center, a nonprofit community center serving the University District since 1990, is located in one of Seattle's imposing and beautiful turn-of-last-century grade schools.

The Center hosts programs for adults and children, including the Farmer's Market (held in the parking lot), an independent school for students in grades eight-12, a day care, and art, theater, music, dance, and martial arts classes. Over 150 groups meet here for classes and workshops.

Box office phone numbers: Issaquah 425.392.2202; Everett 425.257.8600

Village Theatre is a leading producer of musical theatre in the Pacific
Northwest. With operations in Issaquah and Everett, Village Theatre offers
family-friendly Mainstage productions, a full spectrum of culturally-rich
touring children's theatre productions though its Pied Piper program, and
youth education and theatre training classes and camps through its KIDSTAGE
program.

Pied Piper offers a full season of theatrical and musical performances for schools and the general public on stage at Everett Performing Arts Center, Everett Civic Auditorium, The Theatre at Meydenbauer Center, McIntyre Hall Performing Arts and Conference Center, and Francis J. Gaudette Theatre.

Village Theatre also offers KIDSTAGE performance classes and opportunities for students ages three-20 at both Everett and Issaquah locations. Students at all levels of experience are welcome. Financial aid is
available, including scholarships, work-study positions for teens, and
payment plans. Summer Theatre Camps are available in Issaquah, Everett, and Stanwood. [Issaquah 425.392.1942 x148; Everett/Stanwood 425.257.6371]

The home of the Edmonds-based Driftwood Players, which offers a full season of classic plays (mostly, though not exclusively, for adults), seasonal works, and family-friendly films.

Tickets are available for purchase online. The Theatre Office is open Tue-Sat, 10am-1:30pm and 2:30pm-6pm during performance weeks; Mon-Fri 9:30am-1:30pm and 2:30pm-6:30pm during non-performance weeks.

Children's theatre classes are offered quarterly. Check the website for a schedule and costs.