Thanks to The Palace Theatre for providing us with complimentary admission to the Playtime at the Palace event. All opinions are 100% my own.
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UPDATE: Below is the remaining schedule for the 2017 season!
Mr. Fish “Fantastic Forces”- Sunday, Feb. 19, 3pm
Jay & Ray “Music for everyone” – Sunday, March 12, 3pm
Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers “Everybody Loves Pirates” – Sunday, March 26, 3pm
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Each winter season, The Palace Theatre in Stamford offers a performance series called “Playtime at the Palace” that is perfect for kids of a variety of ages. The shows are held on Sunday afternoons, typically around 3:00 pm, and last an hour. They are held in the Palace’s smaller, upstairs theater which gives the children attending the opportunity to see the performances up close and personal.
It was another freezing cold and snowy winter Sunday when we made the ~1.5 hour drive from West Hartford to Stamford. The timing was nice because we got in the car right at naptime and (luckily) the kids snoozed for the entire ride. My husband and I got a chance to catch up (without three kids trying to get our attention) and my kids got a decent nap (which would be needed if I had any hope of getting them to sit still for an hour!).
Before we knew it we had arrived in downtown Stamford and easily spotted The Palace Theatre.
We quickly found parking in the Landmark Square Garage located right across the street from The Palace, but we did have to trudge through a little bit of snow to get from the garage to the theater. Once inside, it didn’t take long to warm up and make our way to the coat check area.
At The Palace, they have a main stage located on the first floor and a smaller stage located on the second floor. The performance we would be seeing was taking place in the smaller theater, upstairs. Visitors could get there by either taking the actual stairs located near the main entrance or using the elevator which was located near the coat check area.
Once upstairs, we looked around for a place to sit. Our choice was either the floor near the front or the seating area near the back. Since it was only an hour long performance and I knew my kids would have more fun sitting closer to the stage, we chose the floor option.
Towards the back of the seating area was a small concession stand where a few kid-friendly items were available for purchase (cash only).
We picked up some popcorn for the kids and then settled down for the show. The performance we would be seeing was the National Circus Project which I knew would totally entertain my silly crew.
Image from www.palacestamford.org
The show was made up of just three performers and they did an amazing job not only entertaining us, but also giving a few kids in the audience a chance to get up on stage and perform themselves! The kids loved all of their goofy antics, tricks, and talents. My little ones were literally laughing out loud the whole time!
For the Playtime at the Palace series, each week’s performance is different but they are all designed to entertain the whole family. For the 2014-2015 season, there are still five performances remaining.
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- Silent Slapstick
Sunday, Feb. 22 at 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm
All tickets $10
Last year’s hit returns!
Your kids will laugh themselves silly at this program of uproarious ’20′s comedy films, presented with a live pianist! Lincoln Center’s famous silent film accompanist/historian, Ben Model, improvises original scores for 3 short slapstick silent comedies – an ideal opportunity to introduce youngsters to inventive visual humor. Presented in the Palace Cinema!
- “Hatched” Life on the Farm
Sunday, March 8 at 3:00 pm
All tickets $20
Hatched is the delightful musical story of a newborn chick emerging from her shell at sunrise to a strange and busy world. Performed through lively movement, handcrafted puppets and sprightly songs, the story is set amidst an American family farm. Fantastic fun for the whole family!
- Bari Koral Family Rock Band
Sunday, March 22 at 3:00 pm
Tickets: $15 Adults; $10 Children
Refreshing simplicity and tuneful bounce mark this collection of splendid pop-rock songs for the wee set from singer-songwriter Bari Koral, who can write a clap-along song with the best of them (“Clap It!) and capture a young child’s “I’m a big kid now,” lunch-packing pride (“Backpack Song”) with her expressive pop soprano.
- Magical Stories with djembe drummer
Sunday, March 29 at 3:00 pm
All Tickets $15
Enjoy a rich tapestry of unforgettable stories from Ireland, England and Scotland about magic fairies, goblins, notorious kings and fearless princesses! Great for ages 4 and up.
- The Amazing Max and The Box of Interesting Things
Sunday, April 12 at 3:00 pm
All Tickets $15
PBS Kids calls The Amazing Max “an awesome & hilarious live magic show” and the Huffington Post says “his ability to astound is something to see!” The show bursts with striking visual magic, comedy and loads of audience participation. Magician Max Darwin makes objects appear out of thin air, defies the laws of physics and performs miracles inches from spectators’ faces!
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Getting a chance to let my kids experience (and enjoy!) the world of performance art in a casual, relaxed, and family-friendly environment made for a fun Sunday afternoon outing. If you live in the area (or are up for a family day trip), Playtime at the Palace, is definitely an event worth adding to your calendar. Plus, they have a few additional family shows coming up in the next few months. “Dinosaur Train Live” will be at The Palace April 24, 2015 and “The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley” will be there May 21, 2015.
Have you been to The Palace Theatre? Let us know by leaving a comment below!
Playtime at the Palace
The Palace Theatre
61 Atlantic Street, Stamford, Connecticut
Hours:
- 2017 season
- Silent Slapstick – Sunday, Feb. 22 at 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm
- “Hatched” Life on the Farm – Sunday, March 8 at 3:00 pm
- Bari Koral Family Rock Band – Sunday, March 22 at 3:00 pm
- Magical Stories with djembe drummer – Sunday, March 29 at 3:00 pm
- The Amazing Max and The Box of Interesting Things – Sunday, April 12 at 3:00 pm
Pricing:
- Tickets are $12.50.
Details:
- Stroller Friendly: YES. Use the elevator to get the stroller to the second floor.
- Coffee Mug Friendly: N/A
- Restroom: YES. There is a restroom located on the second floor near the elevator.
- Baby Changing Station: NO.
- Parking: YES. Parking is available in the Landmark Square Garage across from the theater. Parking is $3 if you show your ticket stub for The Palace Theatre.
- Food for Sale: YES. There is a small concession stand available.
- Outside Food Allowed: NO.
- Cash Required: YES. For the concession stand.
- Dress Code: NO.
- Evening/Weekend Hours: YES.
- Birthday Party Venue: YES.
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