Spark a Love of the Arts | 2024 Children’s & Bridge Theater Series​

A love of theater starts here

Calling all thrill-seekers and make-believers in your family! The next time you plan a trip to Pittsburgh, be sure a show from the 2024 Children’s & Bridge Theater Series from our friends at the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust to your itinerary!

This year, your family can explore fantasies with exotic settings that range from the deep blue sea to high above with shows like The Rainbow Fish, Song of the North and Blizzard. Read on to learn more about these programs, upcoming shows and more family fun you can have while you visit!

Children's Theater that Inspires

If you're unfamiliar with Pittsburgh's bustling theatre scene, here's a quick explainer. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust (PCT) has transformed the arts scene in Pittsburgh, focusing on bringing world-class arts events and stunning visual arts exhibitions to the 14-square-block area Downtown we call the Cultural District.

In order to foster a love of the performing arts from the youngest ages, PCT also runs the Children’s Theater Series, designed for ages three and up. Their programming helps spark that love of theater with high-quality, professional shows that are easy on your budget.

For ages seven and up, the Bridge Theater Series helps children transition successfully from youth programming to more adventurous theater, all while encouraging participation, encouragement and respect of creative ideas in the arts.

2024 Children’s Theater Series

The Rainbow Fish (Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia)
Feb. 24, 2024 | Byham Theater

Innovative puppetry, striking scenic effects and original music will enchant even the youngest child in this story of a beautiful fish with his silver scales and heart of gold learning to share his most prized possession.

Dog Man: The Musical (Theater Works USA)
April 13 & 14, 2024 | Byham Theater

Best buds George and Harold take to the stage with an epic musical based on their favorite character, Dog Man, the crime-biting sensation who is part dog, part man, and ALL HERO! But can Dog Man save the city, catch the world’s most evil cat, and finish before lunchtime?

Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About a Terrible Monster (Manual Cinema)
May 17-19, 2024 | Byham Theater

When unscary monster Leonardo finds Sam, the most scaredy-cat kid in the world, will he finally get to scare the tuna salad out of someone or will it be the start of an unlikely friendship? Watch it unfold as colorful puppets & props bring the work of Mo Willems to life.

2024 Bridge Theater Series (for ages 7+):

Call of the Wild: Illustrated Edition (Theatre Heroes)
Jan. 20, 2024 | Byham Theater

Jack London’s classic tale comes to life on stage. Kidnapped from a lavish life and sent to work as a sled dog in the gold rush, Buck finds the primal strength of his ancestors in this thrilling multimedia adventure.

Song of the North (Kingorama)
Feb. 17, 2024 | Byham Theater

Shadow puppetry and large-scale cinematic animation tell the courageous tale of Manijeh, an ancient Persian heroine trying to rescue her beloved and prevent a war of her own making. Explore unity, collaboration, and experimentation in this epic love story adapted from the Book of Kings.

Blizzard (Cirque FLIP Fabrique)
April 6 & 7, 2024 | Byham Theater

A group of friends, each one different from the other, like snowflakes, explore the white wonder of a winter storm in this incredible cirque journey of awe-inspiring spectacle, fun, and breathtaking visual poetry.

Finding North (a collaboration between David Gonzalez and Daniel Carlton)
May 17-19, 2024 | August Wilson African American Cultural Center

The strivings, sacrifices, and dreams of former enslaved man John P. Parker are brought to life in this one-man performance by Daniel Carlton. Drawing on historical research and oral history, Parker’s stories blend with other contemporary community members searching for haven, captivating the audience with conversations of prejudice, privilege, and freedom in America.

Make it a Long Weekend

Have your tickets? Good. Now, let's fill that itinerary with kid-friendly things to do all around the Burgh during your visit. Start by seeing some of the best sights of Pittsburgh with a ride on the Duquesne Incline up to scenic overlooks or on the Gateway Clipper to tour our namesake three rivers.

Then, head to our award-winning museums for interactive, kid-focused fun. Get hands on at the Children's Museum to play and create art, see incredible dinosaur fossils at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, design a lunar rover at Moonshot Museum or head all the way to Mars at the Daniel G. and Carole L. Kamin Science Center.

If your family wants all the theatre it can pack into one weekend, circle May 17-19, 2024 on your calendars now. The EQT Children's Theater Festival that weekend takes over the Cultural District with a sprawling festival full of professional performances (including Finding North and Leonardo mentioned above) plus interactive dance, art, play and more as your kids complete activities and earn prizes as they go.

Learn More & Plan Your Visit

Tickets for the Children's and Bridge Theater Series' shows can be purchased online directly from the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust website. Individual show tickets for the 2024 season will go on sale in mid-November. Because these shows all happen early in 2024, tickets for these shows also make a great stocking stuffer! Give the gift of experiences and start that love of theater early.

For locals or those often bringing their families to Pittsburgh, be sure to explore their subscription packages, which includes early access to tickets, your choice of three or more shows (which can easily be exchanged as needed) and dining discounts to top spots around the Cultural District and these majestic theatres.

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Jared B.

Author

Jared B.

Enthusiastic Pittsburgher

Always in search of the next great craft beer and arcade. Can be found in the Supporters Section of Pittsburgh Riverhounds games and at whatever festival is happening in the city.

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