Courtesy photo Actors from Spheres Entertainment’s Bubble Show perform on stage. The performance will return to the Mishler Theatre on May 19, 2024.

The Blair County Arts Foundation’s Family Theatre series kicks off Oct. 15 with a Sunday matinee when TheatreWorks USA presents “Pirate Song,” at 3 p.m. at the Mishler Theatre.

Public performances for each show have moved to Sunday matinee time in an effort to boost attendance, said executive director Kate Shaffer. Season subscriptions are on sale now.

“The biggest change is moving the performances from Tuesday evening to Sunday afternoon to make it more convenient for families. We realized last year that it is really tough for families to get out to the theater on a weeknight with the challenges of afterschool activities, sports, dinner and homework. We’re going to try Sunday afternoons and see how it works.”

Season subscriptions cost $45 per adult, $30 per child and $39 for seniors. The subscription is 10% off the cost of an individual show ticket purchased later. Individual tickets per show will also be available for $8.50 for adults, $7.50 for seniors and $5.50 for students (plus box office handling fee).

The BCAF will continue to offer a free ticket to grandparents who bring a grandchild to a performance.

Each performance lasts 60 minutes. Here is a list of the shows and a brief description, according to a news release from BCAF:

– 3 p.m. Oct. 15 — TheatreWorks USA presents “Pirate Song,” an engaging and funny musical which features puppetry in a laughter filled show certain to delight theater goers of all ages.

– 3 p.m. Dec. 17 — Iron Bridge Theatre of Tyrone presents Five Little Monkeys,” a colorful and energetic play where five silly monkeys make up their own rules against their mother’s warnings.

– 3 and 7 p.m. Jan. 20 — Missoula Children’s Theatre with a cast of local children presents “Blackbeard the Pirate.” Auditions for roles will be held Jan. 15 for children in kindergarten through 12th grade. This is the only Saturday performance date in the series. The play starts as a lazy day at the beach and quickly turns into mystery and adventure when the search for Blackbeard’s treasure begins.

– 3 p.m. Feb. 25 — Altoona Community Theatre’s “Pinkalicious.” Pinkalicious can’t stop eating pink cupcakes. Her pink indulgence lands her in the doctor’s office with Pinkitis, an affliction that turns her pink from head to toe.

– 3 p.m. April 14 — Iron Bridge Theatre’s “Thwacked.” Talking frogs? A falling sky? A town full of confused folk? What is really happening and who can answer these questions? Find out in this musical as delightful characters unravel the mystery in their fairytale world.

– 3 p.m. May 19 — Spheres Entertainment’s Bubble Show, a comic fusion of art, science and magic. Kids love the gigantic bubbles over the audience and adults love the beauty and complexity of bubble sculptures.

The mix of family children offerings by national touring companies and local theater groups provides audiences with high quality entertainment.

“I love the local connection. Everybody wins,” said Shaffer. “We pay them the same amount of money as we pay the national touring companies. They each do a remarkable job,” she said of Iron Bridge and ACT.

The Missoula Children’s Theatre offers local children in grades K through 12 the opportunity to audition for roles and practice with national directors during its weeklong residency prior to the two performances. Missoula personnel will also present workshops at three different schools.

“It’s amazing what they are able to teach the kids in such a short amount of time. The children have such a sense of accomplishment and have the opportunity to be a part of a live production,” Shaffer said.