New Jersey Theatre Presents 'Very Hungry Caterpillar'

Special Family Day activities will include free face painting, and balloon animals. Hands-on workshops are also available with advance registration, call 732-247-7200, ext. 545. Tickets range from $10-20 (group, student, and senior discounts available).

President's Day is Family Day at the State Theatre

During the Hub City Carnivale, President's Day (2/18) is Family Day at the State Theatre with a nonstop schedule of both free and paid activities at the State Theatre, George Street Playhouse, and Crossroads Theatre from 10am to 3pm. Family Day is geared to children ages 4-10 and their families. The featured event is the glow-in-the-dark performances of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and other Eric Carle Favorites at the State Theatre at 11:30am and 1:30pm. Crossroads Theatre hosts four FREE shows.

At 10am and 2:30pm American Repertory Ballet performs Dance Alive –Ballet Rocks!, a lively introduction to the world of dance. At 11:30am and 12:30pm, singer/guitarist Big Jeff leads a family sing-a-long with fun, interactive songs that both entertain and educate. A variety of hands-on workshops take place throughout the day including three sessions at Crossroads Theatre led by American Repertory Ballet (ARB)—Dancing with Eric Carle (10:30am), and Hand-in Hand (12pm & 1:30pm); and three workshops led by George Street Playhouse (GSP) at their own venue—Playing with Eric Carle (10am), Making Character Masks (11:30am), and a Theater Improvisation workshop (2pm). To sign up for the workshops, call 732-247-7200, ext. 545. Adding to the festival atmosphere is a new venue—the Hub City Big Top—set up on Livingston Avenue in front of the State Theatre. Under the Big Top families can enjoy food, FREE face painting and balloon animals, live characters from popular children's shows, Radio Disney's DJ Mickey, games, and more.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Returning to the State Theatre by popular demand, this perennial favorite features three of Eric Carle's storybook tales, adapted for the stage with the brilliant black-light puppetry of Mermaid Theatre. The counting story, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, depicts a caterpillar's progress through a variety of foods and his eventual metamorphosis into a butterfly. In Little Cloud, the title character changes into the shapes of things he sees before rejoining his cloud family to make a rainstorm. The third tale, The Mixed-Up Chameleon, teaches children the importance of being true to oneself. -- www.statetheatrenj.org