The Playhouse Family Fun Series is an annual performance series for children and families that takes place in March, April and May at the Arcata Playhouse with public and school performances of theater, storytelling, puppetry and variety performing arts. Since 2006 the series has brought performers from California, Oregon, Washington, Maine and Canada to perform for Humboldt children and their families. The series strives to bring young people in contact with the performing arts in a safe an intimate setting and host high quality artist in a low cost environment.

By: Kuniko Yamamoto (Florida)
Friday, March 16 at 7pm & Saturday, March 17 at 2pm & 7pm

Magical Mask Mime & Music of Japan combines charming folktales with traditional musical instruments, magical masks, origami and mime to create storytelling that will have audiences spellbound in their seats. This magical theater experience includes audience participation and interaction. Stories reveal the culture and moral perspective of Japan. The audience will be encouraged to compare Japanese and American tales as well as arts and cultural elements during a Question and Answer session. Kuniko is a favorite performer with everyone from Disney’s Epcot Center, to Eskimo villages. www.kunikotheater.com


The Mask Messengers
By: Faustworks Mask Theater (Toronto)
Friday, April 6 at 7pm & Saturday, April 7 at 2pm & 7pm

The Mask Messengers is a series of vignettes ranging from comic to dramatic to poignant. The performers will demonstrate the power of transformation by using masks. A myriad of characters will spring to life! The Mask Messengers offers not only comic exuberance, but also new insights into the artistic, cultural, and historical aspects of the mask. The show has been performed over 2000 times at festivals, universities, and in theaters throughout the United States and Canada. www.faustwork.com


Yes Sweet Can
By: Sweet Can Circus (San Francisco)
Friday, May 25 at 7pm & Saturday, May 26 at 2pm & 7pm

Who says a garbage can is trash? Who says sweeping up is a chore? Yes Sweet Can Circus Theater explores the theme of resourcefulness and instills new life into old ideas, creating a world in which anything can happen. The show includes circus skills of aerial silks, acrobatics, slack rope, and hula hoops, propelled by the infectious music of EO--a one-man orchestra. Take a trip through a surreal storm where gravity is challenged, garbage cans dance, and the metaphor is made real. www.sweetcanproductions.com