Philadelphia International Children’s Festival

Dates:
April 30 – May 4, 2013

The Experience

Now in its 29th year, the widely acclaimed Philadelphia International Children’s Festival brings professional theater created specifically for children to a variety of performance venues in and around the Annenberg Center at the University of Pennsylvania. Performers and companies from across the globe converge in University City to share theater that goes beyond simplistic themes and cartoon-like characters.

Past years have seen productions from Canada, Britain, Japan, Belgium, China, Uganda and Italy — just to name a few — exploring issues as diverse as the Holocaust, family, love and gender equality. Children and adults alike have been amazed at the acrobatic feats of Cirque Eloize, mesmerized by the rhythms of blues guitarist and storyteller Guy Davis and astonished by the worlds created by German puppeteer Bernd Ogrodnik.

History

The Philadelphia International Children’s Festival was created in 1985 with the mission to expose the Philadelphia community to the finest in national and international theater for young people and to offer a forum for the exploration of children’s issues within a theatrical context.

Insider Tip

Don’t miss the FUN ZONE on the Outdoor Plaza — featuring music, crafts, face-painting, jugglers and lots of fun.