A Summer Feast of Arts for Children : Performances, Workshops, Classes and Exhibits Offered to Brush Off Doldrums

First, it’s the aimless wandering around the house, followed quickly by the crash of plates and the shriek of a beleaguered cat. Then, there it is, the sound that strikes panic into a busy parent’s heart. . . .

“Mom, I’m b-o-o-o-r-e-d!”

This summer, when the vacation doldrums roll in, Orange County arts organizations are ready with a variety of performances, workshops, classes and exhibits to soothe--and stimulate, entertain, educate and otherwise occupy--your savvy beast. Here are a few ideas.

THEATER

* The American Children’s Theatre presents its adaptation of the Brothers Grimm classic “Stone Soup” through Saturday at the Anaheim Cultural Arts Center (931 N. Harbor Blvd.). The troupe will stage “The Pied Piper” June 23 through Aug. 31. Performances are Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets: $5. Call (714) 544-7124.

* Center Stage Productions continues its run of the Broadway musical “Annie” through June 30. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Anaheim Cultural Arts Center (931 N. Harbor Blvd.) Tickets: $6 to $8. The troupe will feature local schoolchildren in a production of “Oliver!” in late July; dates and ticket prices are to be announced. Call (714) 491-7144.

* The Buena Park Children’s Musical Theatre stages “The Wizard of Oz” at the Buena Park High School Performing Arts Complex (8833 Academy Way). Performances are Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets: $2 to $3. Call (714) 821-1394.

* Maurice Maeterlinck’s classic children’s play, “The Blue Bird,” takes wing in a revival by The Laguna Playhouse Youth Theatre June 8 through 17. Performances at the Playhouse (606 Laguna Canyon Road) are Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets: $5 to $8. Call (714) 494-0743 or (714) 494-8021.

* Mime Ruben Gerard wheels into the Children’s Museum at La Habra (301 S. Euclid St.) on June 16 with a noon performance focusing on travel and transportation. Admission: $1.50 to $2. Call (213) 905-9793.

* In its “Summer Theatre on the Green” series, the city of Yorba Linda Parks and Recreation Department presents two family shows, “Cheaper by the Dozen” (June 23 through 30) and “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” (July 7 and 14). Tickets for “Cheaper,” which include a complete picnic dinner are $7 to $9. Tickets for “Charlie Brown” are $1. Call (714) 961-7160.

* Children can tag along on “The Everyday Adventures of Harriet Handelman, Super Genius” as the 10-year-old whiz kid fights for truth, justice and a decent spot in the lunch line. This original children’s play by Greg Atkins is presented as part of the Irvine Valley College Theatrefair. Performances at the school’s Forum Theatre (5500 Irvine Center Drive) are July 6 through 14 at 2 and 7 p.m., July 19 at 2 p.m., July 20 at 2 and 6 p.m. and July 21 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tickets: $6 to $8. Call (714) 559-3275.

* The Children’s Museum at La Habra (301 S. Euclid St.) hosts budding actors in an informal performance of one-act children’s plays July 7 and 14 at 1 p.m. Admission: $1.50 to $2. Call (213) 905-9793.

* Robin Hood, his merry men and merry maids carouse in “The Adventures of Robin Hood,” an Irvine Valley College Theatrefair production running July 19 through 28. Open-air performances on the campus lawn (5500 Irvine Center Drive) are Thursday through Sunday at 8 p.m. Tickets: $7 to $8. Call (714) 559-3275.

* La Habra Depot Playhouse Youth Theatre presents C.S. Lewis’ classic fantasy “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” July 19 through Aug. 12 at the Depot Playhouse (311 S. Euclid St.). Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., Sunday 2:30 and 7 p.m. Tickets: $6 to $8. Call (213) 905-9708.

* The Brea Youth Theatre presents an all children’s cast in “Li’l Abner,” Aug. 3 through 12 at the Curtis Theatre in the Brea Civic and Cultural Center (1 Civic Center Drive). Performance times vary. Tickets: $6 to $7. Call (714) 990-7722.

DANCE

* Ballet Pacifica concludes its 1989-90 children’s ballet series this weekend with performances of “Hansel & Gretel” and “Dance America” today at the Festival Forum Theatre, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. Performances are 11:30 a.m., 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. Tickets: $5 to $7. Call (714) 642-9275.

* Dinky dancers tap, tap, tap their troubles away in “Teddy Bear Tap Go,” Saturday at noon at the Children’s Museum at La Habra (301 S. Euclid St.) Admissions: $1.50 to $2. Call (213) 905-9793.

* On June 8 and 9, the Nouveau Chamber Ballet dances “Cigale,” an adaptation of the fable “The Grasshopper and the Ant” in a family program at the Fullerton College Campus Theatre (321 E. Chapman Ave.). Performances are at 8 p.m. Tickets: $8 to $10. Call (714) 526-3862.

* Ballet Repertory Theatre features dancers 14 and up in “A Gala Performance” of classical and contemporary dance at the Golden West College Mainstage Theatre (15744 Golden West St., Huntington Beach). Shows are June 9 at 7:30 p.m., June 10 at 3 p.m. Tickets: $5 to $8. Call (714) 895-8378.

* Dancers 6 to 16 from the Relampago del Cielo troupe (the name means “Lightning from Heaven”) will present a free performance of traditional folkloric dance June 10 at their studio (2326 S. Susan St., Santa Ana). Mexican food and drink will be available for purchase. Call (714) 966-6696.

MUSIC

Inventor-musician Ron George plays original music on instruments of his own design June 2 at the Newport Harbor Art Museum, 850 San Clemente Drive, Newport Beach. Admission for the 3 p.m. family concert is $2; tickets are $5.50 for the 8 p.m. performance. Call (714) 759-1122.

* More than 400 Orange County musicians, age 3 to 18, will play the Orange County Performing Arts Center’s Segerstrom Hall in the “Orange County Youth Celebration of Music” concert, a benefit for Childrens Hospital of Orange County. Performers include the Santa Ana High School Winds, the Irvine High School Jazz

Ensemble and 10 young pianists backed by an 80-piece children’s orchestra. The performance is Sunday at 5 p.m. at OCPAC, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Tickets $8 to $25. Call (714) 556-2787.

* The popular children’s music trio Parachute Express will drop into the Celebrity Theatre (201 E. Broadway Ave., Anaheim) for a 10:30 a.m. performance on June 30. Tickets: $10.75. Call (714) 999-9536.

WORKSHOPS

* On June 10 at the Laguna Art Museum (307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach), children can develop an ear for art by participating in an audio workshop led by mixed-media artist Ilene Segalove. The session begins at 11 a.m. Tuition: $6. Later this summer, young artists can brush up on their drawing and painting skills while taking in some of the best views in town during the museum’s Plein Air Workshop. The outdoor classes run June 12 through 28 and Aug. 7 through 23. Recommended for ages 6 and up. Tuition: $45. Museum hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call the museum’s education department at (714) 494-8971.

* With a variety of art workshops and special events, your children can dabble all summer long at the Newport Harbor Art Museum (850 San Clemente Drive, Newport Beach). Programs include Mervyn’s Fun Day Sundays, a series of hands-on visual and performing-arts workshops on June 17, July 22 and Aug. 19 (free admission coupons are available at Mervyn’s stores), and an Independence Day Art Workshop on June 27 for children 4 and up. In July and August, the museum offers a continuing series of children’s art classes, ranging from a “Mini Masters” sculpture program for preschoolers to an introduction to printmaking for older students. Tuition varies. Museum hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call (714) 759-1122.

* Wee warblers ages 5 and under can chime in at the Toddler Sing-Along June 23 at noon at Children’s Museum at La Habra (301 S. Euclid St.). Admission, $1.50 to $2. Call (213) 905-9793.

* Yorba Linda’s Parks and Recreation Department hosts a children’s musical-theater workshop June 25 through Aug. 11. Open to children ages 7 to 18, the series will include theatrical, dance and vocal training and will culminate with a fully staged production of “The Music Man.” Tuition: $175. Call (714) 961-7160.

EXHIBITS

* From June 18 through Sept. 8, children can get behind the wheel of “Cars, Trains, Boats and Planes,” an interactive exhibit on transportation and travel at the Children’s Museum at La Habra (301 S. Euclid St.). Museum hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission: $1.50 to $2. Call (213) 905-9793.

* From July 14 through Aug. 26, the Fullerton Museum Center (301 N. Pomona Ave.) will present “Kaleidoscopes; Reflections of Science and Art,” a Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibit geared towards children and adults. Activities accompanying the series include a hands-on kaleidoscope-making workshop for youngsters. Call (714) 738-6545.

The museum’s Club FMC, a two-week series of lectures, research and workshops, will give high school students insights on careers in the arts and humanities. Dates and tuition to be announced. Museum hours are Tuesday and Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission: $1 to $2, children under 12 are free.