Reaching stage age

AS patrons who tend to like their opera long and blustery take their seats at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion this week, it’s not surprising to see an occasional look of concern as some round-faced moppet plops down on the seat next to them, ready to see L.A. Opera’s “Hansel and Gretel.”

Theater-going comes with a set of expectations for most people. Opera even more so. And during the holiday season, those expectations can collide with the slew of family-friendly programming, whether it’s the Old Globe’s annual presentation of “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” in San Diego or the return of Disney’s “The Lion King” at the Pantages in Hollywood. Indeed, parents have more than a dozen “Nutcracker” performances to choose from this weekend alone.

Bringing a young child to a live performance can be daunting, as well as expensive. The fidgeting, the wiggling, the threat of impromptu outbursts and the stress of an unexpected potty break can make parents of a young child wish they’d stayed home with a DVD and a juice box. And just try taking two.

“We’re waiting until our children are older before we start going to live theater,” says Heather Rowland, the mother of a 7-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl in Westchester. “My mother took us to all of that when I was very young, but I didn’t really enjoy it until I was a teenager. I remember dreading the ballet.”

Not so fast, says Bob Baker, whose downtown marionette theater celebrated its 47th anniversary in November. “I see the fascination, the wonderment, the smiles, the laughter, the sense of expectation,” Baker, 82, says of the children who attend his company’s performances, which include a version of “The Nutcracker” through Jan. 28. “For many, this is their first experience with live performance and they’ve never seen anything like it.”

Though the children are often as young as 2, Baker says, they’ll sit riveted as the action unfolds. Presented in short vignettes, with most scenes no longer than five minutes, the performances run about an hour, and tickets are $10 to $12. Brought down to a smaller scale, his puppet theater and other shows tailored to suit young audiences offer a chance for children to learn how to be good audience members before taking a seat at a larger show.

Disney’s Tony Award-winning spectacle “The Lion King,” in Hollywood through Jan. 7, certainly falls into the latter category. The elaborate sets and costumes, familiar songs and hyperkinetic choreography might seem more than suited to fully occupy a child’s attention, but with tickets ranging in price from $12.50 to a VIP package at $127.50, and a 2-hour, 45-minute running time (including intermission), you might want to make sure of your investment if you take the higher-end package. Is your child ready for a show in a grown-up venue like the Pantages?

Disney Theatrical Productions executive David Schrader says “Lion King” is recommended for children 6 and older. Recognizing that every child is different, he notes that it’s a recommendation, not a policy.

L.A. Opera’s “Hansel and Gretel,” with just three performances remaining, has proven to be a hot ticket this season as well. Like “The Lion King,” the recommended age is 6 and older, but looking around the theater, you’ll see even younger children at the two-hour show, which includes intermission.

For parents who love opera and want to expose their children to the high arts, there are half-price tickets for children younger than 16. Though a front-of-the-house adult ticket to any opera this season can cost as much as $205, spokesman Gary Murphy says that 15% of non-subscription single-ticket sales for the show have been sold at the children’s rate. Balcony seats are as little as $15.

The musical stage adaptation of “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” in its ninth year at San Diego’s Old Globe theater and running through Dec. 29, aims for an even younger potential audience. The hourlong show, presented without intermission, has a recommended age of 3 and up. Tickets for children are $19 to $29.

“Children in the audience really connect with the children on the stage, especially Cindy Lou Who,” says Old Globe executive director Lou Spisto. “The Grinch can be scary, but I think the kids are in on it. They get that it’s pretend.”

And is 3 too young for a major-venue show?

“We’re not psychologists,” Spisto said. “When Jack O’Brien and his creative team first launched the show, they looked at the material and thought about the audience and made that our recommendation. It’s worked for us. But it’s really the parent’s responsibility to decide what’s right for their child and at what age.”

steven.johnson@latimes.com

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Get the kids ready

We asked L.A.-based pediatrician Harvey Karp, author of the book and DVD “The Happiest Toddler on the Block,” for strategies on attending performances with kids.

* Prep them at home. Talk about the show and appropriate behavior at the theater. Have the child practice patience and work on self-control. For instance, Karp suggests breathing exercises to help calm a child.

* Make a practice run. Going to “The Nutcracker”? Rent or borrow a DVD of it and set up a time to watch it together on the couch, uninterrupted. Dim the lights and talk about what will happen in the theater. Practice taking a bathroom break before the show. Give the kids a way to quietly let you know if they have to go during the show.

* Let’s make a deal. There’s nothing wrong with bargaining with your child, Karp says. Promise something special for after the show, and bring small treats to reward good behavior during it.

* Don’t forget the attachment object. If a young child is comforted by a stuffed animal or toy, don’t leave it at home. It can help get the child through a scary part or distract him or her during a boring interval.

* Keep it real. Most important, don’t set your expectations too high, Karp says. Some children just aren’t ready. If you have doubts, sit on the aisle and be ready to make for the exit.