Youth Theatre Northwest has been educating kids - and producing great theater for families - for an unbelievable quarter of a century, and it kicks off its 25th anniversary season this month with the rock musical PIGS!, a sweet story about a porcine trio that follows its dreams. Each of the new season's 10 plays was selected by YTN casts and audiences from the company's voluminous past lineup. PIGS! runs July 11-20 on Mercer Island. Call 206-232-4145 for tickets, or visit www.youththeatre.org.
West Seattle moms (and dads!), you're finally getting a Stroller Strides program! Grab your water bottle, pop your tot in the Baby Jogger and head to the Alki Beach Bathhouse on July 10 for a free grand-opening class. Sign-in starts at 10:15 a.m. www.strollerstrides.net/seattle
Crafts for the kids, $4 tastes (prosciutto-wrapped shrimp, spinach-stuffed pizza), tons of families and music on an outdoor stage - University Village's free Sounds of Summer concerts are a pretty decent way of wiling away a warm midweek evening. Get there early to snag a seat or table, because it'll get packed. The series kicks off July 16 with Clinton Fearon and the Boogie Brown Band, and continues every Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. through Aug. 20. www.uvillage.com
On July 19, Recess Monkey rocks out with its new CD at ACT Theatre in Seattle. In celebration of Tabby Road, the band will be playing songs from the album (joined by special guests) on a stage in the round. Monkey Jack says, "There's not a bad seat in the house ... [it's] kind of like a Roman coliseum of rock." Jump around to the music, buy the CD and get in on some craft-makin'. The fun starts at 11 a.m. Tickets are $10, and you can pick them up at www.acttheatre.org.
-Kris Collingridge
