Families, get ready: Another stellar season from the Arkansas Arts Center Children's Theater is on the way and it includes some of your very favorite characters, children's books and fairy tales.

The 2016-2017 season will feature six Main Stage shows—which will your youngsters be the most excited about?

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Sept. 23-Oct. 9, 2016

Who hasn’t had a day like Alexander’s? Yours may not have included gum in your hair and getting smushed in the carpool and getting a cavity at the dentist and about a thousand other elementary school agonies, but a bad day is a bad day. But fear not. Alexander makes it through—with a little help from Mom.

Winnie-the-Pooh

Oct. 28-Nov. 13, 2016

Winnie is just starting his stoutness exercises when Rabbit arrives with news: “A strange animal has come to live with us. An animal that carries her family in her pocket! But worse still, she’s brought a bathtub! And soap!” Join Rabbit, Piglet, Eeyore, Owl, Kanga, Roo and Pooh for a day of fun and song under the watchful eye of Christopher Robin.

The Elves and the Shoemaker

Dec. 2-18, 2016

Enjoy this musical holiday twist on the classic tale of a poor cobbler with a good heart and a grateful spirit. The shoemaker and his wife receive a magical gift from mysterious visitors in the night. When they gratefully return the gesture, their family is doubly blessed with the happiest, most love-filled Christmas ever.

The Laughable Legend of Fancybeard the Bully Pirate

Feb. 3-19, 2017

Every fifth-grader at Tortuga Pirate Preparatory Academy knows just what it takes to be a pirate captain: A strong arm, a big sword, a loud voice and a mean streak a mile wide. But when three young buccaneers-in-training find themselves marooned on a jungle island with the ghost of their greatest hero, the legendary Captain Fancybeard, they soon learn the difference between a leader and a bully.

Fancy Nancy the Musical

March 10-April 2, 2017

Dress up in your most glamorous attire, pour a spot of tea and enjoy the most elegant musical ever—Fancy Nancy! Nancy and her pals Wanda, Rhonda, Bree and Lionel are thrilled to be dancing in their very first show, “Deep Sea Dances.” Nancy is positive that she will be cast as the Mermaid, but gets stuck playing a dull, dreary tree instead. The lesson: Nancy learns that anyone and anything can be fancy with a dash of imagination. In addition to regular performances, this production will feature Spring Break matinees the week of March 22-25.

Rapunzel

April 28-May 14, 2017

Rapunzel receives anything her heart desires birthday after birthday, gift after gift—until the day she asks for freedom. On that day, the woman who calls herself “mother” reveals her true nature, locking Rapunzel away in a tower. Enjoy this heart-swelling musical as Rapunzel of the enchanted tresses discovers the song that will teach her to fly—the song called love.

Tickets

Ticket prices for each show is $12.50 general admission, $10 for Arkansas Arts Center members. Each show also includes a Pay What You Can preview performance at 7 p.m. the Thursday before opening night.

Frequent theatergoers can choose from variety of season ticket packages from the 3-Play Package (one ticket to three plays of your choice) to the Family Flex Pack (24 tickets to use any way you want). Special early bird discounts are being offered through May 8; call (501) 372-4000 for more information.

Showtimes

Show times for each production are 7 p.m. Fri., 2 p.m. Sat. & Sun.

For more information, to purchase tickets or make field trip reservations, visit ArkansasArtsCenter.org.