With the looming demise of the Fun Forest, parents should take advantage of kid-friendly Seattle Center while it lasts. For the 24th year in a row, Giant Magnet, formerly the Seattle International Childrens Festival, offers diverse international entertainment for the wee ones. Among a dozen-odd acts, most of which specialize in music and dance, German puppet masters Figurentheater Wilde & Vogel stand out. The duo take puppeteering to a new and somewhat dark level in staging J.R.R. Tolkiens The Hobbit (both in German and English). The production includes magic tricks, actors, musicand, of course, puppetry. Between performances on several Seattle Center stages, families can also enjoy free craft lessons, like kite making, and interactive activities including hula-hooping with stuntman Dizzy Hips. PARISA SADRZADEH
May 11-15, 2010
