Since we live in Western Lancaster County, we are almost halfway between Harrisburg and Lancaster, and York.  We like having access to all of the different things that these cities have to offer.  One of our frequent pilgrimages is to Popcorn Hat Players in the Strawberry Square complex in downtown Harrisburg (www.gamutplays.org)

The Popcorn Hat theater has been performing wacky and wonderful shows for children and their families since 1993.  They also do productions for school assemblies, run a theater school, and as the Gamut Classic Theater, performs Shakespeare's plays and does free Shakespeare in the park performances in the summertime.  These folks could define versatile!

We've attended Popcorn Hat productions since J was 4 years old or so, and K has been there twice now.  We even had J's 6th birthday party there.  The plays are usually fairy tales, albeit the fractured variety.  We saw "The Princess and the Pea" on Thursday.  Every Popcorn Hat show is very informal.  Admission is $7 per person.  Most of the time, you sit on the floor.  Each show starts with the actors leading songs.  We did "Bill Grogan's Goat" and the ever popular and hilarious "Baby Shark" complete with motions.  (An aside to the 3 young mothers sitting next to us who sat through the songs talking to each other:  lighten up.  You're missing having fun with your child.  You'll never get this time back, so stop worrying about how cool you look.  No one cares here.)  The audience is always participating in Popcorn Hat shows, from singing along to actually acting on stage with the actors.  Once J was chosen to be a part of "The Golden Goose", and I've seen them choose kids to be thereindeer in "'Twas the Night Before Christmas."  All of the productions include humor that kids will get, and some that is just for the adults, kind of like it is on Sesame Street.  For example, at this production, the male contingent of the cast burst into "Halo" by Beyonce at one point during the show, as well as a brief clip of "Single Ladies".  I think I was laughing so hard I was crying at that point. 

After the show, there is a food court in Strawberry Square, and a really neat clock on the first floor that runs on gravity and billiard balls--seriously.  Both my kids could just spend hours watching it.  If you park in the Walnut Street garage, you can take the garage elevator to level A (Stawberry Arcade level) which leads you straight to the theater, Strawberry Square, and the Whitaker Center, without even going outside.  It's easy to make a day of it!

 For $7, you really can't beat the entertainment.  I've never seen a bad show there.  My mom often takes the grandchildren there as a special treat, and my kids request visits there frequently.  The place is a gem.  Families all over Central PA have discovered it--now it's your turn.  Be prepared to dance, sing, laugh, and completely love your Popcorn Hat experience.