The Experience: Our family has seen nary an episode of the legendary Scholastic TV show “The Magic Schoolbus,” but that didn’t stop us from being mesmerized by the Oregon Children’s Theatre’s live stage adaptation, The Magic Schoolbus Live: The Climate Challenge.

From the moment Ms. Frizzle and her class of curious kids board the bus for their first adventure, we and all the other kids in this packed audience were agape. (Literally – I looked down the row and saw nothing but open-mouthed faces and riveted eyes.)

The class travels around the globe to figure out why the weather’s so wacky these days, and in the course learn about habitats, animals and the relationship between people, our actions and the changes we can see in the seas or feel in the weather.

It’s a cautionary tale, to be sure, but it’s fraught not just with evergreen messages like, “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle,” but also fresh additions like “Rethink” how you do things and “Small Things Matter” (small people, it seems to imply, do too). And even this relatively educated adult appreciated the refresher on the science of the greenhouse effect.

Bottom line? Take the time to catch this bus. You’ll walk away with lots to think about, to be sure. But between the show’s catchy songs and fast-moving dialogue, lively staging, creative sets and imaginative use of simple effects to pull it all together, you’ll never even know you’re learning something.

Inside information: The Magic Schoolbus runs about an hour, with no intermission. Booster seats for smaller kids can help ensure their view; get yours at the coat check room.

The 411

Performance dates: Runs Saturdays at 2pm and 5pm; Sundays at 2pm thorough Feb. 19. Tickets: $16 to $30 adults, $13 to $26 youth, plus charges. Location: Newmark Theatre at the Portland Center for the Performing Arts’ Hatfield Hall, 1111 SW Broadway Contact: 503-228-9751; octc.org/onstage/magicschoolbus.

— Sarah Pagliasotti

The Experience: Our family has seen lots of shows this season, for the sake of these reviews. But Northwest Childrens Theatre’s current production of Willy Wonka, based on the book “Charlie & the Chocolate Factory” by Roald Dahl, is my 7-year-old’s “favorite show so far.” More…

The Experience: If you have a spare hour this coming weekend, go right now and buy tickets to the final weekend of Pinocchio, the latest show from Tears of Joy Puppet Theatre. More…

The Experience: Pinkalicious The Musical opened last weekend at the Newmark Theatre, and sightings of be-tutu’d and bejeweled girls downtown have soared.

With good reason – Pinkalicious the Musical is a pageant of pink that enchants even us earth-tone adults. More…

The Experience: Hero to sassy girls the world over, Junie B. Jones shines in the lively new play at Northwest Childrens’ Theatre based on the bestselling series by Barbara Park. Junie B. and her classmates show us just how trying first grade can be. And NWCT is the perfect troupe to perform this show More…

The Experience: Where can you find rock stars, Chinese acrobats, dog tricks, fruit pies and baby pigs all in one place? The State Fair, of course! Starting Friday, this annual event will More…

The Experience: The legend of Robin Hood continues to thrill, as Northwest Children’s Theater and School (NWCTS) takes on a new telling by formerly-local playwright James Moore.

In this version, Maid Marion wears the pants (literally), Robin is upstaged by The Kid, and it’s all played for laughs. More…

The Experience: Who knew that a play featuring a singing insect, an annelid, and an arachnid, among other creepy crawly creatures, could be so much fun? Well, your kids might have suspected, especially if they were already familiar with the books by Doreen Cronin and Harry Bliss, on which the musical is based. More…

The Experience: If you haven’t finished your holiday shopping, or even if you thought you had, add this to your list: tickets to Northwest Children’s Theater’s production of Annie. The acting is marvelous, the songs exuberant, and the story upbeat, yet relatively complex. More…

The Experience: Every summer for the past 20 years, the Lakewood Center for the Arts has sponsored the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts, drawing visitors from around the region to view and purchase works by local artists. Those who live in the community are also well aware of the classes offered for both kids and adults, including painting, acting and storytelling, and of the full season of plays put on by the Lakewood Theatre Company.

In December, the Company has a tradition of offering two family friendly shows. More…

The Experience: Quick, hire a babysitter and buy tickets today for Mars on Life LIVE!, Susannah Mars’ one-woman ode to the holiday season. The show only runs until December 19, and you need a little bit of adult fun during this hectic time of year (heck, any time of year!). More…

The Experience: For a parent who grew up on spectacles like “Godspell”, “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “The Wiz”, seeing the latest offering from Oregon Children’s Theater was a trip back in time. “Alice and Wonderland: A Rock Opera” was actually written in the ’70′s for adults; it was only recently that playwright Richard Rosen (who was in the audience for the Portland premiere) rewrote it for a younger audience.

The audience, both young and old, ate it up. True to the story, Alice falls down the rabbit hole and meets a host of off-the-wall characters, including the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, the White Rabbit, and others. But rather than speaking, these characters express themselves in song and dance – and eccentric outfits. Alice finds herself a stranger in a very strange land indeed, but makes her way back home again.

It’s like a music video come to life – what more could our kids ask for?
Inside information: Read a version or two of “Alice in Wonderland” and the poems “Jabberwocky” and “The Walrus and the Carpenter” with your kids before you go. The more familiar they are with the characters, the more they’ll get out of the performance.

The 411
Ages: Best for ages 5 and up.
Show times: Saturday, Nov. 6, 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturdays Nov. 13 and 20, 2 p.m. Sundays Nov. 7, 14 and 21, 2 p.m.
Ticket prices: $13 – $20 for children, $16 – $26 for adults.
Location: The Newmark Theater, 1111 S.W. Broadway
Contact information: 503-228-9571, www.octc.org.

The Experience: Alexander might be having a bad day, but the audience is having a blast, as Northwest Children’s Theater kicks off its 2010-2011 season. Judith Viorst wrote the lyrics for this musical based on her picture book of the same name, and it’s filled with catchy tunes that will have you singing along. More…

Classes, internships and performances showcasing the talents of teen and adult performers.
Portland; 503-593-2466; www.bluemonkeytheater.org.

Performances at Keller Auditorium; 503-241-1802; www.broadwayacrossamerica.com.

Camps, classes and performances.
Tigard; 503-620-5262; www.bwayrose.com.

Saturday children’s performances are followed by activities with the performers.
1825 SE Franklin St., Bay K; 503-772-4005; www.thebrooklynbay.org.

Classes and performances throughout the region.
7708 NE 78th, Vancouver; 360-750-8550; www.cytvanport.org.

Improvisational comedy for ages 10 and up; ComedySportz4Kidz for younger children.
1963 NW Kearney St.; 503-236-8888; www.portlandcomedy.com.

Hispanic cultural center featuring performances by the Miracle Theater Group.
Performances at 525 SE Stark; Office at 425 SE 6th Ave.; 503-236-7253; www.milagro.org.

30639 SE Bluff Rd., Gresham; 503-267-2750; www.greshamlittletheater.net.

Experimental theater that defies categorization.
17 SE 8th Ave.; 503-231-9581; www.imagotheater.com.

Musical theater featuring local children.
817 12th St., Oregon City; 503-656-6099; www.krayonkids.org.

Wednesday and Thursday morning performances for young children with audience participation.
8210 SE 13th; 502-232-2346; www.ladybugtheater.org.

Lakewood Center for the Arts, 368 S State St., Lake Oswego; 503-635-3901; www.lakewood-center.org.

Puppet classes and performances.
9615 N Kellogg St.; 503-805-0291; www.mudeyepuppets.org.

Washougal, Wash.; 360-696-1155; www.newblueparrot.com.

Performances, camps and classes.
NW Cultural Center, 1819 NW Everett St.; 503-222-4480; www.nwcts.org.

Performances often feature Japanese Maraku style using marionettes with puppeteers interacting with audience.
503-233-7723; www.puppetmuseum.com.

Performance, classes and camps.
Performances at Winningstad and Newmark Theaters in downtown Portland; 503-228-9571; www.octc.org.