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The fun and fantastic Ivy + Bean: The Musical is coming to Marin Theatre Company in Mill Valley! Produced by Bay Area Children's Theater, Ivy + Bean: The Musical is a fun and faithful adaptation of the first book in the New York Times-best-selling series about two second graders, outgoing Bean and quiet but imaginitive Ivy, who were sure they wouldn't like each other but end up best friends.

You can read our review of Ivy + Bean: The Musical here. It was one of our favorite productions from Bay Area Children's Theater!

While the tickets for the Marin Theatre Company production are already sold out, we're happy to announce that we're giving away a family four-pack of tickets to the opening-day performance to one lucky Marin Mommies reader! Tickets are good for the Saturday, March 23, 10:30 am show only.

To enter the giveaway, send an email with "Ivy + Bean" in the subject line to contests@marinmommies.com by 11:59 pm on Sunday, March 17, 2013. We'll choose a winner at random on Monday, March 18. Good luck!

Speak to Me, Marin's premiere series of intelligent, inspiring speaking events for women, presents "Journey of Hope: A Story of Courage, Love, and Determination" a discussion with journalist, host, and reporter for E! Investigates Laura Ling on Tuesday, March 19, 2013, at 6:30 pm.

In March 2009, many of us remember hearing about the frightening experience of two foreign correspondents for Current TV who had been violently captured by soldiers along the Chinese–North Korean border and imprisoned in North Korea. Laura Ling and Euna Lee found themselves at the center of an international standoff between the US and one of the only countries with which it has no diplomatic relations. It was 140 days before President Bill Clinton and Laura’s sister, Lisa Ling, were able to secure the two women a pardon, which released and allowed them to return home. Laura will share her inspiring story of determination and courage as she recounts how she was able to survive her imprisonment, and how the experience has forever changed her view on life.

My daughter is a huge fan of the Ivy + Bean book series by local author Annie Barrows, so we were really excited to hear that a new children's theater production of Ivy + Bean: The Musical opening at Berkeley's Freight & Salvage. Produced by Bay Area Children's Theater, Ivy + Bean: The Musical is a fun and faithful adaptation of the first book in the New York Times-best-selling series about two second graders, outgoing Bean and quiet but imaginitive Ivy, who were sure they wouldn't like each other but end up best friends.

We were lucky enough to attend the world premiere performance of this delightful children's musical, and we had a great time. The production follows the plot of the first Ivy + Bean book very closely, and shows how Ivy and Bean—two girls with opposite personalities—become forever friends after Ivy helps Bean out of a bind and manages to help infuriate Bean's bossy older sister, Nancy, in the process.

This fast-paced play lasts approximately an hour with no intermission, and is recommended for kids ages 4 and up. The action moves quickly, keeping little ones entertained and enthralled, and Megan Putnam and Catherine Gloria are perfectly cast as the title characters. The other actors handle multiple roles with aplomb (It took my kids—and my husband—a while to figure out that most of the supporting actors had dual roles!)

Get ready for musical family fun at this weekend's Marin Symphony Family Concert, taking place on Sunday, February 10, at 3 pm in the Marin Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium at Marin Center in San Rafael. This year's program presents themes of courage, love and a special Valentine celebration.

San Domenico Alumni viola virtuoso Alexandra Simpson is the guest artist. Music from the hit movie Brave, by Patrick Doyle, is the climax of the concert. The concert is hosted by KDFC radio's Hoyt Smith.

Following the Family Concert, Marin Symphony Youth Orchestra musicians assist aspiring young artists at the traditional Instrument Petting Zoo, sponsored by the Magic Flute, where children are encouraged to try out an instrument on their own.

Speak to Me, producer of Marin's intelligent and inspiring series of events for women, has partnered with the YES! Foundation, Ross Valley School District Parent Education, and KIDDO! to do two benefit screenings (100% of proceeds go to YES! and KIDDO!) of the film Miss Representation. If you aren't familiar with the film, it has won all sorts of awards and has received accolades and praise from everyone from Oprah to Common Sense Media.

The film was written, produced, and directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and exposes how mainstream media contribute to the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in America. The film challenges the media’s limited and often disparaging portrayals of women and girls, which make it difficult for women to achieve leadership positions and for the average woman to feel powerful herself.

Common Sense Media says "It's informative and enlightening and will be a total eye-opener for girls and their mothers. Show it to your girls AND your boys".

You deserve a night out at the movies right? And you can help raise a little much-needed money for our schools while you're at it.

The film screenings will take place on:

• Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at Drake High School Little Theatre, 1327 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, San Anselmo. 100% of net proceeds go to the YES! Foundation
• Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at Mill Valley Middle School, 425 Sycamore Avenue, Mill Valley. 100% of net proceeds go to the KIDDO! Foundation

During the holidays, we're indundated with Christmas-themed movies and TV specials of all different kinds. Being something of a family of movie buffs, we decided to put together our list of favorite holiday movies. Here's what we think is worth repeat watching each December.

The Snowman
Based on the picture book of the same name by Raymond Briggs, The Snowman is short 27-minute animated film that tells the story of a young boy who builds a snowman on Christmas Eve, only to find that it comes to life later on that night and takes him on a magical journey to the North Pole.

There’s no dialogue to speak of, except for some introductory narration by David Bowie (yes, David Bowie). The Snowman, with its musical interlude featuring the haunting song Walking in the Air, beautiful animation, and messages of friendship and loss, is a true classic. Your kids will love it, and I challenge any parent not to get choked up by the end.

(The San Francisco Symphony accompanies a screening The Snowman this Saturday, December 22, at Davies Symphony Hall. Learn more about it here.)

Kids love games as holiday gifts (especially ones the entire family can play), and kids love LEGOs. Why not combine the two? LEGO games, produced by the world's favorite maker of interlocking plastic building bricks, do just that.

As you might expect, LEGO games are constructed of LEGO bricks. As with all LEGO sets, part of the fun is actually putting the games together, and part is playing them. Kids can also rebuild the games into different versions, or even make their own creations. You can even modify the included six-sided die to tweak the rules of your game.

Many of the LEGO games are German-style board games, which are designed and played differently from traditional American-style board games. These games emphasize short game play times (20 to 30 minutes, tops), repeatability, social interaction (nobody gets kicked out of the game, like in Monopoly, so everyone keeps playing), and the use of strategy to win. Because they're intended for an international audience, there are minimal reading requirements and words involved, except for the instructions. Feel free to modify the rules to your liking, too. We can vouch for the fact that LEGO games are a lot of fun!

Some of our favorite LEGO games include:

• Creationary, which is similar to games like Pictionary, except instead of drawing you create things out of LEGO bricks
• Ramses Pyramid, where you race to the top of an Egyptian pyramid, avoiding mummies along the way

Tonight is opening night for Marin Theatre Company's family friendly production of It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play. Running through December 16, Joe Landry's adaptation of Frank Capra's beloved film stages the story of everyman George Bailey as if it was a live radio play, with the audience playing the part of the live studio audience.

Five talented actors perform the voices of dozens of characters, as well as create foley sound effects to accompany the action. Directed by Jon Tracy, this unique version of the classic heartwarming holiday movie is perfect family fare for the holiday season.

Evening performances take place Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8 pm, and Wednesdays and Sundays at 7:30 pm; matinees take place every Sunday and Saturday December 1 and 15 at 2 pm and Thursday December 6 at 1 pm. Tickets cost $36–$57, with discounts available for seniors and those under 30. Children under age 5 are not admitted. Bring your family or some friends and save up to 45% off regular price tickets to It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Show with a Family Four Pack! Good for tickets to any performance. Use the code MMWONDER when you order by phone (415) 388-5208 or online. Must purchase 4 general price tickets to activate coupon, only one coupon per order, subject to availability, not applicable to previously purchased tickets.

ODC/Dance's adaptation of the classic children's story The Velveteen Rabbit has been a holiday tradition in the Bay Area for 26 years. With music, dance, and powerful narrative, ODC/Dance tells this classic tale of a well-worn stuffed rabbit who become real, and the little boy who loves him.

This popular production brims with wit, festive costumes, colorful characters—including the 10-foot-tall Nana, a skin-horse, toy soldiers, a crocodile, dolls, and a pack of "real" rabbits, and, of course, plenty of holiday cheer. The Velveteen Rabbit features ODC's renowned company of dancers, 10 young dancers from the ODC school, a score by Benjamin Britten, and narration by legendary actor Geoff Hoyle. This production is suitable for children ages 3 and up. Running time is 90 minutes, including one intermission.

Performances of The Velveteen Rabbit take place November 23 through December 9 in the Lam Research Theater at San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 700 Howard Street (at Third Street). Tickets are $15 for 11 am weekday performances, $17 for side balcony seats, $32 for orchestra/balcony center, and $47 for center orchestra. The Milk and Cookies Party on Sunday, November 25 requires an additional $12 ticket.