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On Tuesday, June 14, Backcounty Pictures will be filming on Marin County's own Angel Island for part of a PBS documentary about the California State Parks. They're in need of people to include in the film, especially families with children hiking, biking, and enjoying the park. Children in strollers are welcome, too. Approximately six hikers and walkers and four bicyclists are needed for these Angel Island scenes.

Volunteers will should plan on taking the 11 am ferry from Tiburon to Angel Island and returning via the 1:20 pm ferry. Participants will be reimbursed for their round-trip ferry fares.

If you're interested in being part of this exciting project, please contact Amanda Frost by email at frostbiteprod@gmail.com or by phone at (418) 832-9934; make sure you include your name, phone number and email address.

As a typical second-grader, my son is obsessed with all things LEGO. The little plastic bricks hold an undeniable appeal to kids of all ages, and a lot of grownups, too. For his recent birthday party we turned to Marin's Play-Well TEKnologies, who operate an awesome LEGO shop and drop-in LEGO activity center in San Anselmo. In our case, Play-Well came to our house for a very successful, fun, and memorable birthday bash.

Drew the LEGO guy, a friendly college student, showed up at our house before the party with a hand truck and several crates of LEGOs. We figured that he must have brought a couple thousand dollars worth of the plastic bricks and pieces, all of which were sorted by category or color. One bin held only the little LEGO people, one held basic building bricks, one held little weapons and decorations, and so on.

Join 142 Throckmorton Theatre for a production of the classic musical Singin' in the Rain by their youth program, Marin Youth Performers. 1920s Hollywood is the setting for this stage adaptation of one of the most beloved movie musicals of all-time, a zany, light-hearted, romantic comedy about the early days of sound film, when many a movie studio found itself scrambling to salvage the career of its chipmunk-voiced silent movie star.

Singin’ in the Rain brings to life a memorable score that includes Make ‘Em Laugh, Good Morning, Broadway Ballet (Gotta Dance) and of course the signature title song.

This production of Singin’ in the Rain is performed by an all-youth cast, in 4th through 12th grade, from 20 different schools in Marin County and San Francisco, accompanied by an orchestra of young musicians, all aged 14 to 20 years old, from all over Southern Marin and San Francisco. Marin Youth Performers, 142 Throckmorton Theatre's youth division, provides affordable, engaging, and educational theatrical experiences for young people of all backgrounds, ages, and abilities and produces high quality theatrical productions with performers of exceptional potential and talent.

One of Marin County's most beloved and unique events is the famous Mountain Play—an outdoor theater experience on the slopes of Mt. Tamalpais that's been going strong for 98 years. 2011's Mountain Play production is the Tony Award-winning Hairspray, the story of self-proclaimed "pleasantly plump" teenager Tracy Turnblad as she simultaneously pursues stardom as a dancer on a local TV show and rallies against racial segregation in 1962 Baltimore. Winner of 8 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Hairspray features a heart pounding score of such favorites as Welcome to the '60s, Good Morning, Baltimore, Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now and You Can’t Stop the Beat. Hairspray is based on the 1988 movie of the same name written and directed by cult filmmaker John Waters.

The Mountain Play's production of Hairspray features a professional cast (including local singer/songwriter and children's performer Susan Zelinsky, AKA Susan Z, as Velma Von Tussle), and is directed by Marin drama legend and Mountain Play veteran James Dunn.

Do your children love to dance? Most kids do, so why not consider a dance birthday party when that time of the year rolls around. Both of my children (ages 5 and 8) recently went to birthday parties at Novato's Love2Dance dance studio. I attended both parties and have to say both of them were an absolute blast.

While Love2Dance is a serious dance studio—owner Tara-Caprice Broadwater is a former Golden State Warrior dancer with over two decades of dance experience—their birthday parties are for children with little or no dance experience who just want to have fun. Of course if you know how to dance, that makes things even better.

Fans of Arnold Lobel's classic series of Frog and Toad books will be charmed and entranced by Bay Area Children's Theatre's production of A Year with Frog and Toad. Even if you're not familiar with the adventures of the titular amphibian duo, you'll still enjoy this fun-filled live musical that chronicles the adventures of the best friends Frog and Toad.

A Year with Frog and Toad plays on weekends at 2 pm through April 17 at the Freight and Salvage coffeehouse on Addison Street in downtown Berkeley, and it's well worth the short drive from Marin. Our family took in a performance on opening weekend, and had one of our best children's theater experiences ever!

Charlie Cromer and William O'Neill are a delight in the roles of Frog and Toad, respectively, and the cast of supporting characters is expertly handled by Elana Cowen, Rebecca Pingree, and Reggie White, all of whom tackle the multiple roles of birds, moles, a turtle, a mouse, and more. White, in particular, just about steals the show as the enthusiastic but slow-moving snail who gives a literal read on the term "snail mail".

This Saturday, March 19, 2011, the San Francisco Ballet premieres its production of Coppélia, a full-length comedic story ballet. With choreography be the legendary George Balanchine and a melodious score by 19th-century French composer Leo Délibes, Coppélia tells the enchanting and humorous story of the young couple Swanilda and Franz, whose courtship goes awry when Franz falls for a life-like dancing doll created by mysterious inventor Dr. Coppelius.

To teach Franz a lession, Swanilda disguises herself as the doll and pretends she's the doll come to life. In the end, there's a happy ending as Swanilda and Franz reunite, and we see their joyful wedding celebration. With new costumes and fairy tale sets by renowned Italian designer Roberta Guidi di Bagno, Coppélia is an enchanting family friendly production that's guaranteed to win your heart.

Although St. Patrick's Day is on Thursday, March 17, they'll celebrating this ever-so-Irish holiday this weekend in San Francisco. So put on your green shirt (or hat, or pants) and bring your family to San Francisco’s 160th Annual St. Patrick Irish Parade and Celebration, which takes place at the Civic Center Plaza from 10 am–5 pm on Saturday, March 12.

The parade itself starts at 11:30 am at 2nd and Market Streets and winds its way to City Hall. With over 5,000 participants, including bagpipers, marching bands, and Irish dancers make this the largest St. Patrick's Day celebration east of the Mississippi.

You can also take in some fun and Irish culture at the St. Patrick's Day Festival, which takes place at Civic Center Plaza and on Grove and Polk Streets. The festival includes live performances and entertainment, arts and crafts exhibitors, food and beverage booths, kids' rides and inflatables, a petting zoo, pony rides, and more. The festival takes place before, during, and after the parade.

It Must Be Pinocchio is Masque Unit Junior Theatre’s annual musical production for young children, based on the beloved tale of the little wooden puppet who becomes a real live boy. This production of award-winning playwright and composer Ron Lytle’s version of this timeless classic features an all new score of tuneful songs, delivered by a cast of fall-down-funny personalities. The colorful characters, fast-paced action, and hysterical humor will please not only children of all ages, but adults as well.

It Must Be Pinocchio will take place at the Showcase Theater at the Marin Civic Center in San Rafael on March 5 and 6 at 1 and 3 pm. Tickets are $8 per person, available through the Marin Civic Center box office at (415) 499-6800.