EQT Children’s Theater Festival Opens in Cultural District; “The Avengers: Age of Ultron” Continues (CPs Thurs., 5/14/15)

Is this theater? Yes, because the Children’s Festival is one big performance.

1) There’s no need for children to sit still and listen to enjoy the EQT Children’s Theater Festival—in fact, they don’t have to see a play at all. The entertainment at the four-day festival includes more than 40 hands-on activities from hula hooping and building with Lego to a giant sand box. The performances—which come from theater companies around the world—don’t require sitting quietly either. Tangle, by Polygot Theatre of Australia, involves making your own art installation by winding colorful elastic around poles. Meanwhile, a production by Danish company Teatret Gruppe 38, strictly for 8-year-olds and over, asks whether you’re brave enough to hear the “real story” of Hansel & Gretel. Runs through Sunday. Multiple venues, Cultural District.

2) The Avengers: The Age of Ultron – The whole world wants to know: “Who is Ultron?” Well, this past weekend the whole world found out. Ultron is a giant intergalactic ATM from which Marvel Studios is hoping to withdraw at least as much as the $1 billion they made from the last Avengers movie.

Just kidding! Ultron is a villainous robot brought to life when Tony (Iron Man) Stark makes a big boo-boo in his lab. All your favorites are back: Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson and Jeremy Renner (Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Captain America, Black Widow and Hawkeye) as well as newcomers-to-the-franchise James Spader, Don Cheadle, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany as various good/bad guys/gals. And before I forget, Samuel L. Jackson also shows up as Nick Fury. Even if each only gets 10 minutes of screen time, that’s a two hour film right there. Joss Whedon returns as writer and director. Check Fandango for times at your local movie house.

3) Mario’s East Side hosts Team Trivia Night every Thursday. Win, place, or show and your team will earn Mario’s gift certificates. Play against the Miller Lite Girls, and you could even win Miller Lite trinkets and giveaways! Feed your brain after the long winter season. 8 p.m. 5442 Walnut St., Shadyside.

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