This season's offerings through the end of the year include Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, The Emperor's New Clothes, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and The Elves and the Shoemaker.

The Miracle Worker and The Ugly Duckling will be performed in early 2003.

"They're all meant for families," says the theater's marketing director, Rick Haffner. "There's a lot of variety—four musicals, good literature, a fairy tale from Russia and a Hans Christian Andersen classic."

Each performance is completed in one hour—perfect for the attention span-challenged set. But don't let the target age group fool you—this is a professional, highly trained group of actors, directors and set designers. They work full-time throughout the year, bringing theater to Bay Area children through a special school series, to adults during the company's summer series, as well as to national and international audiences through a touring company.

Their home stage, the Sunnyvale Community Center Theatre, located at 550 E. Remington Drive in Sunnyvale, could be the most active performance space in the South Bay. The theater is shared with the Sunnyvale Community Players and is put to use nearly every day and evening of the year. Sets are created and taken apart every morning and afternoon to make room for daily performances and rehearsals by both organizations.

"It says a lot about both groups and the city," says Haffner. "Often when you are challenged it forces you to be more creative."

In addition to performances on its home stage, the group takes its family-friendly shows to the West Valley College Theater in Saratoga, the Louise B. Mayer Theatre at Santa Clara University and Montalvo in Saratoga.

Family ticket rates are available through Dec. 20 and provide a significant discount over single ticket prices. Without the group rate, tickets are $11.50 in advance and $12 at the door and seating is first-come-first-serve. The series draws large audiences and sells out most of its shows.

Alexander, a musical, will run Oct. 19, 29 and Nov. 2 at 11 a.m. Good for kids ages 5 to 11, the story follows Alexander as he learns to face obstacles and deal with emotions resulting from having just what the title suggests—a terrible, horrible day.

The Emperor's New Clothes will be performed on Nov. 9 at 11 a.m. and Nov. 23 at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. A comedy also appropriate for kids ages 5 to 11, the story is about a vain emperor who is convinced he is wearing clothing so fine that the foolish cannot see it—until the trick is uncovered by a child.

The Elves and the Shoemaker will be performed Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 7 at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Two merry elves discover a poor shoemaker who needs help. Their kindness and resourcefulness save the shoemaker from an unhappy Christmas. The performance is appropriate for children ages 5 to 11.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever will be performed Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 14 at 11 a.m., Dec. 20 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 21 at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. A comedy best for audiences ages 7 and up, the story follows the Herdmans', the meanest kids ever, through their first performance in the annual church Christmas pageant.

For information about tickets, call 408.245.2978 or visit www.ctcinc.org.