Little Miss Muffet's Monster-Sitting Service at the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre - And A Chance to Win Tickets to the Show! GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Last month, we took a family trip into New York City to visit Central Park in it's early spring splendor and to see Little Miss Muffet's Monster-Sitting Service, the current show playing at the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre now through August 26.

My six and eight-year-old daughters loved the show, and my two-year-old son did, too - after a bit of a slow start. The show is recommended for ages 3-12, and with a running time of a little under an hour, it really is a great "first show" for little ones.

The theatre is also very accomodating of kids (like my son) who took a few trips back and forth before settling in happily to watch the show.

And, as is always a pleasure to report, the show has enough humor and fun to be enjoyable for older kids and grown-ups, too.

The marionette productions at the Swedish Cottage are based on children's classics but given innovative and contemporary updates with lots of singing and dancing.

This show tells the tale of Molly Muffet (the great–great–great–great granddaughter of the original, “Little Miss Muffet”) and what happens when she ends up home alone while her parents leave for a high school reunion. With help from "Al"(short for Aloisius Albrecht Alviss Spider) who is in fact the same spider who once sat down beside the original Miss Muffet, they start a monster-sitting service which results in as many troubles and delights as you would imagine would come from baby-sitting monsters.

The Swedish Cottage (built in 1876) is a charming destination itself and the fairytale park next door makes a great before or after show stopping place as well.

Located at 79th Street and the West Drive inside the park (easiest entrance is on 81st street from Central Park West), make sure you leave enough time to walk there with your little ones. (Click here for a map.)

There's a lot to see in the park, and if your kids are like mine, they do not want to be rushed and do not have a firm grasp of what is meant by "We're going to be late." and "The show starts at as specific time. We can dawdle afterwards."

Taking a break to smell the daffodils

If you would like to see Little Miss Muffet's Monster-Sitting Service, here's your chance to win a Family Pack of Four Tickets!

To enter, leave a comment below (make sure it has your email address, or a way to contact you) and let us know if your kids have ever been to a puppet show!

For five additional entries:
- Follow this blog publicly via Google Friend Connect (it's on the right side of this page)
- Follow City Parks Foundation on Twitter @CPFNYC
- Follow me on Twitter @Anna_Sandler
- Like City Parks Foundation on Facebook
- Like RandomHandprints on Facebook

Please leave a comment for each of the above you do, or if you do all five you can leave just one comment saying "High Five!" or something similar.

Thank you for entering! Ticket giveaway ends on Monday, April 23 at 10am EST. CLOSED.

For a full schedule of performances and to purchase tickets to the show ($8 adults, $5 kids) click here.

The Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre is a service of the City Parks Foundation. My family received tickets to facilitate the review of the show. All opinions are my own.

Giveaway small print: Contest open to U.S. residents age 18 and over. Contest ends at 10:00am EST, Monday, April 23, 2012. Winners will be randomly selected via Random.org and announced here as well as emailed or messaged on Twitter with the good news. Entrants must provide contact information in their comment. If winner does not respond within forty-eight hours, a new winner will be selected. Prize supplied and fulfilled by the City Parks Foundation. Performance date to be determined by City Parks Foundation, who will work with winner to find a suitable date. I was not compensated for this post or for promoting this contest.

For more information and full giveaway rules, please contact anna@randomhandprints.com.

Good Luck!