Perhaps admitting this will bring to light that I was an odd child, but so be it: I really loved musicals as a kid. I grew up not only listening to my Dad's Rolling Stones and - cringe - my Mom's Barry Manilow albums, but also singing along to the soundtracks to "Chicago," "My Fair Lady," and "Bye Bye Birdie." My favorite album (other than KISS "Destroyer" and "J Geils Live") was that which was found in every young girl's room in the 70's: the "Grease" motion picture soundtrack. I begged my parents to take me to see the touring production of "The Wiz," starring the incomparable Stephanie Mills, for my 7th birthday. I truly believed my name was destined to be in lights on Broadway. Instead it's in print in City. So be it. I still love theater, and am thankful that I had that love instilled in me as a young girl.

Obviously not every child is destined for Broadway, or an Oscar. But so what? Theater isn't about the end result, it's about the journey: the magical places your imagination can take you if you let it. The stage brings beloved stories to life, teaches lessons, provides an escape, and is just plain fun. No wonder kids love it.

Here in Rochester, there is certainly no shortage of opportunities for kids to enjoy live theater. From stage productions to summer camps, and even a few master classes thrown in, performances are everywhere. Below is a sampling of places children's theater - both performance and training - can be found in and around the Flower City. Most of the ‘burbs around here have programs through either their parks and recreation departments or community theatrical guilds. Simply put, there are too many to list. But living in a place that places such high value on the arts is a pretty great problem to have.

Downstairs Cabaret Theatre

20 Windsor St. | 325-4370, dct-sep.com/

While the majority of Downstairs Cabaret's programming is not aimed toward kids, the summer programs at the theater are. Kids from kindergarten through age 12 spend the day having fun while performing and learning everything from literature-based shows to Broadway music, African dance to puppetry, and even costuming and stage management. Instructors are the very folks you see on stage at Downstairs Cab's productions.

Geva Theatre

75 Woodbury Blvd | 232-1366, gevatheatre.org

Some of the best children's drama training in Rochester is offered through Geva's prestigious Summer Academy. Thirty students are chosen to study for five weeks; this year's focus is on Shakespeare. Although auditions for Summer Academy have already been held, your kids can catch the performance showcasing the youth thespians' work on August 15. Geva also hosts many behind-the-scenes programs designed to bring the theater experience to life for kids: Young Writers Showcases feature plays written by 13- to 18-year-olds; Career Day offers aspiring theater buffs the opportunity to learn about life behind the scenes; and Page to Stage invites high school students into an intensive program of tech rehearsals, readings, and direct dialogue with the company's professional actors. Although many of GEVAs seasonal offerings are not appropriate for younger kids, they are fantastic for older tweens and teens. (Perhaps it's just me, but I'd rather have my son singing songs from "Sweeney Todd" than most of the drivel on the radio.)

Magical Journey Thru Stages

Auditorium Center, 3rd Floor, 875 E. Main St. | 935-7173, mjtstages.com

This non-profit theater company not only provides some of the best kids' theater in the region, it also hosts an annual Broadway revue for charity. Past performances include "Once Upon A Mattress," "Madeline's Christmas," "Grease," and "Fiddler on the Roof," among others. Through this summer's Musical Theatre Experiences camp, kids in grades one through five can channel their inner Cruella DeVil through learning sessions designed around "Disney's 101 Dalmations." The Disneyfication continues with older kids (ages 10-16) with a production of the super-saccharine "High School Musical 2."

ONSTAGE

1200 Edgewood Ave. | 461-2000, jccrochester.org/NewWebsite/onstage.html

One of the coolest things about ONSTAGE's summer program is that kids who are interested in theater just get to be kids interested in theater. There are no master classes or intense rehearsals here. Instead, children ages 8 to 15 get a full summer of music, dance, and drama along with field trips to see productions, go swimming, or participate in other fun activities. It's a worry-free environment where each kid is guaranteed a speaking role and ensemble activity in a musical production.

RAPA-Rochester Association of Performing Arts

727 E Main St. | 325-3366, rapaonline.us/

RAPA promotes much more than theater, but is worth a mention for the wonderful programs it provides. Summer camps offer training in dance, drama, and voice for kids ages 5-7; this summer the 8- to 14-year-old set is producing "Seussical the Musical"; and the "Summer Stock" program for serious performing arts students 16 and up is taking on the ever-challenging and popular musical "Chicago" this season. RAPA also offers classes in hip-hop and bellydancing for kids and adults.

Rochester Broadway Theatre League

Auditorium Theatre, 885 E. Main St. | 222-5000, rbtl.org

RBTL brings Broadway entertainment to Rochester's gorgeous Auditorium Theatre. The final show of the 2008-09 season is a staging of "Wizard of Oz." The just-announced 2009-10 series includes "The Color Purple," "Chicago," and "Grease" (but be aware, parents, the Broadway version of "Grease" is a bit racier than the purified Travolta/Newton-John film). RBTL also offers one of the most unique summer experiences out there for theater-loving kids. Summer Stars, a two-week "Broadway Boot Camp" for kids 11-18, culminates in a final performance on the Auditorium stage. High school students may also be interested in the intensive Broadway Masterclass Experiences, where they can gain experience by working with music directors, dance captains, and acting with cast members of touring Broadway shows. Jazz hands are definitely not optional.

Rochester Children's Theatre

Nazareth College, 4245 East Ave. | 271-7870, rochesterchildrenstheatre.org/

In addition to summer workshops, Rochester Children's Theatre also offers year-round dramatic arts training and performances all designed to bring literature to life. The troupe's performances at Nazareth College remain a premier venue for regional school groups to experience live theater, serving thousands of school kids with their five mainstage programs and theater touring programs over the last year alone. This past season, younger kids were brought into the world of "Charlotte's Web," "Gooney Bird Greene," and "Her True Life Adventures," while older kids experienced the horror of the Holocaust through the eyes of Anne Frank in "And Then They Came for Me." They also host the super-fun and silly Pirate, Princess and Pizza Parties for the younger crowd. Summer theater camps held at School of the Arts are offered for kids 8-15.

TYKEs - Theatre Young Kids Enjoy

JCC, 1200 Edgewood Ave. | 723-6080, tykestheatre.org

One of the best features of live theater is its ability to bring to live characters and stories lifted from the pages of books. TYKEs gets it - like, really, really gets it. With a seasonal line-up that has included "Aladdin," "The Wizard of Oz," "Little Red Riding Hood," and others, founders Gina Donahue and Freyda Schneider aim to bring accessible, affordable theater to kids, performed by professional actors with crowd-wowing sets and costumes.