I suppose there are children who find the combination of puppetry and classical music delightful. They're probably the same plaid- and Mary Janes-wearing waifs who squeal when they get one of those meticulously handcrafted wooden "traditional" toys for Christmas. As for the house-apes I know, if a gift doesn't have the words "PSP" or "legal tender" inscribed on it, forget it. If your future lacrosse and/or field hockey player is among the former, haul his or her classy keister to Carnival of the Animals, a black-box rod puppet show featuring composer Camille Saint-Saëns' "zoological fantasy for orchestra," performed by Kathy Burks Theatre of Puppetry Arts and presented by the Dallas Children's Theater. Shows are 7:30 p.m. Friday, 1:30 pm Saturday and 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Studio Theater, Rosewood Center for Family Arts, 5938 Skillman St. Tickets are $10 to $16. Call 214-740-0051 or visit dct.org.
Fridays, 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 1:30 p.m.; Sundays, 1:30 & 4:30 p.m.; Sat., Feb. 10, 4:30 p.m. Starts: Feb. 2. Continues through March 4