PlayhouseSquare Announces 2010-11 Children's Theater Series

Beloved children's books coming to life on stage and an unique circus performance for the whole family make up the 2010-11 Children's Theater Series, presented by the Community Engagement & Education Department at PlayhouseSquare. The Children's Theater Series, with a subscription price of $40 for four shows, provides an affordable, entertaining way for parents and grandparents to introduce children to quality live theater and the arts.

"The ‘4 for $40' subscription price was introduced for last season's Children's Theater Series," stated Art J. Falco, PlayhouseSquare President and CEO, "and the community response was tremendous. Subscriptions nearly quadrupled from the previous season, selling out the series before the first show opened. That response showed us that we are back on track in fulfilling our mission to provide affordable access to the arts for families and helping children develop a life-long connection to the theater."

"It's been so gratifying to see families from all over Northeast Ohio coming to the theater," said Colleen Porter, director of community engagement and education at PlayhouseSquare. "We've had subscribers tell us that the new subscription price enabled them to do something that they feel is important for their children and grandchildren, and that is introducing them to live theater."

Subscriptions to the Children's Theater Series at PlayhouseSquare are now available by calling 216-664-6044 or online at playhousesquare.org/childrenstheater. The four-show Children's Theater Series subscription package is $40 per seat.

Families that subscribe to the series receive a free activity guide for each show and can choose to participate in workshops held on the same days as Children's Theater Series performances. These fun, interactive workshops are led by professional teaching artists and feature opportunities to learn songs and dance steps, create performances and music and much more. Admission to each workshop is $5 per child.

The 2010-11 Children's Theater Series:

Leo Lionni's Swimmy, Frederick & Inch by Inch
Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia
Saturday, October 23, 2010

Adapted from Leo Lionni's exquisitely crafted Caldecott Honor books, Swimmy, Frederick, and Inch by Inch, this beautiful production features innovative puppetry styles, imaginative lighting techniques and an original musical score. Children will delight in the stories of Swimmy, the tiny fish who uses ingenuity to fend off danger; Frederick, a poetic mouse who makes everyday life an artful experience; and a lovable inchworm who shares his facility for measuring absolutely everything.

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical
Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences on Tour
Saturday, January 15, 2011

It sounds so simple, just a quick trip to the Laundromat with Daddy, Trixie and her beloved Knuffle Bunny. But before you know it, things go horribly, hilariously wrong. Chock full of adventure, song, and gigantic dancing laundry, Knuffle Bunny tells a tale of firsts: a stuffed animal's first trip to the laundry, a little girl's first words, and a Daddy's first time dealing with his child going "boneless." Based on his Caldecott Honor-winning picture book, Mo Willems adapts his adventure thaT Lovingly celebrates the heart and heartache that can only come from a family visit to the Laundromat.

Harold and the Purple Crayon: A Dance Adventure
Hubbard Street 2
Saturday, March 25, 2011
Hubbard Street 2, a company of young professional dancers associated with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, will present an interactive dance adaptation of Crockett Johnson's beloved classic, Harold and the Purple Crayon, where young Harold, equipped with his purple crayon and an infinite imagination, choreographs his own adventures.

The director of HS2, Taryn Kaschock Russell, became excited about the idea to bring Harold to the stage after reading the book to her own two-year-old son: "After reading Harold's adventures again as an adult, I found myself immediately making connections between how Harold creates his own world with his purple crayon and how we create new works at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. I hope that this work will inspire children to use their bodies along with their imaginations to create and become more in-tune with movement."

46 Circus Acts in 45 Minutes
Circa
Saturday, May 7, 2011

The title says it all. You will be on the edge of your seat as three intrepid acrobats race against the clock and their own physical limits to tumble, fly, contort, juggle and balance their way toward a land speed record for fun! An on-stage DJ accompanies a breakneck array of trapeze and aerial acts, floor exercises and hilarious slapstick. Be among the first U.S. audiences to experience this troupe that is busy revolutionizing the world of the circus through fresh techniques of improvisation, multimedia, innovative use of music and international collaborations.

The Children's Theater Series is made possible in part by support from the Ohio Arts Council and is generously supported by the public through a grant from Cuyahoga Arts and Culture. Additional funding for special literacy activities and the series in general is provided by The Children's Theatre Endowment established by the Junior League of Cleveland and the Laub Foundation.

PlayhouseSquare understands its vital role as an educator in our community, and is committed to providing arts learning opportunities of the highest quality to enrich the lives of students, families, teachers and adults. PlayhouseSquare's Community Engagement & Education Department is unique in the performing arts industry for the variety of programs it offers, the partnerships it initiates and the access it provides students, educators and aspiring artists to performing arts professionals. Since its inception in 1998, the Community Engagement & Education Department has offered thousands of events, workshops, classes and more, most with minimal or no fees, to people of all ages from all areas of Northeast Ohio. The generous support of individual and corporate donors and foundations makes it all possible.

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