The Ordway Celebrates Art With The 2009 Flint Hills International Children's Festival, 5/26 - 5/31

For the ninth consecutive year, the Ordway celebrates art by bringing the finest international and local artistic offerings to Minnesota during the 2009 Flint Hills International Children’s Festival, May 26 – May 31, 2009.

The Festival takes place in two parts: School Days (May 26 – May 29) and the Family Weekend (May 30 – May 31). Numerous Minnesota schools take part in the Festival’s School Days by attending performances, taking part in interactive activities and engaging in artistic residencies surrounding the park. More than 14,000 Minnesota students will engage in the performances associated with the Festival and many will take part in fascinating educational workshops. During the Family Weekend, Rice Park and Landmark Plaza will come alive with activity and fun. Families experience the same performances that the students enjoyed during the week, along with a free international outdoor World Party. The World Party offers dance and visual art performances, art- making activity tents, Xcel Energy’s Butterfly Garden, food, interactive and walk-around artists and more.

Throughout the Festival, participants can enjoy a multitude of international performances spanning all artistic disciplines, which take place inside the Ordway and on the outdoor World and Target Alley Stages.

Performing artists from all over the world will visit Saint Paul for the Festival’s five main-stage shows.  Representing countries as diverse as Israel, India and Canada, the lineup features Cirque Mechanics: Birdhouse Factory; The Mermaid Theatre: The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Favorite; Esta (supported in part by Arts Midwest); and Lelavision: The Anther, My Friend. New to this year’s Festival is a free outdoor performance by international performance group Sidi Goma, whose appearance complements numerous local artists on the outdoor stages.

For the second year in a row, Target ® Corporation has generously contributed to the Festival. Thanks to their gift, all tickets to indoor shows during Family Weekend cost only $5. All tickets are general admission and can be purchased ahead of time through the Ordway Box Office.   One indoor show is already sold out, a signal that audiences are anticipating a very exciting and popular Festival.

Other well-known performance groups and artists from around the region performing for free in the parks surrounding the Ordway at the World Party include CAAM, Chicks on Sticks, Chit-Chat Clowns, Cyril Paul and the Calypso Monarchs, The Collective, Dennis Warner in Concert, Bunny Clogs, Kalpulli Yaocenoxtlli, Katha Dance Theatre and School, and Los Alegres Bailadores.

In addition to all performances, the Festival displays several Festival art projects highlighting Minnesota’s finest artistic talents and collaborations. The Festival works diligently to bring together artists and students to engage creative minds. The art that emerges from ARTwalk, ARTcontest, ARTbuilds Project (sponsored by General Mills), K-12 Public Art Project, Digital Kids Project (sponsored by Best Buy Children’s Foundation) partnerships and the COMPAS Residency Program will be displayed throughout the Festival grounds. In addition, the ever-popular ARTmoves Parade invites participants of all ages to take part in a vibrant parade of moving art and sound. To learn more about these exciting Festival Art Projects, visit ordway.org/festival/projects.

The Festival welcomes volunteers from the community to assist with a variety of fun and interesting activities. For information on volunteering, contact the Ordway at: http://www.ordway.org/festival/volunteer/.
 

2009 Flint Hills International Children’s Festival schedule:

Family Weekend

Saturday, May 30

The Mermaid Theatre: “The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Eric Carle Favorites”

10am, 12pm

Ordway McKnight Theatre

Cirque Mechanics: “Birdhouse Factory”

11am, 2pm

Ordway Main Hall

Sidi Goma (Free/Outdoors)

11am, 3pm

Ordway World Stage

Esta

2:30pm, 4pm

Ordway McKnight Theatre

Lelavision Physical Music: “The Anther, My Friend”

3:30pm

Ordway Drake Room

Sunday, May 31

Esta

10:30am, 12pm

Ordway McKnight Theatre

Sidi Goma (Free/Outdoors)

12pm, 3pm

Ordway World Stage

Cirque Mechanics: “Birdhouse Factory”

2pm

Ordway Main Hall

The Mermaid Theatre: “The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Eric Carle Favorites”

2:30pm, 4:30pm

Ordway McKnight Theatre

2009 Flint Hills International Children’s Festival

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

School Days: May 26 – May 29

Family Weekend: May 30 – May 31

$5 tickets except for free Sidi Goma performances

345 Washington Street

St. Paul, MN 55102   

Rice Park

Landmark Plaza

Box Office: 651-224-4222                                 

Group Sales: 651-282-3111

TDD (Hearing Impaired): 651-282-3100

For more information visit: ordway.org, ordway.org/festival, or ordwayfestival.blogspot.com.

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