2 for 1 tickets! Use the promo code SUPER50 (while supplies last)
Saturday, November 14, 2015 at 2 and 5 pm Sunday, November 15, 2015 at 1 and 4 pm COCA presents Superman 2050 A Theater Unspeakable production
Founders’ Theatre at COCA
524 Trinity Avenue, St. Louis
Tickets $14 to $18 (use promo code SUPER50 for 2 for 1 tickets)
Call 314.561.4877 or purchase online.
Run time: Approximately one hour.
“A fastidiously executed, often hilarious work of physical theater.”
— Time Out Chicago
Epic story, pocket-sized proportions—seven actors share one tiny platform (just 3-by-7 feet of space!) and upon it an original Superman tale unfolds. Set in a fictional 2050 Metropolis with a remarkable resemblance to Chicago, this Theater Unspeakable production highlights imaginative, resourceful cast members who use only their bodies and voices to create every prop, scene, sound effect, and character in a battle between Superman and Lex Luthor.
There are so many exciting live performances geared towards kids this Fall and Winter in St. Louis. Here are a few shows not to miss!
Note: Performances at the Florissant Civic Center are nationally touring productions, feature excellent artists, and are top rate experiences! Don’t be misled by the inexpensive ticket prices.
October 2-11, 2015 (Limited ticket availability) COCA presents wUNDERland Founders’ Theatre at COCA
524 Trinity Avenue, St. Louis
Tickets $16 to $20
Call 314.725.6555 or purchase online.
Run time: Approximately one hour.
Fall down the rabbit hole with this original dance production, created and choreographed by Anthony “Redd” Williams, that puts a hip-hop spin on Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland.” Experience the classic upside-down fantasy world through a whole new lens with dazzling costumes and cutting-edge choreography, led by the larger-than-life Mad Hatter and many more lovable, whimsical characters.
October 9-11, 2015
Florissant Civic Center presents Caps for Sale, the musical An Adventure Theatre MTC production James J. Eagan Center
1 James J Eagan Drive, Florissant
Tickets $7
Call 314.921.5678 or purchase online.
Run time: Approximately one hour.
“Caps! Caps for sale! Fifty cents a cap!” The cap peddler wears a huge stack of caps, balanced carefully on top of his head. Brown caps, blue caps, gray caps, and red caps. When no one buys a cap, he takes a nap under a shady tree. But, when he wakes up, the caps are gone! Was it bears, pirates, one thousand thieves, or a band of merry mischievous monkeys? Read more about the production.
October 21-November 1, 2015 The Fabulous Fox presents
Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical
The Fox Theatre
527 North Grand Boulevard, St. Louis
Tickets $25 to $88
Call 314.534.1111 or purchase online.
Run time: Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.
“Welcome to the deliriously amusing, heartwarming, head-spinning world of MATILDA THE MUSICAL. You won’t want to leave” says Bloomberg News. It’s Time Magazine’s #1 show of the year! Winner of 50 international awards, including four Tony Awards®, MATILDA THE MUSICAL is the story of an extraordinary girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny. Based on the beloved novel by Roald Dahl, MATILDA continues to thrill sold-out audiences of all ages on Broadway and in London’s West End. The Wall Street Journal says, “The makers of MATILDA have done the impossible – triumphantly! It is smart, sweet, zany, and stupendous fun.”
Celebrate Halloween with a spooktacular concert along with help from special guest, Luna the Bat. Luna will take you on a musical tour of all the wickedly wonderful animals that relish the night. Featuring Night on Bald Mountain from Fantasia and John Williams’ Hedwig’s Theme from the popular Harry Potter films. Presented in partnership with the Saint Louis Zoo.
10:00 to 10:30 am
Kota project (Pulitzer Arts Foundation)
At the Pulitzer, discover the hidden histories of Kota reliquary guardian figures, produced in Central Africa between the 17th and 20th centuries, and play an interactive digital game in the Pulitzer’s exhibition Kota: Digital Excavations in African Art.
10:45 to 11:15 am STL Improv Anywhere performance (CAM)
At CAM, enjoy face painting and help create a “Haunted Garden” mural made out of cardboard with artist Daniel Raedeke. STL Improv Anywhere will lead a performance, and the New Art in the Neighborhood high school art students will guide special art activities.
11:30 am to noon Uncle Albert performance (Sheldon Art Galleries)
At the Sheldon Art Galleries, enjoy crafts from 10:00 am to noon and a performance by acoustic group Uncle Albert at 11:30 am.
Epic story, pocket-sized proportions—seven actors share one tiny platform (just 3-by-7 feet of space!) and upon it an original Superman tale unfolds. Set in a fictional 2050 Metropolis with a remarkable resemblance to Chicago, this Theater Unspeakable production highlights imaginative, resourceful cast members who use only their bodies and voices to create every prop, scene, sound effect, and character in a battle between Superman and Lex Luthor.
November 22, 27, and 28, 2015
Florissant Civic Center presents Fly Guy and Other Stories A Theatreworks USA production
James J. Eagan Center
1 James J Eagan Drive, Florissant
Tickets $5.25
Call 314.921.5678.
Run time: Approximately one hour.
A new musical revue based on favorite children’s books. Book titles subject to change: Fly Guy Meets Fly Girl by Tedd Arnold, Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin, Fluffy the Classroom Guinea Pig by Kate McMullan, Horace & Morris But Mostly Dolores by James Howe, Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes, Lilly’s Big Day by Kevin Henkes and Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch. Read more about the production on Theatreworks USA’s site.
Photo by Rachel Brandt
December 19-23, 2015
Imaginary Theatre Company presents The Elves and the Shoemaker Heagney Theatre at Nerinx Hall High School 530 East Lockwood Avenue, Webster Groves
Tickets $7
Call 314.968.4925.
Run time: Approximately 50 minutes.
When a kindly shoemaker gives his only remaining pair of shoes to a cold and hungry beggar woman, he finds his good deed rewarded in unexpected ways. The shoemaker is shocked by the appearance of magic elves who turn his simple shoe shop into a great success, thrilling customers with their special creations. Based on the tale by the Brothers Grimm, this beloved, warm-hearted story is perfect for the holiday season, reminding us that where we find kindness, generosity and hope, anything is possible.
January 2-3, 2016
St. Louis Symphony presents Ratatouille in Concert
Powell Hall
718 North Grand Boulevard
Tickets $35 to $65
Call 314.534.1700 or purchase online.
Savor the tale of a determined young rat with a cultivated palate who gets an unlikely chance to do what he dreams of most—cook in a French restaurant in Paris. In a hilarious chain of events that turns the City of Lights upside down, he achieves his dream with his good pal Linguini. Bring the whole family to experience the Academy Award-winning film Ratatouille on the big screen while the beloved score by composer Michael Giacchino is performed live by the St. Louis Symphony. Learn more about the production.
January 15-17, 2016
Florissant Civic Center presents Charlotte’s Web A Theatreworks USA production
James J. Eagan Center
1 James J Eagan Drive, Florissant
Tickets $7
Call 314.921.5678.
Run time: Approximately one hour.
Theatreworks’ production of Charlotte’s Web is based on E.B. White’s loving story of the friendship between a pig named Wilbur and a little gray spider named Charlotte. Wilbur has a problem: how to avoid winding up as pork chops! Charlotte, a fine writer and true friend, hits on a plan to fool Farmer Zuckerman–she will create a “miracle.” Spinning the words “Some Pig” in her web, Charlotte weaves a solution which not only makes Wilbur a prize pig, but ensures his place on the farm forever. This treasured tale, featuring mad-cap and endearing farm animals, explores bravery, selfless love, and the true meaning of friendship. Read more about the production on Theatreworks USA’s site.
The irrepressible Moses Pendleton presents Alchemia, his new work for the dazzling dancer-illusionists of MOMIX. Just as he led audiences on a surreal journey through the four seasons in Botanica, Pendleton manipulates the four classic elements–earth, air, fire, and water–in Alchemia to produce a show about the art of alchemy, and the alchemy of art. A multimedia spectacle, Alchemia bursts with beauty, daredevil thrills and playful humor. It’s MOMIX at its most magical.
February 12-14, 2016
Florissant Civic Center presents Seussical the Musical A Theatreworks USA production
James J. Eagan Center
1 James J Eagan Drive, Florissant
Tickets $7
Call 314.921.5678.
Run time: Approximately one hour.
“Oh, the thinks you can think” when Dr. Seuss’s best-loved stories collide and cavort in an unforgettable musical caper! Adapted from the Broadway version, this adaptation especially for young audiences features thirteen actors and enhanced production values. Seussical is TheatreworksUSA’s biggest show ever.
The Cat in the Hat is the host and emcee (and all-around mischief-maker) in this romp through the Seuss classics. When the sweet, good-natured elephant Horton hears a small cry for help coming from a small speck of dust, he promises to rescue and guard it because “a person’s a person, no matter how small.”
On that small speck of dust lives JoJo, an imaginative young Who. JoJo has astounding “thinks,” in which anything’s possible, but his parents believe this creativity is inappropriate for the son of the Mayor of Who-Ville.
Meanwhile, the one-feathered bird, Miss Gertrude McFuzz, desperately wants Horton to notice her. Maybe, she thinks, she just needs a more impressive tail. At the same time, the amazingly lazy Maysie La Bird connives, cajoles and convinces Horton to sit on her egg while she goes off on a spree.
Will the planet of Who survive? Will Horton pay attention to Gertrude? Will Maysie ever return for her egg? Dr. Seuss’s beloved classic characters find themselves intertwined in an incredible crazy-quilt adventure, in which the power of imagination and the most miraculous “think” ever save the day! Read more about Seussical the Musical.
Photo at top: Joan Marcus for Theatreworks USA, Seussical
“Every year right at the end of summer just before the leaves turn brown and fall from the trees, Esme comes to stay with her Nanna and Granddad…” But this year something is different; Nanna Queenie is gone. Though Grandad and Esme do the fun activities they usually do, things aren’t the same without Nanna Queenie. Grandad can’t bring himself to say that Nanna has died, so he explains that Nanna has joined the circus. “She looked like an ordinary woman, but inside beat the heart of a tightrope walker.”
COCA presents “Walking the Tightrope” in the Founders’ Theatre February 21 and 22, 2015. Winner of three LA Drama Critics Circle Awards and honored with more than a dozen nominations for acting, music, video design, and more, this production is an experience adults and children can enjoy together. Written by Mike Kenny, one of England’s leading writers for young audiences, and produced by 24th STreet Theatre in Los Angeles, “Walking the Tightrope” is a sweet, funny, and moving story of a grandfather who tries to tell his 5 year-old granddaughter that Grandma is gone, and in the process builds a beautiful new relationship with her. With the help of a single clown, they discover the meaning of family. 24th STreet Theatre’s acclaimed production uses world-class acting, sophisticated video, sound design, and original music to transport audiences from Grandad’s quaint 1959 English seaside cottage to the spectacular big top of circus. Look below for a special half off ticket promotion!
PARENTAL GUIDANCE: “Walking the Tightrope” gently and creatively addresses the theme of loss and is recommended for ages 7 and up.
DETAILS
COCA Presents 2014-2015: “Walking the Tightrope”
Founders’ Theatre at COCA
524 Trinity Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63130
Saturday, February 21, 2015 at 2 and 5 pm
Sunday, February 22, 2015 at 1 and 4 pm
Run time is approximately one hour.
General seating tickets are $14-$18 online or by phone at 314.561.4877, or in person at COCA.
SPECIAL PROMOTION for Culture Mama readers! Take 50% off any ticket with the promo code: tightrope50. Be sure to enter this code in the promo code box at the top right hand side of the screen when ordering online or tell a COCA staff person when calling or buying tickets in person.
Photo above: Scrap Arts Music, by Anneke Janissen.
Experience the magic of live theater with your family this Fall and Winter! Musicals, favorite books brought to the stage, acrobats, circus performers, a world famous symphony, truly unique percussionists, and more are ready to inspire and entertain you. Also be on the lookout for a vivid demonstration of what a whole lot of practice, perseverance, and passion can create.
Stanley Lambchop is your ordinary, everyday, run-of-the-mill ten-year-old: normal Mom and Dad, normal little brother, normal life. That’s just the problem… for Stanley, life is too normal. He wants to travel the world, do something amazing, something no one’s ever seen before. Careful what you wish for, Stanley! One night, the bulletin board on the wall above Stanley’s bed comes loose and falls right on top of Stanley. The next morning, Stanley Lambchop wakes up flat. Not just a little flat… really, REALLY flat! In a whirlwind musical travelogue, Stanley, the ultimate exchange student, scours the globe for a solution to his unusual problem. He’s stamped, posted, and canceled from Hollywood to France to Honolulu and beyond. And whether he’s thwarting a robbery at the Louvre Museum in Paris, or “hanging ten” off the coast of Hawaii, Stanley is closing in on his goal of being a three-dimensional boy once more. Approximate run time is one hour.
NOVEMBER 2014
Stella, Queen of the Snow
A Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia Production November 22-23, 2014 COCA, 524 Trinity Avenue, St. Louis Tickets $14 to $18
Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia, creator of Guess How Much I Love You… (COCA, 2013) and Treasured Stories by Eric Carle (COCA, 2012), has joined forces with popular Stella and Sam author Marie-Louise Gay in a new stage adaption of the beloved storybook, designed especially for young children integrating imaginative puppetry and striking scenic effects. Stella, Queen of the Snow is a delightful romp in the snow with Stella and Sam as they discover the world of winter together. Approximate run time is one hour.
“Cows that type? Hens on strike! Whoever heard of such a thing!” Farmer Brown cries. When his granddaughter Jenny comes for a visit, Farmer Brown declared the farm a “tech-free zone.” He confiscates her laptop in the cold barn along with the shivering cows who use her computer to type messages requesting blankets. “No way,” replies Farmer Brown. “No blankets!” So the cows go on strike and the chickens join them in solidarity. No blankets: no milk, no eggs! Will Farmer Brown give in to the animals’ demands? Will Jenny get her computer back? Find out in a hilariously “mooooo-ving” new musical about negotiation and compromise. Based on the Caldecott Honor book by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin. Approximate run time is one hour.
DECEMBER 2014
Annie National Touring Production
December 2-7, 2014
The Fabulous Fox Theatre
527 North Grand Boulevard, St. Louis
Tickets $25 to $75
Leapin’ Lizards! The world’s best-loved musical returns in time-honored form. Directed by original lyricist and director Martin Charnin and choreographed by Liza Gennaro, this production of Annie will be a brand new incarnation of the iconic original. Featuring book and score by Tony Award®-winners Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse, and Martin Charnin, Annie includes such unforgettable songs as “It’s the Hard Knock Life,” “Easy Street,” “I Don’t Need Anything But You,” plus the eternal anthem of optimism, “Tomorrow.” Approximate run time is 2 hours and 30 minutes.
The entire family is sure to enjoy this colorful and acrobatic adventure. Direct from Beijing, The National Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China was founded in 1951 and has been one of the most acclaimed acrobatic troupes in China. Over several generations, the company has developed many unique acrobatic acts like “Global Motorcycling,” “Kicking Bowls to Heads on High Unicycles,” “Russian Bars in Chinese Traditional Style,” “Chinese Poles in Shaolin Style,” “Diving through Moving Hoops,” “Aerial Bungee Tumblings,” and “Aerial Tissue Flowers.” These acts have been praised by Chinese and foreign audiences for decades. Approximate run time is two hours.
Mr. Scrooge throws his TV remote at ghosts while Bob Cratchit works inside the ATM in this hilarious modern update of a beloved holiday classic. Travel with the three spirits on a journey through past, present, and future as old Ebenezer learns the joys of kindness and giving. Can Christmas be saved for the Cratchits? You’ll find out in this musical romp that is sure to put a smile on the “Scroogiest” of faces. Adapted from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Approximate run time is 45 minutes.
Circus Flora: A Winter Fable St. Louis Symphony
December 13-14, 2014
Powell Hall, 718 North Grand Boulevard
Tickets $25 to $65
Circus Flora joins the St. Louis Symphony in high-wire holiday fun for the family. A Winter Fable is a classic fairy tale with an edge of romance and deceit. Circus Flora imagines a strange and wonderful world, in which the pairing of symphony and the circus arts is only the beginning of the magic you will experience. See your favorites including the gravity-defying Flying Wallendas and much, much, more. It’s Christmas, with a circus twist! Approximate run time is one hour and 50 minutes.
Pixar in Concert
St. Louis Symphony
December 27-28, 2014
Powell Hall, 718 North Grand Boulevard
Tickets $30 to $65
Watch as all your favorite characters come to life on the big screen as the St. Louis Symphony performs music from 14 Pixar films including Toy Story, Brave, Cars, Monsters, Inc., and more. Fun for both the young, and the young at heart! Steven Jarvi, conductor. Approximate run time is two hours.
JANUARY 2015 Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse
An Omaha Theatre Company Production
January 16-18, 2015
Florissant Civic Center Theatre, 1 James J. Eagan Drive, Florissant
Tickets $7
Lilly loves everything about school, especially her cool teacher, Mr. Slinger. When he confiscates her prized possession, a purple plastic purse that plays music, joy turns to misery. Lilly, who is used to being the brightest and loudest mouse around, will also have to get used to sharing the spotlight with her new baby brother in this charming adaptation of Kevin Henkes’s award-winning children’s book. Gripped with anger after losing her purse, Lilly draws a mean portrait of Mr. Slinger and hides it in his book bag. When she gets her purse back and opens it outside of school, she finds a surprising note: “Today was a difficult day. Tomorrow will be better.” Suddenly wracked with guilt, Lilly sets out to make up with her teacher, but villainous bicycle-riding bullies, a spotlight-stealing baby brother, and the dreaded “uncooperative chair” will test our heroine’s resolve. Approximate run time is one hour.
Maestro Steven Jarvi and a special guest will lead demonstrations of sound waves and sound creation in the various instruments of the orchestra. Featured works include Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man, Beethoven’s The Creatures of Prometheus Overture, selections from Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and more! Approximate run time is 45 minutes.
BARTÓK, Romanian Folk Dances
BEETHOVEN, The Creatures of Prometheus Overture
COPLAND, Fanfare for the Common Man
MENDELSSOHN, Scherzo from A Midsummer Night’s Dream
BRITTEN, Playful Pizzicato from Simple Symphony
BEETHOVEN, Fourth Movement from Symphony No. 7 in A major
Photo: Conductor Steven Jarvi, by David Bickley.
The Muny Kids: Broadway Here I Come Saturday, January 31, 2015 at 11 am
Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Boulevard, St. Louis
Tickets $5 to $12
The talented Muny kids and teens take you on a musical journey to the “Great White Way” with favorite Broadway songs, old and new. The Muny is a St. Louis institution, bringing musical theater to life every summer for over 90 years. Approximate run time is one hour.
Take some old bike parts, shiny construction salvage, PVC pipes, and other recycled odds and ends. Add five hyperactive hipsters and a dozen drumsticks, and the result is a dizzying barrage of beats. Vancouver-based ensemble Scrap Arts Music bounces around on stage with a combination of gymnastic agility and percussive drive. They alternate between hitting, moving, and bowing their instruments. The choreography is intricate and eye-catching! Approximate run time is one hour.
Cinema St. Louis presents SLIFF/Kids, the Second Annual St. Louis International Children’s Film Festival, August 1-10, 2014. The films include international and American-independent narrative features (both animated and live action) and film shorts programs. Although the programs are geared to children and young teens ages 6-16, older teens and adults will find the films equally appealing. All film programs are free and open to the public. No tickets are required to see any show, but seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, so early arrival is suggested, particularly for groups of three or more. SLIFF/Kids presents film programs on the festival’s two weekends (August 1-3 and August 8-10). Venues include Webster University, Saint Louis Art Museum, COCA, St. Louis Public Library’s Central Library, Wildey Theatre in Edwardsville, and Lindenwood University in St. Charles.
• COCA, 524 Trinity Avenue
• Saint Louis Art Museum: Forest Park, 1 Fine Arts Drive
• St. Louis Public Library’s Central Library Auditorium (screenings) and Creative Experience (camps): 1301 Olive St. downtown. Parking is available in a free lot at Olive and 15th streets. Tokens, which are required to exit the lot, are available at the Olive Street and Locust Street desks within Central Library. Parking at meters is free on Sundays.
• Webster University’s Winifred Moore Auditorium: Webster Hall, 470 East Lockwood Avenue. Parking is available both in front of and behind Webster Hall, no permits are required.
• Wildey Theatre: 252 North Main Street, Edwardsville, IL.
• Lindenwood University’s Young Hall Auditorium, Watson and Houston streets (one block west of South Kingshighway and Watson Street), 209 South Kingshighway Street, St. Charles, MO 63301. Parking is available next to Young Hall, no permits required.
The Festival has also organized many excellent filmmaking camps. With the participation of both Lindenwood and Webster universities, free Filmmaking Camps on live action and animation are held at the St. Louis Public Library’s Creative Experience on the fest’s weekdays (August 4-8). Also, free Advanced Filmmaking Camps (for teens with previous experience) will be held the week after SLIFF/Kids (August 11-15) at both the St. Louis Public Library’s Creative Experience (documentary camp) and Lindenwood University (live-action camp). Before SLIFF/Kids officially begins, from July 28-August 1, COCA will offer a filmmaking camp in which participants will create a 3 to 5 minute digital short that could serve as a pilot for a longer digital series; cost is $250. On August 9, a full-day Teen Workshop on the Art of Animation will be held at the Saint Louis Art Museum; there will be a $75 charge for this workshop ($50 for Saint Louis Art Museum members).
The Boxcar Children: Saturday, August 2, 2014 at 12:30 pm, Central Library (81 minutes). Animated and in English. Based on the first book of Gertrude Chandler Warner’s extraordinarily popular series – with more than 50 million books sold worldwide – “The Boxcar Children” is a tale of family togetherness that relates the touching story of the four Alden siblings, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny.
Nocturna: Saturday, August 2, 2014 at 10:30 am, Central Library (88 minutes). Animated and in English. Visually stunning and wildly inventive, this film explores the mystery of the night in a sweeping nocturnal adventure full of “Alice in Wonderland” like characters and moody, dream-inspired landscapes.
Mary Poppins: Saturday, August 2, 2014 at 2:30 pm, Central Library (139 minutes). Live action, animated, and in English. Released from the Disney Vault in celebration of its 50th Anniversary, this beloved classic shines like never before with an all-new digital restoration. Winner of five Academy Awards®, including Best Actress (Julie Andrews), Best Song (“Chim Chim Cher-ee”), and Best Visual Effects, “Mary Poppins” is a family-film classic as fresh and funny today as when it was made.
Boy and the World: Saturday, August 9, 2014 at 2:30 pm, Central Library (80 minutes). Animated and wordless. Cuca lives a life of quiet wonder, exploring all that the countryside has to offer. But his cozy life is shattered when his father leaves for the city, prompting Cuca to embark on a quest to reunite his family. Accompanying the stunning visuals is a rich soundscape of pan-flute, samba, and Brazilian hip-hop.
My Dog the Champion: Saturday, August 2, 2014 at 1 pm, Lindenwood University; Saturday, August 9, 2014 at 12:30 pm, Central Library; Sunday, August 10, 2014 at 1 pm, Wildey (87 minutes). Live action and in English. Dora Madison Burge (“Friday Night Lights”) stars as Madison, a spoiled big-city 16-year-old with a full teenage social life. But when her mom is deployed overseas for three months, Maddy is sent to live with her hard-nosed grandfather (Lance Henriksen of “Aliens”) at his rural cattle ranch. In this strange place with no wi-fi, Maddy will meet cute 17-year-old dog trainer Eli (Cody Linley of “Hannah Montana”), grow to love and respect her stubborn grandpa, and bond with an old cattle dog who just may have the potential to be a blue-ribbon champion.
Here are some great live theater events to take your family to in the next few weeks.
1. Diavolo: Friday, February 28 at 8 pm; Saturday, March 1 at 2 pm and 8 pm
The Minneapolis Star Tribune calls dance company, Diavolo, ““A wild mash-up between Cirque du Soleil and American Gladiators with Vegas-style showmanship.” The company is one of the West Coast’s most prominent dance companies and a designated cultural treasure of the City of Los Angeles. Composed of modern dancers, athletes, gymnasts, ballet dancers, martial artists, actors, and stunt performers, Diavolo pushes the boundaries of dance through its dynamic movement and signature use of colossal set pieces, including skateboard ramps, a 15-foot staircase, an 18-foot aluminum and steel spinning wheel, and a giant cube that turns into a pyramid. A Dance St. Louis presentation. Approximate run time is 90 minutes with one intermission. Best for children 6 years old and up.
2. The Tortoise and the Hare: Friday, February 28 at 7 pm (doors open at 6:30 pm)
The Imaginary Theatre Company produces wonderful children’s productions with great singing, dancing, and humor. This well known Aesop’s fable springs to life in a fun new musical adaptation. Henry is a racer, one of the fastest bunnies the forest has ever seen. Shelly’s a tortoise, his quietly devoted best friend. Henry has always been the star of the show, until one day Shelly starts to have some dreams of her own. With the help of their forest friends, Shelly realizes her own worth and Henry finds out that sometimes being the best isn’t the most important thing. Best for children 5 to 8 years old (who can stay up late!). Approximate run time is 45 minutes.
3. The Ugly Duckling & The Tortoise and the Hare: Friday, March 21 at 7:30 pm; Saturday, March 22 at 2 pm; Sunday, March 23 at 2 pm Lightwire Theater, in conjunction with Corbian Visual Arts and Dance, bring their use of cutting edge technology, moving sculpture, and dance to an unforgettable theatrical experience. The Ugly Duckling and The Tortoise and the Hare use Corbian’s signature electroluminescent puppetry. Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling has helped generations of children understand one of humanity’s universal struggles. Lightwire Theater brings this classic story to the modern stage offering hope to us all as we root for the ugly duckling who exemplifies resilience and heroism along the way to becoming a beautiful swan. Aesop’s fable, The Tortoise and the Hare, now more than 2,500 years old, continues to drive home the time-tested adage, “Slow and steady wins the race.” Lightwire Theater, with its dazzling visuals, poignant choreography, and creative use of music ranging from classical to jazz to pop, literally brings these beloved tales into a new and brilliant light. Best for children 3 years old and up. Approximate run time is one hour.
4. The Snail and the Whale: Saturday, March 22 at 2 pm and 5 pm; Sunday, March 23 at 1 pm and 4 pm Tall Stories, last seen at COCA in the supremely entertaining production of The Gruffalo, present their latest collaboration with author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler. Through songs and storytelling, The Snail and the Whale is about a tiny snail who takes a ride on the tail of a humpback whale. When the whale finds himself beached, he suddenly needs the help of his tiny passenger. How will the snail save him? This journey is presented through the eyes of an adventurous young girl and her seafaring father. Best for children ages 3 to 10. Approximate run time is 50 minutes.
Do you want to introduce your child, friend, or relative to the world of classical music and the sounds of an orchestra? Are you just interested in learning about classical music from a world class symphony in an informal setting without a big ticket price? The St. Louis Symphony’s Family Concerts Series is for you.
The series kicked off in October with an entertaining performance of Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham, brought to life by the Really Inventive Stuff theater group. Be sure to experience the remaining Family Concert Series performances with your family (recommended age for children is 5 to 12, but mature preschoolers may be fine) or on your own. Performances are approximately 45 minutes to one hour long.
Have fun at the “Instrument Petting Zoo” in the Wightman Grand Foyer one hour prior to the concerts. Children can try out instruments from each of the music families. Symphony volunteers will be on hand to help in this very up close and personal musical experience. Kid friendly refreshments and drinks are also available at concessions.
FAMILY CONCERTS
Hip Hop Symphony Presented in partnership withCOCA(Center of Creative Arts) Sunday, November 4, 2012 at 3 pm
Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63103
Tickets $12 to $17
Learn about music form (e.g. canon, fugue, theme and variations) in this innovative program pairing hip hop choreography by COCA’s Redd Williams with classical favorites performed by the St. Louis Symphony. When the dancers take the stage, you’ll see the visual and physical representation of what you’re hearing.
Benjamin Britten’s classic The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra gets a new spin with the addition of dancers fromDanceWorks Chicago. Watch as the orchestra comes together section by section before your eyes. This dynamic partnership makes for a magical experience where the whole is much larger than the sum of its parts. If you’re a fan of dance this is a great performance to see!
Poor Farkle McBride tries every instrument, but not one of them is quite right. Brian Owens narrates the popular children’s book by John Lithgow and illustrations from the book are projected on a screen behind the orchestra. Join Farkle McBride on a journey to find his place in the orchestra and learn about the different instrument families along the way. The first half of this concert features interactive performances by the St. Louis Symphony in which kids can clap and sing along!
What are you doing on Sunday, October 7, 2012? We are so lucky in St. Louis to have many quality, family friendly arts events to choose from this Sunday. Join in the fun and enjoy visual art, dance, jazz, or classical music!
Children (3+) explore collage, book art, watercolor, and paper maché under the guidance of COCA’s visual arts instructors. Children under 6 must be accompanied by an adult.
hip hOZ performance at COCA
Sunday, October 7, 2012 at 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm
524 Trinity Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63130
$16 to $20
COCA presents the world-premiere of this original production that takes audiences on a high energy, hip-hop adventure down the yellow brick road. Created by international hip-hop sensation, and COCA’s own, Redd Williams, hip hOZ features innovative choreography to mash-ups of classic and contemporary music. Tickets are almost sold out as of October 4, 2012.
Presented byJazz St. Louis, Get Hip! is a fun, interactive introduction to jazz that illuminates the art form’s cultural origins, concepts about improvisation and creative self-expression, and explores the role and responsibility of each individual member of the jazz ensemble and how they all must work together. Instrument “petting zoo” and face painting begins at 1 pm in the lobby.
This 45 minute interactive performance features a theme of “trying new things,” something everyone needs help with! The first half of the concert includes music by Copland, Reich, and Ives and encourages the audience to join in with clapping, rhythm patterns, and singing. The second half of the concert brings the famous book Green Eggs and Ham to life, with words by Dr. Seuss, music by Rob Kapilow, actor Michael Boudewyns, and soprano Kimberly Schroeder of theReally Inventive Stufftheater group.
October 25, 2015 at 3 pm
October 31, 2015, 10 am to noon
