by kellie abrahamson kabrahamson1@aol.com
Theatreworks is a nonprofit organization that strives to make theatre accessible to First Coast children and their families. Most of the performances take place at the historic Florida Theatre downtown and, at just $6 a seat, are quite reasonable in price for nearly every budget. Each performance is entertaining but also has educational aspects integrated in the show. Study guides for each show are available to teachers and parents at the Theatreworks website (www.theatreworksjax.com) so that they can further drive home the performance’s theme.
I recently took my almost three year old son to see the Theatreworks production of Rip Van Winkle and we had a blast. The Florida Theatre was almost completely packed with kids on fieldtrips and home-schoolers with their parents. It’s a completely different experience than what most grown ups are used to. The kids far outnumber the adults and that becomes obvious long before you enter the actual auditorium. You can hear from the lobby the excited murmuring of hundreds of little kids waiting. The atmosphere is completely carefree. You can almost feel the energy coming from these kids, who were most likely experiencing a stage show for the very first time. When the curtain finally goes up, the entire crowd gets as quiet as their ages will allow and almost every child sits in complete wonder as the story unfolds. Unlike adult audiences, these kids laugh a lot louder and think nothing of clapping along with the music. It’s just a lot of fun to sit among these young theater-goers and see and hear their reactions. It’s almost as much fun as the show itself, at least for those over the age of 12.
The production itself was terrific. The story of Rip Van Winkle, the man who sleeps his life away, tells the audience in no uncertain terms that you should work hard in order to have a full, happy life. The stage production, performed and adapted by world-renowned puppeteers Bits ‘N Pieces Puppet Theatre, is highly entertaining and awe-inspiring. After this particular play, which- like most of these productions- only ran for one day in Jacksonville. The puppeteers took the time to show the kids how their amazing puppets work, giving them a glimpse behind-the-scenes that many of these kids would have never seen otherwise.
My son, who I worried may not be able to take a bunch of big-headed, walking, talking puppets singing and dancing on stage for nearly an hour, was completely enthralled from start to finish. He loved the play and bragged for days about seeing it to his sister, who was in school when we went, and really anyone who would listen. While he is, perhaps, a little young to get the moral of this cautionary tale, he still remembers most of the characters and can tell you a brief synopsis of what it was about (“he fell asleep and he wakes up and he changed into an old man.”) The story has stuck with him and he is desperate to see it again. With Bits ‘N Pieces Puppet Theatre and Rip Van Winkle long gone by now, he will have to settle for one of the upcoming Theatreworks productions instead.
Sunday, February 11 at 2:00
Alex is bored until Zora, his new neighbor suddenly appears. Zora’s adventurous spirit spurs Alex out of his doldrums. Together they embark on a treasure hunt through the alphabet and discover the magical world of books.” This special “Sunday Series” production of The Great Alphabet Adventure is your last chance to see the popular show this year, so be sure to reserve your seats.
Tuesday, February 20 at 10:00 & 12:00
The phenomenal impact of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is chronicled in this compelling dramatization of the life and times of one of the most influential and charismatic leaders of the American Century.
Monday, March 26 at 10:00 & 12:00
Laugh and sing along as Alexander wakes up with gum in his hair, trips on a skateboard, and accidentally drops his sweater in the sink -- all before breakfast! This charming musical from Story Salad Productions is based on the classic book by Judith Viorst.
Wednesday, April 11 at 10:00
Animal Farm is perhaps Orwell’s best-known work. A barnyard full of idealistic animals stages a rebellion to throw off their chains of slavery and human oppression, and is faced with the challenges of their hard-won liberty: Who is the leader? Who makes the decisions?”
Monday, April 16 at 10:00 & 12:00
Young Pip’s chance encounter with a runaway convict sets off a chain of events leading from his small provincial home and Joe Gargery’s blacksmith shop to wealthy old Miss Havisham’s decrepit mansion… While there, Pip falls in love with Estella, Miss Havisham’s proud, contemptuous niece. Estella’s treatment of him inspires Pip’s dream of someday becoming a gentleman.
Tuesday, April 24 at 10:00
Author Barbara Park’s charming tales of Junie B. June, a precocious young girl who gets into fantastic misadventures while experiencing everything the first grade has to offer, comes to life in this musical production based on four of Park’s books.
Tuesday, May 8 at 10:00 & 11:00
Long before the Wild West was won, America’s southern frontier was enticing adventurous spirits to explore its many mysteries. The mingling of diverse cultures in this land of beauty and danger has woven a tapestry of folklore and history unlike any other… Tales From The Southern Frontier invites young audiences to explore the rich history of the south and to view their own personal stories in a new light.
Many of these shows can also be seen at other theaters in and around the Jacksonville area. For more information on these productions please visit their website at www.theatreworksjax.com or call 904-353-3500.
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