The Centenary Stage Company Children’s Theater Series is back on stage by popular demand this spring. With even more plays and performances, the Children’s Theatre Series is part of the professional Centenary Stage Company’s mission to serve the region’s youth with dynamic performances and workshops throughout the year.
Based on the beloved book by Laura Numeroff Joffee, “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” is adapted for the stage by Jody Davidson, and is an adventurous, fun-filled performance appropriate for ages pre-k through 5th grade. When a rather demanding mouse in coveralls wearing a backpack shows up in a curious boy’s kitchen one day, the boy soon finds himself figure skating on scrub brushes, wrestling a boa constrictor, and climbing mountains, as an innocent milk and cookie snack time goes from mishap to calamity to catastrophe faster than the twitch of a whisker.
From the Laura Numeroff Joffee repertoire, “If You Give A Pig a Pancake” follows the enterprising journey of a young girl who accommodates the demands of a quirky piglet after eating pancakes; an escapade which becomes embroiled in taking a bubble bath, a little tap dance, taking a photo, mailing a letter, building a tree house, and of course, going back for more pancakes.
“A Thousand Cranes” is based on the true story of the young Japanese girl Sadako Sasaki who inspired an international peace movement. A poignant and highly stylized piece, “A Thousand Cranes” combines Japanese and American language, music and dance, and highlights Japanese society in the after- math of World War II.
The musical, “A Year with Frog and Toad” remains true to the spirit of the original stories as it follows two great friends, the cheerful Frog and the grumpy Toad, through four fun-filled seasons. Waking from hibernation in the spring, they proceed to plant gardens, swim, rake leaves, and go sledding, learning life’s lessons along the way, including a most important one about friendship and the unique attributes that make every individual different and special. “A Year with Frog and Toad” is adapted for the stage by Robert and Willie Reale from the book by Arnold Lobel.
Performances of the Children’s Theatre Series at Centenary Stage Company are as follows:
— “If you Give A Mouse A Cookie” on Saturday, March 5 at 11 a.m., Saturday March 26 at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, March 27 at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, April 16 at 1 p.m.
— “A Thousand Cranes” on Saturday, March 5 at 1 p.m.
— “A Year with Frog and Toad” on Friday, March 25 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 26 at 11 a.m.; school matinee performances on Tuesday April 19 through Thursday, April 21 at 10 a.m.
— “If You Give a Pig a Pancake” on Saturday April 16 at 11 a.m.
Tickets for the Hackettstown performances in the Centenary Stage Company Children’s Theatre Series are $10 for adults and $8.00 for children under 12, and are available through the Centenary Stage Company Box office at 908-979-0900 and online at centenarystageco.org.
Also on tour statewide to schools and community organizations, the Centenary Stage Children’s Theater Series educates and entertains young audiences with performances, along with hands-on workshops inspired by New Jersey core curriculum standards.
For more information on Hackettstown performances or booking a tour performance, call 908-979-0900 or log on to centenarystageco.org.
Right now, I have a pair of tickets to see "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie" on March 5th at 11am and a pair of tickets to see "A Thousand Cranes" on March 5th at 1pm. To enter, email me at maryannj@macaronikid.com with Centenary Stage in the subject line and tell me which performance you would like to be entered for. Act quick--winners will be picked at random on or about March 4th, 2011, at which time this giveaway will be closed. Good luck!
