Mario the Magician will return to First Fridays For Families.
Republic file photo
The Columbus Area Arts Council has announced the in-person return of the free and ever-popular First Fridays for Families.
The program, held at 6 p.m. the first Friday of the months of March, April and May, introduces young audiences to the performing arts — and often with a mix of interwoven lessons about everything from kindness to creativity. The 2022 series of First Fridays for Families is supported by grants from the Nugent Foundation and the Custer Foundation, with additional support from the City of Columbus.
“We are grateful to have their support in bringing back First Fridays for Families — sure to educate and enrich the entire family,” said Kathryn Armstrong, the arts council’s executive director.
The primary audience for the shows from December through April is kindergartners through third-graders, according to organizers.
But some local clans bring along older siblings and the grandparents, too. The series has been a hit for some 30 years.
Doors at The Commons open at 5:30 p.m. Here is the schedule:
- March 4: Bright Star Children’s Theatre: African Folk Tales. From the desert lands of the Sahara to the plains of the Serengeti to Mount Kilimanjaro and beyond – join a variety of characters from a wide range of cultures in stories that celebrate the folk tale traditions of the continent of Africa. African music helps to set the stage for these energetic stories. Bright Star’s stories include many tales, facts and figures about the continent.
- April 1: The local Dancers Studio, Inc. presents “Cinderella.” The troupe has been probably the most frequent First Fridays act ever through the years. Who knew that a lost shoe, some help from friends, a fairy godmother and a little magic would change a girl’s life forever? Dancers Studio has been a part of the local arts community for more than 30 years, with a mission to provide quality dance education in ballet and modern dance for students of all backgrounds and abilities in the Columbus area.
- May 6: Mario the Maker Magician. A word to the wise for this one: Arrive early. Mario, who boasts as many adult fans as youngsters, packed the house with some 400 people the last time he visited, pre-pandemic, in January 2020. He features homespun magic, handmade robots, and modern slapstick. Fast-paced, interactive, and as funny for the parents as for the little ones. Mario has appeared on “Sesame Street,” NBC’s “Universal Kids,” and even live on tour with illusionist David Blaine, who calls him “the best kids magician in the world.” Know this, too: He is among the most unique entertainers the arts council ever has booked.
The Columbus Area Arts Council’s mission is “to strengthen the community through arts and culture” with programming focused around three pillars: education, engagement, and enrichment. The arts council has been a leading arts agency in Bartholomew County since 1972.
Information: artsincolumbus.org
