Submitted photo Bright Star Children’s Theatre actors are shown during a scene from “Winter Fables.”
The Columbus Area Arts Council’s longest-running series for youngsters and their relatives returns Friday at The Commons, 300 Washington St. in Columbus.
The free shows aimed specifically at children from preschoolers to middle schoolers has run for more than 30 years. Here’s a look at the new lineup:
March 3: Bright Star Children’s Theatre, which has regularly performed at The Commons, presents “Winter Fables.” Embark on a magical winter adventure with an enchanting show that brings to life some of the most well-known and cherished tales. Join the ant as he prepares for winter, the grasshopper who doesn’t, the country mouse and city mouse as they go on a big adventure, the fox who discovers the meaning of the phrase “sour grapes,” the dog in search of his bone, and the old man as he hides his valuable gold. This imaginative production offers a unique opportunity to rediscover these classic stories and gain valuable lessons that remain relevant for all ages.
Bright Star Children’s Theatre is a national professional touring theater company based in Asheville, North Carolina. Each year, Bright Star serves nearly 1,400 audiences in schools, theaters, libraries, museums, and more across the United States. They offer a wide variety of curriculum-based programs, ranging from The Lady of Bullyburg to Heroes of the Underground Railroad. The company has also gained international support, accepting an invitation from the U.S. Embassy to visit Moscow, Russia, with its programs.
Information brightstartheatre.com.
April 7: Dancers Studio Inc. presents “A Mixed Up Fairy Tale Ballet.” Follow Messy Matilda on a captivating journey through familiar fairy tale ballets. When Matilda has a particularly bad day in ballet class, she wanders into the costume shop and strange things begin to happen. With the help of a colorful troupe of monkey fairies, she dances her way through several tales where nothing seems to go as expected. Finally, her dance teacher arrives to bring her back to the familiar surroundings of her ballet class.
For more than 30 years, Dancers Studio Inc. has been providing high-quality dance education in ballet and modern dance for students of all backgrounds and abilities. Classes focus on the importance of practice, performance and passion while preparing students for opportunities at the professional or college level. Students are given a variety of opportunities to perform throughout the year, during annual company performances, in area elementary schools, and in pop-up performances like First Fridays for Families.
Information: dancers-studio.org
May 5: Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band. Jam out to the imaginative and upbeat rhythms of the Latin Grammy award-winning bilingual indie group, Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band. The band features husband Lucky Diaz and wife Alisha Gaddis who are part-time residents of Columbus and Los Angeles. The duo creates whimsical and child-friendly tunes that explore the joyous wonder of a young person’s life. Their smart, crafty lyrics combined with irresistibly fresh pop beats create a truly unique musical style, described by The Washington Post as an “explosion of ‘kindie’ rock.”
Led by married couple Lucky Diaz and Columbus native Alisha Gaddis, Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band’s lively and creative performance style is a must-see musical experience for all.
Information: luckydiazmusic.com
