Tag Archives: theater

Arts & Culture for Kids, Holidays

Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates

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Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates
A play based on the classic novel by Mary Mapes Dodge
Stage play by Laura Eason

A Metro Theater Company Production
Grandel Theatre
3610 Grandel Square
December 8–30, 2017

“A wonderful way to share the spirit of the season”
— Talking Broadway

In this timeless story, Hans and Gretel Brinker strive to provide for their family and prove their own worth by entering a local speedskating contest – first prize is a pair of gleaming silver skates! The play culminates with a spectacular St. Nicholas Day race on the stage of The Grandel Theatre stage. Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates celebrates generosity, helping others, and is an exhilarating tale of courage and determination.

The original novel by Mary Mapes Dodge has been in print since 1865 and is credited with popularizing the sport of speed-skating in the United States. Metro Theater Company presents a modern interpretation of this timeless tale adapted by House of Cards screenwriter Laura Eason.

Recommended for adults and young people 2nd–8th grade. Approximate run time is 70 minutes without an intermission.

Know before you go! Read the Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates education guide.

(l to r) Pete Winfrey, Sigrid Wise

Public Performances
December 8–22
Fridays and Saturdays at 7 pm AND Sundays at 2 pm

Saturday, December 23 at 2 pm
Tuesday-Saturday, December 26-30 at 2 pm
Friday, December 29 at 7 pm

Tickets
Adult: $20
Student/Military/Senior (55+): $16
Groups of 10 or more: $14/ticket
Orchestra Box (seats 4): $72
Order tickets today via MetroTix.

Parking
There is ample metered street parking in front of the Grandel.

Questions?
Contact Michael Perkins, Community Engagement Manager at michael@metroplays.org or call 314.932.7414 x106

(l to r) Antony Terrell, Sigrid Wise, Erika Flowers-Roberts, Pete Winfrey

Synopsis
In a small Dutch town near Amsterdam, industrious teenager Hans Brinker and his younger sister Gretel yearn to participate in December’s great ice skating race on the canal, despite them owning only wooden skates.

The siblings must work to support their family while their mother cares for their father, Raff, who has been bedridden for 10 years after a fall from a dike. The Brinkers can’t afford school and must all work to support the family; they’re looked down upon, especially by the wealthy Katrinka Vos and Carl Voost, because of their low status.

But Hans has a chance meeting with a famous (though mysteriously gruff) surgeon named Dr. Boekman and persuades him to examine the Brinkers’ father. He diagnoses pressure on the brain, which can be cured by a risky and expensive operation.

Hans offers his own money to pay for his father’s operation. Touched by this gesture, Dr. Boekman provides the surgery for free. Hans overcomes his pride and accepts help from his friends Heidi and Peter: they loan steel skates for Gretel and himself to use in the race Gretel wins the girls’ race, but Hans lets Peter — who needs it more —win the Silver Skates in the boys’ race.

Mr. Brinker’s operation is successful, and he is able to remember where he’s hidden a bag of guilders to help the family, as well as the circumstances surrounding a pocket watch that belonged to Dr. Boekman’s son. This discovery helps the doctor start to reconcile with his son, and the Brinker family goes on to live a long and happy life.

Cast
Erika Flowers-Roberts – Heidi Von Gleck
Erick Lindsey – Dr. Boekman/Carl Voost
Roxane McWilliams – Musician
Jennifer Theby-Quinn – Dame Brinker/Katrinka Vos
Spencer Sickmann – Raff Brinker/Announcer
Antony Terrell – Peter Von Holp/Young Man/Vollenhoven
Pete Winfrey – Hans Brinker
Sigrid Wise – Gretel Brinker

School Matinees
Are you a teacher? Performances for school groups are Tuesdays-Fridays, December 5-22 at 10 am. Tickets are $8. For information about booking a school performance, contact the Community Engagement Manager at community@metroplays.org or 314.932.7414 ext. 106.

Give
Inspired by the intelligence and emotional wisdom of young people, the Metro Theater Company creates professional theater, fosters inclusive community, and nurtures meaningful learning through the arts. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to this wonderful nonprofit organization. About two-thirds of the Metro Theater Company’s annual operating budget comes from contributed income. Every gift makes an important impact!

 

Photography: Metro Theater Company

Arts & Culture for Kids, Holidays

Metro Theater Company presents “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane”

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EdwardTulane“Open your heart. Someone will come. Someone will come for you. But first you must open your heart.”

— Kate DiCamillo, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

If you are a fan of the early chapter book series, Mercy Watson, you know author Kate DiCamillo’s vivid characters and settings, humor, and ability to find subtle poignancy in just about anything. Her novels for older kids quietly, yet fearlessly breathe life and honestly grab it in such a way that both youth and their parents can be intrigued and entertained. Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux, and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane are some of her award winning works.

St. Louis’s Metro Theater Company brings the novel, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, to the stage (adapted for the theater by Dwayne Hartford) in a new family friendly play. The open to the public performances are Dec 9-30 at the Missouri History Museum, Lee Auditorium. The play, which explores love, family, friendship, and adventure, is 70 minutes, and best enjoyed by families, adults, and children (age 7 or second grade and up).

Edward Tulane is a toy rabbit who cares for nobody but himself. Ripped from the arms of the little girl who adores him, this privileged toy rabbit is thrown into a life-changing adventure. From the depths of the ocean to the top of a garbage heap, Edward discovers
what it means to love others on his extraordinary journey home. With themes of family, home, and redemption, this play is the perfect way to celebrate the warmth of the holiday season.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is the winner of the Boston Globe Horn Book Award for children’s fiction and Parents’ Choice Award for fiction. It was a finalist for the Quill Awards for children’s chapter books, and named U.S. National Education Association “Teachers’ Top 100 Books for Children.” The New York Times Book Review said, “Perhaps no other current American children’s book writer has appeared on the scene so quickly or so brightly as Kate DiCamillo… The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, may well be her best.”

Metro Theater Company Education Guide for Edward Tulane

St. Louis Public Radio feature, December 9, 2016

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Ticket Information

Performances
December 9, 2016 at 7 pm
December 11, 2016 at 1 pm and 4 pm
December 16, 2016 at 7 pm
December 18, 2016 at 1 pm and 4 pm
December 26-30, 2016 at 2 pm

Missouri History Museum (Lee Auditorium)
Lindell Boulevard and DeBaliviere Avenue in Forest Park

Tickets $20 adults; $16 students, seniors, and military; $14 Missouri History Museum members, groups of 10 or more

Buy online or call 314.932.7414, ext 106.

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About Metro Theater Company

Since 1973, Metro Theater Company has been creating accessible sensory productions that respect young people’s intelligence, tell compelling stories, stimulate curiosity and provoke thoughtful reflection. The Company has reached a total audience of more than two million and has a national reputation for excellence in the field of professional theater for young audiences. Metro Theater Company has received major honors and awards, both locally and nationally, and has 15 consecutive years of support from The Shubert Foundation and 31 years of funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Photos: Metro Theater Company

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Arts & Culture Events for Preschoolers

COCA Family Theatre Series

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In addition to being a great arts education facility, the Center of Creative Arts (COCA), located in University City, has a fun and entertaining performing arts series with reasonable ticket prices, good programming, and a small hall (400 seats) that makes each performance easy to see and enjoy.

We saw Michael Moschen last weekend–a juggler extraordinare and MacArthur Foundation “genius” grant recipient. He demonstrated some incredible feats of physics, illusion, perception, and rhythm. The show seemed more suitable though for 8 year olds and up. Most of the preschoolers in the audience at the Sunday matinee were getting a little squirmy and bored (including my 3.5 year old–but she’ll sit through opera, go figure), although the show was billed as a performance for all ages. Be sure to ask the COCA staff if you’re unsure about age suitablity and do some of your own research about the artist or performing group before you buy tickets.

Most performances are about an hour long. Tickets range $14 to $18 each (everyone entering the theater must have a ticket). Arrive at least 10 minutes early to find parking and well, 20 minutes early if your kid needs to use the potty. The COCA parking lot fills up fast and street parking can be tough at times.

Two upcoming productions you’ll want to bring your preschooler to this season (be sure to read the original books with your child before going):


COCA Family Theatre Series 2010-2011 Season Brochure

Box Office Information

Seating tips

  • There are booster seats available in the coat room outside the theater doors.
  • Try to buy your tickets early so that you can get an aisle seat (if you anticipate that you’ll have to take your little one out for a potty break mid-performance). Each seating section does not have a center aisle (see web site for seating chart–scroll down to Founders’ Theatre seating chart), so it is at times tough to climb over a lot of people if you have to head out before the show ends.
  • The padded and cushioned seats fold up like in a lot of movie theaters. If your child is under 35 pounds, he or she probably won’t be able to lean back in their chair and not fold up! Be prepared to hold the seat down for your child throughout the performance or put them on your lap.
  • If you can, don’t buy tickets too far over to the right or left. Your neck will thank you.