Heather Latter
The local “Kids & Company” entertainment series is gearing up for its 2013-14 season, which includes a total of five shows, with season passes and individual show tickets on sale soon.
“I’m really excited about this season,” enthused committee chair Leslie Danielson.
“I’m hoping we can diversify our audience a little bit with the different shows we have this year,” she noted.
Danielson said they have booked a good variety of acts for the coming year—from a rock-band trio and musical theatre to magic, circus acts, and indigenous dance.
“Our first show is the Kahawi Dance Theatre and I’m hoping it will attract people who haven’t been coming out before,” she remarked.
The Kahawi Dance Theatre will perform “Medicine Bear” as the season’s opening show Oct. 21.
“Through whimsical music, dance, and storytelling, ‘Medicine Bear’ weaves two traditional Onkwehonwe [Iroquoian] stories into one magical narrative: how the Bear Clan came to be known as the ‘Keeper of the Medicines’ and the hunter who discovered the gift of healing,” the group’s website explains.
“Following oral tradition practices, ‘Medicine Bear’ teaches virtues of compassion, thankfulness, and respect for elders and environment in a way that is playful and thought-provoking for young and family audiences,” it adds.
Danielson said the second show of the series, “Speed Control,” features a rock-band trio of young brothers from the Yukon that will hit the Townshend Theatre stage Nov. 25.
“It’s going to be like a rock concert,” she noted.
“They are high-energy,” Danielson added.
“They are hopefully going to attract a broader audience age-wise, but it should still gear toward the younger ones, as well,” she said.
The third show, scheduled for Jan. 20, is entitled “Mr. E.”
“He teaches math through magic,” Danielson explained.
“Again, high-energy and might gear more toward the younger crowd, but will be entertaining for everybody.”
As Canada’s national magic champion, Eric Leclerc has been entertaining children of all ages for more than 20 years.
“Although these two field [math and magic] are completely different from one another, they suddenly become intertwined and produce an unbelievable and amazing learning experience,” Leclerc said in a video posted on his website.
“Not only will the spectators be wide-eyed and astonished, they will actually leave the show with a new knowledge and understanding,” he remarked.
His new show, “The Mysteries of Mr. E.,” portrays him as an eccentric professor with a lovable and magical charm.
The fourth performance of the “Kids & Co.” series is a theatre company from New York called “Theatreworks USA” that will present “Junie B. Jones” on March 3.
This new musical is based on four volumes in Barbara Park’s “Junie B. Jones” series of books.
“Outspoken, precocious, lovable Junie B. Jones stars in a colourful, funny, fast-paced musical about new friends, new glasses, sugar cookies, the annual kickball tournament, and other various first-grade angst-ridden situations,” noted a press release.
It added the 60-minute musical is recommended for ages five and up.
Complete with costumes, backdrops, singing, and dancing—it’s sure to be an entertaining addition to the “Kids & Co.” lineup.
The final performance of the series will be “The Spin Cycle Show” on April 7.
“The . . . show is a unique combination of fantastic skills, infectious comedy, and great two-person variety routines the likes of which haven’t been seen since the golden age of vaudeville,” noted the duo’s website.
Some of the “Spin Cycle” routines include a two-person juggling number with split-second timing, a stilt ballet, a hilarious two-foot-tall impersonator, plate spinning, a comedy ballroom dance routine with two life-sized puppets, unicycles, and much more.
“They come highly-recommended and should be a great way to end the series,” Danielson said.
“We had a great year last year and we are hoping for another one this year,” she added, noting attendance was what organizers had anticipated.
Danielson said they received a wonderful response to the addition of a fifth show, so decided to keep that going.
“We just want to keep expanding our audience,” she stressed.
All shows take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Townshend Theatre.
“We want to offer children and families a wide spectrum of diverse entertainment to both foster an appreciation of the arts and to enhance the quality of life within our northern community through unique and creative music, dance, and drama,” Danielson explained.
“Kids of all ages are welcome,” she stressed. “The performances are tailored to families and kids.
“They only last about an hour, often including audience involvement, and kids are welcome to wiggle, dance, and move in the aisles,” Danielson noted.
“It’s a great introduction to live entertainment for kids.”
For more information on “Kids & Co.,” call Danielson at 274-6019.
