DCCA News: 20 years and counting

0

Darke County Center for the Arts’ Family Theatre Series was inaugurated in 1997 for a number of very good reasons. (1) To offer accessible theatre productions to our underserved rural community. (2) To provide local families opportunity for engagement with the arts at an economical cost. (3) To attract a new audience to arts presentations. (4) To utilize Henry St. Clair Memorial Hall in a manner for which it was originally intended. (5) To introduce local citizens to the beauty and history of that grand building in their midst. (6) To enhance lives through the arts.

DCCA has adopted “Arts Count” as the theme for its 2017-2018 season; however, the true value of Family Theatre presentations for the upcoming year as well as its contributions for the past 19 years is virtually incalculable. Thousands of children have been introduced to the magic of theatre, and hundreds of families have shared in a positive and sometimes transformational experience, inspiring uncountable creativity and boundless imagination that resonates through the years.

DCCA’s new FTS season opens with a very special presentation on Sunday, November 19—Lightwire Theatre’s A Very Electric Christmas: Max’s Holiday Adventure. A captivating and magical tale of adventure, friendship and love, the show uses a unique combination of technology, puppetry, and dance to tell of Max’s adventure. Set to timeless Christmas music, the creative storyline features an array of nutcracker soldiers, candy canes, naughty rats, plus an electric Christmas tree surrounded by glow worms, dancing flowers and presents that light up the stage.

E.B. White’s tale of the friendship between a pig named Wilbur and a little gray spider named Charlotte has been a favorite of children and their parents ever since Charlotte’s Web was first published in 1952, seemingly multiplying in popularity with each generation of readers. DCCA will present TheatreworksUSA’s version of the beloved story on Sunday, February 18. Madcap yet endearing farm animals cavort and scheme, the true meaning of friendship is explored, bravery is displayed, and selfless love is demonstrated in this charming retelling of a timeless classic.

Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia, celebrating its 45th consecutive year of presenting theatre for young audiences, has become a favorite among DCCA’s patrons, returning frequently to Greenville with their patented entertaining, informative, and stimulating presentations. Mermaid Theatre’s production ofGuess How Much I Love You and My Little Storybook will delight the very young as well as their siblings, parents, and grandparents. The tale of the Nutbrown Hares competing to measure their love for one another combined with the story of a whimsical menagerie celebrating the joy of reading adds up to a pleasurable presentation for all ages.

Wondering how to stimulate your youngsters’ minds and engage them in the real, rather than virtual, world? Solve your problem by buying tickets to DCCA’s Family Theatre Series, which are just $5 each, a remarkably low cost for a high quality experience. Plus, by buying a season ticket package for all 3 shows at a cost of $12, you can save $3 off individual ticket prices. All of the shows are presented at Henry St. Clair Memorial Hall in Greenville on Sunday afternoons at 2 p.m. To order your tickets, now, contact DCCA at www.centerforarts.net or 937-547-0908. You’ll gain an exponential return on your investment in the arts.

http://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2017/06/web1_delkcolumnPRINT-2.jpg

By Marilyn Delk

DCCA News

Marilyn Delk is a director of the Darke County Center for the Arts and can be reached at [email protected]. Viewpoints expressed in the article are the work of the author. The Daily Advocate does not endorse these viewpoints or the independent activities of the author.

No posts to display