Youth Arts Education in Schools
2010-2011 Special Arts Experiences for Students
*developed and coordinated through The Hays Arts Council *

 
   The Omaha Theater Company is one of the nation’s leading - and longest running - providers of children’s theater whose extensive programs reach nearly 500,000 young people a year. This year they’re presenting their original musical adaptation of three classics by Mercer Mayer, “There’s an Alligator Under my Bed, A Nightmare in my Closet, and Something in my Attic.”  How does the little boy get over that big alligator that lives under his bed?  Or another child command his toy soldiers to protect him from the Big Nightmare that lives in his closet – or is it the Big Nightmare that needs to be protected?  And, what about the little girl who lassoes the Silly Scary Thing that lives in her farmhouse attic?  This delightful production is designed with vivid and imaginative costumes and scenery – and where the Alligator under your bed, the Nightmare in your closet, and the Thing in your attic become your best friends!
Thursday, May 12, 2011   -  for 2^nd & 3^rd grade  students
12:45pm in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center

Omaha Theater Company’s original production of Three Classics by Mercer Mayer:  There’s an Alligator Under My Bed, A Nightmare in My Closet, and Something in My Attic will be presented by the Hays Arts Council on Thursday,
May 12 at 7:00pm in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center.
 
Three Classics by Mercer Mayer is a “scary fun” production full of colorful costumes, fun music and loveable big creatures. How does a little boy get over the big alligator that lives under his bed? How does another command his toy soldiers to protect him from the Big Nightmare that lives in his closet? And what does a little girl in a farmhouse do when she decides to lasso the Silly Scary Thing living in her attic to show her parents?  Hays, Kansas audience members will find out.
 
“The lesson of this show is that most things really aren’t scary once you find out more about them,” said playwright and director James Larson. “Children will really enjoy the costumes, music and being ‘fun scared.’”

The stage adaptation of Mercer Mayer’s well-known children’s books is very faithful to the original stories and includes 15 minutes of lively singing and dancing. Each of the three stories and their characters remain separate in the production, but are performed by the same primary cast of five actors and actresses.

Three Classics by Mercer Mayer features an original script, as well as original music, choreography, costume, sets, props and lighting. “Sue Gillespie Booton’s choreography to Stuart Kenny’s fun songs is delightful,” said Larson. This production is adapted from the books written and illustrated by Mercer Mayer. 

Three Classics by Mercer Mayer will be presented May 12 at 7:00pm in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center. The 60-minute show is recommended for children ages 3 to 9.  Tickets are $5 for ages 13 and under and $8 for ages 14 and over and may be purchased at the Hays Arts Center, 112 E. 11th St. and the FHSU Memorial Union Student Service Center.

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