by Marilyn Delk |
Darke County Center for the Arts will once again this year proudly display the wonders of their upcoming season of presentations at their booth in the Coliseum at the Great Darke County Fair. And like the Fair, DCCA will offer fun for the whole family! In addition to the events previewed in last week’s column, the local arts council will present three Family Theatre shows at Henry St. Clair Memorial Hall, and provide Arts In Education performances to students in every grade of all Greenville City and Darke County public schools. Those AIE presentations are all at no cost to the students.
DCCA’s AIE season begins September 19–22, when educator/entertainer “Mister C” brings his high energy fun-filled learning experiences to local fourth through sixth graders. Emmy Award winner “Mister C” was an educator for over 20 years, some of that time working as a science teacher and STEM Center Director. His exciting shows utilize music and video in addition to hair-raising experiments to engage learners of all ages.
Next, junior high students will experience “ArtRageous,” an amazing fusion of art, rock concert, and comedy. This wild artistic celebration utilizing music, dance, and life-size puppetry will be presented October 19-20 at Henry St. Clair Memorial Hall where the youngsters will experience a unique interactive performance that engages and energizes as it educates and inspires.
Local high school students will be amazed and entertained October 23-27 by David Anthony, who has entertained audiences across the country with his one-man comedy magic show. When the Cleveland native was five, he received a magic kit for Christmas, and quickly developed a love for magic that has never diminished. He has won numerous awards with his show, utilizing audience participation that enables students to experience rather than just watch his unique performance.
DCCA’s final AIE presentation of the season November 7 through 10 will see Lucas Miller, “The Singing Zoologist,” bring his legendary talents to teach area kindergartners through third graders about the joys of nature. Literally singing the praises of animals and ecosystems since earning his zoology degree from Miami University in 1991, Miller has earned numerous honors including being named an “American Masterpiece” by the National Endowment for the Arts.
During DCCA’s celebratory “Sapphire Season,” the Family Theatre Series will treat families to eclectic and diverse theatre experiences at Henry St. Clair Memorial Hall in Greenville. The FTS season opens Sunday, October 29 with Lightwire Theater’s The Adventures of Tortoise and Hare: The Next Generation. Lightwire Theatre’s electroluminescent artistry has wowed local audiences in the past; this new production finds the iconic Aesop characters ten years down the road from their legendary race, and facing a new landscape as they continue to deal with life’s experiences.
Tutti frutti and York Theatre Royal will bring their beautiful,warm version of the classic Aesop’s fable, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, to our community on Sunday, February 18. Enchanting, funny, and visually inventive, this production brings imagination, silliness, and hilarious sheep to the well-known tale. Focused on creating inventive productions for children aged three and up and their families, Tutti frutti, based in Leeds in the U.K., has been touring internationally since 2013.
And then, for something entirely different, DCCA’s Family Theatre season will close on Sunday, April 21 with a breathtaking, action-paced, comedy dog spectacular, featuring some of the world’s most talented performers with four legs. Mutts Gone Nuts stars world-class stunt dogs in a hilarious comedy show; these dogs steal hearts and boggle minds as they leave audiences howling for more!
Tickets for Family Theatre shows are just $5, and are available by contacting DCCA at 937-547-0908 or on-line at www.darkecountyarts.org. Although tickets will not be available for purchase at DCCA’s fair booth, daily drawings will be held there with winners receiving tickets to an outstanding DCCA presentation. Additionally, fair-goers can pick up coupons at the booth offering a $1 discount on tickets to DCCA’s popular Halloween-season Ghost Walk. And, as usual, DCCA will be giving away keepsake bookmarks promoting Family Theatre presentations.