Starlight Children’s Theatre debuts Feb. 1 at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
A new venture between Starlight Theatre and Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts will provide an opportunity for Kansas City parents and educators to introduce young people to the magic of live musical theater in 2012. Starlight Children’s Theatre will debut Feb. 1 at the Kauffman Center and feature Disney’s Aladdin (Theatre for Young Audiences Version) and Narnia the Musical in its inaugural 2012 season.
Disney’s Aladdin will play for nine performances on Feb. 1-5, and Narnia the Musical will have nine performances on April 4-8 in the Kauffman Center’s 1,800-seat Muriel Kauffman Theatre. The shows, performed by professional actors, are generally suited for families and children ages 14 and under. Each show will run about 75 minutes with no intermission. Capitol Federal is the presenting sponsor of Starlight Children’s Theatre.
The stage adaptation of Disney’s Aladdin features audiences’ favorite characters, including Aladdin, Jasmine and the Genie, as well as flying-carpet magic, mayhem and an Academy Award-winning musical score. Meanwhile, the stage version of Narnia is based on the chronicle’s most famous story, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. With mythical spirits, talking animals and adventurous children, the story of Narnia entertains as it shares important life lessons of courage, selflessness and wisdom with young audiences.
Included in each show’s run will be three deeply discounted student matinee performances to be held at 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 1-3 (Aladdin) and April 4-6 (Narnia). Public performances of each show will be presented on Friday nights and weekends.
“Both organizations recognized the opportunity to offer more cultural arts choices to Kansas City youth, parents and educators,” says Denton Yockey, Starlight Theatre president and executive producer. “Together we are committed to provide the most elaborately staged and fully produced children’s theatre productions in the metro.”
Both Starlight and Kauffman Center are hopeful that 2012 will lay the foundation for a successful children’s theater collaboration that will continue for years to come.
“The Kauffman Center and Starlight Theatre are excited to share this quality family entertainment,” says Jane Chu, president and CEO of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. “With this new children’s theatrical series, we aim to celebrate creativity and promote an early appreciation for and desire to pursue the performing arts among our community’s young people.”
Starlight is also accepting matinee ticket requests from educators and school administrators. For tickets to student matinee performances, contact Felicia Goodison at groups@kcstarlight.com or 816-997-1137.
–Barb Schulte
