Showing posts with label Clifford The Big Red Dog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Clifford The Big Red Dog. Show all posts
Monday, February 27, 2012
Show & Tell Review: Clifford The Big Red Dog - LIVE!
Emily Elizabeth and her big red dog Clifford sang and danced their way into the hearts of this mother’s two young daughters with the aid of brilliant set and lighting design.
The home of Emily and her family was vibrantly and playfully colored like the page in a child’s coloring book – or simply the world as seen through the eyes of a young girl who hopes for nothing more than a dog as her new best friend.
With a multi-talented touring cast of artists playing numerous roles, this show’s artistic triumphs include creating Emily Elizabeth’s world as it would appear to her and to her audience – including my theater companions, my four and three-year-old daughters.
“Her bed has wheels!,” exclaimed one daughter as the other was too transfixed on the luminous lighting design of the scene changes to say a word.
Notable to creating the world of Clifford was the Clifford suit and puppet design by The Puppet Kitchen. Clifford’s love for his new family was felt with every true-to-life scratch and sneeze. The two-man costume created the spring in the step only a new puppy has – even if he is the world’s most giant family pet.
“He’s bigger than even the daddy!,” explained my three-year-old upon witnessing Clifford’s overnight growth spurt.
Clifford The Big Red Dog – LIVE! was an excellent choice as a first staged musical for a four and three-year-old. Appropriate in length, lesson and theatrical wonder, this show stayed true to the Clifford books and movies while finding innovative and creative ways to introduce children to the wonder that is the live performing arts.
During this performance of Clifford The Big Red Dog – LIVE! I saw a marvelous family musical on the stage and witnessed two of my children falling in love for the first time – with the theater.
“I’m clapping so hard,” my four-year old whispered. “I just can’t clap any harder!”
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Introducing Your Youngsters to the Performing Arts
Families in the Fox Cities are in for a treat at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center with both Clifford The Big Red Dog– LIVE! and Mary Poppins right around the corner. Tickets are still available for both titles, so we thought we'd share some ideas to make the show fun for the whole family.
Pick the Right Show
for Your Kids
Nobody knows your kids like you do, and thinking about a child’s attention span is a great place to start. Broadway’s smash-hit Mary Poppins is a remarkable theater event, but if your little one can’t make it past 8:00 p.m., you may want to to plan for a matinee performance. Visit foxcitiespac.com for details like run times to help you select shows that fit your family.
Nobody knows your kids like you do, and thinking about a child’s attention span is a great place to start. Broadway’s smash-hit Mary Poppins is a remarkable theater event, but if your little one can’t make it past 8:00 p.m., you may want to to plan for a matinee performance. Visit foxcitiespac.com for details like run times to help you select shows that fit your family.
Help Them Understand
Live performances are exciting, but they can also be a bit overwhelming. Talk to your kids about what they can expect at the theater from finding their seats to seeing the characters they love onstage. Let them know it’s okay to laugh, dance and have fun, but they might miss important parts if they talk during the show. They’ll take their cues from you, so get ready to have some fun!
Live performances are exciting, but they can also be a bit overwhelming. Talk to your kids about what they can expect at the theater from finding their seats to seeing the characters they love onstage. Let them know it’s okay to laugh, dance and have fun, but they might miss important parts if they talk during the show. They’ll take their cues from you, so get ready to have some fun!
Look for Study Guides
For most family-friendly performances, the Fox Cities P.A.C. offers study guides to help parents and teachers expand the live theater experience beyond the show. Click "Behind the Scenes" on the show page to find coloring sheets, discussion questions, and other ideas to help the arts come alive for your kids before and after the show.
For most family-friendly performances, the Fox Cities P.A.C. offers study guides to help parents and teachers expand the live theater experience beyond the show. Click "Behind the Scenes" on the show page to find coloring sheets, discussion questions, and other ideas to help the arts come alive for your kids before and after the show.
Community Engagement Activities
For many family shows, the Center invites ticket holders to free community engagement activities. This weekend, ticket holders for Clifford the Big Red Dog – LIVE! will have the chance to meet the Fox Valley Humane Association’s ambassador dog Wilma, create their own Clifford ears, make a friendship bracelet and more. Check foxcitiespac.com to find out if a community engagement activity is tied to your next performance!
The performing arts are a great way to spend time with the family and introduce your children to new and exciting possibilities. Plus, you'll create memories that last a lifetime. Do you remember your first live performance?
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