St. Louis Public Library

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Source: www.slpl.org

ST. LOUIS PUBLIC LIBRARY'S PLAY DATE THEATER KICKS-OFF ITS THIRD SEASON WITH SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL ST. LOUIS' MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

The St. Louis Public Library is proud to kick-off its third season of Play Date Theater, which presents exceptional FREE LIVE theater aimed at children Preschool-Grade 2 every third Saturday in Central Library's Auditorium, 1301 Olive St., at 2 - 3 p.m. Seating is first-come, first served.

The LIVE performances, by area theater troupes, are family-friendly but has young children's attention spans in mind. Kids learn theater etiquette while being entertained by performers who understand them. Most shows include audience participation and an opportunity to meet the performers.

The first production is Midsummer's Night Dream by the touring production of Shakespeare Festival St. Louis and is adapted and directed by Shanara Gabrielle. This FREE show takes place in Central Library's Auditorium on March 19 at 2 p.m.

Shakespeare's most popular romantic comedy set in an enchanted forest populated by young lovers, amateur actors, lords & ladies… and magical fairies. Falling in and out of love can be difficult, especially when Puck pulls the strings! 

The remainder of the 2016 lineup includes:

·April 16

Rhythms, Rhymes & Raps rock the house with Emmy-winning artist Bobby Norfolk

Bobby turns traditional tales into finger-snapping, toe-tapping verse. Zany vocal effects, lively animation, and tons of humor. Audience participation is inevitable on this joyful trip to a land where story and music combine in a seamless flow.

·May 21

Fairytale Review presented by Edie's Fairytale Theatre

All your favorite fairytale characters take a fast-paced and clever romp in the woods. 

·June 18

King Botany's Garden presented by Monkey Tales Theatre

Three princesses—Lily, Rose, and Ivy—must show their father, King Botany, they have what it takes to rule the Kingdom of Flora while he is away. In the process, they realize that each girl's unique gifts make this fairytale world more wonderful.

An original fairy tale written by Tracy Bono.

·July 16

Rumpelstiltskin presented by Edie's Fairytale Theatre

Is it fair that a girl must spin gold for the King because of a lie her mother told?

·August 20

The Boy Who Snared the Sun, a classic Native American tale retold by Monkey Tales Theatre

Morning Glory, her little brother Eagle Feather, and a dormouse lived at a time when animals ruled the earth. Eagle Feather is up to his usual mischief so one of the animal kingdom's smallest members helps save the day. Written by Tracy Bono.

·September 17

Back to the Books with Bobby Norfolk

Celebrate the joy of reading and literacy. Bobby's high intensity storytelling makes characters jump off the page. Whether it's Anansi or dragons, heroes or ogres, Bobby takes stories "from the page, to the stage" and invites children to checkout cultural diversity through popular literature.

·October 15

Mother Goose Stories presented by Edie's Fairytale Theatre

A joyous tale about a kid who gets the hang of jumping in and trying new stuff with his pals, Tipp and Tapp, and a character named COURAGE. The friends sing and dance their way through 20 different Mother Goose rhymes. 

·November 19

Glad Tidings is a holiday gift from Bobby Norfolk and Beverly Brennan.

From Santa to Scrooge, Rudolph and the Gift of the Magi, Bobby and Beverly present the stories behind some traditional carols and tales of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. The show concludes with a sing-along of popular carols and holiday songs.

Funding is provided by the

For more information, visit slpl.org or call 314.539.0384.

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