We love sharing our love for the arts with our children. Segerstrom Center for the Arts provides a great family series with two productions at the Samueli Theater Stage: The Little Prince performed by Glendale-based puppet production company Swazzle on February 18 & 19 and Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters, performed by Dallas Children’s Theater on March 4 & 5.
Segerstrom Center for the Arts’ Family Series engages, enchants and inspires youngsters with the magic of live performance. International artists combine music, dance and theater that can be enjoyed by the entire family, creating experiences that instill an appreciation for the arts and create lifelong memories.
The Little Prince:
An astonishing new take on this classic story, audience members of all ages are invited to experience the wonderment of childhood as The Little Prince transports them to exotic worlds and introduces them to whimsical characters. This beloved tale is based on a pilot who crashes in the Sahara Desert and while frantically trying to repair his wrecked plane, he is interrupted by the apparition of a little boy who asks him to draw a sheep. Through the eyes of the Little Prince, the pilot gains unique insights into love, loss and laughter. This magical Swazzle production features a script adapted for stage by Rick Cummings and John Scoullar, based on the book The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. The show utilizes handcrafted puppets, live actors, original music and innovative projection techniques to bring this heart-warming story to life. The 10 a.m. performance on Saturday, February 18 will be sensory friendly. The 1 p.m. performance on Sunday, February 19 will be ASL interpreted. Recommended for ages 4 – 8 and their families.
Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters:
A favorite among children and adults, Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters unmasks the true meaning of beauty and celebrates the mystery and splendor of the African continent. When a great African king desires a wife, only the most perfect maidens in the land are invited to meet him. Mufaro’s pride and joy, his two daughters, travel a half-day’s journey through a mystical jungle to be presented to the king. Along the way, the two girls encounter a number of extraordinary situations designed to test their kindness, compassion and strength of spirit. Every culture has its rendition of the Cinderella story, but this one’s notion of “beauty” is more than skin deep. With energy and color, the story is told through clear narration, African dance, drumming and song, as well as a splash of audience participation. The 1 p.m. performance on Sunday, March 5 will be ASL interpreted. Recommended for ages 4 – 8 and their families.
Arrive Early for FREE Creative Activities:
Audiences are encouraged to arrive an hour before the performance for free creative activities. The Center’s Education Department offers these enriching experiences to provide young people and their families more opportunities to play together creatively. Studies show that this is critical in helping to develop the ability to think and problem solve.
Tickets are now available at $20+
Available at the box office, SCFTA.org or by calling (714) 556-2787
About Segerstrom Center for the Arts:
Segerstrom Center for the Arts is an acclaimed arts institution as well as a beautiful multi-disciplinary cultural campus. It is committed to supporting artistic excellence on all of its stages, offering unsurpassed experiences, and to engaging the entire community in new and exciting ways through the unique power of live performance and a diverse array of inspiring programs. Previously called the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Segerstrom Center is Orange County’s largest non-profit arts organization. In addition to its six performance venues, Segerstrom Center is also home to the American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School, where students ages 3 – 14 are taught by acclaimed teachers utilizing the renowned ABT National Training Curriculum in studios utilized by the world’s greatest dancers and choreographers. The Center presents a broad range of programming for audiences of all ages, including international ballet and dance, national tours of top Broadway shows, intimate performances of jazz and cabaret, contemporary artists, classical music performed by renowned chamber orchestras and ensembles, family-friendly programming, free performances open to the public from outdoor movie screenings to dancing on the plaza and many other special events.
For sensory-friendly performances, precautions are taken to reduce sound levels, particularly loud or startling sounds; reduce overwhelming stage lighting; provide low ambient lighting in the theater throughout the performance so patrons are able to see should they need to move around or exit the theater; modify seating to allow extra room for patrons who may need to move or exit during the performance; provide social story and other preparatory materials to parents and children so they know what to expect from the performance; allow use of iPads, other tablet devices and smart phones if needed as a communication device for a child; and break spaces for those who might feel overwhelmed and need a break from the performance. For more information about the sensory-friendly features, please call (714) 556-2787 or e-mail [email protected].
