If you happen to stroll through the Arden Theatre, check out the bold, colourful comic books sitting in the racks. Surprisingly, they are not really comic books.
They are actually 12-page brochures, complete with kids’ colouring pages, highlighting the Arden’s upcoming 2011-12 Family Series.
“We were out to surprise,” says professional programming presenter Casey Prescott. “One of the benefits of having a new person on board is that you can look at things from a different perspective. We brought everyone together and encouraged people to think outside the box.”
This season is Prescott’s first go at programming an Arden season. When he took over the management position last August, his predecessor, Brenda Heatherington, had already planned the 2010-11 season.
And as suggested by the comic book theme, Prescott is bringing about change. In addition to three professional children’s shows usually held on weekends, he is introducing Noisy Theatre, an experimental morning show for stay-at-home parents similar to strollers-at-the-movies.
The Noisy Theatre idea was born after Prescott, the father of a two-year-old, noticed there were limited activities for stay-at-home parents to engage their children.
“We’re selling only 250 tickets. There’ll be lots of space to move around. The doors will stay open. If you need to leave and the baby needs a change, you can leave. There will be no shushing. We just want everyone to have a good time.”
Noisy Theatre’s first headline artist is Vancouver’s Will Stroet, a young troubadour likened to Raffi. A former schoolteacher, the award-winning children’s musician was a guest artist at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and on One Treehouse.
“He’s developing a momentum in his career. He speaks English, French and Spanish. He’s an easygoing guy and his songs are fun and uninhibited.”
Noisy Theatre debuts Wednesdays on Nov. 2, 2011 and Feb. 1, 2012. Both shows run at 11 a.m. Tickets are $5 kids and $10 for adults.
The three-part family series is also stocked with fresh faces. Masked Marvels and Wondertales arrives Saturday, Oct. 22 at 2 p.m.; Circus Incognitus performs Sunday, Feb. 5 at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m., and the Red Sky Performance of The Great Mountain is on Sunday, March 4 at 2 p.m.
Michael Cooper, of the one-man show Masked Marvels, is a mask-maker who takes children on a fantastical journey through his life. “It’s amazing to see how he occupies his characters.”
Also a solo act, Circus Incognitus’ Jamie Adkins uses ordinary objects such as a ladder or unicycle that give way to mesmerizing stunts. His scripted character is a shy, insecure guy who overcomes a series of obstacles.
“He’s a tour de force, probably one of the premiere children’s performers on the circuit. ”
And finally, Red Sky Performance premieres The Great Mountain, a new indigenous theatre, song and dance adventure of a young girl who hears a mysterious cry for help and follows the sound.
“There are so few indigenous theatre shows for young audiences. There are two companies that I know of. This is one company that takes risks and offers a very different voice.”
Tickets for the family series are $18 kids, $20 adults. Call 780-459-1542 or purchase online at www.ticketmaster.ca. For more information visit www.ardentheatre.com.
