The current season of the Arkansas Arts Center Children's Theatre isn't even over -- Fancy Nancy the Musical runs through Sunday and Rapunzel is April 28 through May 14 -- but the downtown Little Rock museum has already announced its 2017-2018 season.
The 2017-2018 season will feature six Main Stage shows: Giggle, Giggle, Quack (Sept. 22-Oct. 8); Goosebumps the Musical: Phantom of the Auditorium (Oct. 27-Nov. 12); Mother Goose Christmas (Dec. 1-17); The Snowy Day and Other Stories by Ezra Jack Keats (Feb. 2-18); Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook (March 9-25) and Stone Soup (April 27-May 13, 2018).
Created in 1979, the Children's Theatre is the only professional company in Arkansas that produces children's literary works for the stage. The theater has been recognized by The Drama League, a "national organization dedicated to building theater audiences and supporting artists," as one of the best regional theatre companies in America.
According to the Arkansas Arts Center, the 2017-2018 season's works are "inspired by classic and contemporary sources [and] provide an honest, relevant and challenging artistic experience for our audiences throughout the state. It is our purpose to cultivate a nurturing and educational environment where performing artists and audience members alike can discover, learn and grow."
Show times for the six Main Stage shows are 7 p.m. Fridays, and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. (Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook includes 2 p.m. spring break matinee performances March 20-23, 2018.)
There are a number of ways for audiences -- young and old -- to experience the productions.
Individual tickets are $12.50 for general admission and $10 for Arkansas Arts Center members.
Pay What You Can tickets are available for the 7 p.m. Thursday preview performance of each Main Stage production, but must be bought on Pay What You Can day in person at the Arkansas Arts Center, Ninth and Commerce streets in Little Rock. Those tickets can be bought from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. those days at the Stephens Inc. Visitors Center on the atrium level or from 6-6:45 p.m. at the Children's Theatre Box Office on the lower lobby level.
The Children's Theatre also offers several member bundles and season ticket packages. Membership bundles range from $125 (two tickets to three shows plus family Arts Center membership) to $175 (12 tickets to use any way you want plus Arts Center membership).
Season ticket packages range from $29 for a 3-Play Package for members (with one ticket to three plays of your choice) to $275 for a nonmember Family Flex Pack (24 tickets to use any way you want).
Buy before Sunday to get $10
off on the Mini Flex Pack, Family Flex Pack, Three Show Membership Bundle and Starter Flex Membership Bundle. The $4.95 processing fee will be waived for all season ticket packs and membership bundles bought before Sunday, too.
Here's some more information from the Arkansas Arts Center about the Children's Theatre 2017-2018 productions:
Giggle, Giggle, Quack is from the team of Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin, the best-selling writer and illustrator, respectively, of Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type. This farmyard adventure revolves around Farmer Brown and his much-needed vacation. But he leaves his brother Bob in charge with one crucial word of advice: "Keep an eye on Duck. He's trouble."
Goosebumps the Musical: Phantom of the Auditorium is adapted from R.L. Stine's Phantom of the Auditorium. The "weird and wacky musical" follows Zeke, Brooke and all the other young thespians of Woods Mill Middle School as they attempt to put on the best musical ever, but things go mysteriously awry along the way.
Mother Goose Christmas combines Christmastime with nursery rhymes as all of Mother Goose's friends are trying to be good for Santa Claus. "Mary, Mary is far from contrary; the Tweedles have put their differences aside; Wee Willie Winkie is in bed by 8; and Little Jack Horner is keeping his thumbs to himself."
The Snowy Day and Other Stories by Ezra Jack Keats takes the 1963 Caldecott Medal-winning book by the American writer and illustrator of children's books and its protagonist, Peter, and follows him through several delightful stories by Keats.
Based on the book series by Barbara Park, Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook is a comedy by Allison Gregory and follows Junie B. Jones through a weird and wonderful day of losing and finding things.
Stone Soup includes "earnest charm, playful imagination and heart-warming music" for a play that ends the 2017-2018 season.
For more information and to purchase tickets, call (501) 372-4000 or visit arkansasartscenter.org.
Family on 03/29/2017