Arts Blog

The kids can do art for free and anything you buy (books for dad, hint, hint?) will benefit the Arlington Museum of Art at the 3rd Annual Kids Art Celebration at Barnes and Noble at Arlington at the Parks Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m.

Just let a cashier know that you want your purchase to benefit the Arlington Museum of Art and Barnes and Noble will make it happen.

Kids activities include:
An edible art station presented by the Children's Art Cafe where kids can create art with messy and yummy supplies

Learning how to draw caricatures from caricature artist Ty Walls

Face painting techniques from Rebecca Williams

Projects to complete and take home from UpStairs Gallery of Arlington along with information on instructional classes for kids to adults.

I took my two younger boys to The Wizard of Oz yesterday at the Music Hall at Fair Park and we were enthralled as much by the kid-packed audience in the full house as we were by the show on stage. We spotted at least five incredibly cute little girls dressed up as Dorothy in blue gingham and "ruby" slippers and tons more clutching their little Toto dolls (some well worn from home-hugging, others brand new and bought from the Dallas Summer Musicals gift shop for $25).

We went early enough to catch the free Kids Club before the show where the 12 local kids playing Munchkins and Winkies were in their star element, happily signing autographs for kids who had just decorated red toy slippers with red sequins and glue. You can read about them here.

Most of the kids told us it was their first time in the theater and that they loved seeing their favorite characters come to life. And we could hear them during the show, laughing and clapping and going "aww" every time "Toto" scampered across the stage.

Click below to read what three of them told us afterwards:

Emily Alicia Rivera, 5, of Richardson, dressed up as Dorothy

Because of swine flu cancellations, Kids Who Care is postponing its musical theater audition workshop, previously scheduled for Wednesday, to next Wednesday, May 13 at 4:45 p.m. at The Scott Theatre in Fort Worth.

If you haven't seen Dallas Children's Theater's terrific Honus & Me yet, you're in for a treat. And if you go on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. for the last performance of Steven Dietz's adaptation of Dan Gutman's book about a young baseball fan who travels back in time to play with Hall of Famer Honus Wagner, you can meet Dietz himself. The University of Texas at Austin professor will be introduced to the audience and be available for autographs with the cast. Check out KidBeat for more on the show.

The Museum of Nature & Science is hosting a birthday party for Dr. Seuss (who would have been 105 on March 2) along with the first birthday of its remodeled Children's Museum Monday from 10 a.m. to noon. And since admission is free, we blogged about all the fun details here in Dollar Wise.

We're happy to report that Slappy's Puppet Playhouse, the only puppet theater we know with real-life clowns behind the scenes, will stay put at Galleria Dallas at least until the end of the year.

Slappy's had to move from its five-year home on the third floor, near the Play Place, to make room for a clothing store earlier this year. But now that their temporary spot on the second floor has been assured through December, they're back to planning kids birthday parties and shows again.

Their marionette show, Sleeping Beauty, continues through March 29, followed by Charlotte's Web April 4-June 21 and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz June 27 - Sept. 7. Their Funhouse Follies variety show continues through Sept. 6. And they'll be offering a circus camp June 15-19 and July 6-10.

We know it's still winter, but you've got to plan ahead for summer. And the free second annual summer showcase presented by Dallas Afterschool Network should help both for and non-profit caregivers do just that by offering live entertainment that showcase out-of-school options.

It all takes place Friday, March 7 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with live performances from 10 a.m. to noon at the Embarcadero Building in Fair Park, 1229 Admiral Nimitz Circle in Dallas. Enter Fair Park at Gate 3 along Washington Ave.

After five years of delighting kids and parents with clowning and puppetry, birthday parties and unique gifts, Slappy's Puppet Playhouse is moving on down from the third flower of Galleria Dallas to the second floor after its Sunday shows.

It seems its current space is being taken over by Forever 21, the chain clothing retailer. Slappy's, owned and managed by real-life husband and wife clowns Tiffany 'Slappy' Riley and Dick Monday (Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey vets, creators of the New York Goofs and therapeutic clowns at Children's Medical Center Dallas), will start carting puppets and props to Suite 2230, next to Tony & Guy's on the second level, where they want everyone to know the closest parking is the Blue Parking.

The new space, which is temporary for three months while a permanent space is in negotiation, will open Feb. 14 with Slappy's Funhouse Follies variety show, Sleeping Beauty and the Snoring Prince marionette show, birthday parties and store, plus a free Showtime Saturdays Valentine variety show back up on the third floor near the old space at 11:30 a.m. So for Valentine's Day, young fans may want to stop by and show them a little love...

For all of you out there thinking the cows were writing their own "moos" in Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type at the Dallas Children's Theater, James E. Grote, who managed to spin a three-minute picture book into an 80 minute musical, will be attending the Sunday show at 1:30 at the Rosewood Center for Family Arts.

Grote, a member of the artistic ensemble of Lifeline Theater in Chicago, has also adapted Doreen Cronin's Giggle, Giggle, Quack and Duck for President, which the DCT has under consideration -- if enough barnyard fans demand it.

Also, for fans who can't make it out to a Friday night performance for the rest of the Feb. 22 run, not to worry. There aren't any more. Figuring that the show plays to an audience that doesn't stay up that late, DCT has replaced its usual Friday shows with Saturday matinees at 1:30 and 4:30 p.m.

Word of Mouth productions is offering a free child's ticket for each adult ticket purchased to its production of The Pied Piper Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m. at The McKinney Performing Arts Center. Adult tickets are $8 and $7 for seniors. Kids tickets go back to $6 each Saturday and Sunday.The show about how the Pied Piper rids a town of rats, continues through Sunday. The McKinney Performing Arts Center, 111 N. Tennesee, McKinney. 214-544-4630. www.womproductions.com.

Singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik won multiple Tony Awards for his Broadway musical Spring Awakening two years ago. But now he not only has a new album out but he's touring as well. He comes to the McKinney Performing Arts Center on Valentine's Day.

There's no official work, but I'm speculating that Spring Awakening will turn up in the new touring series at the soon-to-open Dallas Center for the Performing Arts during its inaugural season. Other good bets -- the Lincoln Center version of South Pacific and Pulitzer Prize drama August: Osage County.

I don't usually see shows twice -- it's hard enough to find time to see them once. But my son, David, just can't get enough of Theatre Britain's annual panto (a proper British sillyfest where a man dresses up as a woman, a woman dresses up as a man, a ghost pops in, awful puns percolate and very tasty British treats are sold during intermission).

So there I was Sunday afternoon at Little Red Riding Hood again, but some of the jokes were new. It seems that Kevin Scott Keating, who sashays about as Mother Hood, has been updating his audience chats with Cowboy talk (including his disappointment that the Pittsburgh Pirates line-up did not include Brad Pitt and concerns that the New York Giants might be related to that large fellow who had given Jack in the Beanstalk so much trouble).

But he gives onstage credit for his new Bush joke to one of the trees, played by Sheila Payson (who did actually suggest Kevin comment on the Bushes moving to Dallas). And here's how it goes:

"Why is this part of the forest better than the forest down by the hollow? Because this part of the forest is still filled with big beautiful trees...and the Hollow is being overrun by Bushes."

We warned you that panto jokes can be punderful.

And while we don't know what jokes will make it in upcoming performances, we do know that the Saturday and Sunday shows are sold out with only Wednesday, Thursday and Friday tickets available.

If anyone is planning a Broadway trip over the holidays, this is truly a chance to catch 'em before they close. According to a story that ran in the The Daily Telegraph today, 15 Broadway shows are about to be shuttered, including Grease, Young Frankenstein, Hairspray, 13 and Boeing-Boeing on January 4.

The pain hits close to home, too. Boeing-Boeing, produced in part by Dallas Summer Musicals and Michael Jenkins, has been a great source of pride here after winning two Tony Awards, one for Best Revival of a Play and one for Best Performance of a Leading Actor in a Play for Mark Rylance.

Up on the following week's chopping block: Spring Awakening and Monty Python's Spamalot.

Even Daniel Radcliffe is stripping for half-empty houses in Equus (which is scheduled to close in February). And if you want deals for family shows, Disney is offering a Kids Go Free! deal for The Lion King, Mary Poppins and The Little Mermaid for three months after January.

Not a lot of notice here, but...the Museum of Nature & Science is giving kids a chance to get a picture taken with the "star" of The Tale of Despereaux in the Science Building lobby today after the children's parade from 2:15 to 2:45 p.m. and from 3:15 to 3:45 p.m. Yes, we know the star is an animated mouse, but we're sure they'll think of something.

The event is free and there will be free movie material giveaways (posters, T-shirts, face masks, mouse ears). Of course, if you want to stick around and explore the museum, normal admission fees apply.

As an incentive to join the museum, members can register through Sunday for a free family four-pack "sneak preview" ticket drawing on Dec. 13 (110 four-packs will be given away).

And if your kids haven't read Kate DiCamillo's The Tale of Despereaux in anticipation of the big screen film, get thee to a bookstore or a library! This is a wonderful, Newbery Medal winning tale about an unlikely hero with big ears and an even bigger heart who believes that he is the one can save the fair Princess Pea.

I am sad to read of the passing of William Gibson on Tuesday. The playwright of The Miracle Worker, the story of Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller was 94 and died in Stockbridge, Mass.

I didn't know that his first success was a novel, The Cobweb, which was sold to MGM and made into a movie in 1955. He turned down the chance to make big money as a screenwriter because he preferred playwrighting. His success with The Miracle Worker (written shortly after Two For the Seesaw) brought him international fame in his 50's in 1959 as a Tony award-wnning Broadway hit and in 1960 as an Oscar-winning film hit.

I love this quote from his obituary in the New York Times: "Good things come to those who wait...far too long."

The Dallas Children's Theater did a couple of wonderful productions of this play under the direction of executive artistic director Robyn Flatt. Ms. Flatt showed an unerring ffeeling for what Mr. Gibson touched on, so exquisitely: the delicate, almost cross-hatched interconnectedness charged by the personal pain and passion required to make a difference.

Annie Sullivan could not have mustered the determination to help Helen without the shadow of the love between her and the little brother whom she couldn't save. And she would not have succeeded without the extreme stubborness and faith in her vision that is required of all visionaries.

He wrote until the end, evidently. And while his name was never as famous as the work he produced, he gave us a gift: ideas to ponder that will endure.

Fans of Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse can get their own sparkly, purple plastic purse plus a pair of Lilly's very cool sunglasses from the DCT store just by buying two tickets in Section B to Sunday's 4:30 performance at the Dallas Children's Theater. ALSO, anyone can come to the DCT to fill out a form for a chance to win a child's purse from Stanley Korshak and a $100 gift certificate for shoes from Naturino's after the show.

In addition, while the theater had previously announced they were selling $50 tickets to see a fashion show of girls ages 5-10 modeling designer purses from Stanley Korshak, the show will now be free to everyone sticking around after the 4:30 p.m. performance. If anyone wants to attend a reception after the fashion show, they can pay $25 per adult and $10 per child for a dinner catered by The Purple Cow.

Girls who want to be one of the models in the post-performance fashion show will still have to buy a $500 ticket -- but they only have until Friday at noon to allow time to rehearse.

Galleria Dallas has a cool new free series going for the kids called Showtime Saturdays, and you can expect a touch of humor, with the folks at Slappy's Puppet Playhouse helping to produce it. Darren Collins will do his comedy juggling act tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. adjacent to the Play Place on Level 3.

Forget the sparring political parties for a moment and put in a vote for Dr. Seuss. Oh My Godard Gallery (don't you love the name?) is hosting a Family Day Event at The Shops at Willow Bend Saturday from 2-4 p.m. in concert with its "Vote for Dr. Seuss" art exhibit that focuses on the political and environmental art work of Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss' real name) in its gallery.

WFAA anchor Jeff Brady will read Dr. Seuss stories, kids will get a chance to do their own artwork with teachers from J's Art Studio and those old enough will be able to register to vote as part of a Rock the Vote table in the gallery. It's all free and the exhibit continues through Oct. 5 during normal mall hours.

Is there something in the water? And, if so, we hope it's not polluting. Global warming, brought so powerfully to the adult consciousness through Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth and now, again, at a level that kids can comprehend with Wall-E from Pixar, is also front and center in the world premiere of a new musical. The show, Project Youth, continues through Saturday at Flower Mound Performing Arts Theater. Read about it here.

Students from Alaska, Louisiana, Colorado and MIssouri are joining the kids of CATS (Creative Arts Theatre & School) in Arlington for a FREE SummerStars 2008 production of Little Shop of Horrors Saturday at 2 p.m.
The kids' performance in this Alan Menken/Howard Ashman musical about a bloodthirsty plant that offers a nerdy florist a Faustian bargain, is the culmination of a two-week teen workshop for kids in grades 7-12. It's also the 30th production in a program that dates back to 1980. Reservations requested. More information here or by calling 817-861-2287.

Think of it as an American Idol for kids with chewy, jelly bean center. The Oompa Loompas (from Willy Wonka) are so excited about the Giant Chewy Nerds, that they are, as the press release says, at a complete Loss for Lyrics. Tweens and teens ages 8-18 are invited to visit the traveling Wonkalicious Lounge in the Stonebriar Centre in Frisco Saturday from 1-6 p.m. or log onto WONKA.com with witty songs about the new Giant Chewy Nerds starting today and continuing through Sept. 21.

The winner of the Loss for Lyrics video contest will be flown to Los Angeles to record his or her song with Raven-Symone. And we, hope, to get a few of those Giant Chewy Nerds.
Also, anyone under 18 can enter the Rating Sweepstakes to rate their favorite submissions and be entered into a sweepstakes to win weekly WONKA prizes.

Why let Disney have all the fun adapting animated films into Broadway musicals? Now DreamWorks Theatricals is getting into the act with Shrek The Musical. How serious are they? Previews begin Nov. 8 on Broadway. Check it out here.