Calico Children's Theatre Announces 2011-2012 Season

UC Clermont College announces its children’s theatre season and celebrates its 25 theatre anniversary. Calico Children’s Theatre is a UC Clermont College initiative geared toward families with children ages 3-13 years of age. All performances are held in the Krueger Auditorium on the UC Clermont College campus at 4200 Clermont College Dr. and are approximately one hour long.

The Calico Children’s Theatre is celebrating its 25 Anniversary this year, special surprises are in store. New this year, the Calico Children’s Theatre will partner with the Missoula Children’s Theatre in June of 2012 to provide a fun and engaging theatre camp. Also new this year-  Calico Children’s Theatre will partner this winter with the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park to provide children’s acting classes. The performances this season are made possible with the support of our sponsors, Park National Bank, ArtsWave and Ameristay Hotels.

Season Performances 2011-12
The cost of tickets per performance is $5 per person (adult/child/student).  

Jack and the Gentle Giant (Madcap Puppets) / November 18 – 7 p.m. & November 19 – 10:30 a.m.**
Jack is back in this sequel to the famous fairy tale! With a little help from his talking beanstalk, old Jack and his daughters must tame the most despicable giant of them all. In this surprise-packed audience favorite, you will enter a world of towering tales where each giant is bigger than the last! Stories include:  The Stone Giant (an Iroquois legend), The Heartless Giant (a folktale from the Czech Republic) and The Brave Little Tailor (a Brothers Grimm story from Germany).

**Anniversary Special-  All tickets to Jack and the Gentle Giant, just $2.50 per ticket**

The Gift of the Magi (ArtReach:  A Division of the Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati) / December 9 – 7 p.m. & December 10 – 10:30 a.m.
Can a memorable Christmas be made with a dollar and eighty-seven cents? Getting caught up in the commercialism of Christmas, Della and Jim begin to lose sight of the true joy of gift giving and friendship. In this classic tale, based on the short story by O. Henry we follow the young couple on their selfless journey to make each other’s holiday dreams come true. 

Music and Fun with Zak Morgan (Zak Morgan) / January 13 – 7 p.m. & January 14 – 10:30 a.m.

Grammy-nominated recording artist Zak Morgan performs songs and poems that inspire and tickle the funny bones of children and adults alike. Morgan’s writing is filled with rich vocabulary and wordplay, and he uses music and humor as vehicles to encourage children to read books, use their imaginations, and believe in themselves.

The Incredible, Unforgettable Bug Lab Experience (Dr. Insecta) / March 16 – 7 p.m. & March 17 – 10:30 a.m.
From NASA to nature and science centers, school assemblies to parks and recreation facilities, Dr. Insecta has enthralled audiences of all ages across America! Experience real entomology magic as Dr. Insecta introduces you to some of the largest live insects on the planet. Dr. Insecta’s Bug Lab is an interactive program that entertains, educates, and desensitizes fears we have about these incredible creatures that let us share their world. 

Buy season tickets, three performance titles for just $12!  Performances include The Gift of the Magi, Music and Fun with Zak Morgan and The Incredible, Unforgettable Bug Lab Experience.**

Calico Creativities Workshops

Workshops are designed to complement theatre performances and engage participants through the artistic learning process. Attendance at the performance is not required to register for a workshop. Cost per workshop is $7 per child. Parents are free. Seating is limited, so order your tickets today! All workshops are approximately one hour long, locations vary.

Song Writing for Beginners (Zak Morgan) / January 14 – 12:30 p.m.
Go on a musical adventure with Zak Morgan and learn about creating and recording songs. Zak will engage participants in a fun process of song writing through rhyme and word play and will demonstrate recording equipment. For the big finale, participants will record a song with Zak! An mp3 recording of the song will be emailed to participants after the workshop. 

Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! (Dr. Insecta) / March 17 – 12:30 p.m.
Ever wonder what bugs eat and where they live?  Meet Dr. Insecta and some of the “stars” of The Incredible, Unforgettable Bug Lab Experience and learn about the care, feeding and creating of habitats for bugs.  Participants will make their very own “bug habitat” to use at home!

Yellow Bus Series
An edu-taining experience is awaiting you at the Calico Children’s Theatre!  This series brings the magic of the performing arts to young students.  Shows are available to public/private schools and home school groups.  We offer quality performances at affordable pricing, close to your school!

Tickets are just $3 per person.  All performances are approximately one hour in length and are held in the Krueger Auditorium on the UC Clermont College campus. 

The Gift of the Magi (ArtReach:  A Division of the Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati) / December 9 – 10:30 a.m. & 12:30 p.m.
Can a memorable Christmas be made with a dollar and eighty-seven cents?  Getting caught up in the commercialism of Christmas, Della and Jim begin to lose sight of the true joy of gift giving and friendship.  In this classic tale, based on the short story by O. Henry we follow the young couple on their selfless journey to make each other’s holiday dreams come true. 

Music and Fun with Zak Morgan (Zak Morgan) / January 13 – 10:30 a.m.
Grammy-nominated recording artist Zak Morgan performs songs and poems that inspire and tickle the funny bones of children and adults alike.  Morgan’s writing is filled with rich vocabulary and wordplay, and he uses music and humor as vehicles to encourage children to read books, use their imaginations, and believe in themselves.

The Incredible, Unforgettable Bug Lab Experience (Dr. Insecta) / March 16 – 10:30 a.m.
From NASA to nature and science centers, school assemblies to parks and recreation facilities, Dr. Insecta has enthralled audiences of all ages across America!  Experience real entomology magic as Dr. Insecta introduces you to some of the largest live insects on the planet.  Dr. Insecta’s Bug Lab is an interactive program that entertains, educates, and desensitizes fears we have about these incredible creatures that let us share their world. 

Calico Children’s Theatre Enrichment Programs

Acting Classes
New this year, the Calico Children’s Theatre will partner this winter with the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park to provide children’s acting classes. These classes offer a chance to investigate the basics of acting, improvisation, movement and theatre games. The intent of all classes is to introduce the student to the beginning concepts of performance. Cost is $75 per child.

Two sessions will be offered in the winter of 2012.

Creative Dramatics- designed for children enrolled in grades K-2 with a maximum enrollment of 15 students. Classes will be held on consecutive Thursdays, from January 26 – March 8, 2012, 5 – 6:15 p.m. Class length is 75 minutes.

Children’s Acting- designed for children enrolled in grades 3-4 with a maximum enrollment of 15 students. Classes will be held on consecutive Thursdays, from January 26 – March 8, 2012, 5 – 6:30p.m. Class length is 90 minutes.

Theatre Camp
New this year, the Calico Children’s Theatre will partner with the Missoula Children’s Theatre in June of 2012 to provide a fun and engaging theatre camp. MCT is the premier internationally-renowned touring children’s theatre program whose mission is to provide the development of life skills through participation in the performing arts. Scripts are structured specifically for the Tour’s short rehearsal period, and recognize the needs of the individual child. Major roles are large, complex and challenging; ensemble parts emphasize unison songs, actions and movements. There is an audition process. Every child selected to be a camper gets a part! Cost is $110 per child

• This is a week-long camp “starring” local students in a full-scale musical.
• The camp will be held in June of 2012, exact dates to be announced in winter 2012.
• The cast is limited to 50-60 students, grades K-12. In addition, there are four spots available for Assistant Directors (ages 10 or older) who will help the Tour Directors.
• No advanced preparation is needed.
• Open auditions will be held to cast roles.
• Enrichment workshops will be held during the camp on a variety of theatre topics and may include:  lessons in make-up, story-telling, puppetry, improvisations, dance and movement, etc.
• Space is limited and availability varies based on grade level. 
• Register early for the most fun you’ll have all summer!

Dates and show title for the theatre camp will be announced in winter 2012. Registration forms will also be available online in winter 2012. 

For additional information, order forms or to order online visit www.ucclermont.edu/community_arts or contact College Relations at (513) 558-1215.