The Children’s Performing Arts Series at Stephen F. Austin State University will present two performances of the enchanting “Madeline and the Bad Hat” on Wednesday, March 6, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus.
The third in Ludwig Bemelman’s “Madeline” series, “Madeline and the Bad Hat” is presented by ArtsPower National Touring Theatre. The story focuses on the unbreakable bonds of friendship and family, according to Diane Peterson, SFA Fine Arts Box Office manager and director of the children’s series.
Capturing the blithe yet touching spirit of the much-loved Madeline, this tale traces the adventures of a young Parisian girl who – despite starting off on the wrong foot with a mischievous new neighbor – eventually learns that first impressions aren’t everything.
“In this show, Madeline is in that important ‘discovery’ phase of her life, when the types of challenges and conflicts she faces are important to resolve,” Peterson explains. “The timeless charm of Bemelmans’ story is quite relevant to young children, who are forever seeking ways to handle such problems, and the stage is a wonderful venue for such lessons.”
The show targets children in pre-kindergarten through third grade. Study guides provide suggestions for pre- and post performance activities and discussions for teachers to use in the classroom. A comprehensive study guide for “Madeline and the Bad Hat” may be accessed at cpas.sfasu.edu.
“Told with gentle humor, and featuring a beautiful musical score, this amusing tale of enemies-become-friends will charm and entertain children and adults alike,” Peterson said.
“Madeline and the Bad Hat” has been adapted for the stage by ArtsPower’s artistic director Greg Gunning, who also wrote the lyrics and directed the production. Composer/orchestrator Richard DeRosa created the original Broadway-style score.
Performances are at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. in Turner Auditorium, which is located in the Griffith Fine Arts Building. Tickets are $7.50 for individuals and $6 per person for groups of 20 or more.
The final CPAS performance of this season is “The Jungle Book” to be presented on Thursday, May 16.
To order tickets, call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS. Visit the CPAS website at cpas.sfasu.edu for additional information.
