2018-2019 Serious Fun Children’s Series
THE 2018-2019 HARRIS L. KEMPNER
SERIOUS FUN CHILDREN’S SERIES!
Each season The Grand offers a selection of performances to area students and school groups. Presented on weekdays during the school year, the performances offer a supplement to existing curricula for a nominally-priced ticket. All of The Grand’s children’s programs feature professional touring companies with reputations for high-quality productions.
Comprehensive study guides are available to schools prior to a performance which allow teachers to incorporate activities centered around the story into their curricula. Some performances offer a question and answer period with the performers following the show. Schools may choose to prepare these questions in advance as part of the learning experience
In addition, The Grand offers free workshops to those schools that have tickets to performances listed on the Serious Fun Children’s Series. Designed to enhance students’ learning experiences by providing a literary and live performance connection, the workshops are presented in the school classroom. Each workshop can accommodate twenty-four students per 30-minute session. Workshops are limited and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact The Grand’s Director of Education, Sarah Piel at 409.770.5066 to reserve workshops.
For School/Group reservations, call 800-821-1894
Erth’s Prehistoric Aquarium Adventure
Tuesday, November 27, 2018 10am
Deep below the surface, submerged below time, swam some of the world’smost amazing prehistoric marine reptiles. In Erth’s Prehistoric Aquarium you will be able to get up close and personal with an amazing array of aquatic creatures from bygone eras, connecting young audiences to the real science of palaeontology. Erth’s prehistoric creatures are unmistakably ‘alive’ and mostly friendly, in this fun, educational and unique performance that will delight all audiences from ages 5 years and up. Children can watch wide-eyed from a safe distance or dare to get right up close to these prehistoric creatures.
Recommended for grades K – 5
Study Guide – Erth’s Prehistoric Aquarium Adventure
For School/Group reservations, call 800-821-1894
Diary of a Worm, a Spider & a Fly
Thursday, January 24, 2019 10am
Based on the three books by Doreen Cronin Illustrated by Harry Bliss
Produced by Dallas Children’s Theater from Dallas, Texas
The coolest ever rock-n-roll romp in a bug’s world, capturing all the droll humor and whimsy of the wildly popular books. Insects rule in the diaries of unlikely best friends: Worm, Spider and Fly. Worm eats his homework, Fly believes she has superpowers, and Spider can’t wait to grow up and molt. Promoting eco-consciousness, earth science and tolerance of others, DIARY OF A WORM, A SPIDER, AND A FLY is a joyful, hip musical exploration of the world outside… You might just find that a bug’s life is not all that different from your own!
Recommended for grades K and Up
Study Guide – Diary of a Worm, a Spider & a Fly
For School/Group reservations, call 800-821-1894
The Magic School Bus
Thursday, February 14, 2019 10am
Presented by Theatreworks USA
When the class gets lost on the way to the planetarium, Ms. Frizzle saves the day by blasting into outer space for an epic interplanetary field trip! But when rivalries both old and new threaten to tear the students apart, our young heroes must learn to pull together or risk getting forever lost in the solar system. Hop on the Magic School Bus for a ride in this new musical adaptation based on the original book series published by Scholastic.
Recommended for grades K – 5
For School/Group reservations, call 800-821-1894
Three Billy Goats Gruff
Thursday, April 4, 2019 10am
Presented by Bits ‘N Pieces Puppet Theatre
In a Scandinavian mountain pass, a yodeling Norwegian herdsman and his son welcome springtime. They open a gate to let their goats out of the brown winter pasture. Across a river, in the distance is the fresh green food of springtime. The goats must cross a bridge to get there. A bridge with a Troll living underneath it.
Recommended for grades K – 5
Study Guide – Three Bill Goats Gruff
For School/Group reservations, call 800-821-1894
Jack and the Beanstalk
Wednesday, May 1, 2019 10am
Book and Lyrics by Douglas Jones Music by Ron Barnett Produced by Virginia Rep on Tour
This musical adaptation is a rollicking retelling of the classic fairy tale. Join our modern-day young hero as he uses his imagination to become the famous Jack from the book he is reading. As he spins the tale of trading the family cow for three magic beans, we watch the giant beanstalk grow and let our imaginations soar as our hero climbs through the clouds to meet an ill-tempered giant, finds fabulous treasures and more adventures than you can shake a stalk at.
Recommended for grades K – 5
Study Guide – Jack and the Beanstalk
For School/Group reservations, call 800-821-1894
SPECIAL THANKS!
The children’s series performances have been designated The Harris L. Kempner Children’s Series in honor of Mr. Kempner’s lifelong commitment to youth, education and The Grand’s programming. They are supported in part by donations to The Grand’s Permanent Fund in his memory. Additional support is provided by the following: Dr. Leon Bromberg Charitable Trust Fund, Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund, The Ippolito Charitable Foundation of Galveston, The Jamail Galveston Foundation, Kathy McGovern, John P. McGovern Foundation, Moody Memorial First United Methodist Church Permanent Endowment Fund, The National Endowment for the Arts and Texas Commission on the Arts.
SAVE THESE DATES!
OPEN AUDITIONS!
Open auditions for Missoula Children’s Theatre’s production of The Snow Queen at
The Grand Kids Festival
Monday April 1, 2019 | 4:30pm
The Grand 1894 Opera House
2020 Postoffice Street, Galveston, TX
If you love to perform for family and friends – this is your time to shine! Led by actors/directors from Missoula Children’s Theatre, each performance is in front of a live audience. Come try out and be a part of the show!
Click here for more information on the www.GrandKidsFestival.com.
The Grand Kids Festival
Saturday, April 6, 2019 – 10 am to 5 pm
Celebrate with The Grand on a day filled with non-stop performances and art activities at the 24th Annual Grand Kids Festival, located on Postoffice Street in Galveston’s historic downtown Cultural Arts District between 20th and 23rd on Saturday, April 6, 2019 from 10am – 5pm.
Designed as an avenue to introduce children and their families to the arts, visitors will be entertained and involved in activities and performances that take place within three blocks on four stages, featuring over a dozen professional performers, student performance groups, hands-on activities for children, a petting zoo and so much more fun for everyone!
A highlight of the entertainment offered each year is a musical adaptation presented by MISSOULA CHILDREN’S THEATRE as part of a theatre residency. Missoula Children’s Theatre works with a cast of 50 area students for a week prior to the Festival and then presents them in two performances on The Grand’s historic stage.
For more information on The Grand Kids Festival, please visit the festival website at www.GrandKidsFestival.com.
FESTIVAL FOUNDING SPONSORS:
Mary Ainslie, The Gladys B. Foundation in honor of Robert Richard Thornton, Lawyer; the Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund, Bank of America, and the Park Board of Trustees of the City of Galveston.
2018 FESTIVAL SPONSORS:
Sponsors for the 2018 festival (to date) include: The John P. McGovern Foundation, Jamail Galveston Foundation, The Permanent Endowment Fund of Moody Memorial First United Methodist Church, Yaga’s Children’s Fund, Comcast, Kroger, Island Rotary Club, Bush and Associates, Houston Family Magazine, Galveston Kiwanis Club, CenterPoint Energy, The Kids Directory, Texas Commission on the Arts, The Rotary Club of Galveston’s Galveston Rotary Foundation, Eliza Quigley and Shawn Guttersen, and the Park Board of Trustees of the City of Galveston, as well as many friends of the Festival and in-kind donors. Special thanks to the festival Founding Sponsors: Mary Ainslie, The Gladys B. Foundation in honor of Robert Richard Thornton, Lawyer; the Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund, Bank of America, and the Park Board of Trustees of the City of Galveston. In addition, support of hundreds of volunteers including The Grand’s Board of Directors, Advisory Committee, and Education Committee, he Grand Phantoms and many organizations and student groups ensures the success of the festival each year.
