SkippyJon Jones at Dallas Children’s Theater

SkippyJon Jones at Dallas Children's Theater

SkippyJon Jones at Dallas Children’s Theater January 23-February 22, 2015

SkippyJon Jones  is a celebration of the unbridled imagination of the very young as seen through the eyes of a Siamese kitten who longs to lead the life of the swashbuckling Chihuahua Skippito Friskito! While raucous and full of infectious humor, the story also demonstrates a child’s ability and need to explore all aspects of their identity.  When faced with loneliness and self-doubt, the determined young Skippyjon retreats to his toy-strewn closet to find adventure and become a hero. Peppered with joyous wordplay and colorful language, this will be an invigorating exploration of the imagination.

DCT Artistic Associate and Director Nancy Schaeffer looks forward to bringing author Judy Schachner’s beloved character to the stage.  According to Schaeffer, “Our designers, Amarante Lucero and Lyle Huchton are truly working from page to stage as they create this environment.  We can see that this is the world inside Skippyjon’s mind, made up with his toys playing the characters.  We can all remember getting lost in our own world playing, and that’s what we’re going to show – the wonder of a child’s mind.  This group of actors and designers and the original score are all going to bring that to life and it will just be delightful.”

Opening Night Festivities

The opening night celebration on January 23 begins in the lobby of the Rosewood Center for Family Arts with live music from DFW’s all-female Mariachis, Rosas Divinas. Dallas’ first female mariachi is celebrating 9 years of service to this community.  Featured with such artist as Graciela Beltran, Fito Olivares, Freddy Fender Jr. and Lila Downs, one of the groups greatest achievements is not just pioneering a new respect for mariachi women, but rather using their musical precision to preserve the mariachi heritage for the next generation.  Guests will use their dancing imagination as they enjoy this fun and uplifting music that immediately puts you in an inspired mood.

Children and adults will also be engaged and amazed by the interactive experience provided by local artist duo Robert Reedy and Val Curry. Participants will have to activate their imagination and creativity to complete design challenges with colorful, interactive geometric building blocks that have been made by the artists entirely from recycled newspaper waste collected from a local corporate beverage retailer.

Also for opening night and back by popular demand, there’ll be a balloon artist making cats and dogs for our young guests, face painting, and of course cookies and milk from Opening Night Sponsor Tiff’s Treats who joins sponsor Highland Park Village in bringing this premiere to Dallas! As Skippyjon reminds everyone how important it is to play pretend, DCT would like to encourage all kids and adults to come dressed in their favorite, most creative costumes throughout the run of the entire show. As young patrons enter, they’ll be invited to don a name tag with their own superhero name as well as a chance to announce their arch nemesis as Skippyjon does, using our interactive name generators!

Collecting Non0-Perishable Food Items and Pet Toys

Each year at this time, Dallas Children’s Theater invites audiences to join in acts of kindness.  During the run of SkippyJon Jones, DCT will be collecting items for two local organizations that can always benefit from community support.  Non-perishable food items will be collected for the Vickery Meadow Neighborhood Alliance Food Pantry as well as toys for cats and dogs at the Operation Kindness animal shelter. If families bring something for one group, they’ll receive one free youth ticket good for the summer production of  The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley. If they choose to bring something for both groups, they can receive up to two tickets to the summer show.

To purchase your tickets, visit dct.org or call their box office at 214-740-0051.

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