Hemmens hosts theater just for kids
The Hemmens Performing Arts for Young People Series educates and entertains the younger audience this winter with such classics as "Are You My Mother?," "The Color of Justice" and "Fancy Nancy," delighting children of all ages.
Tickets are $7 and can be purchased at the Hemmens box office at hemmens.org or call (847) 931-5900.
"Are You My Mother?" will be performed at 9:45 a.m. and noon Tuesday, Feb. 14. After Baby Bird emerges from her shell, she expects to be greeted by her mother, but finds an empty nest instead. Having no idea that her mother has left to gather food, Baby Bird sets out to find her. In her search, she meets an array of colorful characters, Cat, Dog and Hen, each of whom she greets with the simple plea, "Are you my mother?" Based on P.D. Eastman's classic picture book, and presented by ArtsPower National Touring Theatre, "Are You My Mother?" is an enchanting musical about Baby Bird's journey - an adventure that overflows with love, dedication and friendship. It is recommended for children in kindergarten through second grade.
"The Color of Justice" will be presented at 9:45 a.m. and noon Wednesday, Feb. 22. It's the 1950s, a time in America when signs indicating "Colored" and "White" were prominently hung on restroom doors, restaurant windows and drinking fountains. Eight-year-old Grace Carter doesn't understand why "colored" schools have to settle for ripped books and hand-me-down school supplies, or why she can't attend a school close to her home. At the same time, Thurgood Marshall, prominent legal counsel for the NAACP, has been traveling around the country looking for families who will challenge the segregation law, and who have the courage to take their lawsuits all the way to the nation's highest court. One day, the two meet and the brilliant fighter for human rights and this courageous little girl take on the doctrine of "separate but equal" in this gripping drama about Thurgood Marshall's struggle against school segregation. It is recommended for youth in third through ninth grades.
"Fancy Nancy and Other Stories" will be presented at 9:45 a.m. and noon Friday, March 9. Nancy is a frilly glamour queen in a boring world. She decides it's time to teach her family how to be "fancy" in this delightful musical revue based on favorite children's books, including "Leonardo," "The Terrible Monster" by Mo Willems, "Duck For President" by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin, and "I Have To Go!" by Robert Munsch. Performed by a five-member cast who portray dozens of characters throughout the show, the stories presented by TheatreWorks USA feature themes and ideas relevant to a diverse audience of children. It is recommended for students in kindergarten through fourth grade.
The Hemmens Cultural Center, is at the corner of Symphony Way and North Grove Avenue in Elgin. Visit hemmens.org.