Go 'Kaboom': Theatre for Young Audiences

The already sold-out "Pete the Cat' is the next production in ArtSmart's Theatre for Young Audiences program. The series continues later this month with more shows that are tailored to different age groups. There is a waiting list for "Pete the Cat" in case of cancellations. (Submitted photo)
The already sold-out "Pete the Cat' is the next production in ArtSmart's Theatre for Young Audiences program. The series continues later this month with more shows that are tailored to different age groups. There is a waiting list for "Pete the Cat" in case of cancellations. (Submitted photo)

Texarkana may be in the deep freeze lately but the Theatre for Young Audiences shows at the Perot Theatre are heating up to provide kids both entertainment and an education.

Presented by the ArtsSmart program at the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council, the series continues Tuesday with the already sold-out "Pete the Cat," which is based on the ever-popular series of children's story books.

Then TYA shows continue with "Passing it Forward: the American Dream?" on Tuesday, Jan. 30, and "Doktor Kaboom: It's Just Rocket Science" on Wednesday, Jan. 31. To round out the season, "Go, Dog. Go!" has a performance scheduled for Wednesday, April 11.

Show times are 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and for non-ArtsSmart schools or members of the public who wish to attend tickets are $7 and available for those three final productions.

"'Pete the Cat' just sold out really quick," said Kaci Hopper, the Theatre for Young Audiences coordinator and education administrative assistant at TRAHC. There's a waiting list in case of any last-minute cancellations.

However, tickets remain for the other shows, including "Passing it Forward." "It's a tap group that is coming in, and they of course tap and perform. But they're also talking about the American dream and all nationalities," Hopper said about this exploration of diversity.

Presented by Tapestry Dance Company, "Passing it Forward" uses various forms of expression to reach the audience, including spoken word and rap. It's geared to students in grades 6 through 12.

"They're performing in their own unique way," Hopper said of this show.

"Doktor Kaboom" features a "very eccentric character," she said, and that's a scientist whose hair is sticking up as he performs experiments on stage.

Geared to grades 4 through 8, "Doktor Kaboom" discusses scientific concepts like centripetal force, chemical reaction, combustion, inertia and action/reaction within the framework of space exploration. He strives to give children the message that science is for everyone.

"Go, Dog. Go!" is a stage presentation of the P.D. Eastman book, complete with music, dogs and colorfully told life lessons for the Pre-K to 2nd grade student. This production will round out the Theatre for Young Audiences season.

(For tickets or more information, contact Kaci Hopper at 903-792-8681 or [email protected].)

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