TEXARKANA, Texas -- A unique production of a reimagined fable will be the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council's first Theatre for Young Audiences production of 2022.
Lightwire Theater will stage two performances of "The Adventures of Tortoise and Hare: The Next Gen" on Wednesday at the Perot Theatre downtown. The family-friendly show is an imaginative sequel to the fable by Aesop that taught slow and steady wins the race.
As featured on NBC's "America's Got Talent," Lightwire uses glow-in-the-dark puppetry and expressive music to tell stories. "The Adventures of Tortoise and Hare: The Next Gen" picks up the fable 10 years after the original race, when the title characters must help their children navigate modern distractions such as smartphones and videogames.
"What hurdles will they have to overcome to make it to the finish line? With dazzling visuals, poignant storytelling and the creative use of music from classic to pop, this production brings this tale into a new brilliant light," according to a summary.
Local and area schools will be bringing groups of students to the shows, and for COVID safety, empty rows of seats will separate different campuses.
The long-running performance series aims to give local children an opportunity they may not otherwise have, said Hannah Reed, TRAHC's education coordinator.
"Theater for Young Audiences is to introduce theater to younger students, give them a traditional theater experience, and really just broaden their perspective and experience with the arts," she said.
Two other TYA shows are planned for March.
On March 1, educational illusionist Bill Blagg will perform "Magic in Motion," which is described as combining the fascination of magic with the wonders of physical science.
On March 30, "Dog Man: The Musical" will bring the hit book series by Dav Pilkey to the stage. The show is described as a "heartwarming new production following the chronicles of Dog Man, who with the head of a dog and the body of a policeman, loves to fight crime and chew on the furniture."
("The Adventures of Tortoise and Hare: The Next Gen" showtimes are 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12. The show is open to the public. Seating begins 30 minutes before each performance. Masks are encouraged but not mandatory. General admission ticket price is $10, and walk-ins are welcome. To reserve tickets, call TRAHC at 903-792-8681 or email Hannah Reed at [email protected].)