WAUSAU – The Grand Theater released this week its 2019-20 Aspirus Arts In Education Series.
Student audiences will learn about such things as the ancient art of Taiko drumming with the Yamato Drummers of Japan and the new meaning of “classical” music with Black Violin. They’ll also be transported into outer space and deep beneath the sea, all without leaving the theater.
Tickets cost $6 per seat; reservations for the series are available to public, private, parochial and home schools, as well as the general public. For reservations or more information, call The Grand’s Ticket Office at 715-842-0988 or visit https://www.grandtheater.org/programs/.
2019-20 Aspirus Arts In Education Series student matinees include:
“The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System”: Oct. 16 – 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Hop on “The Magic School Bus” for a ride in this new musical adaptation based on the beloved book series. 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.
“Black Violin”: Oct. 24 – 1 p.m.
Black Violin’s blend of classical, bluegrass, rock, hip-hop and R&B music, which they describe as “classical boom,” teaches students to bust stereotypes, break boundaries and be themselves. In addition to performing for more than 100,000 students a year, the two classically-trained musicians have collaborated with the likes of super stars like P. Diddy, Kanye West, 50 Cent, Tom Petty, Aerosmith, Aretha Franklin and The Eagles.
“Pete the Cat”: Nov. 13 – 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
For Pete the Cat, life is an adventure no matter where you wind up. So when young Jimmy Biddle, the most organized second-grader on planet Earth, draws a blank in art class during the last week of school, it turns out Pete is the perfect pal to help him out. Together, they set out on a mission to help Jimmy conquer second-grade art, and along the way, they both learn a little something new about inspiration.
“The Snowy Day and Other Stories”: Feb. 27 27, 2020 – 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Ezra Jack Keats’ treasured characters come to life in this humorous and fun adaptation of “Whistle for Willie, Goggles!,” “A Letter to Amy,” and Caldecott Medal winner “The Snowy Day.” Follow Peter and his friends through winter, spring, summer and fall as they romp and play, start snow ball fights and make snow angels, journey in space and under the sea, and more, all in this imaginative musical play that uses innovative shadow puppetry to celebrate the magic and boundless possibilities of childhood and the challenges of growing up.
“The One & Only Ivan”: March 9, 2020 – 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
For 27 years, the world of Ivan the gorilla was a dull cage in a roadside shopping mall. But when he meets Ruby, a baby elephant captured in the wild, Ivan’s ambitions and imagination must grow to meet the challenge of rescuing his endangered new companion. This No. 1 New York Times best-seller enters the mind of a remarkable hero in this unforgettable story of enduring friendship, drawn from true events.
“Yamato Drummers of Japan”: March 16, 2020 – 10 a.m.
The drummers of Yamato are seasoned experts in the ancient art of Japanese taiko drumming. They take this centuries-old cultural practice and make it exciting and relevant with their explosive energy and passion, teaching young people across the world about the importance of honoring tradition while pushing its limits.
“Miss Nelson has a Field Day”: April 1, 2020 – 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
At Horace B. Smedley School, the Smedley Tornadoes have never won a football game. In fact, they have never even scored a single point! With such a poor record and a team that is out of control, kind-hearted Miss Nelson has to come to the rescue. She enlists the help of her alter ego, the ill-tempered Miss Viola Swamp, to coach the team and whip them into shape with her trademark discipline and tough exercises before the biggest game of the year.
“The Rainbow Fish”: April 7, 2020 – 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
The Rainbow Fish, whose scales shimmer in all the colors of the rainbow, is admired – and resented – by the entire underwater world, until a clever octopus advises him to give each fish one of his scales. Further adventures follow as The Rainbow Fish finds the courage to explore the great unknown deep sea, discovering a new world with wonderful sights and friendly creatures of all shapes, sizes, and colors.
