Alvin Sputnik Sets Down at the Center

DeMille Elementary School students

…. And students from DeMille Elementary in Midway City (Westminster School District) were on hand to greet him! Alvin and his human mentor, Sam from the Perth Theatre Company, met DeMille’s fourth, fifth and sixth graders after the Thursday, October 17 performance in Samueli Theater for a little real human contact and interaction. The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer is making its West Coast premiere in Segerstrom Center’s Family Series. 

DeMille Elementary School students

Please visit our website for more information about the Center’s Family Series or the Center’s education and community engagement programs.

The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer

Photo by Michelle Robin Anderson

FAMILY FUN MONTH: Theater for Children by Living Mi Vida Loca

In celebration of August being Family Fun Month, the Center is delighted to share stories by some of Orange County’s favorite family bloggers. 

By Pattie Cordova of Living Mi Vida Loca

Growing up in Orange County allows families to experience so much, without having to travel more than 30 minutes. As families, we go up to the beach to experience the ocean, local parks to see the outdoors and to Segerstrom Center to experience the arts. 

Photo by Pattie Cordova

As parents, we want our kids to have the best childhood and we want them to have more than we ever did. I was 19 years old when I first attended a show at Segerstrom Center. Seeing The Phantom of the Opera performed on-stage opened up a whole new world to me. So, when I saw that Segerstrom Center offers theater for kids, well I jumped on it. Taking my son to his first ever performing arts show earlier this year and seeing the look on his face when the performers took the stage, well… it couldn't have made me happier. 

I was happy to see that Segerstrom encourages the little ones to get into theater early in their lives. Through the Family Series, I am able to purchase a package of five shows for my oldest, who is five years old. My favorite part is how I'm able to schedule out all these mom/son dates in advance so we both have something to look forward to during the year. And, honestly, I really appreciate it when theaters make it easy for me to incorporate art and music into my kids' lives. The shows are pre-screened and separated into different categories, according to the child's age. It takes the guess work out for me so I don't have to sit there and wonder if my kids will enjoy the show. 

Before each show, Segerstrom Center hosts activities that tie into the show - free of charge! During our last trip to see Marionetas de la Esquina, my son was able to decorate a crown which he later wore during the show. It's a great way to calm the kids down before heading in to see the performance. Bonus points for having something to take home with them afterwards. 

Photo by Pattie Cordova

He was also able to meet the performers and puppets that were in the show! It really brought the performance down to a level where he could interact with them and appreciate the art. I look forward to taking him to see more shows as the year goes on. I'm building up to the older-audience shows like The Phantom of the Opera. That would be a real treat for me and because it's so close to my heart, sharing a show like that with him would go down in my books as a memory of a lifetime. 

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Speaking of Family Fun, the Broadway musical SISTER ACT will be in town from August 6-18.

SCFTA Prepares to Intercept "The Intergalactic Nemesis"

In 2010, the Long Center in Austin, Texas presented a whole new form of theater: Live-Action Graphic Novel. The Intergalactic Nemesis, Book One: Target Earth was an instant sensation and began booking its multi-year world tour after only ten days of performances. The creators took artwork from an original comic-book story, projected it panel-by-panel on a two-story video screen while three actors voiced the characters, one performer created sound-effects, and a keyboardist performed the score.

On May 31 and June 2 IN enters the artistic orbit of Segerstrom Center for the Arts as the climax to the 2012 – 2013 Family Series. Book Two: Robot Planet Rising, will join its sister opus on November 9 and 10 to open the 2013 – 2014 Series. Prepare for your encounter – learn the true origins of The Intergalactic Nemesis by viewing the fascinating documentaries created by KLRU-TV in Austin. Visit www.KLRU.org/artsincontext/episode/the-intergalactic-nemesis. 

Safe landing…

Jason Phelps, Danu Uribe and Chris Gibson in The Intergalactic Nemesis
© Sarah Bork Hamilton

The stage of The Intergalactic Nemesis Book One: Robot Planet Rising © Sarah Bork Hamilton

There's Nothing Better Than a Happy Ending!

Mexico’s Marionetas de la Esquina will bring its production of Sleeping Beauty to the Center April 20 and 21. This will be the West Coast premiere of their Sleeping Beauty. It was unveiled at the Kennedy Center this week, and the Free Lance-Star said, “Even families who are familiar with the traditional story of Sleeping Beauty will have a delightful surprise …. [Amaranta] Leyva combines her formal training in literature with decades of experience with puppets onstage to weave a tale with humor, whimsy and a message that will resonate with both children and their parents.” 

Marionetas is being presented as part of the Center’s yearly Family Series.