Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre has announced a number of upcoming programs for families in March, including two innovative theatrical shows for young children and March Break camps for older children and teens, along with a casting update for the Capitol’s spring musical.
“The Capitol is striving to offer something for everyone, and that includes kids and their families,” says the Capitol’s artistic director Rob Kempson in a media release. “I have a background in education and spent a number of years as a teacher, so bringing to our community high-quality programming for children and youth has always been at the top of my mind.”
For the weekend before March Break, the Capitol is partnering with Toronto’s WeeFestival of Arts and Culture for Early Years to present A WeeFestival Weekend on March 8 and 9. The program features two theatrical shows created specifically for young children and their families. Tickets are only $12 per show for children and $20 for adults.
Lost & Found features three artists who spin stories inspired by items they discover in the lost and found box. A children’s mitten becomes a fish, a woolly wrap becomes the mouth of a whale, a winter hat becomes a hungry beaver, and a flowing scarf becomes a mischievous grandmother who loves stories and urges the performers on.
Recommended for children ages 3 to 6, Lost & Found is a participatory performance that uses live music, found-object puppetry, and inventive storytelling to inspire and delight the audience.
Lost & Found runs at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 8th and at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 9th.
Quest for the Moon is a heartwarming and engaging story about the friendship between a young fox and the Moon, told with the magic of shadow puppetry, music, and theatre in a sensory-rich and intimate setting.
The cautious and fearful fox is happy to listen to the Moon’s stories about far-off places she has seen on her path across the sky, until one night the Moon goes missing and the fox must summon the courage to go in search of his friend and discover the world beyond his den.
Recommended for children 2 and older, Quest for the Moon runs at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 8th and at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 9th.
VIDEO: “Quest for the Moon” trailer
For March Break, the Capitol is offering two day camps for older children and teens running from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. all week from Monday, March 11th to Friday, March 15th. The weekly fee is $325 per participant, with before and after-care from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. available for an additional $75 per participant.
Designed for children and teens ages 9 to 15, Camp Capitol features five days of singing, dancing, acting, and art led by expert instructors. Campers will improve their “triple-threat” skills and show off their work in a culminating performance on the Capitol Theatre main stage on Friday afternoon. Both beginner and experienced performers are welcome.
For teens in Grade 9 and up, the Teen Songwriting Intensive is offered in partnership with Northumberland County’s Sounds of the Next Generation (SONG). Participants will hone their skills as a songwriter in a variety of styles, explore new ways of making music, and learn about the industry. The week features workshops with special guests, opportunities to record demos, and a culminating presentation for friends and family.
Later in the spring, The Capitol will be presenting the family musical A Year with Frog & Toad, based on Arnold Lobel’s beloved books, with music by Robert Reale and book and lyrics by William Reale. The whimsical show chronicles the story of two friends — the very chipper Frog and the rather grumpy Toad — through four fun-filled seasons as they join the other animals of the forest to plant gardens, go swimming, rake leaves, go sledding, and learn life lessons along the way.
Directed by Fiona Sauder, the play will feature Joel Cumber as Frog, Haneul Yi as Toad, and ensemble members Landon Doak, Taylor Lovelace, and Yunike Soedarmasto. The show runs from May 17 to June 2, with tickets costing $48 ($40 for those under 30 and $22 for children 12 and under).
For more information, tickets for A WeeFestival Weekend shows and A Year with Frog & Toad, and to register for the March Break week-long day camps, visit capitoltheatre.com.
