Monroe Community Players offering six children's shows

MONROE — Monroe Community Players is trying something new: children’s theater.

“We have not had (programs) specifically for kids and families," said Nancy Williams, a member of the nearly 76-year-old community theater company.

Through October, the Players will offer a monthly children's show. Each one-act play runs about 50 minutes and is hosted by Mother Goose, played by Val Jonas. Most shows also will have live music. All are geared toward kindergarteners through third graders.

The first show, “Mother Goose’s Pajama Party,” is set for 11 a.m. May 11 at the Players’ studio theater at the Mall of Monroe, 2121 N. Monroe St.

“I’m really excited about this first one,” said Williams, who developed and will direct the series.

Tickets are $5 each and are available at monroecommunityplayers.org.

“Mother Goose’s Pajama Party” stars characters from classic childhood stories: Little Bo-Peep, the cat with a fiddle and the cow that jumped over the moon. Azar Laidler plays Kitten 1; Armani Laidler, Kitten 2; Hope Hudson, Samantha Sheep; Andrew Rayl, Cat with Fiddle; JT Seymour, Cow; Betsy Brockman, Little Bo Peep; and William E. McCloskey, Old King Cole.

Kyle Engelman will play piano for the first show. Also offered will be coloring crafts, graham crackers and character meet-and-greets. Children are encouraged to wear pajamas to the first show.

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Other dates and shows are: June 8: "The Rabbit and the Turtle: Aesop's Fable"; July 13: "Jean Pierre and the River Rat: A Classic French Tale" by David P. Wahr; Aug. 10: "Old King Cole and his Fiddlers Three: A Musical Event"; and Sept. 14 and Oct. 12, titles to be announced.

Wahr's show was originally performed at Monroe's former Old Frenchtown Days festival.

Several others are involved in production of the shows, including: Eric Trombley, Leann Bass, Ann Felder, Amanda Brockman Kuschel, Troy Laidler and Mark Manor. Jonas and Williams are in charge of costumes.

MCP's children's theater series is sponsored by DTE and Altrusa International Foundation of Monroe Inc.

— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe Community Players offering six children's shows