A Rare Treat for Lubbock-area Kids & Families:
Morning Matinees Fridays & Saturdays in July at 9am.
Once Upon a Time, in a Land not too far away at all, the children of Lubbock had the opportunity to share an enchanted walk through the woods. The journey invited them into a magical story that reached out and grabbed them all… the kids in the audience as well as the very talented young performers on stage!
Into the Woods Jr, Lubbock Moonlight Musical‘s 2016 Moonlight Children’s Theatre production, contains all the same characters from the full-length award-winning Broadway show – including the Baker & his wife, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack, and the Witch – but has been adapted for youth performers as well as a younger audience and covers the first half, more lighthearted segment, of the Broadway show.
Watching the show is like looking at the face of the future of live theatre on the South Plains. The kids in the audience loved identifying with and even recognizing some of the young actors in the show. Several could be overheard saying “I want to try out for this next year!” Parent Win: A great morning together and igniting a spark in our kids for the Arts!
The characters really do come to life thanks to the incredibly talented cast of youth performers led by the Moonlight Directions Youth Ensemble.
And as a parent, it was also easy to see how much excitement this production generated for the cast and crew. You could tell that they were loving every second they were onstage and, maybe just as importantly, when they were off stage. They were encouraging and gracious and excited about meeting their minions of fans after the show. Taking pictures together, answering questions and lots of hugs! The calibre of talent that these kids possess is truly inspiring… and a tribute to their hard work over the summer and training that they are receiving through the program.
Even the smallest fan will enjoy the story and effects, even if they are not quite familiar with some of the story lines or even some of the characters. In case you haven’t seen the show, the story centers around the Baker & his wife. After discovering that they are unable to have a child due to a Witch’s curse, the journey begins in search of the Witch with many adventures and friends to meet along the way.
Parent Pointers
The venue at Moonlight Musicals Amphitheatre on the edge of Mackenzie Park is always kid-friendly, but being at the beautiful outdoor venue overlooking the park early is the perfect Friday or Saturday morning outing… and super affordable! The length of the show, only 60 minutes, makes it the ideal introduction for any child to live theatre. In addition to our parent tips of packing the bug spray and chairs, we especially enjoyed our morning coffee and OJ together during the show. Do plan to arrive when the doors open at 8:30am to get great seats as close to the stage as possible.
The moral of the story is, never underestimate the power of local, live theatre for children… entertaining to everyone in the audience, inspiring for children interested in exploring The Arts, and transforming for youngsters who have caught the theatre bug and who continue to bloom with every impressive performance!
And they lived
Happily
Ever
After!
Just the Facts!
When: Friday & Saturday mornings in July at 9:00am. Gates open at 8:30am.
July 8 & 9, July 15 & 16, July 22 & 23, July 29 & 30.
Where: Moonlight Musicals Amphitheatre at 413 East Broadway, Lubbock.
How: Tickets available through the Moonlight Musicals website, through Select-A-Seat and at the door.
Prices are $5 for adults and $10 for children 10 and under. Multi-ticket discounts available.
Length: Lasts 1 hour.
Age: Recommended for ages 3 and up.
Planning to go? Let us know how you like the show! Write your reviews below.
Photos provided by cast and Moonlight Musicals. Images from Moonlight Children’s Theatre 2016 production of Into The Woods Jr.
