MUSICAL CIRCUS? MUSICAL THEATRE? OR BOTH?
Entertainment Desk
December 17, 2007
PASADENA, Calif. - Over the years since The Pasadena Symphony inaugurated its free Musical Circus for children aged three through ten years old, many families throughout Southern California have made the Circus a regular part of their lives. They appreciate how their children will be introduced to a different genre of music or a different family of instruments at each event.
On January 12, the Musical Circus will uphold that tradition when it presents “A Little Song, A Little Dance, and A Little Show,” featuring Theatre 360 – formerly known as Pasadena Junior Theatre – at 9:00 a.m. at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena. An Instrumental Petting Zoo, where children are encouraged to play and play with special child-sized instruments from each member of the orchestra family, will open the program at 8:30 a.m. in the lobby.
We’re very pleased to welcome Theatre 360 to the Musical Circus,” says Jerri Price, Director of Education and Community Engagement for The Pasadena Symphony Association. “We love how Theatre 360 shares our commitment to reaching out to the community by bringing performing arts classes to several public schools in the Pasadena area.”
Meanwhile, at the Musical Circus, Theatre 360 – which received a 2006 Gold Crown Award from the Pasadena Arts Council for its “dedication to new generations of arts-loving youth" – will present a program featuring excerpts from a variety of musicals, including Seussical, Legally Blond, Jersey Boy, Spring Awakening and The Wiz, the company’s most recent production.
"Theatre 360 is thrilled to be bringing some of their most celebrated production numbers from Broadway to The Pasadena Symphony's Music Circus," says Devon Yates, Executive Artistic Director. “Who knows how many children in the audience that morning may become inspired to join Theatre 360 in the not-too-distant future?”
Since its founding in 1999, Theatre 360 has offered children of all ages, cultures, and economic levels with the opportunity to participate in a variety of theatre arts programs. Productions mounted by the company range from classics like Cole Porter’s Anything Goes to newer hits such as its most recent performance of The Wiz, a 1975 adaptation by Ken Harper of L. Frank Baum’s popular children’s book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Now celebrating its 15th season, the Musical Circus is made possible, in part, through the generous support of the following sponsors: The Green Foundation; Kenneth T. & Eileen L. Norris Foundation; The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation; Edmund A. and Marguerite L.A. Burke Foundation; the Mari and Edmund D. Edelman Foundation; the Estate of Richard C. Biederbach; the San Marino Tribune; The Education and Enrichment Guide; Pasadena Star-News; Avery Dennison; and the Los Angeles County Arts Commission. The Pasadena Civic Auditorium is located at 300 East Green Street in Pasadena. For more information about the Musical Circus or the many other community engagement programs sponsored by The Pasadena Symphony Association, call 626.793.7172, ext. 18.
Established in 1928, The Pasadena Symphony Association is committed to providing orchestral performances of the highest quality and to benefiting the community through its music, education and outreach programs. The Pasadena Symphony is currently performing monthly, October through April, at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, located at 300 East Green Street in Pasadena. Concerts begin promptly at 8 p.m., with a free pre-concert lecture series “Insights” taking place in the auditorium at 7 p.m. An additional concert featuring three piano concertos by Mozart will take place March 16 at 2 p.m. at Cal State Northridge. The Pasadena POPS will open its summer season at Descanso Gardens in La Canada on June 20 For more information about The Pasadena Symphony, visit its website, www.pasadenasymphony.org. For more information about The Pasadena POPS, visit www.pasadenapops.org.
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