There are many art forms where children can participate and learn, but theatre has a particularly magical effect on them.
Not just by watching, but by taking part themselves, they can learn so many skills and life lessons. They learn empathy and understanding, they can practice listening, paying attention, sitting still and being patient and courteous and they can build their own sense of compassion and fairness as well as learning wonder and power of storytelling.
Theatre can be such a magical place for all of us, but especially for a child. It’s a place where they can learn to love art and to truly understand the power it can have to change they way we all connect to each other. It’s a safe and inclusive place for us all, and children are no acceptation.
But it’s also a lot of fun and the folks at Storybook Theatre at Theatre West certainly know how to bring smiles and laughter to a theatre full of kids of every age, even mine!
The Princess and the Frog is a well-known and well-loved story. A Prince is turned into a frog by a fairy for being too vain and self-important, his only cure the kiss of a princess. A simple story, but in the hands of Storybook Theatre it’s transformed into an hour of wonderful songs and hilarious antics, and many, many excuses to bring the kids up on stage to help out…which they couldn’t get enough off!
The sets are colorful and imaginative and the cast full of enthusiasm and passion and they blend the children’s audience participation with the story so beautifully, interweaving their suggestions, encouraging them and engaging them beautifully.
It was so lovely to watch their little faces all aglow, to hear them calling out and gasping and giggling…so completely enchanted, were they.
The actors really were all excellent and gave their absolute utmost to the roles, which is vital, children can see through a half-baked performance a mile off, but there’s none of that here! I was so engaged and entertained myself that I couldn’t stop smiling! Once a kid, always a kid I suppose!
This is a wonderful way to spend some precious time with your kids. it’s not too long for them, there are complimentary cookies and juice at the intermission in the lobby and at the end of the performance, the entire cast can be found outside, sitting patiently for photo’s, autographs and cuddles, which the kids seem to particularly enjoy!
I thoroughly recommend The Frog and The Princes at Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd, LA 90068
The Princess and The Frog runs every Saturday at 1 pm now until July 8th.
The Princess and The Frog
Written by Lloyd J. Swartz & Hope Juber
Music & Lyrics by Laurence & Hope Juber
Director/ Choreographer: David P. Johnson
Produced by Lloyd J. Schwartz & Barbara Mallory
Stage Managers: David P. Johnson & Ernie McDaniel
Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd, LA 90068
Every Saturday at 1 pm now until July 8th.
CAST
Hyacinth - Constance Jewell Lopez
Understudy - Kristen Towers- Rowles
Prince/Frog - Andrew Villareal
Understudy - Edward Gallogly
Princess - (Shared) - Katie Kitani and Deanna Gandy
King - Anthony Gruppuso
Understudy - John Gallogly