As I always say, theater in Grand Rapids just keeps getting better and better.

Circle Theatre has just announced Circle Presents! (A subsidiary of Community Circle Theatre) that will be presenting six curriculum-based, theatrical performances between October 2013 and April 2014. The performance groups that Circle Theatre has contracted are award winning, national companies that specialize in productions for young and family audiences.

Starting off the season in October of 2013 is the musical THE WRIGHT STUFF, running October 22 & 23, 2013 at the Gerald R. Ford Museum, with daily performances at 10am and 12:30pm. This curriculum-based production featuring the Chicago Company, Face To Face Productions, is recommended for grades 1-6 and will be presented in collaboration with the Gerald R. Ford Museum. Ticket price for the performance includes admission to the museum and its’ exhibits. This musical comedy tells the tale of Wilbur and Orville Wright’s cross-country flight and their childhood experiments. The play comes to a climax as the brothers construct the first airplane onstage and recreate their historic twelve-second flight.

In February, Circle Presents will once again collaborate with the Gerald R. Ford Museum once again to present HONEST ABE: A CHARACTER YOU CAN COUNT ON by Face To Face Productions. This presidential musical comedy will run February 11 and 12, 2014 at the Gerald R. Ford Museum, with daily performances at 10am and 12:30pm and celebrates Abraham Lincoln’s birth. This show is recommended for grades K-5 and explores how the elements of good character shaped and influenced one of our greatest presidents.

Circle Presents with Theatre IV, will present I HAVE A DREAM (The Life and Times of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) on February 21, 2014 at East Kentwood High School Fine Arts Center, with performances at 10am and 12:30pm. The phenomenal impact of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, is chronicled in this compelling dramatization of the life and times of one of the most influential and charismatic leaders of the “American Century”. This inspiring production is recommended for grades 3-9.

In March, Circle Presents along with Theatreworks USA, will present HELPING DREW (A Story About Overcoming Bullying) on March 18, 19, and 20, 2014 daily at 10am and 12:30pm at the Little Theatre in East Grand Rapids High School. In this play recommended for grades PreK-3, Principal Tector needs your help as a member of the Bully Patrol! She fears that one of her students, Drew, is being bullied by another student in school. Lee thinks bullying Drew is fun. Lee’s best friend Victoria doesn’t think so, but what can she do to help Drew? Helping Drew is an interactive musical puppet show with an anti-bullying message perfect for elementary school students. This 30-minute program followed by a 15 minute Q&A helps students recognize bullying and look for solutions within themselves and with the help of others.

Circle Presents and Theatreworks USA will present THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE at Pioneer Auditorium (Wealthy Elementary) on March 27, 2014 with performances at 10am and 12:30pm. This enchanting musical based on C.S. Lewis’ adventure story, for grades 1-7, tells the story four children of war-torn England, who accidently enter the land of Narnia by climbing through a magic wardrobe. This strange and wondrous place is ruled by the cold-hearted White Witch, who makes the winter last year round. Although they seem unlikely saviors, the children fulfill an ancient prophecy by defeating the witch, thus restoring sunshine and peace to the spellbound Narnia and returning the great Lion King Aslan to his throne.

The last play of the season is the musical adventure ARE YOU MY MOTHER? Presented with ArtsPower and based on P.D. Eastman’s well-loved picture book, this colorful musical follows Baby Bird as she hatches from her shell and expects to be greeted by her Mother’s song. But her Mother is not there. With the help of Dog, Cat and Hen, Baby Bird sets out in search of Mother Bird. Performances will be presented on April 25, 2014 at Aquinas Performing Arts Center at 10am and 12:30pm. This whimsical musical is recommended for grades K-2.

Tickets are $5.00 general admission and $4.00 for Circle Presents members. TICKETS MUST BE RESERVED IN ADVANCE OF PERFORMANCE. For tickets, call the Circle Theatre Box Office at (616) 456-6656. For more information, call (616) 456-6656 or visit the Circle Theatre website at www.circletheatre.org

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