October 12 through November 6, 2010

This audience-participation play takes its young audience back to a world millions and millions of years ago into the last age of the dinosaurs.  In front of the young audience is a magnificent dinosaru egg, gently tapping out a call for help.  Banding together, the children work to interpret what the egg is saying and help it hatch.  Soon Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus Rex join the action, and a great mystery-adventure is set in motion.  Also at Union Station during October is Dinosaurs Unearthed, a special exhibition featuring animatronic dinosaurs, fossils and models.  Special discounts for those attending both the special exhibition and The Dinosaur Play. Curriculum connections: physical and life science, paleontology, biology, zoology, history, participatory theatre. National curricular standards: 1.5, 6.2, 6.12, 7.2, 7.3, 9.1, 9.2, 14.2, 14.7; MO: 3.1, FA1, Science 3, CA5; KS: LSV 1, 2, 3; Science 1, 2, 3; Theatre 6; Arts in Early Childhood: FA1.

 November 23 to December 30, 2010

Based on Barbara Parks’ Junie B. Jones books, adapted by Allison Gregory, this happy musical features Junie B. Jones herself, a first grader who is funny, silly, lovable, but irreverent.  It’s holiday time and Room One is doing a lot of happy things to celebrate—like making elf costumes and singing joyful songs.  Tattletale May keeps ruining Junie’s holiday glee.  When everyone picks names for Secret Santa, Junie B. gets stuck with Tattletale you-know-who!  Maybe a Secret Santa gift is the perfect opportunity to give May EXACTLY what she deserves.  In truth Junie learns an important lesson about the joy of giving.  National curricular standards addressed: 1.5, 1.8, 6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 14.1, 14.2; MO standards addressed: 1.5, 1.9, 3.1, CA5, FA1, H2; KS standards addressed: LSV 1,2,3, Music 6, Theater 6

This play dramatizes the adventures of TK, a modern youngster dealing with real problems of anger, conflict and violence. TK redefines “tough” for himself and learns personal skills that empower him to reject violence. A musical play full of humor and hear, THE TOUGHEST KID IN THE WORLD was created to enrich the Expressions course in the curriculum for sixth graders in Kansas City, Kansas, public schools. A special conflict resolution workshop, Exploring Conflict Resolution Through Drama, may be conducted in classrooms at the school. This participatory drama class teaches principles of conflict resolution and problem solving. Actors from the play conduct the workshops. Teachers are provided with a study guide of classroom activities, Professional development workshops for teachers are also available. Curriculum connections: bullying, conflict resolution.   National curricular standards addressed: 1.6, 1.8, 1.9, 1.10, 6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 7.7, 14.1, 14.2; MO standards addressed: 1.5, 1.8, 2.3, 3.1, 4.1, 4.3, 4.7, CA5, FA1, H2,7; KS standards addressed: LSV 1,2,3. Theater: 1.1, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4. Health: 1.5, 3

 February 1 to February 19, 2011

Theatre for Young America celebrates Black History Month with ANANSI, THE SPIDERMAN OF AFRICA adapted from the West African tales. Popular, classic “trickster tales” such as Anansi's Feast, and Anansi's Hat Shaking Dance will be done in storytelling style with African costumes, drumming, and music.  Curriculum connections: storytelling, African culture, African animals.   National curricular standards addressed: 1.1, 3.1, 4.1, 5.6, 6.1, 6.2, 14.4: MO standards addressed: 1.5, 1.9, CA5, CA7, S3, SS6, FA1; KS standards addressed: LSV 1,2,3, Dance &CM 5, Music 8, V Art 4, Theater 1, 6; KS early learning standard: FA 1

March 1 to April 15, 2011

In this lively, musical version of the beloved folktale Mama, Papa, and Baby Bear lead a very green “ecologically correct” existence until their lives are disrupted by the intruder, Goldilocks, a modern show biz kid from the city, and her two upscale and clueless parents. Baby Bear learns how to sing, dance and act from his new human friend, Goldilocks, and together they bring peace to their feuding families through music and dance. Themes include tolerance and finding peaceful solutions to problems. Curricular connections: European folk tales, conflict resolution, environmental education.   National curricular standards addressed: 1.8, 6.1, 6.2, 6.5, 14.1, 14.2: MO standards addressed: 1.5, 1.9, CA5, SS6, FA1, H2; KS standards addressed: LSV 1,2,3. T 6; KS early learning standard: FA 1

 April 26 through May 14, 2011

This musical adaptation by James Larson of the Omaha Theatre for Young People is based on the famous classic by Watty Pipers  The story is one of the greatest tales of motivation ever told.  Powered by his well-known refrain “I think I can, I think I can,” the Little Engine overcomes seemingly impossible odds to carry a load full of toys over an imposing mountain. The H & R Block City Stage is a perfect location to experience this play as it is located in the present train station, Union Station. Attendees will be able to get a special combination ticket price to attend the play and visit the model train exhibit and The Railway Experience also located at Union Station.  Curricular connections: transportation, trains, positive attitude, self-reliance.  National curricular standards addressed: 6.2, 6.5, 6.12, 14.1; MO standards addressed: 1.5, 1.9, CA 5, FA 1; KS standards addressed: LSV 1,2,3. M 6, T 6; KS early learning standard: FA 1.

 June 14 to July 2, 2011

This witty musical comedy highlights the famous dog Snoopy with songs and vignettes based on the “PEANUTS” comic strip by Charles Schultz.. At the beginning we see Snoopy atop his doghouse. One by one the famous characters of Charlie Brown, Peppermint Patty, Sally Brown, Linus with his blanket, Lucy with her bossy attitude, and Snoopy’s fluttering friend Woodstock join Snoopy onstage for “The World According to Snoopy”. This upbeat adaptation by Larry Grossman and Hal Hackady has the Peanuts gang going to school to give the familiar book reports and take the true/false tests. Even Lucy’s psychiatric booth makes an appearance as she attempts to sort through Charlie Brown’s many problems. Snoopy creates another of his writing masterpieces. Although “Playbeagle” won’t print it, the show ends with upbeat encouraging advice for all in the number, “Don’t Be Anything Less Than Everything You Can Be”