Last week, the Lone Tree Arts Center (LTAC) and the Parker Arts, Culture and Events (PACE) Center unveiled plans to “Collaborate for Creativity.” Forming the new South Metro Children’s Theatre in partnership with Starkey Productions, the two venues have joined forces to provide more programming options to children in the Denver metro area.
“So many local school districts are dealing with tremendous budget challenges, and enrichment opportunities like field trips are often among the first programs to go. With the cost of transportation skyrocketing, many metro area schools are unable to afford the cost of taking children to cultural activities outside of their own districts. Since our first year of student matinees at the Arts Center was met with tremendous success, we know that the demand exists for high-quality educational programs ‘close to home. “
The opportunity to partner with the PACE Center through this strategic investment will allow the two centers to offer professional arts programs for children throughout the entire south and east metro Denver area in an efficient and effective way,” says LTAC Executive Director, Lisa Rigsby Peterson.
The South Metro Children’s Theatre will initially provide two productions each school year, one in the fall and one in the spring.
In each instance, the performances will be split with the first week running in one venue, then moving to the other venue for the second week. “Part of the vision for the PACE Center was to collaborate with other arts organizations, and we are excited for this opportunity to work with our friends at Lone Tree,” PACE Center Director Jeannene Bragg said of the partnership. “The idea to collaborate was born from a desire to put the best children’s programming possible on stage. By combining resources, we are able to expand offerings and provide a unique value to our schools. It’s a win for both organizations as well as a win for our young patrons.”
With Starkey Productions at the helm, the first production mounted will be Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Based on the popular children’s book of the same name by Judith Viorst, this delightful adaptation uses music and dancing to bring to life one of literature’s most feisty characters. Set against the backdrop of Alexander’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, children will identify with Alexander’s struggles and dramas as they learn to share their feelings and recognize that bad days happen – it’s how we react to them that matters.
Weekday matinee performances will be offered at both locations primarily for area schools and home school groups. At each venue, public performances will take place on Saturday mornings. Tickets for the public performances are $8 per ticket (plus handling fees). These low-cost tickets are made possible at the LTAC in part by a generous grant from Bellco Credit Union.
The new Lone Tree Arts Center is a professional, innovative and environmentally friendly venue. LTAC operates a dynamic model for the performing arts by collaborating with some of the premier Front Range performing arts companies to present their productions in Lone Tree as well as presenting national and regional tours. LTAC has quickly discovered its place as a new provider of arts education programs for children and an important meeting and event rental site for corporate, civic, private, and community arts groups.
Located in historic downtown Parker and recently awarded Best New Building in the Denver Suburbs by Westword Magazine, the PACE Center is home to a 536-seat theater, a 250-seat amphitheater, art gallery, event room, dance studio, culinary kitchen and several classrooms. PACE provides a wide variety of local, regional, national and international cultural, arts, scientific and educational programming to the region and serves as a rental venue for community, business and social events.
School groups may reserve tickets now by contacting either venue. Starting August 1, group and single tickets will be available for purchase to the public. Tickets are $5 each for groups of 10 or more and $8 each for individual single tickets (plus handling fees). To purchase: online at www.LoneTreeArtsCenter.orgor www.PACEcenteronline.org; by phone at 720-509-1000 (LTAC) or 303-805-6800(PACE); or in-person at either venue.
