A new children's theater company is launching their first production this Saturday in Harrisonburg. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports.
A tortoise, a frog, a fox, and a fairy spirit are among the whimsical characters in "Aesop's Fables" coming to the stage this weekend. The performance is presented by JoeBob Productions, which grew out of the locally-written and -produced play "Can't Feel at Home" about the families who lived in what is now Shenandoah National Park.
Co-founder Joe Appleton said their new venture is a revival of a theater company that was geared towards family and children's entertainment.
JOE APPLETON: Back in the late '80's, I had the very good fortune, when I was living in Durham, North Carolina, to be invited to join the original Little Big Children's Theater Company. … We wrote our own scripts, and they are silly and they are fun and they are joyful and sometimes teach a lesson.
He said the script for "Aesop's Fables" was widely requested by other companies across the country.
APPLETON: The husband in the couple that created Little Big Children's Theater was very good, when we were writing scripts … at creating a level of humor for adults in the audience … and I think that's one of the best features of the show.
The play opens this Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Otterbein Methodist Church, followed by performances on March 30th and April 6th. Tickets are available at the door – $5 per child and $3 per adult.
