I always stress the importance of spending alone time with each of my kids separately each month. Sometimes life gets a little busy that all we can do would be a girls only date and so when I was asked if I would like to go to a play I replied with a loud, “YES!” This would be a perfect excuse for girls only date!
My girls have seen a couple of plays put on by Childsplay Arizona. Both have loved and raved about Junie B. Jones (school field trips) and Charlotte’s Web. Even though my girls are 10 and 8 they have read The Three Javelinas by Susan Lowell. Bookworms like my girls will read anything that has an amazing cover! They loved the illustrations and the story was something they are familiar with, so I knew that this little surprised date would be right up their alley.
It was this past Sunday, May 3rd that we were invited to go. Childsplay Arizona puts their plays on at Tempe Center for the Arts. The facility is amazing and we were seated third row from the front. The girls were right away awed by how close we were and how colorful the set on the stage was. I seriously don’t think that there is a bad seat in this theatre. It was small enough that each seat would have given you a great view of the big stage!
Here we are eagerly awaiting for the show to begin! Let me be honest, I was personally excited to see this show. The stage set with the Arizona sunset lighting looked so great that my expectation was set a bit high! Well when the show started me and my girls were not disappointed. The costumes were great, it was colorful and it was just like the illustrations on the books. Here’s a peek of one of my favorite costume set for the main characters.
This was probably my favorite costume for the three javelinas. The cowboy boots, chaps and vest represented where these characters are at, the southwest. The actors and audience participation was so welcoming from the very beginning of the show. We were clapping and hollering along with these actors from the get go that I think kids all over the theatre did not lose interest in the play, I know mine didn’t.
It was a great show, the Childsplay Arizona writer for this play added all the emotions from the book (s) and the actors played it out well. The props for each set along with the great lighting made my girls feel like they were in the book. We loved the music and the four person band on the stage that played the music and sounds for the whole show. Each song had great lyrics and beats, and Josefina’s song, One day I will lead the parade was so full of hope and did encourage for you to dream! My daughters loved each songs so much that they wondered if they had a cd for all the songs, one they can save for and buy later. Do they? I don’t know! maybe they should!
As I kept looking a round during the play I could see kids bobbing and dancing along with the Javelinas, or the newsman and or the coyote. It seems as though that they line danced, tap danced, and ofcourse ballet. Oh ballet I can still see my middle daughter sit up taller so she can see Josefina dance around in her Hoggywood tutu on the stage. A little tidbit here…Molly is the actor who plays Josefina and Molly actually choreographed the show. Bravo! Do you see the man by the door? He was a supporting actor and he played a few roles and he played them well. He was all over the place, news delivery man (funny) , old man (sincere) , a Hoggywood agent (enough said). They all danced and sang well.
In the end we enjoyed the brief question and answer portion. The actors shared a bit about themselves, asked the audience some questions and then it was our turn to ask our questions. They even had a stop and say hi to us line after the Q&A! Being so close to the stage we were the first ones to let them know what a wonderful job they did and say thank you! My girls had an amazing time. They were never lost interest in the play and really made them want to see more plays here! Yes, it is no Broadway musical but I can tell you that the way Childsplay Arizona put these plays together so well that it is an amazing and affordable way to get your kids to start appreciating plays and musicals.
If you feel the need to buy a copy of the book or a souvenir from the show theirr show merchandise table didn’t disappoint. Best thing about buying from them is that proceeds from the sales help pay for some of the discounted or free tickets they offer to those who might otherwise not be able to see the show. Win win right?
I highly recommend you go see this play, The Three Javelinas. The show will run till the end of the month and this coming weekend they will be offering a Mother’s day backstage tour. The author of the books, Susan Lowell will be there for a book signing this Saturday. For more information on tickets and or special events visit Childsplay AZ. What an amazing girl time we had. The girls can’t wait for next season to start. I hope you make it a wonderful day and come visit me at gigglesnlaundry.com!
XoXo,
Roe
This is a sponsored post. I received complimentary tickets to attend the show however all opinions are my own.
