Recognized by The Drama League as one of the best regional theatre companies in America, the Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre is the only professional company in Arkansas that produces children’s literary works for the stage. Since 1979, Children’s Theatre has been creating exceptional theatre for family audiences. Well-loved contemporary stories and classic tales come to life with fantastic characters, brilliant lighting, colorful costumes and a little magic in our fully-staged productions.

The 2015-2016 season, presented by Arkansas BlueCross BlueShield, will feature six Main Stage shows: Puss in Boots; The Legend of Sleepy Hollow; The Gingerbread Man; The 13 Clocks; Schoolhouse Rock Live! and The Adventures of Peter Rabbit.

The Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre is dedicated to the creation and presentation of high quality adaptations and original plays for young people and their families. Inspired by classic and contemporary sources, these works provide an honest, relevant and challenging artistic experience for our audiences throughout the state. It is our purpose to cultivate a nurturing and educational environment where performing artists and audience members alike can discover, learn and grow.

“Pay What You Can” tickets are available for the 7 p.m. Thursday preview performance of each Main Stage production. Tickets must be purchased in person at the Arkansas Arts Center (501 E. 9^th St.) from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Stephens Inc. Visitors Center, Atrium Level, or from 6-6:45 p.m. at the Children’s Theatre Box Office, Lower Lobby Level. The minimum ticket price is $1.00 per ticket, with a maximum ticket purchase of six tickets per person. Additional tickets can always be purchased in person, online or by phone at regular ticket pricing.

Theatre doors open 30 minutes prior to show for seating.

The 2015/2016 season of the Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre is sponsored by: Presenting Sponsor, Arkansas BlueCross Blue Shield; Fall Season Sponsor, Centennial Bank; Spring Season Sponsors, The Fine Arts Club of Arkansas and Dr. Loren Bartole, ‘Family Foot Care’; Additional Support Provided by The Morris Foundation and Media Sponsor, Little Rock Family Magazine.

MAIN STAGE SHOWS

 Puss in Boots

 September 18 – October 4, 2015

 Show times: Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.

 Ticket prices: $12.50 General admission, $10 for Arkansas Arts Center members, $10 per person for groups of 10 or more (Children 2 years of age and under are free, however the child must remain in an adult’s lap at all times.)

 Best enjoyed by all ages.

Based on Charlie Perrault’s world famous feline fun-time fairytale, Puss in Boots is an electric story set in song and dance. Be amazed as swashbuckling Puss the Cat raises his master, Claude, from a down-and-out miller’s son to the heights of happiness. Enjoy all the madcap fun as Puss brandishes, not his sword, but his superior feline intellect to conquer kings and ogres (and even a few rabbits along the way). It’s all about brain over brawn. Oh, and you’ll just love his shoes. Adapted by Keith Smith from the fable by Charles Perrault.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit ArkansasArtsCenter.org/theater

 The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

 October 23 – November 8, 2015

 Show times: Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.

 Ticket prices: $12.50 General admission, $10 for Arkansas Arts Center members, $10 per person for groups of 10 or more

 Best enjoyed by third grade and up.

Ichabod Crane is the newly-hired schoolmaster of Sleepy Hollow, a superstitious little community in New York’s Hudson Valley, 1790. He persistently professes his disbelief in all things supernatural—until the night of Katrina Van Tassel’s Halloween Frolic, that is. Riding home that evening, Ichabod comes face to face—so to speak—with Sleepy Hollow’s most feared and famous ghost.

Be swept along on this wild midnight ride of a story with the gremlins, ghosts and galloping headless horsemen which haunt this American Halloween classic—Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Adapted by Frederick Gaines from the story by Washington Irving.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit ArkansasArtsCenter.org/theater.

 The Gingerbread Man

 December 4-20, 2015

 Show times: Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.

 Ticket prices: $12.50 General admission, $10 for Arkansas Arts Center members, $10 per person for groups of 10 or more

 Best enjoyed by all ages.

Grandma Tic and Grandpa Toc couldn’t be more surprised (or pleased) when the Gingerbread Man springs to life and dances around their little clock shop. He’s a happy little cookie man made of ginger and molasses. But when the sly, hungry Fox comes along, playtime is over and the race is on!

You won’t want to miss this wild, wacky holiday adventure, so strap on your sleigh-bell-Nikes and run, run as fast as you can. You can’t catch him! He’s the Gingerbread Man! By Keith Smith.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit ArkansasArtsCenter.org/theater.

 The 13 Clocks

 January 29 – February 14, 2016

 Show times: Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.

 Ticket prices: $12.50 General admission, $10 for Arkansas Arts Center members, $10 per person for groups of 10 or more

 Best enjoyed by third grade and up.

Enjoy this whimsically impossible fantasy quest from the ever-surprising, always entertaining imagination of James Thurber. Prince Zorn attempts to rescue Princess Saralinda from her uncle, the Duke of Coffin Castle. To do so he must complete an impossible task: He must deliver 1,000 jewels to the Duke just as the 13 castle clocks strike five o’clock. There’s just one problem: the clocks in Coffin Castle haven’t worked in seven years. Adapted by Keith Smith from the book by James Thurber.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit ArkansasArtsCenter.org/theater.

 Schoolhouse Rock Live!

 March 4-25, 2016

 Show times: Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.

 Spring Break matinees: March 22-25 at 2:00 p.m.

 Ticket prices: $12.50 General admission, $10 for Arkansas Arts Center members, $10 per person for groups of 10 or more

 Best enjoyed by all ages.

“Just a Bill,” “Conjunction Junction,” “Zero, My Hero,” “Interplanet Janet,” “Three is a Magic Number,” —and the beat goes on! Every song in this live musical performance of the classic, Emmy Award-winning cartoon series Schoolhouse Rock is sure to please.

Packing plenty of giggles, gasps, and outright laughs, this show makes grammar, science, math, history, and citizenship a delight to learn. And while the cartoon may be decades old now, this fresh live-theatre adaptation will spark the wide-eyed wonder of new discovery in our youngest generation while inviting smiles of toe-tapping, lip-synching nostalgia from the rest of us. It may be a fun-filled romp of color, comedy, music and movement, but the word of the day is still learning.Originally adapted and produced for the stage by Theatre Bam; From the series created by George Newall and Tom Yohe and based on an idea by David McCall; Book by Scott Ferguson, George Keating and Kyle Hall; Music and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, Bob Dorough, Dave Frishberg, Kathy Mandry, George Newall and Tom Yohe.

Schoolhouse Rock Live! is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. 421 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019 Phone: 212-541-4684 Fax: 212-397-4684 www.MTIShows.com

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit ArkansasArtsCenter.org/theater.

 The Adventures of Peter Rabbit

 April 22 – May 8, 2016

 Show times: Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.

 Ticket prices: $12.50 General admission, $10 for Arkansas Arts Center members, $10 per person for groups of 10 or more

 Best enjoyed by all ages.

Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail and Peter Rabbit are bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, and ready to romp. But before sending them off to explore the wide-wide world, Mother Rabbit gives each of her little ones a kiss and a pinch and a stern word of warning: “My dears, you may run and play in the fields or by the brook or down the lane, but whatever you do, don’t go into Mr. McGregor’s garden.” And so begins a day of mischief and adventure for one naughty little bunny—Peter Rabbit.

Featuring the charming and memorable songs of company composer, Lori Isner, this sweet little musical is a garden feast for eyes and ears of any size! Adapted by Keith Smith from the stories of Beatrix Potter.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit ArkansasArtsCenter.org/theater.

(Posters for the MainStage shows created by David Hohn, with the exception of Schoolhouse Rock Live!)