Arts and Entertainment

      Dallas Children’s Theater to perform ‘The BFG’ April 8 at Eisenhower Auditorium

      The Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State will host Dallas Children’s Theater’s production of “The BFG (Big Friendly Giant)” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 8, in Eisenhower Auditorium. The family-friendly show, based on a book by Roald Dahl (“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “James and the Giant Peach,” “Matilda”), is adapted for the stage by David Wood. Credit: Photo provided. All Rights Reserved.

      UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State will welcome Dallas Children’s Theater in a presentation of “The BFG (Big Friendly Giant)” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 8, in Eisenhower Auditorium. The family-friendly show, based on a book by Roald Dahl — author of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “James and the Giant Peach,” and “Matilda,” among other works — is adapted for the stage by David Wood.

      For a young orphan “human bean,” the sight of a giant outside her window is terrifying. She fears for her life when he whisks her away to an enchanted land. But this Big Friendly Giant is not like other giants. The job of this larger-than-life vegetarian is to blow magical dreams into children’s bedrooms. Together, they embark on a quest to save England from the “gizzard-gulping” giants who lack the BFG’s tender heart. The cheeky BFG ultimately shows that heroes can come in all sizes.

      The story of the BFG was Dahl’s personal favorite. On stage, his wacky tale comes to life with puppets and people creating a fantastical world of towering giants and magical adventures.

      Robyn Flatt and Dennis Vincent founded Dallas Children’s Theater, today the largest professional family theater in the southwestern United States, in 1984. The company offers 11 productions each season at its newly renovated Rosewood Center for Family Arts. The theater also includes a national touring company, theater academy and arts-in-education programs for schools in the Dallas area.

      Audio description, which is especially helpful to patrons with sight loss, is available for the April 8 performance at no extra charge to ticket holders.

      McQuaide Blasko Endowment provides support for the presentation. BIG FROGGY 101 is a media sponsor.

      Kids Connections, which includes carbonation experiments by the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences Food Science Club and creative writing activities by America Reads, is free for ticket holders and takes place in Eisenhower one hour before the show. Due to space and time restrictions, Kids Connections participation is limited.

      To learn more about the presentation and for ticketing information, visit “The BFG” or call 814-863-0255.

      Find the Center for the Performing Arts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

      Last Updated March 11, 2016

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