VERNON, BC— The Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre Society’s 2023-24 SPOTLIGHT Kids Series brings the best in theatre for young audiences from around the world to your friendly neighbourhood theatre.

“Our upcoming Kids Series is full of world-class performances to share together as a family,” said Artistic Director Erin Kennedy. “Like a good Pixar movie, they are just as entertaining for adults as they are for the kids.”

The 2023-24 SPOTLIGHT Kids Series opens on October 21 with Alex Zerbe’s Zaniac Comedy Show. Jaws will drop and eyes will pop as Alex juggles bowling balls, giant knives, and slices vegetables in half with a flying playing card. Beatboxing, juggling, dancing, singing, music and magic are just a few of the things that led Piers Morgan of America’s Got Talent to call Alex, “The total package.” Alex Zerbe is an audience favourite at the Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre, last appearing in 2019.

Axis Theatre Company returns on March 2 with Frog Belly Rat Bone, adapted from the storybook by Timothy Basil Ering, published by Candlewick Press. This artful play incorporates beautifully handcrafted puppets and an original pop/rock musical score to tell the story of a very special boy whose singular wish is to find treasure.

Coming all the way from Ireland, Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s darkly funny short story comes to life in The Very Old Man with Enormous Wings on April 10. Using a combination of music, puppetry and live video projection this magic-realist gem is brought to the stage with beautiful, strange, emotional richness.

“The Very Old Man with Enormous Wings is masterful storytelling and a gorgeous production,” said Kennedy. “This show earned multiple five-star reviews at the Edinburg Fringe Festival and Dublin Fringe Festival. I’m thrilled to finally be able to bring it to Vernon.”

Finally, on April 28, Lightwire Theatre returns with another stunning glow in the dark adventure in Dino-Light. In this original story, a famous scientist with magic powers brings a friendly dinosaur to life. When the dinosaur wanders away from home, he discovers a wonderful world full of creatures that light up the darkness and help him find the true meaning of love. Lightwire Theatre’s glow in the dark adventures are visually stunning and have dazzled audiences all over the world with their cutting-edge blend of puppetry, technology and dance.

Subscriptions are on sale now! Kids Series subscribers save 20% off the single ticket price and those who book before June 15 can take advantage of an exclusive pre-sale period to secure the best seats at the best price before single tickets go on sale. 2023-24 SPOTLIGHT Kids Series subscriptions are just $45 for all four performances.

“You can’t beat the value of a Kids Series subscription,” said Executive Director Jim Harding. “At $45 a seat for all four shows, that’s less than going to the movies, and it’s all live!”

To learn more & book your SPOTLIGHT Kids Series subscription call 250-549-SHOW (7469) or visit www.vdpac.ca. Single tickets go on sale on June 15. Stay tuned for upcoming announcements about the entire 2023-24 SPOTLIGHT Season.

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Ticket link: https://vdpac.ca/spotlight-season/kids

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RZOHFl5eUQ

2023-24 SPOTLIGHT Kids Series Details:

Zaniac Comedy Show (Saturday, October 21, 2023, at 2:00PM)

He’s baaaaack....! With the energy of ten thousand suns, The Zaniac shines like a comedy beacon as he bounces from one end of the stage to the other like an untamed rubber band. Jaws will drop and eyes will pop as Alex juggles bowling balls, giant knives and slices vegetables in half with a flying playing card.

Frog Belly Rat Bone - Axis Theatre Company (Saturday, March 2, 2024, at 2:00PM)

Adapted by Chris McGregor from the book by Timothy Basil Ering, published by Candlewick Press
Incorporating beautifully handcrafted puppets and an original pop/rock musical score, Cementland comes to life as two enigmatic garbage collectors tell the story of a very special boy whose singular wish is to find a TREASURE!

The Very Old Man with Enormous Wings (Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at 7:00PM)
Gabriel García Márquez’s darkly comic tale brought to the stage for children and adults to share. In a kitchen, in a theatre, two storytellers and their audience find something remarkable — a very old man with enormous wings. Using a combination of music, puppetry and live video projection this magic-realist gem is brought to the stage with beautiful, strange, emotional richness.

Dino-Light – Lightwire Theatre (Sunday, April 28, 2024, at 3:00PM)
Lightwire Theatre’s glow in the dark adventures are visually stunning and have dazzled audiences all over the world with their cutting-edge blend of puppetry, technology and dance. In this original story, a famous scientist with magic powers brings a friendly dinosaur to life.

About Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre

The Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre Society is a non-profit, charitable organization devoted to fostering artists, their work, and live performance in all genres and for all ages. The Society operates the Performing Arts Centre (VDPAC) on behalf of the Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) and with the support of over 30 staff and 200 volunteers. Each year, we present our SPOTLIGHT Season of over 30 diverse performances, complemented by over 125 professional guest concerts, festivals, and special events. We select professional touring productions to entertain, enlighten, move and amuse our patrons. Altogether, they offer audiences of all ages a world of unforgettable live theatre experiences. Please visit: https://vdpac.ca/ & https://ticketseller.ca/

Facebook: @vdpac
Instagram: @vernonperformingarts

For interviews and more information, media can contact:

Angela Pells
Marketing Director
250-542-9355
[email protected]