Dallas Children's Theater brings timeless folktale to life
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Dallas Children's Theater will perform in "Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters" at 3 p.m. April 15 at the Long Center for the Performing Arts.
The performance is presented by Purdue Convocations and features a pre-show activity where students can learn about African drumming with Modeste "Athobob" of the Ivory Coast Drum and Dance Ensemble at 2 p.m. at the Long Center, 111 N. 6th St., Lafayette.
"Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters" lets the splendor of Zimbabwe and the ethnic essence of African customs burst forth from the stage. This African-culture spin on the "Cinderella" folktale is adapted from John Steptoe's Caldecott Honor-winning book and is performed by Dallas Children's Theater, which Time Magazine called one of the nation's top five children's theater companies.
A great African king seeking a queen will consider only the land's most perfect maidens. Mufaro sends his two daughters - the selfish Manyara and the gentle Nyasha - through a mystical jungle and across a deep river to be considered for royal marriage. On their trek, the girls encounter tests of their courage, kindness, and strength of spirit. The story is enhanced with authentic African drumming, majestic choreography, and memorable original music.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children 18 years and younger, Purdue students and Ivy Tech Lafayette students. Tickets are available at the Elliott Hall and Stewart Center box offices at 765-494-3933 or (800) 914-SHOW. Tickets are also available through Ticketmaster outlets.
Initiated in 1902, Purdue Convocations is among the oldest collegiate professional performing arts presenters in the United States. Each year, Convocations offers the region 20 to 30 performances of widely varying genres: Broadway-style shows, theatre, dance, children's theatre, world music, jazz, and chamber music, along with rock, pop, country and comedy attractions. With a vision for connecting artists and audiences in artistic dialogue and for drawing in academic discourse, Purdue Convocations aims to promote frequent exposure to and familiarity with human cultural expression in a multitude of forms and media.
Contact: Abby Eddy, (765) 494-5045, aeeddy@purdue.edu