On Thursday, February 15, school buses full of elementary school children from the surrounding area and beyond lined up in front of the Center for Faith and Life (CFL). As Luther students stood and watched in confusion, the kids hurried inside and took their seats for a musical production put on just for them.
At 10:00 a.m and again at noon, Childsplay Theatre — a theater company hailing from Arizona — presented “Tomás and the Library Lady.” The production consisted of just two actors: Gustavo A. Flores, who played the male roles in the show; and Amanda Lopez Castillo, who played the female roles. The play is based on a book by the same name, and features musical elements as well.
Childsplay described the production as “a celebration of reading, imagination and creativity.” It also included a dose of Spanish lessons via dialogue, direct translations, and context clues in an effort to make it easy for the audience to understand and follow along. During the performance, no amount of teacher’s shushing could hold the kids back from standing up, dancing, and singing along with the occasional tunes presented to them.
According to Luther Box Office Manager and member of PAC Brad Phillips, the children’s performances at Luther have been happening for over 40 years. The two performances of “Tomás and the Library Lady” brought in approximately 2200 students. He described the show as an unique opportunity for students to see theater, especially those who wouldn’t normally have the chance.
“We’re the closest thing they have in this part of the state,” Phillips said “They have to go to Gallagher Blue Dorn in Cedar Falls which is an hour and a half away, or Viterbo in LaCross which is an hour away. We only charge $2 a student, which makes it really affordable for these schools to come and see the arts.”
The performance ended with the actors offering their audience a chance to ask questions about the contents of the play but also how the production worked. Excited students waved their hands high up in the air and kids from both the front row and back of the balcony were selected to voice their curiosities. Many students asked happily about their favorite characters or what happened, but a few also asked what all goes into a theater production like “Tomás and the Library Lady.”
For more information on Childsplay and their work, visit their website here. There is another Children’s Theatre show going on in the spring on April 23, titled “Small Island Big Song.” For information for that and other performances going on in the CFL, check the ticket office’s website here. For more information about other productions PAC is involved in, check their social media accounts on Instagram and Facebook.
