THEATRE + COMEDY

The Grand 1894 Opera House presents Madeline and the Bad Hat, produced by ArtsPower, Tuesday, March 22, 2011, at 10am and a NEW! Evening performance at 7pm. An original musical based up on the much-loved book, this performance traces the adventures of Madeline who- despite starting off on the wrong foot with a new neighbor- eventually learns that first impressions aren't everything.

ArtsPower’s Madeline and the Bad Hat, an original musical based upon the much-loved book, captures the blithe yet touching spirit of Ludwig Bemelmans’s Madeline series. It traces the adventures of a young Parisian girl who – despite starting off on the wrong foot with a mischievous new neighbor – eventually learns that first impressions aren’t everything.

When one fine day the Spanish Ambassador moves into the house next door, Madeline and Miss Clavel and the other girls quickly discover that his son Pepito is a true horror! Rude and conceited, Pepito seems at first to be nothing but trouble.

But when he unexpectedly finds himself in real danger, it’s up to the resourceful Madeline to get him out of it. Can she teach Pepito a lesson into the bargain, and does he have a hidden good side after all? This gently amusing tale of enemies-become-friends will charm and entertain children and parents alike.

ArtsPower's twofold mission is to provide young people, many for the very first time, with the unforgettable opportunity to experience the transporting power of outstanding theatre that entertains, stimulates, and educates; and to enhance “character education” among young people by creating theatre that fosters sound moral development, encourages self-expression, ignites the desire to read, and advances their development as productive members of society.

Celebrating our 24th anniversary in 2009, ArtsPower is one of America’s preeminent nonprofit producers and presenters of professional theatre for young and family audiences. With over 1,000 performances annually, ArtsPower has amassed an audience of nearly nine million people in 47 states.

Since our start in 1985, ArtsPower has created 24 original musicals and dramas, many of which are based on highly-respected books for young readers.

ArtsPower has performed in more than 350 regional theatres, cultural centers, and university auditoriums throughout America including: The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC; New York City’s Lincoln Center; The Annenberg Center for the Arts in Philadelphia; New Jersey Performing Arts Center; Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey; Orange County Performing Arts Center in California; The Parker Playhouse in Ft. Lauderdale; Veterans Memorial Hall in Providence; Shea Performing Arts Center in Buffalo; Detroit's Music Hall; Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater; The Wharton Center for the Arts in East Lansing; Tuscaloosa's Bama Theatre; and The Alaska Center for the Performing Arts in Anchorage.