KIDS + FAMILIES

To kick off the new semester (and the new year!), Main Street Theater’s Kids On Stage program welcomes kids and families to a fun-filled time at Chelsea Market with the Spring 2011 Open House, which is FREE and open to the public. The Open House will take place on Saturday, January 22, from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm at Main Street Theater - Chelsea Market, 4617 Montrose Blvd.

This season marks the 5th anniversary of MST’s free open houses, “mini-fairs” in which Kids On Stage teachers lead activities like mask-making, puppetry, dance games, costume dress-up, and improvisation. And for the first time, older kids can enjoy workshops on scary makeup and stage combat! The KOS Open House has become a tradition that showcases the program’s classes and projects for kids of all ages.

For more information, call 713-524-9196 ext 104 or 103 or visit the website MainStreetTheater.com.

About the 10-11 Kids On Stage Season
KOS offers core acting classes, rehearsal and performance, stage combat, filmmaking, and improvisation classes for children of all ages. With the spring semester starting February 12, KOS offers Core Acting Classes for 4-14 year olds. Filmmaking (open to high school students) begins February 12 as well. New this Spring: PassWords Play Festival: Your Play on Stage in 8 Hours, a one-day event on Saturday, March 12.

The Spring Rehearsal and Performance Lab class (no audition required; ages 8 – 14) will take a whirlwind fairy tale tour in Witches, Britches, Rings ‘n Things: A Patchwork of Folk and Fairy Tales. Auditions for the Rehearsal and Performance By Audition production of Commedia of Errors are February 21 and 23 for ages 8 - 14. Performances of Commedia… will be open to the public May 6 - 8.

About Kids On Stage
Kids On Stage (KOS), now in its 22nd season, has been designed to spark a lifelong appreciation of theater by encouraging young people to participate in all aspects of play production, from movement and monologues to stagecraft and theater history. The curriculum teaches essential skills such as creative thinking, teamwork, self-confidence, and communication—skills that enhance the overall learning process. Through year-round KOS classes, outreach programs, and camps both on-site and at satellite locations, students are able to develop their voices, bodies, and imaginations through a challenging and fun curriculum, taught by talented instructors. Over the course of a year, KOS offers classes and camps both on-site and at various satellite locations in the greater Houston area.

Troy Scheid is Director of Education and Kids On Stage. Jonathan Gonzalez is Assistant Director of Kids On Stage.

Since 1975, Main Street Theater has produced high quality professional theater for audiences of all ages through its MainStage productions and Main Street Youth Theater. The Main Street Theater Kids On Stage program offers performing arts classes and camps for children 4 years to 18 years of age. The organization produces plays at two locations, 2540 Times Boulevard in Rice Village and 4617 Montrose Boulevard at Chelsea Market.

Main Street Theater is a member of the Fresh Arts Coalition, a collaboration of 25 arts organizations that work collectively to raise awareness of the size and diversity of the arts in Houston, and a constituent of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national service organization for not-for-profit theaters. Main Street Youth Theater is a member of ASSITEJ, International Association of Theater for Children and Young People. Main Street Theater is funded in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance.