Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 1, 2004)
Won fiiu el !a( lls Io»'(| specil :wasi i( its pmj said, ices im I rise? accori s saw thel'i dbers coml iwassfe of $2! comir. Entertainment The Battalion Page 5A • Thursday, April 1, 2004 Just so giving OPAS Jr. to host musical version of “Just So Stories” along with book drive By Robert Saucedo THE BATTALION This weekend. Rudder Theater will be taken over by lions, croc- diles and other creatures from the dark jungles of the world. These inimals won’t be in College Station to eat the young, though; astead they're aiming to educate them, exp#; On Saturday, April 3, the Memorial Student Center for Opera and tedrefrs ’erforming Arts Society Jr. will host a presentation of “Just So 101 # Itories,” a musical adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s turn-of-the-cen- ary book that details the stories behind some of nature’s wildest lid, ' robed it inimals. With singing and dancing animals such as a camel with no lumpand leopard without stripes, the musical promises to be a less en ordinary way of introducing children to the lives of animals. In injunction with the play, OPAS will also host a book drive that will icllect children’s books for donation to the Boy’s and Girl’s Club nd the Half Priced library. Lizzie Stubbs, a senior accounting major and chair of OPAS, [escribes “Just So Stories” as a collection of different folk stories. Just So Stories’ describes, as many folk stories do, how things ante to be today. It tells, among other things, how the elephant got tstrunk and how the leopard got its stripes,” Stubbs said. Elisa Aguirre, a senior psychology major, is director of children’s irogramming for OPAS. Along with 25 other volunteers, Aguirre aid OPAS Jr. brings four programs to the local community targeted ope ^ it youth. She said this year, the organization has hosted perform- yiiofj incessuch as “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” “Circo Comedia” and The Fred Garbo Inflatable Theater Company.” "OPAS Jr. is a special series of programming for children,” Aguirre d. "We have a board of directors who choose the programming.” Aguirre said the organization chose “Just So Stories” due to its ng production and possession of OPAS Jr. qualities. “It's important for young people to be exposed to the arts,” tguirre said. “This is a children’s program, so we primarily adver- iseto local schools, but we’re also hoping to get some of the (other lartsof the community) to come as well.” Caleb Stroman, a freshman biomedical sciences major, is an OPAS totals r. volunteer who will work to make sure “Just So Stories” runs s.fouia moothly. Stroman said he believes college students can enjoy “Just ioStories” as much as the children who the play is targeted toward. joined the children’s programming side of it because I like working with children,” Stroman said. “(But) I think anyone who likes fairy tales and comedy will enjoy the play.” Stroman often works performances ushering and seating patrons, idenl or puis d would a marl? ideaclK ods aro: sandte eats':: The musical adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s "Just So Stories,” featuring humorous and unconventional animals aims to educate children about the but he said he doesn’t mind. Stroman said he believes theatre is an important part of development. “Children should be exposed to theater because it’s so much dif ferent from TV or movies,” Stroman said. “Every night’s perform ance is different. People put so much energy into it, and most of them aren't even in it for the money.” Aguirre said the “Just So Stories” production is different from the other OPAS Jr. productions because of the book drive aimed at collecting books for donation. “We’re asking people to bring children’s books to the show,” Aguirre said. “We will donate them to the (charitable organization). We did it last year, and it went really well.” Stubbs said community outreach is an important part of OPAS. Photo Courtesy of • OPAS )R. animal kingdom. The play will be performed at Rudder Auditorium Saturday and will include a book drive benefitting the boy’s and girl’s club. “The book drive is one of our outreach programs,” Stubbs said. “We try to do different types of programs. In the past we’ve done canned food drives, family art days and other ways to get the com munity involved in the arts. By bringing a book it helps benefit the local community, and they also get to see a good play.” Aguirre said new and used books are desired as part of the book drive. “It’s one of our missions for OPAS to enlighten the community,” Aguirre said. “Seeing how the musical is based on a book, it’s only fitting to collect books during the production.” All tickets for "Just So Stories” will cost $7.50. There will be two showings on April 3 at 2 and 4 p.m. More information can be obtained by calling the MSC Box Office at 845-1234. THg instant, painlass uuqy to stay smooth and sexy ovorydog! on sale now special bonus includes a FREE 10 piece manicure kit *6 order online and SAVE! www. biki n itouch.com/texQsa m Ider now! call tollfree: 1.800.582-4400 "Hundreds of people are walking around with a better quality of life because of his generosity..." My son was one of 12 Aggies to die in the Bonfire collapse. We were devastated when it happened. We knew nothing could bring him back. But his bones and other tissue live on in 50 or more people who would have been crippled by bone cancer or other diseases. Because of Christopher, people can walk, run, and hold their kids. Donation really was a way to honor his generous spirit. -Marian Breen SHARE YOUR LIFE. SHARE YOUR DECISION. Organ Donor Card www.donorworld.com 1.800.355.7427 Dale- www.organ.org 1.800.788.8058