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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,
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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.
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