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There is no better way to enjoy time with your family than at the Center’s Family Series. Imaginative performances from international theater groups

bring the best in children’s entertainment here to Orange County.

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The Discovery Series includes fi ve shows designed for

families with children ages 4-8.

The Family Series opens in September with Sonia De Los Santos.

Hailed as “one of the Latin children’s music artists you should

know,” by Billboard, De Los Santos was born with a smile on her

face and can always � nd the things in the world that bring her joy.

She has been performing her positive, multicultural, family-friendly

music for more than a decade with songs that are inspired by various

Latin American rhythms as well as North American folk traditions.

Singing in both English and Spanish, De Los Santos’ messages of

joyful community and cultural bridge-building will inspire and excite

children and grown-ups of all backgrounds.

How would you like to be named an Ambassador of Joy? It’s

possible when you hang out with Joshua Holden, an award-winning

puppeteer. In The Joshua Show: Episode 2, Joshua is confronted

by his right-hand man, Mr. Nicholas, who is the grumpiest person on

the planet. He plans to escape to outer space to avoid the doldrums

of everyday life but Joshua decides this won’t do! He sets out to

change Mr. Nicholas’ mind, using live music, singing, tap dancing,

and a cast of zany puppets to show Mr. Nicholas how to celebrate the

individuality of ourselves and others. � is whimsical production is

about friendship, con� dence, and the joy of being yourself, and will

turn even the sulkiest sourpuss into an Ambassador of Joy.

Who would believe a pigeon would want to drive a bus? � e

pigeon would! But it’s not easy being a pigeon—you never get to

do ANYTHING! In Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (The

Musical), the bus driver has to leave the bus for an emergency,

but that will leave his passengers stranded. Maaaaaybe Pigeon can

help? � is production from � e Kennedy Center � eater for Young

The Joshua Show: Episode 2

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Audiences puts Pigeon center stage in his own musical! With a script

by Mo Willems, the creator of the award-winning Pigeon books, this

comedic musical production is even more fun than staying up late and

having a hot dog party!

What happens when someone new comes to a village where

everything has its place and everything is done the same way? Well,

you might make an unexpected friend and learn to mix it up a little!

In Beep, Mort’s Village is a quiet place until Beep comes crashing in.

She’s a noisy robot girl who needs to � nd her way back home. When

Beep’s power source starts to drain, will Mort and the other villagers

be able to help her? � e gentle storytelling, music and puppetry

portray what happens when someone new drops into to town. Beep

comes to the Center from Australia’s Windmill � eatre Co., which was

last here with the very popular and whimsical Big Bad Wolf in 2016.

Families will love the creativity of Paper Planet. In this

installation-style piece, a spectacular forest of cardboard trees

invites children and their adults to populate the world with fantastic

paper creations. Imaginations can go wild! Only paper, tape and

nimble � ngers are used to create creatures, vines and � owers, hats

and costumes, and seemingly impossible constructions. � ere’s no

staying seated here; participants engage with performers and their

own imagination as theater and play merge and children discover

a world of adventures in this magical forest. Paper Planet comes to

the Center from Polyglot � eatre, which encourages children to be

powerful artistically, socially and culturally. “� eir work encourages

free artistic expression and imaginative interpretation of the world,”

says Broadway World.

Turn the page to read about the Explorer Series!

Beep

Sonia De Los Santos

Paper Planet

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discover music, laughter and surprises at every turn. Can we just say

they use more than 18 thousand buckets of paint in a year? � irty-� ve

million people of all ages, languages and cultures have experienced

the unexpected with Blue Man Group. Now it’s your turn to see what

the hype is about. By the end of this spectacular journey, you’ll be

saying “I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT JUST HAPPENED BUT I

LOOOVED IT.”

In 1920s Berlin, a resourceful group of kids track down a thief—

without a cell phone in sight! In Emil & the Detectives, young Emil

falls asleep on a train with something valuable hidden in her coat

while traveling to visit relatives. When she wakes up, she’s at the wrong

station and the valuable is missing. As Emil wanders from the station,

lost and wondering what to do, a group of children learn her story

and rally around to help her � nd the thief, who will wish he had never

shared a train compartment with the young girl! Emil & the Detectives

is a journey about self-discovery, the value of friendship and taking

risks, and the empowerment of young people. Presented by Australian

company Slingsby, the story is told in the company’s signature

theatrical style, with two actors combining the thrilling intrigue of a

classic caper with an evocative � lm noir design and a cinematic score.

The Explorer Series brings three shows that are perfect

for families with children ages 7 and up.

Young Vita cannot understand why her family wants to throw a

party for dead people. A celebration for deceased loved ones?

Why? In Sugar Skull! A Día de Los Muertos Musical Adventure,

Vita is visiting the cemetery on Día de Los Muertos when Sugar

Skull, a candy skeleton, springs to life. Sugar Skull shows her the true

meaning of the holiday as they delve into the rich traditions that

surround the day. She dances with ancient ancestors, sings with a

sorrowful sorceress and meets the famous Catrina Calavera. Sugar

Skull features Mexico Beyond Mariachi, a company of gi� ed musicians

and dancers rooted in Mexican traditions that helps communities

know more about traditional Mexican performance culture beyond

the stereotype. � is colorful stage production is the perfect fall

entertainment for youth and family audiences alike.

A performance of the Blue Man Group, returning as part of the

Broadway Season, will be the third o� ering on the Explorer Series.

� ese guys will rock your world. Blow your mind. Unleash your

spirit. As three bald and blue men explore our world, together you’ll

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Sugar Skull!

Emil & the Detectives

Blue Man Group

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2019–2020 FAMILY DISCOVERY SERIES

SONIA DE LOS SANTOSSAMUELI THEATERDates: September 21 & 22, 2019

THE JOSHUA SHOW: EPISODE 2SAMUELI THEATERDates: February 1 & 2, 2020

BEEPSAMUELI THEATERDates: March 14 & 15, 2020

DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS! (THE MUSICAL)SAMUELI THEATERDates: March 21 & 22, 2020

PAPER PLANETSAMUELI THEATERDates: May 2 & 3, 2020

2019–2020 FAMILY EXPLORER SERIES

SUGAR SKULL! A DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS MUSICAL ADVENTURESAMUELI THEATERDates: November 9 & 10, 2019

BLUE MAN GROUPSEGERSTROM HALLDate: January 12, 2020

EMIL AND THE DETECTIVESSAMUELI THEATERDates: April 4 & 5, 2020

Media Partner:Parenting OC

For tickets and information visit SCFTA.org or call (714) 556-2787 Group services: (714) 755-0236

� e Center continues to o� er Sensory Friendly/Relaxed performances for three engagements at 10 a.m. in Samueli � eater: Sonia De Los Santos,

September 21; Beep, March 14; and Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (� e Musical), March 21. � e performances are designed speci� cally for

audience members who will bene� t from a more relaxed sensory experience and casual environment.

As always, we o� er fun and engaging pre-show activities before every Family Series performance. It starts in the lobby an hour before show

time. Come early and bring your enthusiasm and creativity!