This fall, the children and families of our community will be introduced to a wonderfully entertaining form of youth theater entirely new to this part of the world. They will not merely witness, but actually become participants in a world premier. The art form is called Theater For the Very Young. The performance is the first-ever staging of the beloved New York Times best-selling children’s book, The Pout-Pout Fish.

A stellar team of nationally and internationally award-winning visionaries and artists are joining forces to bring this magical experience to life.

• Best-selling children’s author Deborah Diesen,

• International publishing company Macmillan Publishers,

• Illustrator Dan Hanna,

• Acclaimed children’s performing artist and composer Cory Cullinen (aka Doctor Noize),

• Internationally recognized theater education pioneer and former Seattle Children’s Theater Company Managing Director Karen Sharp,

• Seattle Children’s Theater lead puppet designer and builder Annett Mateo,

• Milwaukee Ballet costume designer Lyn Kream,

• Dare to Dream Theatre Artistic Director Rachel Thuermer

More than merely a play, this will be a ground-breaking series of special events for children and adults, including workshops, book signings, lectures, symposiums, and artist visits held throughout the community. All presented in conjunction with local youth, education, and arts organizations, and culminating in a series of magical theatrical experiences hosted in the amazing new state-of-the-art Howard’s Grove Center for the Arts, Mead Public Library, and the John Michael Kohler Arts Center.

This visionary initiative has also been awarded a Kohler Foundation grant, as well as the state’s highest rated grant in it’s category, by the Wisconsin Arts Board and the National Endowment for the Arts.

We invite you to join us in this wonderful celebration of creativity and community as we present a new form of youth theater. A best-selling story. A world-premier production. An all-star team. A brand new stage. A phenomenally enriching experience for the entire community.

This fall Join Dare to Dream Theatre, Mead Public Library, the John Michael Kohler Art Center, and Howards Grove Center for the Arts as we celebrate a world class experience!

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