Millions of kids grew up reading Stan and Jan Berenstain’s beloved children’s series, The Berenstain Bears, and now there’s an opportunity to see the characters live in a special staged production of “Family Matters: The Musical.”
The Berenstain Bears LIVE production will be held at the Hylton Performing Arts Center’s Merchant Hall at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. this Saturday, Nov. 22.
“This production started in 2010 as a national tour and it was well received so we opened it in New York in June of 2011, where it’s been playing ever since,” says Matt Franzetti, stage manager of the show. “We decided to stop that for a while so we can bring it back on tour so others can experience this wonderful production.”
The musical is based on three classic Berenstain Bears books—“Too Much Junk Food,” “Trouble With School,” and “Learn About Strangers.”
“Each of the books features one of the characters and Mama Bear is the problem solver who ties all the stories together,” Franzetti says. “These are over-arching life lessons and it’s valuable for kids to see them brought to life with these characters that they know and presumably their parents know because this brand is now 50 years old.”
The cast includes Evan Teich as Papa Bear, Mary Malaney as Mama Bear, Robyn Michele Frank as Sister Bear, Gerardo Pelati as Brother Bear, Brooke Bauersfeld as Lizzie/Gran Bear and Jaren Green as Freddy/Gramps Bear.
The 55-minute show is appropriate for Mamas, Papas and cubs of all ages, but is designed for children 2-7. Still, parents will have plenty to enjoy themselves.
“Sort of in the same way that ‘Finding Nemo’ has jokes built in their for parents, Berenstain Bears Lives does the same thing,” Franzetti says. “There are things that the kids don’t necessary understand but the parents are entertained.”
Tickets for the show are $15 for adults and $5 for children and can be purchased by calling 888-945-2468 or visiting HyltonCenter.org.
