RAK magazine September 2017

raisingarizonakids.com SEPTEMBER 2017

perfect

THE ILLUSTRATION

Tempe children’s book author/illustrator Molly Idle talks parenting, dream jobs

PERFORMING ARTS PREVIEW Prioritizing recess Balancing studies and stage

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september 2017

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CONTENTS

20

FEATURES 14

Molly Idle’s busy, idyllic life

Arizona author/illustrator talks life lessons, career triumphs and the joys and challenges of parenthood.

20

Performing arts preview

Arts writer Lynn Trimble previews don’tmiss Valley performances, including the best in youth theater, musicals, holiday shows, conversation starters and more.

DEPARTMENTS 4

dialogue

6

28

14

Hello Children Project

6

azgrown

• Chris Lineberry: Recess is his favorite subject • What’s the right age for contact lenses?

• Balancing act: How kid performers juggle studies and stage • Performing arts preschool opens in Scottsdale • Arizona Sunrays opens new dance/ gymnastics facility

28

family time!

• Top September family events • Around Arizona

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SEPTEMBER 2017 raisingarizonakids.com

COVER PHOTO SHOOT: Molly Idle in her Tempe studio.

PHOTOS BY RICK D’ELIA

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raisingarizonakids.com SEPTEMBER 2017

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dialogue September 2017 | Vol 28 | No 6 Publisher Karen Davis Barr Editor Kara G. Morrison Calendar Editor Liz Petroff Copy Editor Debra Citron Staff Writers Margaret Beardsley, Dani Horn Contributors Debra Citron, Rudri Bhatt Patel, Lynn Trimble

Ena Barrise holds her grandson and talks to a Friendship House resident during a Hello Children Project event.

Photo by jubilantphotography.com.

Art Director Michèlle-Renée Adams

HELLO, CHILDREN! ON A SWELTERING DAY in late July, I visited a beautiful memory-care facility in Sun City, where Samantha Asher and her mother, Ena Barrise, had convened their Hello Children Project.

At this informal, joyful, hour-long meetup, babies and kids sat encircled by residents at Royal Oaks Friendship House. The kiddos worked on a craft project — coloring wooden door hangers with fun messages — and shared snacks. Slowly the group began to gel. Seniors (mostly the women) reached out to hold babies. Older kids, some shyly, interacted with the residents they’ve learned to call “grandmas and grandpas.”

Asher and Barrise started the Hello Children Project to honor Barrise’s mother, Yvette Zlotnick, who passed away about four years ago at age 86, after battling Parkinson’srelated dementia. ‘Hello, children’ is how she greeted young people, with joy, all her life. “She didn’t remember my name, but remembered the name of my unborn son,” recalls Asher, a Peoria mom of three, of her beloved grandmother as the disease rapidly progressed. She adds of those with dementia, “Children have a way of bringing them back … so, as you can tell, this project is extremely close to our hearts.”

A very pregnant (one day past her due date) Mandy Jass of Peoria was also there with her 2-year-old daughter Piper. Jass has Utah grandparents who could use a meetup like this. “This is my way of feeling like I’m giving back from miles away,” she said.

Barrise is a volunteer coordinator for Summit Hospice. For some Friendship House

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SEPTEMBER 2017 raisingarizonakids.com

residents, Barrise says seeing these kids stirs happy memories of holding their own babies, their long-ago childhoods, or grandchildren they seldom see. “This is about the most fun we have all year,” affirmed 91-year-old Clarice Burke, who was smiling. “I just love watching the little ones.”

Asher hopes to grow the group of 25-30 volunteers who meet twice monthly in the west Valley to about 100 volunteers who will meet in four memory-care facilities around metro Phoenix by next year. (All volunteers must go through background checks; email Samantha at TheHelloChildrenProject@ yahoo.com to join.) On Nov. 11, the group hopes to raise $2,500 during the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Phoenix.

Our September Performing Arts Preview issue always includes a look ahead at the great music, dance and theater performances we get to enjoy in the Valley. But because Sunday, Sept. 10 marks Grandparents Day, we also wanted to take a moment to recognize their importance. Too many of us have lost a grandparent early to dementia, and it was heartwarming to see the Hello Children Project in action.

Kara G. Morrison, Editor kara@RAKmagazine.com

Photographers Rick D’Elia, Cassandra Tomei Operations Manager Tina Gerami-Bynum Sales & Marketing Manager Brandy Collet Sales Representatives Shannon Cornall, Kate Greene

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R aising A rizona K ids magazine (ISSN 1051-4295) was created to connect Valley families to local resources and share real-life stories about the challenges and joys of raising children. Copy­right © 2017 by R aising A rizona K ids, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Subscription price is $20 for one year or $35 for two years. Back issues are $6 per copy.

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raisingarizonakids.com SEPTEMBER 2017

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az grown health Chris Lineberry holds his new book. He is surrounded by students at Stanfield Elementary School.

Chris Lineberry:

Recess is his favorite subject

By Margaret Beardsley DO YOU EVER think about how much recess time your child is getting? Does your student’s school have set guidelines?

It’s something Stanfield Elementary School Principal Chris Lineberry thinks about a lot. This year, he co-authored the book, “Recess Was My Favorite Subject…Where Did It Go?” and watched with interest this past legislative season as Arizona lawmakers debated a bill that would have mandated 50 minutes of recess each day at public schools. (House Bill 2082 died in the Senate, but a similar bill likely will be back next year, says Heidi Vega, director of communications for the Arizona School Boards Association.)

Currently, each school district or charter school determines its own recess policy.

Some have limited recess time to 20 minutes or less; others have eliminated recess entirely. Cutting recess in favor of more classroom time is one result of the pressure on schools to improve standardized test scores.

Addressing the physical side of education has been a personal cause for Lineberry ever since he had a health scare of his own in 2007, when he was a principal in North Carolina. “I left my school on a stretcher after that heart attack,” he says. “I was 36.”

Lineberry blamed stress for his health problems. When he got back to the job, he looked around and realized many students also were dealing with high levels of stress.

It was time for change: better nutrition in the cafeteria, more P.E. time and one hour of recess for every student each day that could not be taken away as discipline.

“We saw dramatic changes, including physical improvement and three years of academic growth in a two-year time period,” says Lineberry, now 46.

He brought those ideas with him to Stanfield Elementary, a Title I school near Casa Grande, and they’ve paid off. His teachers get to decide when it’s time for their students to get recess — at least 30 minutes daily — and his school has a garden to provide healthy food for the cafeteria, where 97 percent of his students eat free. Stanfield also has daily P.E. classes, and teachers incorporate movement into the curriculum to get students out of their desks.

All that emphasis on physical activity earned Stanfield Elementary a 2016 grant from the National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils, which provided $100,000 for Stanfield’s new fitness center. “The [center’s] machines are specifically designed for kids grades four and up, so we are able to address the needs of both children and adults on our campus and in our community,” he says.

Members of the community can pay $10 per year to use the facility, because Lineberry believes the health needs of the community are just as important.

“What I can tell you is: I have happier, healthier kids; our absenteeism has decreased; behavior issues have decreased and academic performance has improved,” he says.

Margaret Beardsley of Phoenix is a staff writer and former executive news producer. She is the mother of two adult children.

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SEPTEMBER 2017 raisingarizonakids.com

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Deadline for entries is Wednesday, Sept.

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Founded in 1959, the Phoenix Heart Ball supports the mission of the American Heart Association to build healthier lives, free from cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Over the past 58 years, the Phoenix Heart Ball has raised nearly $33 million to fund lifesaving research, vital community programs and Halle Heart Children’s Museum. Visit phoenixheartball.heart.org for more about Phoenix Heart Ball on Saturday, Nov. 18; visit heart.org for heart-healthy living tips.

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raisingarizonakids.com SEPTEMBER 2017

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az grown parenting

WHAT’S THE RIGHT AGE FOR

CONTACT LENSES?

By Dani Horn

FROM THE DAY 6-year old Victoria was fitted with purple-framed glasses, I knew this request would come. But I didn’t think it would happen at age 11.

When Tori first asked for contact lenses, my gut reaction was that she’s too young.

Contacts, I told her, are for teens and young adults. I didn’t get them until I was almost 20.

Rolling her eyes as high as heaven, Tori informed me that her glasses make it difficult to run at her cross country meets and that she hates the tan lines she gets from her black frames during our blazing summers. A few of her friends already wear contacts, she added. And although she tries not to care what people say, a few “four-eyes” jokes from friends bothered her.

So I made an appointment with her optometrist. “Exactly how young is too young for contact lenses?” I asked.

“It’s a case-by-case basis,” said Dr. Aleta Gong, a developmental optometrist and owner of Accent Eyecare and Sports Vision Therapy in Phoenix. “But the average is usually around 10 or 11 when kids start wearing them.”

Even infants can wear contacts if there is a reason for it, she said. Some children are born with medical conditions like congenital cataracts (clouded lenses). In cases like that, an ophthalmologist takes the cataracts out, then sends the family to a specialist like Gong. “We can fit the baby with contact lenses that the parents can put in and take out,” she says.

For some tweens, the argument for contact lenses often boils down to the “coolness” factor and how they see themselves at this very selfconscious age.

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SEPTEMBER 2017 raisingarizonakids.com

Gong says a lot of kids don’t mind wearing glasses now that there are so many trendy frames to choose from — unlike the choices available when she was growing up. Still, she cites a recent study showing that children who wear contacts have higher self-esteem.

“Wearing contacts significantly improves how children and teens feel about their appearance,” she says.

Contacts also help many young athletes with less-than-perfect vision perform their best. The American Optometric Association recommends athletes wear either contact lenses or approved protective prescription eyewear.

“In heavy contact sports for kids, we do like the impact resistant, polycarbonate glasses, so that if a ball comes in toward the child, they’ve got that extra protection for the eye,” Gong says. “The downside is that frames can still sometimes break during these sports, and that’s when you may get an injury. Or if they’re sweating a lot, glasses may fog up.”

Gong says contacts can give athletes better side vision and depth perception, and they fit better under protective head gear or goggles.

On the downside, problems like eye infections can occur when contact lens wearers are lax about cleansing and storing their lenses.

Kids have to be diligent about washing their hands before touching their contacts.

“Another concern is falling asleep with them still in the eyes,” Gong says. “So if parents are really worried about that, there are dailywear contact lenses available, but you have to make sure with your doctor that you’re a good candidate for those types.”

Surprisingly, kids often take better care of

WHAT WORKED FOR YOU? Have you taken the dive into contact lenses for a young child? How did it work out? Write to dani@RAKmagazine.com. their contact lenses than adults do — but only kids who are already capable in other areas of their lives. Parents should look for signs of maturity— and responsibility when considering contact lenses for their children.

When children ask to wear contacts, “that usually means they are highly motivated,” Gong says. “If they do their chores on time and keep their rooms clean, or if they already have glasses and they’re not losing them all the time, they are most likely ready for contact lenses.”

Another test is whether kids can put contacts in their eyes by themselves.

Kids typically can take a trial run with a sample pair of contacts before parents fully commit to lenses — which came in handy with Tori. She was beyond excited to show off her contacts to her friends, despite having had a little trouble getting them in her eyes at the doctor’s office. But her enthusiasm quickly waned.

“I swear I can feel them in there, Mama,” Tori told me as she rubbed her bottom lid. “It feels like a bug is in my eye. … Can I just have my glasses back?”

“Of course, baby,” I said.

Staff writer Dani Horn is the mother of Victoria (11) and Remy (7).

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raisingarizonakids.com SEPTEMBER 2017

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az grown education

BALANCING ACT

KID PERFORMERS FIND HARMONY BETWEEN STUDIES AND STAGE

By Rudri Bhatt Patel

WHEN SCHOOL STARTS, some kids are pulling double duty managing academics and a demanding performing arts schedule. Practice time can absorb 16 to 20 hours per week. The time commitment during a performance week can expand even more.

How do they do it? Kids who dream of Hollywood, Broadway and more share common traits, including a commitment to their craft, time-management skills, self motivation and the good fortune of having enthusiastic, supportive parents. With so much to remember, balancing it all requires a cooperative and collaborative family effort.

Embracing time management For 16-year-old Annabelle Stern of Tempe, making time for ballet and modern dance isn’t a distraction, but a privilege.

“I love having the opportunity to participate in a different community,” Annabelle says. “I do get home late, so I have to be on top of my classwork.” She tries to make the most of her hours, doing homework during school whenever she can and taking the initiative to ask questions of her teachers.

She also uses practical tools, including a good planner, and says her mom helps her keep track of performance commitments.

Some might argue this puts additional pressure on a child, but she doesn’t think so.

“Dance is a stress release and an activity I adore,” she explains. “If you really love to do it, you will find a way to manage your time.”

“Most kids who are very active in extracurricular activities — whether it is theater,

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sports or dance — are usually motivated, organized and go-getters,” says Meryl Rose of Phoenix, whose 16-year-old daughter Allie performs at Disneyland and Universal City, as well as Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre. “Allie has to make the most out of car rides, down time in class, rehearsals or shows.”

Krystie Krugman of Phoenix says her 10-year-old daughter Noelle also has become efficient with her time and manages to make the principal’s list each semester despite a schedule that in peak season can involve 20 hours per week in formal rehearsals for chorus and violin and more hours of practice at home. During a performance week, the time commitment can be 25 to 30 hours.

Krugman says Noelle has missed out on many parties, bar/bat mitzvahs, weekend getaways and sleepovers with friends, but makes the best of it by “hanging out with her theater friends, who create their own special activities that work within their schedule.”

Ways to cope When the pace gets frustrating, both parents and kids have to figure out ways to cope and power through. Knowing what works to relieve the pressure is important.

Annabelle, who admits she rarely has the luxury of “reflection at the end of the day” because of her packed schedule, makes the most of “off” days by taking some time for herself.

Krugman tries to help Noelle focus on the big picture. She reminds her daughter to “remember the end goal, which is having fun, a great performance or run of the show and

creating lasting memories.” Music, laughter and celebrating each day’s achievements are rituals to relieve the pressure.

Krugman says it is important to remind your child to have fun “and remember what a joy and privilege it is to be able to do what you love.” It is also good to be supportive when a kid just wants to be a kid and play with friends or have down time, she adds.

There is “no magic recipe, but organization, calendaring, patience and deep breaths” get them through Allie’s schedule, Rose says. “When a child is the one who is passionate about the activity, that makes all the difference.”

When Allie had an entire month of rehearsals, performances, a showcase, important auditions and quarter-end tests, it was a tough period, and there were moments of tears, Rose says. Allie turned to her father (who Rose says “works wonders” on both of them). By speaking calmly and restoring normalcy and peace, he helped Allie focus on tackling one project at a time.

Ultimately, Noelle says, “Theater isn’t just an activity, it’s a family. It’s a family because at the end of the day, the work you put into rehearsal is like a ball of energy that passes to everyone, and gives everyone happiness about each other.

Theater won’t just be in you, it will change you.”

Rudri Bhatt Patel of Phoenix is a writer, editor, former attorney and the mother of Nandini (11).

Performing arts preschool opens in Scottsdale

East Valley Children’s Theatre

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By RAK Staff FROM THE DANCE and music room to the mini theatre and stage, Perform to Learn looks a little different than your average preschool.

McCartney Hart, a singer who ran performance-based camps and started a performing-arts preschool in Bermuda eight years ago, opened the Scottsdale school this spring at Scottsdale Road and Drinkwater Boulevard.

Hart, — mom to 6-year-old son, Spencer, and 2-year-old daughter, Chandler — says she started the play-based school in Bermuda (she divides time between the island and Scottsdale) because her summer camps were popular and local moms wanted it.

Hart also had a mission; she had a tough time in elementary school after being incorrectly diagnosed with dyslexia and wanted to create a new model to address the unique educational needs of each child.

“When I was younger, there wasn’t as much knowledge out there about different learning styles, and because I was an abstract learner, I didn’t learn by the traditional route. I struggled,” says Hart. “So I had always really loved the idea of figuring out how to make education more versatile for all of the learning styles and infusing the performing arts into traditional education so that every child would have an opportunity to really engage.”

Perform To Learn also has a two-level mini grocery store stocked with play boxes and cans of food and rolling carts and an exercise area with light, wooden weight sets and exercise bikes.

“In the grocery store, the kids go upstairs. They have a lot of fun playing, and they’re just having a blast, thinking they are in their own little grocery store (and) in their own little world. But we’ll ask them to identify things that they see that are yellow or boxes with the letter ‘C’ on them, then (ask them), ‘What sound does the letter ‘C’ make?’ So there’s always an academic takeaway in their play,” Hart says.

The preschool teaches standard subjects like numbers, colors, shapes, and even offers a room for S.T.E.M. projects. Children spend 35 minutes doing each activity.

In May, real estate agent Taryn Ware enrolled her 3-year-old son William in Perform to Learn, and she has seen both his knowledge and love of music increase.

“He already really loves drums, and when he comes home he sings songs to me. When we put on music, he starts dancing,” says Ware. “But I was just blown away, because I had never, ever worked on the alphabet with my child. Just last week when we were reading one of his animal books, he was able to point out with his fingers four out of six of the letters (in), ‘safari’. And he just did it out of nowhere.”

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Coming November 2017

The 2018 comprehensive guide to school choice and education resources in the greater-Phoenix area.

Private schools • Charter schools • Public school districts • Online schools Special-needs schools • Tutoring resources • Plus: Preschools

raisingarizonakids.com SEPTEMBER 2017

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az grown business

Dan and Julie Witenstein, owners of Arizona Sunrays, walk through the new facility during summer construction.

ARIZONA SUNRAYS opens new Phoenix dance/gymnastics facility

By Kara G. Morrison | Photo by Cassandra Tomei TWENTY-SIX YEARS into owning Arizona Sunrays gymnastics and dance center in Phoenix, Dan and Julie Witenstein are finishing up the biggest construction project of their lives.

Just north of Greenway Road on 32nd Street sits their new facility, a sprawling 34,000-square-foot modern concrete-block building that is light-filled and energy efficient.

It features high (18- to 24-foot) ceilings and state-of-the-art gymnastics equipment, dance studios and an expanded active preschool.

The Witensteins and their 60 employees will celebrate with a grand opening this month that showcases many new amenities: a coffee and snack bar, ample viewing areas for parents including large-screen TVs for observing classes, a gift shop and a 10,000-square-foot fenced-in courtyard shaded (eventually) by citrus trees.

With more space, they will offer more classes, including aerial arts, acrobatic gymnastics and dance/gymnastics combo classes.

This project was years in the making.

One hurdle was finding the right site in their current neighborhood. They finally found it on an abandoned-looking four-acre former eyesore

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they had driven by for three decades — one mile north of their 32nd and Thunderbird gym. Construction started in January.

“If we’re going to keep doing this, we want to do it right,” Julie explained, adding they had long dreamed about how they would have designed their original gym differently. Dan, a college gymnast and former assistant women’s gymnastics coach at Arizona State University, became head coach and manager of a private Phoenix gym in 1987; in 1990, the Witensteins bought that business rather than see it close.

Since then, Arizona Sunrays has grown — from about 300 original students to more than 2,000 kids (babies to teens) per week in all of its programs: competitive and recreational gymnastics; dance, yoga, and Ninja Zone classes; year-round day camps, Kids Night Out events and more.

In 2003, they rented an additional 4,000 square-foot space for their dance program around the corner from the 19,000 square-foot gym. Housing both programs in the same building and getting to design every detail — down to a one-of-a-kind air filtration system to reduce the amount of gymnastics chalk

GRAND OPENING! Visit Arizona Sunrays new gymnastics and dance facility from 3-6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 and try free gymnastics, dance, aerial arts or Ninja Zone classes. The first 200 attendees will receive special swag bags. Visitors can try food samples from the new snack bar and get facility tours.

The drop-in event includes raffle prizes and giveaways. 15801 N. 32nd St. Phoenix.

602-992-5790 or arizonasunrays.com

in the air — made the construction project enticing. During a summer hard-hat tour, Julie also mentioned the appeal of creating a comfortable, welcoming space for staff, students and families. “Our confidence in our staff and the tremendous job they do is what gave us the courage to move forward with this dream adventure,” she added.

The building was designed by Holly Street Studio Architects in Phoenix and built by Chasse Building Team in Mesa.

“This is something we didn’t have to do; we really wanted to do,” Julie said, adding their 22-year-old son, a recent college grad, and their 20-year-old twin daughters in college all support the project. “We’re making good use of our empty-nest time.”

Kara G. Morrison of Phoenix is the editor of Raising Arizona Kids and the mother of Sofia (5). Reach her at kara@rakmagazine.com.

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M olly I dle’s BUSY, IDYLLIC LIFE

By Debra Citron | Photo by Rick D’Elia

I

KNOW EXACTLY how Tea Rex feels.

He’s the semi-civilized tyrannosaur who takes tea with Cordelia and her little brother in Molly Idle’s hilarious breakthrough 2013 picture book, “Tea Rex.” Rex is a real hand-, uh, houseful, but the resolute young lady is determined to make the best of a decidedly awkward situation and does so with an aplomb that would put Miss Manners to shame.

Tea Rex’s super-sized intrusion is graciously managed — he feels right at home — and a good, if exhausting, time is had by all.

That was pretty much the situation one summer Saturday morning when photographer Rick D’Elia and I descended upon Rex’s and Cordelia’s creator, who is also the 2014 Caldecott Honor Book-winning authorillustrator of “Flora and the Flamingo.” With a load of photographic equipment, and notes, notebooks and pens poking out every which way, Rick and I could easily have been opposite ends of a large, costumed dinosaur thumping and banging our way through her house.

Molly Idle is definitely that gracious and resourceful little girl, all grown up. She didn’t bat an eye at our noise and baggage.

She did make us very welcome and she made excellent coffee. Idle has a rich, hearty Carol Burnett-y laugh, a delightful smile and an engaging, straightforward manner that put us immediately at ease. We had a great visit.

Idle looks like the quintessential suburban mom and is incredibly kind. She’s also thoughtful, direct, fiercely intelligent and very funny. Indeed, her at-home aliases are “The Sugar Pun Fairy” and “Attila the Pun.” She has had a corporate career others only dream about, and she has made six of her own highly-regarded picture books and written and/or illustrated several more. Her

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meticulous, finely observed pencil-drawn artwork is heartwarming, gorgeous and full of good humor. She has devoted fans of all ages.

IDLE WAS BORN IN CALIFORNIA, but moved to Arizona at age 5. After a postcollege return to the Golden State, she came home to Tempe, where she says she’s lived long enough “to be able to tell folks where everything didn’t used to be.”

She lives in the house she grew up in, a cozy three-bedroom bungalow on a quiet suburban street, with a big green backyard containing an almost-another-house-sized family workspace.

She shares this comfortable home with her husband, Steve, her parents, John and Cheryl Schaar, her two sons — John, 12, and Tom, 10 — and cats Emmett and Figaro.

“I think the stars really aligned in this little house,” she says. “We all manage to rub along without too much friction. I always tell folks who ask, ‘We know it wouldn’t work for everyone, but it works for us.’ And as the years go by, I’m more and more aware of how precious this time is, that we’re all here together.”

Their small house was full of people, including her sons’ guests. Idle’s mom was in and out, alternately chatting and running errands, and her dad and husband were occupied with chores. Like a mellow cat purring in a patch of sunshine, the house hummed with happy energy, while remaining completely calm and peaceful.

Idle frequently and readily admits to being a Type A personality — the kind who stores her drawing pencils in proper rainbow arrays and obsessively straightens untidy papers and misaligned paperclips — and she just as readily admits that she could not manage without the commitment of everyone in the family.

“With my Mom and Dad in the house, with Steve and the boys — and me, too — many hands make light work when it comes to cooking, cleaning, errands.”

Obviously, harmony takes a lot of coordination and effort. But that’s not the whole story.

THE THIRD OF FOUR DAUGHTERS, Idle observes that because of significant age differences, “it’s almost as if we were each ‘only’ children growing up.” It gave her more individual parent-child time than would have been possible with closer-in-age siblings.

Both parents were devoted bedtime readers.

She loved books, but it was the time and togetherness, and all the love and acceptance it implied, that was most important, and what she most cherished. It wasn’t until later that she fully appreciated her parents’ efforts to give her and her siblings everything they needed to flourish.

“Becoming a parent taught me just how hard my own parents worked to raise us, nurturing our dreams while pursuing their own dreams,” she says. “It’s like juggling kittens and flaming swords ... simultaneously.”

More than anything, Idle loved to draw, and she drew constantly as a child, gaining a reputation as her classroom’s artist-in-residence.

She credits Disney animator and cartoonist Lee J. Ames’ 26-book, “Draw 50” series as her early instructional guides.

All the while, she received unwavering support and encouragement from her parents, who were entrepreneurs, busy running their own manufacturing business. Her mother also was and is an actor, acting teacher and painter.

She allowed young Molly to use her easel and paints, treating her as a fellow artist.

When she was 12, her dad took her to see

Molly Idle in her Tempe studio. raisingarizonakids.com SEPTEMBER 2017

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Some of Molly Idle’s MOST POPULAR & UPCOMING TITLES

Tea Rex Published: April 2013

Flora and the Flamingo Published: February 2013

Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” about a dozen times because she loved the film, especially the combination of her two favorite subjects: drawing and marine biology. She decided to track down Ariel’s animator, Glen Keane, and write him a fan letter, which she sent with sample drawings. To her amazement, she received a reply. Keane (who grew up in Paradise Valley, son of “The Family Circus” cartoonist Bil Keane) encouraged her to “draw all the time, from life.”

From that moment, she knew, rather than hoped, that drawing would be her life’s work.

LESSONS IN PERSISTENCE AND RESILIENCE CAME not from encouragement, but from seeing her parents’ respond to discouragement. “When I was younger,” Idle says, “they made several attempts to get their own archery manufacturing company up and running. Materials shortages and economic recessions thwarted their plans, and we declared bankruptcy more than once over the years. But getting knocked down never stopped them from getting back up and trying again. With role models like that, it never occurred to me that risk of failure was

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Santa Rex (coming out October 2017)

something to be afraid of, or that giving up on my goals was an option.”

Idle majored in drawing at Arizona State University and was quickly hired as an animator at DreamWorks Animation SKG in California, where she worked on “The Road to El Dorado” (2000), “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron” (2002) and “Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas” (2003).

The runaway success of the computergenerated imagery (CGI)-animated film “Shrek” in 2001 was the death knell for hand-drawn animation. DreamWorks honored previous commitments for traditional feature cartoons, but began retraining staff and converting all production to CGI. Idle participated in the training but soon realized her efforts were half-hearted. She believes “the only way to be your best at something is to love it,” and she definitely didn’t love working with CGI. A fortuitous introduction to Keane, her “Little Mermaid” idol, and his confession that he did not want to enter the CGI world either, gave her the courage to find a new way to do what she loved. Keane’s advice: “I think if you want to do something, you need to make a

Flora and the Ostrich (coming out September 2017)

place for yourself.”

Idle left DreamWorks. She and her husband returned to Arizona in 2004 to start their family and to create that special niche necessary for her hand-drawn artwork to flourish.

Both sons were born in Arizona. “I was spending more time in the rocking chair than my drawing chair, but even then I worked as an artist,” Idle recalls. “Nap times, bed times, in the weeeeeee hours of the morning. I need to draw. Like I need to breathe.”

Her family stepped up to help her “strike a balance between work and home” by providing “support and coordination.” Her father designed and built the backyard workshop so that each family member would have “a quiet creative space in which to work.”

It was a while before she considered a career in children’s picture books, but after a few freelance illustrating assignments, she was hooked. She honed her technical skills, eventually embracing her signature Prismatic pencils, and refined her creative process.

DreamWorks had reinforced her self-discipline and taught her about “character design, color, composition and pacing,” but John Cleese (via YouTube) coached her on creativity.

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RegisteR foR

Action-PAcked clAsses At

Drawing was, and is, always the easiest part of book creation for her because she thinks visually.

The words, when she is not going wordless, are harder. “Writing hurts!” she exclaims. “It’s like therapy. You spill everything in the first draft.”

Cleese reaffirmed that creativity needs time and space to incubate; that discomfort and delayed gratification are part of the process.

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SEPTEMBER 2017 raisingarizonakids.com

with her first book. She wrote a story for her grandmother, and sent a copy to her mom.

Naturally, her mom thought it should be published.

“Now, I love my mom, but she’s my mom and I know that she wasn’t my harshest critic,” she says. Idle sent it to some trustworthy and “brutally honest” friends who said it wasn’t “half bad.”

“That’s when I sent out queries to every single publishing house I could find,” she confesses. “You really ought not to do that.

Subsequently I got a lot, a lot, a lot, of rejections.

But I also got one yes. And one is all it takes!”

Idle sold her first few books relatively quickly, but says, “I was really just learning on the job. Making [them], I learned more about the kind of art I liked to make and wanted to make.” It was a full decade before her career as an author/illustrator provided the same financial stability her work in animation did.

In 2009, things were especially tough. “I was getting some work, but it was the middle of the Great Recession and most publishing houses had closed their open-submissions policies. That meant, as an un-agented illustrator, it was next to impossible get publishers to take a look at my work, and at home we just weren’t making ends meet. So I gave myself an ultimatum... I’d go to the [2010] SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) conference and enter the portfolio competition. The grand prize was a trip to New York, and a meeting with art directors at three publishing houses. Steve and I decided that if I won, it’d be a sign from the universe that I should keep making books. If I didn’t, we’d move back [to Los Angeles] and I’d go back to work in animation. And...I won!”

From a list provided by a Viking art director, she quickly found an agent. Idle credits that find as the turning point in her career. Two book contracts followed in rapid succession, and because of their great popularity and adorableness, “Rex” and “Flora” each got his/her own series. Other illustrating

jobs appeared. All of it keeps her very busy, but it hasn’t hampered her family-centered life or her creativity.

This month, “Flora and the Ostrich: An Opposites Book by Molly Idle,” debuts. And “Santa Rex” is coming out in October.

In addition, Idle recently wrapped up artwork for a book called “People Don’t Bite People,” written by Lisa Wheeler, which will be out next spring. Currently, she is working on her next author-illustrated book, “Pearl,” about a mermaid of the same name, which will be out in the fall of 2018.

“One thing is (certain): I couldn’t keep all the kittens and swords in the air without my juggling partner/husband. He is wonderful, and handsome, too!” Idle says.

For the last seven years, Steve, a former Navy Seal and current architectural color consultant and professional builder of magnificent ship models, has been a full-time, stay at home dad. He and Idle “share beliefs about what’s important for our family: honesty, hard work, humor, and love.”

She confesses that “it’s not at all unusual for someone to be sitting in the living room and shout ‘Hey, does everyone in this house know I love them?!’ And hear, ‘Yes! Do you know we love you?!’ holler[ed] back from various rooms.

I love that.”

I KNOW WOMEN like Molly Idle, we all do. They are high-achievers; talented, tough, demanding of themselves, sensitive and caring.

They are women who make great friends and great moms. All of them will tell you that they aren’t any smarter, braver, more talented than many others, that their key to success is persistence. I’ve heard it so often, and from so many amazing women, that I know it’s true.

The ability to persist, to keep on going no matter what, draws from a sturdy sense of self, healthiest when supported and nurtured from childhood. It’s a self willing and able to imagine, to dream; then, to picture a goal, sketch a plan and create a story of love and hard work bursting with life and color. I think Molly Idle’s idyll is a perfect illustration.

Debra Citron of Phoenix is a writer and lifelong supporter of children’s literature and literacy.

Nutcracker The

Chandler Center for the Arts | Nov 24-Dec 3 | $25, $29 Mesa Arts Center | Dec 8-17 | $25, $29

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Chandler Center for the Arts | April 28-29 | $16, $22

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raisingarizonakids.com SEPTEMBER 2017

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2017-18

PERFORMING ARTS PREVIEW The upcoming season offers performances to inspire dreams — and broaden perspectives — for children and families.

By Lynn Trimble

“Hamilton” (Jan 30-Feb 25) at ASU Gammage.

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Note: Each themed section of family-friendly picks for the 2017-18 performing arts season is organized in chronological order so you can easily browse through and highlight those you don’t want to miss.

2017-18

PERFORMING ARTS PREVIEW

PERFORMANCES FEATURING

“Soiree de Ballet” (May 19-20) at Herberger Theater Center.

PERFORMING FOR AN AUDIENCE is a challenging, confidence-building experience,” says Becky Bell Ballard, chief executive officer for Rosie’s House, which provides free music education for underserved youth.

But there are also benefits from watching peers perform, she says. “Seeing someone your age take the stage creates empathy and a sense of shared community.”

Parents who take their children to see other youth perform are actually teaching them the value of showing up to support other people. And, of course, it means the world to the young performers.

It can also inspire children in the audience to try performing themselves. “Children are more likely to try something if they see peers do it,” says Bell Ballard.

Beauty and the Computer Geek. East Valley Children’s Theatre performs a musical that gives a new twist to the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty. Feb. 15-25, 2018 at Mesa Arts Center.

The Pajama Game. Greasepaint Youtheatre performs this musical about conflicts inside a pajama factory. Sept. 1-10 at Stagebrush Theatre in Scottsdale.

Madagascar, A Musical Adventure.

Animals escape the New York Zoo in hopes of returning to the wild. Oct. 28-Nov. 19 by Valley Youth Theatre at Herberger Theater Center, Phoenix.

Disney’s Mulan Jr. Follows the adventures of a young girl who disguises her identity to protect her father and her country. March 2-18, 2018 at Spotlight Youth Theatre in Glendale.

Arizona Musicfest Young Musicians Concert. Young musicians demonstrate virtuosity, strong technique and prodigious talent. Nov. 5 at Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix.

The Miracle Worker. Fountain Hills Youth Theater presents the story of Annie Sullivan and her famous student, Helen Keller. March 30-April 15, 2018 at Fountain Hills Theater.

Fall Concert. Classical music performed by the Metropolitan Youth Symphony. Nov. 14 at Mesa Arts Center.

Soiree de Ballet. Dance performance by students with the Scottsdale School of Ballet. May 19-20, 2018 at Herberger Theater Center.

Annie. Scottsdale Musical Theater Company performs the classic tale of an orphaned girl adopted by a rich businessman. Jan. 4-7, 2018 at Tempe Center for the Arts.

West Side Story. Fountain Hills Youth Theater performs this classic musical that brings the Romeo and Juliet story into the 20th century. June 1-17, 2018 at Fountain Hills Theater.

Disney’s The Jungle Book Kids. Imagines the life of a young boy, raised by animals, who must learn to interact with humans. Sept. 21-24 at Musical Theatre of Anthem.

King Thrushbeard. East Valley Children’s Theatre performs a musical about an unlikely love match and the peril of forgetting that there’s more to most people than meets the eye. Sept. 28-Oct. 8 at Mesa Arts Center.

The Addams Family. Greasepaint Youtheatre performs this musical about young people from very different families who fall in love, but worry their families won’t understand or accept each other. Oct. 20-29 at Stagebrush Theatre in Scottsdale.

Once On This Island Jr. A musical adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid,” set on a Caribbean island where romance blossoms between young people from vastly different backgrounds. Feb. 22-25, 2018 at Musical Theatre of Anthem.

raisingarizonakids.com SEPTEMBER 2017

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SCOTTSDALE SCHOOL OF BALLET

CHILD/TEEN ACTORS

2017-18

PERFORMING ARTS PREVIEW

“The Velveteen Rabbit, Reborn” (Sept 23) at Chandler Center for the Arts.

EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN “THERE’S A STRONG pull toward things that remind people of childhood, or other family memories,” says Cindy Ornstein, executive director for Mesa Arts Center. “People love hearing music or seeing shows that they remember from different periods in their lives, and then sharing their memories with their children.”

‘We see a lot of classical musicals and other shows where children come with parents or grandparents because they love sharing the things they grew up with,” Ornstein says. For families who love the arts, performances steeped in nostalgia help different generations share stories and sounds they love.

The Velveteen Rabbit, Reborn. Pushcart Players performs the classic tale of a stuffed rabbit separated from its family. Sept. 23 at Chandler Center for the Arts.

Get the Led Out. Musical performance by a Led Zeppelin tribute band. Oct. 12 at Chandler Center for the Arts.

The Rat Pack is Back! The Phoenix Symphony performs songs made famous by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. Sept. 22-24 at Phoenix Symphony Hall.

Zoppé An Italian Family Circus. One-ring circus featuring a central story rather than a series of acts.

Dec. 27-Jan. 7, 2018 at Chandler Center for the Arts.

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Spamalot! Monty Python musical adapted from the tales of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.

Jan. 12-Feb. 11, 2018 at Desert Stages Theatre.

The Fab Four. Beatles tribute band performs classic Beatles tunes. Jan. 19 at Mesa Arts Center.

Sense & Sensibility. Southwest Shakespeare Company performs a play inspired by Jane Austin’s 1811 novel about two vastly different sisters. Feb. 16-March 10, 2018 at Mesa Arts Center.

Million Dollar Quartet. Musical inspired by a legendary 1956 recording session with Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis. March 7-April 8, 2018 at Phoenix Theatre.

Music of Pink Floyd. The Phoenix Symphony performs the music of Pink Floyd during an outdoor concert that also includes a laser light show. March 10, 2018 at Mesa Amphiteatre.

Peter Yarrow & Noel Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul & Mary. Musical performance by two renowned folk musicians. March 23, 2018 at Mesa Arts Center.

Sgt. Pepper’s 50th Anniversary with Classical Mystery Tour. The Phoenix Symphony performs Beatles hits with four vocalists from the original Beatlemania show on Broadway. April 20-22, 2018 at Symphony Hall.

Rock of Ages. Mesa Encore Theatre performs a musical inspired by glam metal bands of the 1980s. May 18-June 3, 2018 at Mesa Arts Center.

Star Wars vs. Star Trek: The Music of Deep Space. Phoenix Symphony concert featuring classics from the renowned space-inspired film series.

May 24, 2018 at Symphony Hall.

2017-18

PERFORMING ARTS PREVIEW

BELOVED PAGES TO THIS SEASON’S STAGES

GERRY GOODSTEIN

FROM

“PEOPLE LIKE HAVING an idea of what they’re going to see when they come to the theater,” says Dwayne Hartford, artistic director for Childsplay in Tempe. The internationally renowned theater, founded

by David Saar in 1977, presents productions performed by adult actors for youth and family audiences. This season, every show is based on children’s literature. Theater professionals call it going “from page to stage.”

“What I hope excites audiences is coming to the theater with a picture of a show in their head that came from reading the book, then discovering something on stage that challenges how they pictured the story,” Hartford says.

Like the books that inspire them, plays adapted from children’s literature take families on an emotional journey together. “Reading is incredible,” Hartford says. “But theater with live actors bringing stories to life is powerful in a whole different way.”

Junie B. Jones: The Musical. Follows the adventures of renowned book character Junie B. Jones during her first day in first grade. Sept. 1-17 at Spotlight Youth Theatre in Glendale.

PAW Patrol Live! Race to the Rescue. Musical performance by these popular pups from the popular Nick Jr. show offers lessons in citizenship, social skills and problem solving. Sept. 16-17 at Comerica Theatre.

The Phantom Tollbooth. Childsplay presents the story of a young boy’s magical journey. Sept. 17-Oct. 15 at Tempe Center for the Arts.

Disney’s The Jungle Book Kids. Imagines the life of a young boy, raised by animals, who must learn to interact with humans. Sept. 21-24 at Musical Theatre of Anthem.

Seussical Jr. Fountain Hills Youth Theater presents the adventures of a little boy and his invisible friends, who learn that a person is a person no matter how small.

Sept. 22-Oct. 8 at Fountain Hills Theater.

Alice in Wonderland. Free Arts of Arizona and Story Book Ballet Company perform a dance based on Lewis

Carroll’s stories about a young girl’s adventures in a strange land. Sept. 30 at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.

Tomás and the Library Lady. Childsplay performs a play based on the Pat Mora book that celebrates reading, imagination and creativity. Oct. 21-Nov. 12 at Tempe Center for the Arts.

Shopkins Live! A live performance by the Shoppies, featuring songs, dancing, creative costuming and projections. Oct. 28 at Mesa Arts Center.

Peter Pan. Follow the adventures of Wendy, Peter Pan, Tinkerbell and Captain Hook in this play based on the story by J.M. Barrie. Nov. 17-Dec. 23 at Desert Stages Theatre in Scottsdale.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Explores the life of a lost stuffed animal.

Adapted from Kate DiCamillo’s classic story. Nov. 30Dec. 3 at Musical Theatre of Anthem.

Charlotte’s Web. Desert Foothills Theatre performs the story of unlikely friendships in the animal world, based on the book by E.B. White. Jan. 12-21, 2018 at Cactus Shadows Fine Arts Center in Scottsdale.

The Snowy Day. Childsplay performs a play celebrating the boundless possibilities of a snowy day, based on a 1962 children’s picture book. Jan 21-March 11, 2018 at Tempe Center for the Arts.

The Hobbit. Stage adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s book about a humble Hobbit in Middle Earth forced to leave his comfortable home to undertake a great quest.

Feb. 9-25, 2018 at Valley Youth Theatre in Phoenix.

Maddi’s Fridge. Childsplay performs a comedic play based on Lois Brandt’s book exploring friendship, honesty and helping others. March 31-April 8, 2018 at Tempe Center for the Arts.

Flora & Ulysses. Childsplay performs a play based on Kate DiCamillo’s tale of a cynical young girl and a squirrel with superpowers. April 22-May 20, 2018 at Tempe Center for the Arts.

Peter Pan, a musical adventure. A new adaptation of the classic tale about the adventures of a boy who refuses to grow up. June 14-24, 2018 at East Valley Children’s Theatre in Mesa.

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“Snow Queen” (Dec 3-8) at Herberger Theater Center.

2017-18

PERFORMING ARTS PREVIEW

HOLIDAY-THEMED PERFORMANCES

It’s a Wonderful Life. His guardian angel descends on Christmas Eve to save a man from despair. Nov. 16-Dec. 30 at Don Bluth Front Row Theatre in Scottsdale.

Irish Christmas in America. Irish music and dance set against a background of photographs. Nov. 27-28 at Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix.

Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus. East Valley Children’s Theatre performs a classic story about the lives of a little girl and a newspaper editor, and how they intersect during tough times in New York City in 1897. Nov. 30-Dec. 1 at Mesa Arts Center.

A Christmas Carol. Renowned Charles Dickens tale about a man whose perspective changes after visits from the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future.

Nov. 30-Dec. 23 at Hale Centre Theatre in Gilbert.

A Christmas Carol with Katie McFadzen. Childsplay presents a one-woman show, based on a Katie McFadzen and Matthew Wiener adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic holiday tale. Dec. 1-24 at Tempe Center for the Arts.

Mason Performing Arts Center in Phoenix.

Father Christmas and The Snow Queen.

Interactive holiday show in the style of a British comedic fairy tale. Dec. 1-17 at Theatre Artists Studio in Phoenix.

Holiday Pops. The Phoenix Symphony performs seasonal favorites for a concert that includes an audience sing-along. Dec. 1-3 at Symphony Hall.

Inspecting Carol. Musical comedy that imagines a community theater losing its Tiny Tim just as the National Foundation for the Arts decides to inspect its performance. Dec. 1-23 at Fountain Hills Theater.

Junie B. in Jungle Bells, Batman Smells!

Comedy based on the classic Junie B. Jones books. Dec. 1-17 at Fountain Hills Youth Theater.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Musical comedy about chaos that ensues when organizers of a church musical are faced with casting a young troublemaker.

Dec. 1-17 at Spotlight Youth Theatre in Glendale.

A Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail.

Christopher Robin and his woodland animal friends help Eeyore look for his lost tail as they celebrate Christmas together. Dec. 1-23 at Valley Youth Theatre in Phoenix.

Snow Queen. Center Dance Ensemble performs Frances Smith Cohen’s adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen story that also inspired the Disney film “Frozen.” Dec. 2-17 at Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix.

Black Nativity. Black Theatre Troupe performs Langston Hughes’ retelling of the classic Christmas story with music, song, and dance. Dec. 1-10 at Helen K.

The Night Before Christmas. Puppetry, stories and songs celebrating Christmas. Dec. 6-24 at Great Arizona Puppet Theater in Phoenix.

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SEPTEMBER 2017 raisingarizonakids.com

TIM FULLER

“I STILL REMEMBER the magic of seeing a performance of ‘Peter and the Wolf’ during elementary school,” says Frances Smith Cohen. Today, she’s artistic director for Center Dance Ensemble, a resident company at Herberger Theater Center.

Every holiday season, the company performs a dance called “Snow Queen,” based on a classic Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale that also inspired Disney’s popular animated film “Frozen.”

“Seeing performances together as a family enhances the holiday season,” Smith Cohen says. “It’s one of many ways families can make new memories and holiday traditions together.”

For some children, it’s also a form of inspiration. “Seeing just one performance can inspire a child to try dance,” she says. But there’s another reason to make time for seeing live shows together: “Live theater and dance spark young imaginations.” And isn’t that what childhood is all about?

A Christmas Carol. Theater Works performs the classic Charles Dickens tale about the importance of family, generosity and helping others. Dec. 8-24 at Peoria Center for the Performing Arts.

Elf The Musical, Jr. Greasepaint Youtheatre and Scottsdale Community Players perform a musical inspired by the movie about Buddy’s adventures in New York City. Dec. 8-17 at Stagebrush Theatre in Scottsdale.

The Nutcracker. Ballet Arizona performs Ib Andersen’s choreography for the classic tale of a Nutcracker doll that comes to life during a young girl’s dream, accompanied by the Phoenix Symphony. Dec. 8-24 at Symphony Hall.

Phoenix Boys Choir. Choral performance featuring holiday songs and carols from around the world. Dec. 14 at Musical Instrument Museum.

A Merry-Achi Christmas. Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández performs a holiday-themed mariachi concert. Dec. 16 at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.

A Cirque Nutcracker with Troupe Vertigo. The Phoenix Symphony performs Tchaikovsky’s classic Nutcracker score as aerialists, contortionists, jugglers, strongmen and others perform on and above the stage. Dec. 22-23 at Mesa Arts Center.

2017-18

PERFORMING ARTS PREVIEW

THEATER AS

ALEXANDER IZILIAEV

TALKING POINTS FOR TEENS

“Cinderella” (Feb 15-18) at Symphony Hall.

“IT’S IMPORTANT FOR youth to hear their own voices in theater,” says Sarah Sullivan, co-artistic director for Rising Youth Theatre. “They need to know their stories and experiences are valued.”

By the time they’re teens, most youth are old enough for performances dealing with tough topics that may have touched their lives. So although it’s sometimes tempting to try and shield them for a little while longer, exposing your teens to plays or musicals with some mature content can be a good thing.

“Theater raises topics it can be hard to talk about, which helps families start conversations it might be hard to have otherwise,” Sullivan says.

Miranda that follows a daughter of immigrants living in New York’s Washington Heights after she goes off to college in California. March 30-April 15, 2018 at Cactus Shadows Fine Arts Center in Scottsdale.

Mamma Mia! Musical tale of a teenage daughter trying to figure out which of three men may be her biological father. Sept. 6-Oct. 15 at Phoenix Theatre.

The Diary of Anne Frank. Arizona Theatre Company performs this play about eight people hidden inside an Amsterdam attic during Nazi rule, based on the the actual diary of teen Anne Frank. May 17-June 3, 2018 at Herberger Theater Center.

Pippin. A young prince seeking glory and fame learns to appreciate simple everyday moments. Oct. 20-Nov. 5 at Spotlight Youth Theatre in Glendale.

Cabaret. Musical story of several lives that intersect on the eve of Hitler’s rise to power. Jan. 12-28, 2018 at Spotlight Youth Theatre in Glendale.

Cinderella. Ballet Arizona performs the classic tale of romance between two young lovers defying family expectations, with music by The Phoenix Symphony.

Feb. 15-18, 2018 at Symphony Hall.

13, The Musical. Story of a boy’s struggle to fit in after his parents divorce and he moves from the big city to a small town. Feb. 23-March 25, 2018. Desert Stages Theatre.

In the Heights. Desert Foothills Theater performs a musical by Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel

Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The timeless tale of young lovers from feuding families, and the tragic consequences of their marriage. April 13-22, 2018 at Spotlight Youth Theatre in Glendale.

Jesus Christ Superstar. Musical take on the last week in Jesus’ life, told from the perspective of Judas Iscariot. May 25-June 10, 2018 at Spotlight Youth Theatre in Glendale.

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2017-18

PERFORMING ARTS PREVIEW

BRING US THE

WORLD

“WE ALL LIKE to express ourselves,” says Niki Cuccinotto, education specialist at the Musical Instrument Museum. The museum has thousands of instruments from around the world, and often presents concerts rooted in a global perspective.

“There are so many instruments, it can make the world feel like a big place,” she says. But seeing instruments and performances from other parts of the globe also makes the world feel smaller, she says.

Performance is also a way to experience commonalities across cultures, such as the joy of celebration and the mourning of loss.

“Kids who experience other cultures learn to put themselves in other people’s shoes and discover that people have more in common than we all realize sometimes,” Cuccinotto says. “And seeing people from different cultures perform helps kids realize that they can perform and express themselves, too.”

“Dancing Earth” (Sept 30) at Mesa Arts Center.

Experience India. The annual celebration of East Indian music and culture offers musical and dance performances, hands-on activities and temporary henna body art. Sept. 2-3 at Musical Instrument Museum.

Dancing Earth: Indigenous Contemporary Dance Creations. Dance performance celebrating diverse indigenous perspectives about creation and renewal. Sept. 30 at Mesa Arts Center.

Mariachi and Folklorico Festival. Lively performance of mariachi music and folklorico dance. Sept. 30 at Chandler Center for the Arts.

Wu Man: Performing Traditional, Ancient, and Historical Music of China. Solo performance on a stringed instrument called the pipa. Nov. 11 at Musical Instrument Museum.

Experience Scandinavia. A celebration of Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland with musical performances, traditional dances and hands-on crafts. Dec. 2-3 at Musical Instrument Museum.

Yamato: The Drummers of Japan. Concert blending ancient and modern taiko drumming with traditional wadaiko drums.

March 3, 2018 at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.

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SEPTEMBER 2017 raisingarizonakids.com

PAULO T. PHOTOGRAPHY

Celtic Nights — Oceans of Hope. Music, song and dance inspired by people traversing oceans in search of freedom, dignity and a brighter future. March 11, 2018 at Chandler Center for the Arts.

Tao: Drum Heart. Concert featuring ancient art of Japanese drumming. April 22, 2018 at Mesa Arts Center.

2017-18

“Go Dog Go” (Nov 25-Dec 23) at Tempe Center for the Arts.

PERFORMING ARTS PREVIEW

Cinderella. A touring Broadway production of the classic love story about two young people who defy others’ expectations to find true love. Dec. 19-24 at ASU Gammage in Tempe.

Hamilton. The story of Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and was the new nation’s first Treasury Secretary.

Jan. 30-Feb. 25 at ASU Gammage in Tempe.

Disney’s Beauty & The Beast. Mesa Encore Theatre performs this musical featuring a tender girl and a tyrannical beast, who learn through their encounter that things aren’t always what they seem. March 2-18, 2018 at Mesa Arts Center.

HEATHER HILL

West Side Story in Concert. The Phoenix Symphony Orchestra performs the entire musical about the stereotypes facing a young couple in love. March 2-4, 2018 at Symphony Hall.

GOTTA LOVE A

GOOD MUSICAL

The King & I. A touring Broadway production of the classic love story between a schoolteacher and a king who hail from different lands. March 20-25 at ASU Gammage in Tempe.

FOR SOME FAMILIES, nothing beats seeing a good musical together. “There’s an amazing interest in Broadway just now,” says Colleen Jennings-Roggensack, executive director for ASU Gammage in Tempe, which presents several touring Broadway musical each season. “I think there’s a real revival.”

It’s fueled in part by social media, and musicals reaching larger audiences through television and movie-theater presentations. But it’s really the content that pulls families in, she says. For the smash hit “Hamilton” (which opens at ASU Gammage Jan. 30), it’s the theme of inclusion. For “Dear Evan Hansen,” (the newest Broadway hit beginning its national tour next year) it’s teens and parents struggling to find their way in the world.

Even politics factor into the popularity of musical theater. “Because of the time and [political] climate, there’s a real interest in escapism,” Jennings-Roggensack says. No matter what draws families to musical theater, they will leave with plenty of memories and topics for family conversations.

Little Women, The Broadway Musical. A musical adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved tale about four sisters with very different dreams. April 6-22, 2018 at Valley Youth Theatre in Phoenix.

Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. A classic musical exploring sibling rivalry through the Old Testament tale of 12 brothers.

Aug. 25-Oct. 7 at Hale Centre Theatre in Gilbert.

Mary Poppins. A magical nanny reminds a strict, hardworking father of the value of family and play. June 1-30, 2018 at Arizona Broadway Theatre in Peoria.

Leonard Bernstein and Jerome Robbins: A Broadway Celebration. The Phoenix Symphony Orchestra performs songs by two legendary composers. Oct. 13-15 at Symphony Hall.

Annie. Mesa Encore Theatre performs the classic musical about an orphan adopted by a millionaire who learns there’s more to life than riches. Nov. 3-19 at Mesa Arts Center.

Disney’s Newsies. Newspaper delivery boys take on corporate giants in a tale of underdogs banding together to succeed. Nov. 15-Dec. 31 at Phoenix Theatre.

Forbidden Broadway. Mesa Encore Theatre performs this musical spoof of famous Broadway musicals. April 6-22, 2018 at Mesa Arts Center.

Live From Broadway. The Phoenix Symphony and several vocalists perform songs from more than a dozen popular musicals, including “Hamilton,” “Wicked” and “Finding Neverland.” May 18-20, 2018 at Symphony Hall.

Go, Dog, Go! Childsplay presents a musical dog partly based on P.D. Eastman’s book by the same name.

Nov. 25-Dec. 23 at Tempe Center for the Arts.

Annie. Valley Youth Theatre performs a musical based on the “Little Orphan Annie” comic strip launched during the 1920s. June 15-July 1, 2018 at Herberger Theatre Center in Phoenix.

The Music Man. Touring production of the classic musical about a con man who transforms a town by selling musical instruments for kids. Dec. 1-3 at Orpheum Theatre in Phoenix.

School of Rock. A touring Broadway production about a guitarist who introduces students to rock and roll while posing as a music teacher at an elite school. June 19-24, 2018 at ASU Gammage in Tempe.

raisingarizonakids.com SEPTEMBER 2017

27

family time!

TOP

SEPTEMBER

EVENTS

By Liz Petroff

By the time September rolls around, the kiddos are usually in a good routine at school, and cooler weather and (enjoyable) outdoor activities are in sight. Labor Day weekend gives families a nice escape to explore a county fair or festival. It’s also a month to honor our nation’s veterans and first responders at the 9/11 Heroes Run or to see a team of superheroes defend the universe onstage. Food fights (with no cleanup), teddy bears and cheese pizza also have a fun place on our Family Time events calendar! Here’s what we’re excited about:

THROUGH SEPT. 16 “Get Animated!” at the Arizona Science Center. The science center has extended its featured exhibit that lets kids and adults learn about the pioneers of animation and see how the process works — from old-fashioned painted cels to today’s high-tech CGI. Try hands-on drawing and stop-motion animation stations, build a castle like Shrek’s and take photos with the Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine, on Bart Simpson’s couch or in a car from Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. $25.95; $20.95 ages 3-17; free for ages 2 and younger. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Arizona Science Center, 600 E. Washington St., Phoenix. 602716-2000 or azscience.org

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SEPTEMBER 2017 raisingarizonakids.com

SEPT. 2 9/11 Heroes Run. 5K run to honor, remember and thank local veterans and first responders in a fun, family-friendly environment for all ages. The 9/11 Heroes events take place all over the world, organized by local community volunteers. 7:30 a.m. $30-$35; $120 for a family of four. Tempe Beach Park, 80 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe. travismanion.org

COURTESY OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM

SEPT. 9 Children’s Learning and Play Festival. This event returns for its second year. Parents can listen to speakers and authors and children can explore the interactive play area where they can meet characters including PBS’s SuperWhy. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free; $5 parking.

WestWorld, 16601 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale. azchildrensfestival.com National Teddy Bear Day. Celebrate furry fun in Historic downtown Glendale. Enjoy make-and-take crafts, shopping deals, special treats and free Ollie the Trolley rides. The Glendale Visitor Center, Bears & More and Gracie’s Marketplace will be selling safety-approved bears to distribute to local Trauma Teddy programs, first responders and emergency rooms. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Murphy Park, W. Glendale Ave. visitglendale.com

SEPT. 2-3

SEPT. 5

COURTESY OF TRAVIS MANION FOUNDATION

National Cheese Pizza Day. No pizza toppings necessary today.

Surprise the family with a pizza dinner, and don’t skimp on the cheese!

GRIMALDI’S PIZZERIA

Experience India at the MIM. The Musical Instrument Museum puts the spotlight on East Indian music and culture. Watch music and dance performance and participate in hands-on activities, including temporary henna body art. See film screenings and hear curator talks throughout the galleries. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. $20; $15 ages 13-19; $10 ages 4-12; free for ages 3 and younger.

Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. 480-478-6000 or mim.org

SEPT. 10 National Grandparents Day. Both the Children’s Museum of Phoenix and the i.d.e.a. Museum in Mesa celebrate this Sunday with free admission for grandparents! So bring the grandkids for a day of fun and interactive play. (The i.d.e.a. Museum is offering free admission to grandparents Sept. 9-10, the final days of its “My Favorite Monster” exhibit.) 215 N. Seventh St., Phoenix; 602-253-0501 or childrensmuseumofphoenix.org and 150 W. Pepper Place, Mesa. 480644-4332 or ideamuseum.org

SEPT. 8-10 Marvel Universe Live: Age of Heroes. Families are being called to help defend the universe from evil. Join more than 25 Marvel characters, including Spider-Man, the Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy, as they race to recover an ancient artifact from villains Loki and Green Goblin. 7 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m., 3 and 6 p.m. Saturday; noon and 4 p.m. Sunday. $15 and up. Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix. 800-745-3000 or marveluniverselive.com

SEPT. 15-17 Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market. Celebrate everything chippy, rusty, vintage, repurposed and handmade. Nearly 200 vendors participate from around the country. Special VIP event 5-9 p.m. Friday is $50-$65 with swag bag; early admission 8 a.m. Saturday $20-$25; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday $8. WestWorld, 16601 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale. junkinthetrunkvintagemarket.com

raisingarizonakids.com SEPTEMBER 2017

29

TOP SEPTEMBER EVENTS Continued The Art of Healthy Living. This new exhibit explores nutrition, exercise, mindfulness and overall wellness. Art, hands-on activities and kids’ movement stations will explore physical fitness, nourishment of both body and mind, creativity and meditation. i.d.e.a.

Museum, 150 W. Pepper Place, Mesa. $9 for ages 1 and up; free for babies younger than 1. 480-6442467 or ideamuseum.org

I.D.E.A. MUSEUM

MESSY FEST

SEPT. 29-JAN. 21

SEPT. 16 Messy Fest. Life is too short to play clean. The City of Queen Creek hosts Messy Fest, the outdoor adventure that includes a mud course, food fights and a mashed potato tug-of-war. Don’t worry, there is a giant car wash rinse zone, too.

9 a.m. to 2 p.m. $20-$35 to participate, $5 for spectators. Horseshoe Park & Equestrian Centre, 20464 E. Riggs Road, Queen Creek. messyfest.com

LOS LONELY BOYS

National Stepfamily Day. Jesterz Comedy Club, a family-friendly venue, is helping celebrate with discounts for stepfamilies at its evening comedy shows.

7 and 9 p.m. $13; $9 ages 2-12; $8 stepfamilies (per person). 1061 N. Dobson Road, No. 114, Mesa. 480-423-0120 or jesterzimprov.com

SEPT. 30

ROSALIE O’CONNOR

Somos Peoria. Join the City of Peoria in Old Town with a festival for Hispanic Heritage Month. It’s a day of fun for the entire family and an evening of live entertainment.

2-10:30 p.m. Free. Downtown Peoria. peoriaaz.gov

SEPT. 21-30 Ballet Under the Stars. Each fall, Ballet Arizona gives the community the gift of free outdoor performances. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy classical and contemporary dance. 7 p.m. Sept. 21 at Beardsley Park, Sun City West; Sept. 22 at Fountain Park, Fountain Hills; Sept. 23 at Steele Indian School Park, Phoenix; Sept. 28 at Tempe Center for the Arts Amphitheater; Sept. 30 at Estrella Lakeside Amphitheater, Goodyear. 602-381-0184 or balletaz.org

SEPT. 23 Museum Day Live! Smithsonian magazine sponsors this day of free admission at participating local museums and cultural institutions nationwide. There are 20 participating museums in Arizona, including Cave Creek Museum, Pueblo Grande Museum, Desert Botanical Garden, Halle Heart Children’s Museum and Arizona History Museum. Times vary. Download and print free admission tickets in advance. smithsonianmag.com/museumday

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SEPTEMBER2017 JUNE/JULY 2017 raisingarizonakids raisingarizonakids.com.com

SEPT. 30-OCT. 1 Fry’s Free Weekend at Arizona Science Center.The science center is open with free general admission this weekend courtesy of Fry’s Food Stores. Guests can explore the science center’s four levels and get discounted tickets for the giant screen theater and Dorrance Planetarium shows. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Arizona Science Center, 600 E. Washington St., Phoenix. 602-716-2000 or azscience.org

SEPT. 30-NOV. 19 Fall Butterfly Exhibit. Mighty monarch butterflies return to the Desert Botanical Garden with friends! The exhibit explores the insects that care for and protect our desert environment. 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. $24.95; $12.95 for ages 3-17; free for ages 2 and younger. 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix. 480-941-1225 or dbg.org Calendar Editor Liz Petroff of Phoenix is the mother of Jack (9) and Lucy (7). Send event info to liz@RAKmagazine.com.

Find more extensive day-by-day event listings at raisingarizonakids.com/calendar

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31

family time! around arizona DOUGLAS Cochise County Fair (Sept. 21-24). This year’s theme is “The Best Four Days of Fall.”

There’s something for everyone here: rides, attractions and games, college rodeo, pro bull riding, live entertainment, agricultural competition and more. Times vary. $6; $3 ages 6-12; free for ages 5 and younger.

Parking is $3. Cochise County Fairgrounds, 3677 Leslie Canyon Road, Douglas. 520364-3819 or cochisecountyfair.org.

Coconino County Fair (Sept. 1-4).

Cool temperatures and fresh mountain air are the perfect combination for enjoying carnival rides, games and live entertainment. This family-friendly environment is also the backdrop for viewing exhibits and watching demonstrations and livestock shows.

10 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri-Sun, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Mon. $8; $5 ages 6-12 and seniors; free for ages 5 and younger. Coconino County Fairgrounds, Fort Tuthill County Park, Exit 337 off I-17. 928-679-8000 or coconinocountyfair.com.

Festival of Science (Sept. 22-Oct. 1). An award-winning 10-day event filled with field trips, guided hikes, star parties, open houses, hands-on exhibits, presentations and archaeological excavations. Times vary. Free. Locations throughout Flagstaff. scifest.org.

Cochise County Fair (Sept . 21-24) in Douglas.

Fall Gathering Barbeque (Sept.

16). Grab your boots and family for some Western fun. Live cowboy music, barbecue and activities for a celebration that commemorates the museum’s grand opening more than 30 years ago.

5:30-8 p.m. Sat. $25; free for ages 7 and younger. Phippen Museum, 4701 Highway 89 N, Prescott. 928-778-1385 or phippenartmuseum.org.

Summer Concert Series (Sept. 2).

Musical performance under the pines.

Bring blankets, concert chairs, food and non-alcoholic beverages; beer and wine available for purchase. 5:30 p.m. Sat. $18; free for ages 12 and younger. The Arboretum

SEDONA

at Flagstaff, 4001 S Woody Mountain Road, Flagstaff. 928-774-1442 or thearb.org.

flamenco music and dance, arts, crafts and food. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat. Free. Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village, 336 Highway 179, Sedona. 928-282-4838 or tlaq.com.

PRESCOTT Faire On The Square Arts & Crafts Show (Sept. 2-4). Stroll under the American Elm trees in historic downtown Prescott while shopping more than 130 vendors selling fine art, jewelry, food and more. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat-Sun. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Mon. Free. Downtown Courthouse Plaza, 120 S Cortez St, Prescott. 928445-2000 or prescott.org.

32

Fiesta del Tlaquepaque (Sept. 9).

Fill your day with the taste and sounds of Mexico at the annual celebration of Mexican Independence Day. Demonstrations, strolling mariachi bands,

SONOITA Sonoita Labor Day Rodeo (Sept. 2-4).

See the “Greatest Show on Dirt.” Hosted by the Santa Cruz County Fair and Rodeo Association, the 102nd annual rodeo features classic timed events, barrel racing, wild-horse race and team-roping, mutton busting and pee-wee events.

SEPTEMBER 2017 raisingarizonakids.com

Times vary. $15; $10 ages 6-12; free for ages 5 and younger. Sonoita Fairgrounds, 3142 S Highway 83, Sonoita. 520-4555553 or sonoitafairgrounds.com.

Church, 1145 E Fort Lowell Road, Tucson.

520-888-0505 or tucsongreekfest.com.

WICKENBURG

Showdown in Tombstone (Sept. 2-4).

“The Town Too Tough To Die” will be filled with performances and reenactments by gunfighter groups from around the country. Participate in the 1880s costume contest, Sunday parade and auctions and raffles. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat-Mon. Free.

Allen Street, Tombstone. 520-457-3548 or tombstonechamber.com.

Fiesta de Septiembre (Sept. 2) Celebrate Wickenburg’s Hispanic pioneer heritage with your family. The day is filled with Latin band and Mariachi music, folklorico dancers, an outdoor mercado, food and beverages and a kids zone. Participants can also enter salsa, margarita and guacamole contests. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat. $5; free for ages 20 and younger. Wickenburg Community Center, 160 N Valentine St. 928684-5479 or wickenburgchamber.com.

Tombstone Territorial Days (Sept. 16-17).

WILLCOX

This third annual event features a nonmotorized parade, Grand Ball in Schieffelin Hall, Territorial baseball game, Civil War re-enactors, Western lectures and food vendors. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat-Sun. 520-4573707 or tombstoneterritorialdays.com.

My-Oh-My Apple Pie Weekend & Country Craft Fair (Sept. 16-17). It’s apple season all month at Apple Annie’s Orchard.

Pick-your own apples, pears, peaches, pumpkins and more and try apple pie and apple crumb pie ice cream. Free admission.

Free wagon rides to pick apples. All-youcan-eat pancake breakfast with apple pie syrup served weekends through Sept. 17.

The corn maze opens Sept. 16-Oct. 31 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. Apple Annie’s Orchard, 2081 W Hardy Road, Willcox. 520-3842084 or appleannies.com

TOMBSTONE

TUCSON Greek Festival (Sept. 21-24) Opa! Experience Greek culture, heritage, dances, hospitality, food and music. 4-10 p.m. Thur, 3-11 p.m. Fri, noon-11 p.m. Sat, noon-6 p.m. Sun. St. Demetrios Orthodox

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