FAIRY TALE REIMAGINED

BILINGUAL PLAY BRINGS MODERNITY TO CINDERELLA STORY.

BY SARA PLUMMER

The Imagination Series at Tulsa Performing Arts Center continues this month with “Cenicienta: A Bilingual Cinderella Story.” Voiced through 10-year-old Belinda, this bilingual one-woman show is a retelling of the Cinderella story that puts a modern spin on the classic fairy tale, tackling cultural heritage, family and the power of language.

Aimed at children from kindergarten- fth grade, the Imagination Series is an educational mix of traditional storybook theater shows and performances that teach STEM lessons in a fun way.

“ e Imagination Series does so many things: it provides a ordable theater for families; it’s a fun opportunity for teachers to bring their students to learn through a medium they may not be able to provide in the classroom; and it gives families a chance to learn and laugh together,” says Terri McGilbra, director of programming at the Tulsa PAC.

Beginning more than 30 years ago, the series is meant to engage young audiences and introduce them to the magic of live theater in hopes of growing future audiences, McGilbra says. Each show in the series holds three performances. e two daytime shows are designed for public, private and homeschooled students and come with a study guide. For the evening performance, families can opt-in for a special Family Fun Night pre-show that includes snacks and show-themed STEM activities.

“Combining STEM concepts with theater makes learning fun,” McGilbra says. “And it can help make di cult concepts in science, technology, engineering and math more digestible to young minds.”

McGilbra notes “Cenicienta” supports the Tulsa PAC’s mission and touches on the topics of bravery, resilience, imagination, believing in yourself and helping others.

“ e message I hope the audiences receive is to embrace the power of one’s own imagination in conveying a story and to enjoy the shared magic of live theater,” she says.

All three “Cenicienta” performances will be March 10 in the Williams eatre. For more information or to purchase tickets go to tulsapac.com or call 918-596-7111. e next season of the Imagination Series will be announced later this spring. TP

MEMORY-CARE RESIDENTS SING ALONG WITH TULSA OPERA

According to the Alzheimer’s Association Oklahoma Chapter, more than 67,000 Oklahomans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. It’s a staggering number with profound implications for those individuals and the people who care for them. With Songs by Heart, an interactive singing program, Tulsa Opera harnesses the power of music as therapy for residents in local memory-care communities with age-related memory problems.

The new outreach program is put on in partnership with the Songs by Heart Foundation and utilizes Tulsa Opera performers who have received specialized training with a licensed music therapist. The singers and a pianist visit memory-care facilities for 45-minute sessions, ideally once a week or more, where they engage participants in group singing, clapping, dancing and conversation using familiar songs like “Oklahoma!” and “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”

“These are the songs they sang as kids and that their parents sang to them,” says Dani Keil, Tulsa Opera’s director of outreach. “So it’s a really special time in their lives that we’re tapping back into.”

The program’s therapeutic benefits include stress reduction and improved self-confidence and social interaction.

“The Songs by Heart program was a wonderful experience in our memory care community,” says Melissa Jonas, resident experience specialist at Covenant Living at Inverness. “We experienced a time with emotions of joyous nostalgia. We witnessed residents dancing, tears of happiness and confidence to sing and participate. There were expressions and actions from our residents we have not seen before.”

For more information on scheduling the program, or to support it, visit tulsaopera.com/ songs-by-heart. —

JULIE WENGER WATSON