The Paper Bag Players are coming with singing, dancing, and lots of laughs to SUNY Orange in Middletown, on Sunday, January 28 to start off the 2024 Cultural Affairs performance events programming. At 2 p.m., the fast-paced play accompanied by live music composed and performed by pianist John K. Stone introduces the audience to the new play “It’s A Marvelous Paper Bag World!”
Then, actors Ceili Fitzgerald, Erika Mesa, and Claire Lundin take the stage of the William and Helen Richards Theatre at Orange Hall with director/Equity actor Kevin Richard Woodall, a 27-year veteran of the Bags. Also, James Huggans is returning for his 23rd season as production supervisor/manager.
The play features cardboard and paper sets, paper bag costumes with brightly-colored shoes, classic sketches and brand-new works centered around hilarious stories of dancing cookies, a dancing robot, a friendly dragon, painting on a giant easel, and audience participation. Lost in the Mall, Big Red Day, and Hot Feet are classics to be performed along with new works Mama Baby Kitty, Miss Mixup, and It’s a Marvelous Paper Bag World, plus many more. Come and enjoy and participate.
Now celebrating its 65th year, this innovative company has set the standard for original productions that speak directly and vividly to children, while amusing adults with sly wit. Perfect for children ages 3 through 9, the Paper Bag Players’ plays are lively, colorful, and thought-provoking performances for any theatre-goers.
Tickets will be available at the Orange Hall box office the day of the performance starting at 1:15 p.m. and online anytime at sunyorange.edu/arts.
Online purchasing comes with a $1.50 surcharge per ticket.
Admission: Children - $5; Adults/Seniors/Faculty/Staff/Alumni - $6; SUNY Orange students –free.
A new feature has been added to the children-oriented afternoon.
Arrive early because at 12:45 p.m. just a few steps from the theatre in Orange Hall Gallery, author Jim Tarvin, accompanied by illustrator Tessa Schaumburg, will give a free Story Reading with large screen projection of Once There Was a Deep Forest.
The softcover book with its lovely paintings shows the life of a forest and its residents over a twelve-month period while explaining to children the importance of caring for and respecting nature and the forest. In his Preface, Author Tarvin tells readers, “It’s up to all of us…to keep our air, land, and water clean.”
A book signing will follow the reading.
Jim Tarvin is a professor emeritus of English at SUNY Orange, a longtime member of the Board of Trustees of the Goshen Public Library, and a father and grandfather.
Tessa Schaumburg is a graduate of SUNY New Paltz with a focus in Visual Arts. She is an animal lover. Nature is an integral part of Tessa’s life. Her illustrations demonstrate her passion for protecting the planet, forests and their residents.
Free parking is available in lot #1 adjacent, to Orange Hall. GPS: 24 Grandview Ave. – corner of Wawayanda and Grandview Avenues, Middletown.