Saturday, April 6, 2024
1:00 PM

Neighborhood Community Day: Interactive Music & Theatre Performance
Presented in partnership with the Menil Collection, featuring Ars Lyrica and Express Children's Theatre 
Pay What You Can Tickets $5 - 25 | In-person event with bench seating

Enjoyed an afternoon of free art, music, poetry, and family activities in celebration of our vibrant neighborhood. "Maria's Magical Music Adventure,” directed by Tim Fried-Fiori and adapted from Emma Kent Wine's children's book of the same title, followed the journey of a young girl named Maria as she and her hip-hop loving brother Carlos embarked on a time-traveling trip back to 17th century Italy. Their tour guide was Allegra, a magical violinist who acted as Maria's musical fairy godmother. Maria met composer Antonio Vivaldi who was currently in the process of composing his musical masterpiece "The Four Seasons." Aided by Vivaldi and Allegra’s magical string quartet, Maria and Carlos learned about the power of music and the importance of finding one's voice.

A cast of multi-talented actors and musicians brought this story to life with a fusion of amusing storytelling and live classical music, creating an entertaining, inspiring, and joyous experience for children and adults alike. This bilingual, interactive music and theatre performance was co-produced by Express Children’s Theatre and Ars Lyrica Houston.

About Ars Lyrica
Ars Lyrica Houston presents music from the Baroque era, the “golden age” of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, performed on period instruments with careful attention to historical style and context for a wide range of dramatic, sacred, and chamber works. 

About Express Children's Theatre

Express Children’s Theatre is Houston’s oldest and largest multicultural performing arts and education organization dedicated to children and families, celebrating their 33rd year of creating and presenting professional, culturally diverse shows designed to entertain and educate.