WSU Children’s Series 2005-06 tickets on sale

PULLMAN — Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum has announced its 2005-06 Children Series five-show lineup, which will begin with a Set. 14 performance of Rhys Thomas’ “Jugglemania.”

Thomas’ juggling, intelligent comedy and the upbeat music make up Jugglemania. The event is family entertainment for all ages, complete with bowl spinning, Chinese yoyo tricks and a 6-foot “suicycle.” Thomas’ handstands, acrobatic ladder play, storytelling, ropewalking and escape artistry provides a blend of juggling, comedy and acrobatics. For more information on Jugglemania, visit http://www.jugglemania.com/index.html.

Tickets for the five-show series is $18.50 for adults and $10.50 for children under 13. Single show tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for children. Tickets can be purchased at all TicketsWest outlets, by phone at (800)325-SEAT or online at www.beasley.wsu.edu.

The Missoula Children’s Theater will present an original musical adaptation of “The Jungle Book” at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Oct. 1. Mowgli, the “man-cub,” is abandoned in the jungle, adopted by wolves, taught by a bear and befriended by a panther in this Rudyard Kipling story. Sixty local students will take part in the production. Audition times and dates to be announced.

Series ticket holders will receive free admission to a bonus performance of “Anasi the Spider,” a production of Tears of Joy Puppet Theatre, at 3 p.m. Nov. 13 in Bryan Hall Theater. Anansi, a tricky West African spider, is brought to life in two funny tales. Often ridiculed by the animals in his world, Anansi believes nothing is beyond his grasp. Colorful African fabrics make up the larger-than-life puppets, including Anansi, a snake, turtle, lion, elephant, warthog and ostrich.

American Family Theater will present “The Wizard of Oz” at 3 p.m. March 26. Audience members can share Dorothy’s adventures down the yellow brick road as the Beasley Coliseum stage is transformed into a world of imagination. The engaging musical promises plenty of fun and audience participation.

Enchantment Theatre Co. will perform “Pinocchio” at 7 p.m. April 14. The classic tale of the carved wooden puppet named Pinocchio comes to life. Pinocchio longs to be a real boy, and like real boys, strays in the most human of ways. His kind heart and his love for Geppetto and the Blue Fairy guide him to learn and grow from his mistakes. In the end, Pinocchio is magically transformed into a real boy.