Tomorrow morning the 34th annual Children’s Theater Festival – Super Saturday – will come to life in downtown Tryon.
Puppets, jugglers, comedy theater, storytelling, music, magic, caricature artists, tumblers, dancers, on and on. The focus is on children, but anyone young at heart is welcome.
Professional entertainers from across the country will perform at the Tryon Fine Arts Center (TFAC), the Tryon Movie Theatre and in the parish halls of the Episcopal and Congregational churches. In addition, on Melrose Avenue, free entertainment will be available all day.
Down on the Community Stage facing the hillside next to TFAC, many local talents will offer even more free entertainment. MJ Milam – an eighth-grader who has performed widely on stage and television, Dance Dynamics, Woody’s Acoustics, highlights from this weekend’s Polk County High School production of “Guys & Dolls,” Anthony Marino, A Dancer’s Extension, Djembe Jammers, The Sumo Sisters and, to top off the afternoon, Improvisational Theater led by Darlene Cah and Marianne Carruth.
In the parking lot of the First Baptist Church, the food court will be in full swing as area nonprofits that work with children serve up hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza, soft drinks, water and other tempting goodies.
At 12:15 p.m. there will be the traditional parade down Melrose. All the performers will join in, as will children who have dressed up for this year’s costume theme: “It’s Not Easy Being Green.” After all, it is St. Patrick’s Day, so with a nod to Kermit the Frog, kids can dress up as Kermit himself, as a leprechaun, tree, leaf, the Incredible Hulk, a recycle bin or whatever creative “green” thing they think up. Following the parade, all the costumed kids are invited to the Community Stage for a group photo.
Some of the performances have already sold out. The Super Saturday box office at TFAC is open Friday, March 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and all day on Super Saturday itself. Call 828-859-8322, ext. 301, or go to TryonSuperSaturday.com for information on the acts.
– article submitted by Connie Clark

 

Super Saturday performance schedule
9:30 a.m.
Princess Katie & Racer Steve, music – Tryon Movie Theater
Doug Berky, comedy/commedia/vaudeville – Holy Cross Episcopal Parish Hall
Grey Seal Puppets – Congregational Church
Ivan Pecel, comedy/juggling – Tryon Fine Arts Center

10:45 a.m.
Al Simmons, wacky musical exploration – Tryon Fine Arts Center
Billy Bob Steinberg, “Comedy Spectacular” – Tryon Movie Theater
Tarradiddle Players, “Commedia Cinderella” – Holy Cross Episcopal Parish Hall
Queen Nur, African master storyteller/music – Congregational Church

1:15 p.m.
Princess Katie & Racer Steve, music – Tryon Movie Theater
Doug Berky, comedy/commedia/vaudeville – Holy Cross Episcopal Parish Hall
Grey Seal Puppets – Congregational Church
Al Simmons, wacky musical exploration – Tryon Fine Arts Center

2:30 p.m.
Ivan Pecel, comedy/juggling – Tryon Fine Arts Center
Billy Bob Steinberg, “Comedy Spectacular” – Tryon Movie Theater
Tarradiddle Players, “Commedia Cinderella” – Holy Cross Episcopal Parish Hall
Queen Nur, African master storyteller/music – Congregational Church