Paper Dreams is Imagination Stage’s newest early childhood production. My daughter and I attended a show on a Saturday morning which was filled with plenty of toddlers and parents between the ages of 1-5.
Since this was our first time attending a show at Imagination Stage, we made sure to give ourselves enough time to find a parking space on the street and stand in line ready for the show. Once in the theater, seating is on the floor but a few nearby benches are provided.
Paper Dreams is a fantasy production that focuses on a child’s imagination with paper and art. Written and directed by Claudia Moreso, the founder of Mons Dansa Dance Company based in Barcelona, Paper Dreams is a creative performance that uses the non-verbal communication of dance, video projection, and audience participation.
The set and props for the show are made from colorful paper mache, decoupage and simple costumes for the performers. At times during the show, the lights dim and a video projector plays butterflies, swirls, cars and rainbows to name a few. It’s a very “ethereal” type of production that really gets even the adults engaged. My daughter particularly liked watching these video projections against simple white sheets.
The actors also engaged the audience by providing a piece of paper to each guest upon entering. We were instructed to crumble the paper and then make it into an airplane and a flower at different times throughout the show.
The show kept my 20 month-old daughter engaged for the entire 50 minutes. The animated faces of the performers coupled with the music helped to really captivate the audience despite the show being completely nonverbal.
Paper Dreams makes for an excellent first theater experience for the very young. Keep in mind 50 minutes can be a longer time for your toddler to stay engaged and attentive, but Imagination Stage makes it all possible.
Additional Information
- Paper Dreams runs weekends until April 9, 2017.
- Shows are at 10 and 11:15 a.m. and on Fridays at 11:45 a.m.
- Tickets are $14 per person and can be purchased online, by phone or at the box office.
- Next up in the My First Imagination Stage series is ¡Ratón en Movimiento!, a new bilingual version of Mouse on the Move from June 24 to July 30, 2017.
Photos by Shea Bartlett
